There were many ideas and suggestions from all over the place. Could we see Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels on the field at the same time? Would Desmond King see the field on the offensive side of the ball (i.e. Jabrill Peppers at Michigan)? Could C.J. Beathard develop more chemistry with the wide receivers during the bye week?

All of the eyes were on the potential changes that offensive coordinator Greg Davis and company as Iowa stepped onto Beaver Stadium on Saturday night.

Unfortunately, the Hawkeye offense went from anemic to floundering like the catch of the day ready to be deep-fried.

There were subtle changes to the system. Daniels and Wadley did see the field together, and Wadley did score a touchdown late in the second quarter after lining up in the slot. As a whole, it was much of the same we have seen sans the Purdue game.

The 41-14 loss at Beaver Stadium all but makes Iowa path to a repeat B1G West title basically nonexistent as they still have showdowns with ranked Michigan and Nebraska teams on the horizon.

The offense managed a measly 234 yards of total offense compared to 599 total yards for the Nittany Lions.

Coach Kirk Ferentz called this loss and the season so far “unacceptable.”

Ferentz said in his opening statement that his team “capable of responding.”

“Where do you want to start?” he said after being asked to clarify.

There are a lot of different possibilities where one could start.

For a team that prides itself on running the ball effectively, Iowa had a total of 30 rushing yards on 26 carries. That is an average of 1.2 per carry. Let that sink in.

Quarterback C.J. Beathard said that the team had a good two weeks of practice and he felt the team was prepared for coming into a tough road environment.

“I just think we did not play as hard as were expecting,” Beathard said.

Things are going to have to get figured out in a hurry, as Iowa will have the tall task of trying to beat a Michigan Wolverine squad that is coming off a drubbing of Maryland and will be without a doubt the toughest opponent they have played all year.

Whether people have a glass half full or glass half empty philosophy, the only thing to do is move on, fix what you can control, and get ready for the next challenge that lies ahead.

Kickoff for the Hawkeyes and Wolverines will be at 7:00 P.M. from Kinnick Stadium next Saturday night.

The post Iowa Offense Goes From Bad To Worse appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Penn State is coming off a 62-24 drubbing of Purdue last week and is ranked #12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released earlier this week. The Nittany Lions still have hopes of winning the Big Ten East if they get a little help and win out the rest of the way. Here are some keys for the Nittany Lions to come out victorious tonight:

Establish their pass rush early and often:

Penn State is among the Big Ten leaders in both total tackles and sacks, and Iowa’s offensive line has struggled at times protecting quarterback C.J. Beathard. The offensive line as a unit has allowed 20 sacks through eight games, while the Penn State defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 27 times so far this year. The Hawkeyes pride themselves on winning the battles in the trenches, so this should be one of the marquis personnel matchups of the evening.

Big plays in special teams:

Both the kickoff and punt return teams for Penn State have been among the worst in the conference when it comes to return yardage. In what should be a close game, getting a big return and winning the field position battle could tip the scales in Penn State’s favor.

Establish Saquon Barkley to open up offense:

Iowa will key in on stopping the big, bruising tailback for the Nittany Lions. Barkley has rushed for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season. Both of those marks are among the best the Big Ten has to offer. Getting Barkley going will force Iowa to not stuff the box and respect the receivers on the perimeter allowing Barkley to do his thing between the tackles.

Kickoff is less than an hour away from State College. Be sure to check our website krui.fm for more content from tonight’s game. You can also follow our Twitter page @KRUISports.

The post Penn State Looking to Keep Momentum Alive Against Iowa appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Infinity Tree is a four-piece alternative rock band from Media, Pennsylvania. The boys of the band (Robby Brod, Craig Whitney, John Sweeney, and Mark Savidge) have been making music together for over 7 years, and their latest release under their newest band name is Wander. Wander was released on January 2 of this year, and the 6 song record (something between an EP and a full length album) is nothing but the good stuff: solid, guitar-driven indie rock.

The record kicks off with “Don’t Know Why,” one of my favorites. It’s a high energy groove that perfectly introduces and sets the tone and atmosphere of the rest of the record. The melodic guitar riffs grab your ear, and pull you along the throughout the song, whether it’s the guitar leading the charge or the vocals taking over. The stutter-stopping verse helps to keep the listener on their toes, making sure your attention is never lost. Lyrics like “When I was 18, I thought I knew myself completely” tell a story of confusion and mixed emotions at a new point in life, with the past far behind and the future uncertain.

“Stranger in the Home” keeps the energy up, with a bit more of a funky groove. The bass line really stands out in this song, and the different vocalist shows that each musician in the band really knows their craft. “Limitless Breath” slows things down a bit, and shows a different side of the band’s sound. Shrouded in reverb and a spacey atmosphere, the echo-laden guitars remind me of early era Bloc Party (high praise coming from such a big fan). The guitar work here might be my favorite on the record, and the climatic build up at the end. Those are the moments in music that I fall in love with.

“Barren Walls” is the ballad of the record, with the most emotionally rich lyrical moments. The soft noodling guitars provide the backdrop for a story of a love that is no more. The vocal effects and the falling delivery of the lyrics give off a dreamy vibe. “Stasis” kicks things back up with higher energy and tempo.  Shifting rhythms between breezy open chords and harsh staccatos have the song feeling urgent and anxious, pulling the listener along. “Separate”, the final track on the record, is the one that I can’t quite put my finger on. It sounds like it could easily fit on the Yellow EP of The Dear Hunter’s The Color Spectrum, and its rock steady four-on-the-floor rhythm is hypnotizing. For whatever reason, this song feels difficult to describe for me, but it remains one of the strongest on the record.

If you’re looking for some new indie rock music, or if you’re looking to impress your friends with truly obscure and underground band knowledge, check out Infinity Tree’s Wander. Stream the entire album below, and click on the band’s Bandcamp page for a free download.

Wander by Infinity Tree

The post Album Review: “Wander” by Infinity Tree appeared first on KRUI Radio.