It was a long, slow day Saturday. I picked up some overtime at work and spent the game working the cameras at Kinnick but with only four arrests, I wasn't really kept all that busy and as a result actually managed to view a decent portion of the game itself- with better much better picture quality and zoom features than any of you could possibly imagine. But, to brass tacks:
First of all, 59-3! Let's say that again and savor the taste of those numbers as they roll off of the tongue. 59-3. Granted, it comes against a woeful Western Michigan team which takes the shine off of the decimation just a bit but it's been a long time since we've managed to put up numbers like that against anyone. In fact, the last time we came that close was a 62-10 beatdown of Northwestern in 2002 and given the fact our record against Western Michigan under Ferentz was an equally woeful 0-2, I'll take the beatdown. It was a pleasant surprise.
Second of all, Kevonte Martin-Manley. Question: when was the last time you can recall an Iowa player running anything back for a touchdown? Especially punts. Go on, I'll give you a minute to think about it... yeah, that's what I said as well. 2 in one game is just insane... in fact, Martin-Manley was the first B1G this century to do it- he's the third to do it overall and the first since 1983. 30 years ago. But wait, it gets better: with 183 yards in punt returns, Martin-Manley got a sniff at the school record for punt returns set in a single game, 201 yards set by the man himself, Nile Kinnick way back in 1939.
Third of all, back-ups! Our back-ups got some playing time including our back up QB Beathard who wasn't all that bad either. I doubt we'll get many more chances to get them involved in games so it was nice and sensible to see that happen- along with some good, solid practice at refining our passing game a little bit before heading into B1G play next week against Minnesota.
So, we're 3-1 heading into conference play. Not bad. Not bad at all though I'll take this with a large grain of salt. After all, Northern Illinois is genuinely good. Missouri State and Western Michigan not so much and I'm not sure what kind of year Iowa State is going to have but it's probably not going to be a good one. There remains a large possibility that this could be the high point of our season. It could be all downhill from here and we could just go tits up and wander into mediocrity like we did last year. There will be rending of garments, tearing of hair and fists will be shaken at Ferentz and Gary Barta for mortgaging the kidnies of the Athletic Department with that insane buyout clause.
And yet... conference play looks a lot less scary than it did at the start of the season. Our defense is playing on a high level. Our O-line looks solid. Rudock looks solid and has a chance to be very effective at quarterback for us. Things are trending in the right direction, I think and it's been awhile since anyone's been able to definitively say that.
The Legends Division looks interesting now. Maybe even manageable. Minnesota is trending upwards but still rebuilding. Nebraska is having all kinds of defensive issues. Michigan State seems to have caught a bad case of our offensive troubles from last year. Even Michigan looks mortal- UCONN and Akron gave them fits even though they came away with wins both times. The only team that looks doubtful is Northwestern but we get them at home this year.
The rest of our schedule? I think we have genuine shots to get wins against Minnesota, Michigan State and Purdue. Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska could be tough- the latter far more than the former as we have to play them in Lincoln this year but we could beat at least one, maybe two out of that trio. Northwestern and Ohio State will be insanely tough indeed and while I'll hold out hope for a miracle, I think we can file both of those teams under 'miracle' and call it could.
Like I said though, there's an equally large chance everything could go south on us and disaster could ensue, but right now, for the first time in a long time, et spes est in aere tenui odor: the faint smell of hope is in the air.
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