Northwestern Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) @ Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 0-1)
Saturday, October 15th, 4:00pm kickoff PST
TV: Big Ten Network
What better way to forget about last week’s tough loss than joining the WWIC at Buckley’s in Queen Anne in watching the Hawkeyes take on the Northwestern Wildcats in a special Black and Gold Spirit night game at Kinnick Stadium. If you’re going to the game, be sure to check http://www.hawkeyesports.com/ for your seating sections designated color. Hopefully a little home cookin’ at Kinnick will rally the Hawks to a must-needed win to draw level in Big Ten play.
Northwestern has recently owned Iowa on the gridiron as they have beaten the Hawks the last three games, and five out of the last six. Northwestern comes into town with a three game losing streak which includes their first two Big Ten games. In those two games, they have blown second half leads and have been outscored 56-21 in the second half and 35-7 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats are led once again by QB Dan Persa, who is a couple of games returned from the achilles injury he suffered vs Iowa last season.
**History Lesson** Northwestern has had some bad blood towards the Hawkeyes in recent years; here’s a little history about why they do. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald played linebacker for the Wildcats from 1993-1996 under Gary Barnett. Barnett took over as head coach for the Wildcats in 1992. At the beginning of the 92 season he looked at his teams schedule and decided to focus in particular on beating one team, and he chose the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes at the time had just gone to the Rose Bowl the previous season and were tops in the Big Ten. That year when the two teams faced off Iowa punished NW 56-14 (even pulling off an on-side kick just for good measure). After the game during the coach’s handshake Hayden Fry told Barnett, “I hope we didn’t hurt any of your boys.” Barnett just stared back at him and later on in an interview said, “That took (the rivalry) to warp speed.” To add to that, a couple of years later, during the 1995 season the Wildcats were led to the Rose Bowl by linebacker Pat Fitzgerald. However, Fitz was unable to play in the bowl because in the second to last game of the season he broke his leg against, you guessed it, Iowa. So let’s just say, Fitz has a special place in his heart for beating the Hawks.
Hope to see you Saturday and Go Hawks!
