October 6, 2008

Now that the Iowa football team has lost 3 in a row, I feel the need to vent my frustration to someone, and that lucky someone is you. If you followed the most recent loss to Michigan State you have probably started to think like I have, that coach Ferentz is getting ready to get canned. Only being down 16-3 with a few minutes left in the 3^rd quarter, the Hawkeyes push down the field into an area that would be an easily made field goal attempt. With the drive being 4^th down and 2, the coaching staff decides to go for it instead of making the field goal to be down 16-6 with a whole other quarter to go. Of course they fail and lose possession. 

Luckily, the stellar Iowa defense holds their ground once again like they have all year and the offense finally put a touchdown on the board. Ankeny graduate Andy Brodell made a stupendous diving catch, much like the ones made by former Wide Out Ed Hinkel, in the back of the end zone to level the game at 16-10, instead of 16-13. The defense came up big on the next drive with Des Moines’ own Jordan Bernstein making a possible game saving interception to give the ball back to Iowa.

With no timeouts left and only minutes left in the game, Stanzi showed why he is the true starting quarterback and led the team back into field goal range with just under 2 minutes left IN THE GAME, I repeat, IN THE GAME! Now, the logical thing to do is kick a field goal when their drive stops to a 4^th and 1 and tie the game. The defense had the Spartans shut down all 2^nd half, so why not take the game into overtime and win it there. That would be too easy and not very exciting apparently because they decide to go for it again. How stupid can the coaching staff really be? I understand that you are away during a conference game, but come on… 

So what happens? You guessed it. They were stopped and lost the game. This seems to be the theme during these last 3 games. In each game, one or two situations came up that a 10 year old could have made the right decision and the coaches chose the wrong. Why do they commit these dumb ass choices when they started out the start of the season so good? Hopefully Ferentz can turn things around and make another bowl game, unlike the little fiasco they had last year losing the last game of the season to Western Michigan in an embarrassing outing.