Hawkeyes Humbled, Bowl Blues, Royce Rolls

(Chris)

The Hawkeyes were in the Big Ten title race, but today we found out that Iowa is no championship football team. The Hawkeyes are too inconsistent in just about every aspect of the game. James Vandenberg played poorly. Marcus Coker couldn't get into a flow because the Hawks were down double-digits the entire game. Special teams play has been horrific lately. And the defense continues to give up, uncharacteristically, big plays.

I've heard some Hawkeye fans say that the loss is probably a good thing, so they don't have false hope going into the final two games of the season. What's the fun in that? As a fan, I'd always take a heartbreak over apathy. Next week's game, at Purdue, is almost meaningless. And with Indiana, and Northwestern left on Michigan State's schedule, it doesn't look like Nebraska will get a chance to play for a division title on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

It's not that the Hawks have nothing to play for --- they just don't have as much to play for. You can rule out the Capital One Bowl, and the Outback Bowl. With one more loss, you can probably rule out the Insight Bowl, and the Gator Bowl, as well. Hawkeye fans should probably start to get familiar with the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, in Detroit. Bring your mace.

Can you see a light at the end of the tunnel? I can't. Next year, the Hawks will return Vandenberg, and Coker, but they will lose all of their defensive lineman, and most of their secondary. Given that, and the fact that the schedule may never again be this easy, Hawkeye fans could be in for a rough couple of years. 

I think the broadcast team of Beth Mowins Mike Bellotti is the worst I've ever heard. Not only are they both insanely boring, they call the game like they aren't even watching. And why is it that networks only hire play-by-play women with manly voices? I'd much rather hear a woman that sounds like a woman.

I'm looking forward to Iowa State's Friday night game against #2 Oklahoma State --- but I probably shouldn't be. The Cowboys are the most explosive team in the nation. The early weather forecast is calling for a game time temp around 50, and no rain. I'm rooting for a weather disaster. That may be the only way the Cyclones keep OSU under 50. 

I liked everything I saw from the Penn State-Nebraska game. Most fans seemed to understand the moment. There were no apparent outbreaks of violence, or disrespectful actions. It was a powerful thing to watch. Unfortunately, that was as close to normal PSU players and fans have felt in a week. And I'm afraid the coming weeks won't be much easier. 

Royce White is scary. The man-beast opened up with 25 points, and 11 boards, in ISU's 86-77 win over Lehigh. 

Northern Iowa notched a really nice win, on the road, at ODU --- and it wasn't even close. The Panthers whipped Old Dominion, 63-46.

Drake beat Upper Iowa. The Bulldogs are now 1-1 against Division II teams over the last week.

This is my least favorite part of football season, because it's also basketball season. I'm not a fan of the overlapping. Heck, the Big 4 battles start this Tuesday when Iowa State plays Drake.

Here is the viewer email of the day, courtesy of 'Howieboy' - 'How 'bout a story on WHO13's Saturday 6pm Sportsnews anchor(whatever his name is) having to find a new position in a far-off land due to his insensitive comments on the Hawkeyes loss to Michigan State.  I'm sure glad I dont let my wife do the channel surfing too often.  GO KCCI!'

And with that, I bid you adieu.