There was an interesting talk back session today on ESPN where they posed the question of whether Iowa and Penn State should play one another to end each team’s regular season. You can read the exchange here.
I tend to side on traditions, and the Iowa-Minnesota game has ended the majority of Iowa’s regular seasons in my lifetime. That being said, I wouldn’t mind something different.
The few exceptions to the Iowa-Minnesota season ender have been a few years where Iowa played Wisconsin at the end of the season. That happened in back to back years in 2003 and 2004, to name two instances, and there was a lot on the line for both teams.
In 2003, the winner was basically going to get an invitation to the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes had to play at Camp Randall that year, and Iowa jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on an 18 yard reverse run by Ramon Ochoa. The Badgers scored the next 14 points to take a 14-7 halftime lead. Robert Gallery gave a paint peeling halftime speech, but the Badgers tacked on another score early in the third quarter to give them a 21-7 lead.
The Hawkeyes scored the final 19 points of the game, including two field goals from Nate Kaeding (one from 50 yards) and Iowa won 26-21 and went on to beat Florida in the Outback Bowl. That was dramatic.
The stakes were higher the following season in Kinnick Stadium, as the Badgers came into the game 9-1 and a win would have sent them to Barry Alvarez’s fourth Rose Bowl appearance. They had All Americans along the front defensive line, and Drew Tate threw two first quarter interceptions, but that great Iowa defense did not yield. Tate settled down and would throw three touchdowns (along with three picks) and the Iowa defense allowed just 186 yards and the Hawkeyes won 30-7, capitalizing on four Wisconsin turnovers.
The Hawkeyes won a share of the Big Ten title that day, with just one conference loss. So the Big Ten championship was on the line before the teams took the field. There have been just a handful of such games in Iowa football’s last 30 years; winner gets a title, the loser does not.
How often has that happened with Minnesota? How often could that happen with Minnseota as the season ender?
Big Ten expansion could make this moot and meaningless. However, until that day comes, I would certainly love to see the Hawks and Badgers close out each season. They are the logical choice as they are one of Iowa’s two protected rivals that we see them play each year, with Minnesota being the other. In fact, these three teams are the protected rivals for each other.
What are your thoughts? Would you rather see Iowa play a different team to close out the regular season?
Tags: hawkeye football, Hawkeye Nation, hawkeyenation.com, Iowa football
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