INSIDE SLANT

Kirk Ferentz has never openly campaigned for a spot in the BCS, so he’s not about to start. But he doesn’t mind pointing out a few facts.

Iowa’s 12-0 win against Minnesota in the regular-season finale was the Hawkeyes’ 10th victory of the season. Even in the anemic Big Ten, Ferentz believes that should count for something.

“To win 10 games in any conference is significant,” Ferentz said. “To play the way we played this year, we’re seven points and three points away from having a perfect year. That’s something I’d point out, too.”

Iowa lost to Northwestern by a touchdown when quarterback Ricky Stanzi was injured, then lost at Ohio State by a field goal.

The Hawkeyes have battled injuries since before the season started, when starting tailback Jewel Hampton was lost for the year with torn knee ligaments. Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball ensued, but the Hawkeyes continued finding ways to win. The end result was Ferentz’s fourth 10-win season, and the third time Iowa did it in the regular season. Now it will await its fate—either as an at-large in the BCS or a Capital One Bowl appearance against an SEC team in Orlando, Fla.

“For us to win 10 games this season, with all the things that we’ve faced,” Ferentz said, “it’s just absolutely amazing.”

NOTES, QUOTES

Scouting The Offense:   Freshman QB James Vandenberg played well in replacing Ricky Stanzi, but Iowa fans have to hope his time as the starter is over. Vandenberg has a strong arm and showed nice mobility at times, but Stanzi has shown a knack of delivering big plays—particularly in the fourth quarter. He is the leader of an offense that has sputtered without him. Stanzi’s return brings TE Tony Moeaki back in play, as well as WR Marvin McNutt. Stanzi and McNutt seemed to be developing some chemistry before the injury. Stanzi also opens up the running game. Without him, defenders stacked the box to slow Iowa freshmen tailbacks Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher.

Scouting The Defense:   The Hawkeyes are 10th in the nation in rushing defense and 11th in points allowed. DE Adrian Clayborn is one of the best and most underrated pass rushers in the country. LB Pat Angerer is always around the ball and S Tyler Sash is the big playmaker in the secondary. That’s one star on every level of the defense, and that’s a good way to have a great defense.

Quote To Note:   “Iowa is definitely on our short list. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think so.”—Larry Gautier, a representative from the Orange Bowl committee, in the Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph Herald.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Next Game:   Bowl game, TBD—Iowa’s hopes for a BCS bid appear to be on life support, but still beating. The Hawkeyes are hindered by the Big Ten’s reputation and the fact they didn’t earn a share of the league’s title. It would benefit the Big Ten’s image to have Iowa slide down to the Capital One Bowl, and in essence have all the other Big Ten teams slide down a notch in the bowl’s pecking order. Perhaps that arrangement would give the conference a better shot to improve on last season’s dismal showing, when it won just one bowl game. If Iowa moves into the BCS, it’s at least another $10 million for the conference, but it forces everyone else up a notch the bowl food chain and could result in the league’s middle- and low-tier teams being fed to the wolves.

Players To Watch:  

• QB Ricky Stanzi—Kirk Ferentz is hopeful the time off will heal Stanzi’s high ankle sprain, allowing him to practice and play in a bowl game. His stats can be hideous, but Stanzi is the clear leader of the offense.

• LB Pat Angerer—Ended the regular season with a team-high 135 tackles. Should he just meet his season average of 11 tackles in the bowl game, he’ll finish third for the most tackles in a single season.

• TE Tony Moeaki—Stanzi’s security blanket has disappeared from the offense since Stanzi left with the ankle injury. Moeaki had just three catches in the final three games. After his six-catch, 105-yard day against Michigan in early October, Moeaki became more difficult to find in the offense. He can pose matchup nightmares for defenses, particularly those not familiar with Iowa’s offense.

Roster Report:  

• RB Adam Robinson left Iowa’s season finale against Minnesota in the first half after re-injuring his sore left ankle and did not return. The offense, as a result, shut down. Robinson is crucial to Iowa’s success, and hopefully with a month off, he’ll be healthy and ready for bowl season.

• QB Ricky Stanzi missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, but he is expected back for the bowl game.

• LB Jeremiha Hunter and Jeff Tarpinian dressed and went through pregame drills in the finale, but neither played. Hunter is a key to Iowa’s defense and should be back for the bowl game.