Football Friday Discussion Week 12

Football Friday Discussion for Week 12 
November 19, 2011!

Not a lot of commentators this week, but let's see what we do have...

By the way, how bout them Cyclones?!?! What's up with that Boone's Boy?

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Big 10


IOWA

Silver Fox:Week 12 is here. I must admit, I'm kinda dreading it. After last week against Michigan State (MSU), it shows how important consistency of play is important. That was not the same Iowa team from the week before that played Michigan. The determination was not there against MSU. The Hawks could have won the game with the same kind of effort from the Michigan game. Three games have been lost this season by the players not playing with some kind of intensity; just going through the motions. It doesn't help getting down early 14-0. Like always, Marvin McNutt played very well. He'll be greatly missed after this season. And I'm not comfortable with James Vandenberg at quarterback. He's too inconsistent. He's had some good games this year. But, he's had some bad games, too---like last week, which showed how much a quarterback affects not only the offense, but also the defense. If the QB has the offense rolling, it helps to motivate the defense as well usually, b esides keeping the defense off the field longer and making it fresher. Last week, Vandenberg's timing was way off, he was inaccurate so much of the time, and it seemed like he wasn't seeing the field very well for all the open receivers there were. I hope next season that the quarterback position has a wide open competition to it (and not Iowa's usual seniority/experience system), or else it's not going to be any better for the offense in particular, especially with McNutt being gone. However, I can't fault Vandenberg for effort. I think he tries harder than anyone on the team. The strong effort is always there. With that in mind, hopefully he'll have that needed breakthrough that will elevate his game to a consistently high level. Like how he played two years ago against Ohio State and even better. As for my thoughts on this week's game against Purdue; it depends upon which Iowa team shows up---the team that wants to seriously win the game or the team that just simp ly shows up. This is a winnable game. How much does Iowa want to guarantee going to a bowl game? And by the way, I probably won't be blogging next week, but I'll check in the week after. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

Turnkey Tim: Last week’s lost to Michigan State was disappointing but not unexpected. Iowa played much better the second half, just dug too deep of a hole in the first half with turnovers. Iowa’s momentum got shortened in the 4th quarter by the fainting Michigan State Spartans. Not since the famous Eveshesky-coached Iowa Hawkeyes when they played the Fainting Fighting Irish back in the 50’s have we seen such a display. Michigan State’s defense was gassed and the same core players kept going down every play. I need not say any more.

This week Iowa travels to the Purdue Boilermakers. The Hawks have played terrible on the road but today could possibly be their day. I think the score today will be 20-17 Hawkeyes. Go Hawks!

Hawkinator:

Black And Gold Girl:


NEBRASKA
Bo Big Red:First of all i would like to say NEBRASKA showed alot of class at the Penn State game,kneeled in prayer for the victims of this terrible tragedy,i don't really feel that taking the icons name off the trophy,is appropriate,and he did report it,and i thought you were innocent in AMERICA until found guilty,and it was'nt the 85 yr. old man that did this,and Sandusky,should be put in jail for life,with bubba,his new roomate!! But to the game,this will be tough not only on the field but at home my wife is from Michigan,so we have to watch the game in 2 seperate rooms,haha, since it's at michigan,it will be tougher,but the NEBRASKA,Faithfull,fans will travel and there will be a sea of red in the stands,Both teams have the same 8-2 record but NEBRASKA will win by a fieldgoal as long as Martinez,keeps getting better,in the passing game,75% passing is alot better than the 50% he started the year with,so if he can at least stay there and the receivers start catching the ball that they have been dropping when he's actually,put it right on the #'s,and the defense,can contain they're biggest threat ,that little quarter back,that i wish we had,we will be fine.we need to get the lead quick and build on it instead of giving it up in the 4th quarter like the last few,games.We need to play mistake free football,and win the takeovers,and play 60 minutes of NEBRASKA football and come away with the win.AND then WELCOME IOWA BIRDS TO MEMORIAL STADIUM.the game we have been waiting for a year now.Can't wait for that one!!!!!

Bill's Big 10 Corner
Bill:
Not much time this week so I'll just pass along the schedule: 
Minnesota at Northwestern  
Indiana at Mich St  
Nebraska at Michigan ........This should be an interesting game.  Winner has an outside chance at a BCS slot.
Wisconsin at Illinois  
Iowa at Purdue ............. Hawks need a road win.  
Penn St at Ohio St




Big 12

TEXAS
BEVO jr – With this years’ Texas football team you don’t know what you’re getting from 1 week to the next. This freshman heavy team has gone from the over achieving “young lions” to the ‘walking wounded’; Fozzy Whittaker out for the season, WR Jaxson Shipley’s twisted knee, RB’s Brown and Bergeron with leg ow-ows. Those guys represent all of Texas’ scoring for the season so far. I hope somebody shows up Saturday for the game with K State or the Horns are in deep cow-pies; we probably are anyway cuz K State is playing lights out right now; their QB looks like another Tebow. Somebody needs to nominate him for Heisman.

Our “D” held Mizzou to 17 points last week, but we only scored 5 points (yeah, that’s right 5). These ups and downs make it a thrill ride this year, but 5 Points? We knew it would be a transition year, but I’m starting to check the UT basketball schedule already. I hope we can mature a little more for the final 3 game stretch. Longhorns’ only hope is for the “D” to be able to hold KS to 20 pts or less, and the Horns get divine guidance and find 21 points somewhere on the field.

NOTE to the M*A*S*H unit – we need our star players back - now! HOOK ‘EM HORNS!


Pac-10


UTAH
Red 5 Standing By:Don’t look now, but the Utah Utes – who began conference play in the Pac 12 with an unimpressive 0-4 record – have now won three games in a row and have a remote chance of representing the Pac 12 South in the inaugural Pac 12 Championship Game.  For this to happen, Arizona State would need to lose its final two games against Cal and Arizona, UCLA would need to lose to USC, and Utah would need to win out.  Not likely to happen, but the only part of that equation the Utes control is beating Washington State in Pullman on Saturday.  Weather forecasts indicate that this will be a very cold and possibly wet game, with temperatures around 20 degrees (and dropping) at kickoff.  At this point in the season, Utah seems to have owned up to its own limitations.  They recognize that they are very limited on offense, but may have the best defense in the Pac 12.  As such, Utah’s strategy will be to minimize turnovers, win the field position battle, hopefully get a small lead and never let it go.  The Utes have plenty of motivation this weekend – look for them to prevail in a tight, low-scoring game in a half-empty (half-full?) stadium.