[NU Sports] Big Ten today ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Well, the evening games didn't quite live up to the
hype, though I have to say that OSU is a clear #1
right now and Michigan is mighty close ... that game
in November could be a colossal #1 vs. #2 showdown if
the games break right. It's tough to see anyone
beating the Buckeyes until Nov. 18 and Michigan looks
like they're going to come focused every week this
year, which is a good thing for them considering they
have Iowa, rival MSU and a night game in Happy Valley
remaining.

For all the credit Kirk Ferentz deservedly gets, I
think he really made a big mistake by taking the ball
first tonight in the game. He had a frenzied crowd as
fired up as I've seen Iowa City, foaming at the mouth
to scream their heads off. So why not kick off, pin
the Bucks deep and keep the roar going? Instead, he
takes the ball, quiets the crowd amd goes 3-and-out,
giving OSU a midfield starting point. Just seemed like
a bad call that started off a bad evening for Iowa. At
least make OSU drive a full 80 yards against the noise
to start.

As for NU, anyone want to fill those of us who didn't
see the game in on what we looked like? At halftime,
it seemed like we were in it, and my brother -- the
PSU alum -- said Nick Roach and the D was killing PSU,
holding them inside the 20 three times for early FGs
and intercepting a pass deep to set up our score. He
said the one TD PSU did get in the first half came
only after a bunch of tries at the 2 and 1 yard line.

So it sounds like the D was strong for a half at least
and the O just couldn't get it going. I'm sure the
pressure and mistakes avalanched in the second half
and  I expect we will face even more difficulties in
the hostile environment of Madison next weekend.

However, while I admit bowl chances are slim and none,
I don't think we'll go 0-8 either. Purdue and MSU both
look beatable if we can get our confidence back as we
return home, and the Illini may be improving, but we
still know we can run on them. But we knew it could be
a rough three-game swing before the season and Fitz
needs to keep the team focused on the next game and
not let things snowball into doubt and disarray before
our return home.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com