Iowa has chance to help league’s national image

The Big Ten continues to wear college football's “Kick Me” sign after another Ohio State loss to a top-five opponent last Saturday.

Ohio State lost 18-15 at home to No. 3 USC, prompting more national criticism directed at the school and the league. In games against schools from BCS conferences (and Notre Dame), the Big Ten is 4-3, with wins coming against Syracuse (two), Iowa State and Notre Dame. The losses were against USC, Oregon and Missouri.

This week, Iowa plays host to Arizona, a Pac-10 school. The result could influence national perception about the Big Ten, and Iowa's players understand that.

“Any time you get to represent the Big Ten you want to do your best,” Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki said. “I know Ohio State has been slammed a couple of times, but it's not like they're losing to a high school team. They're losing to USC, Texas (a 24-21 Fiesta Bowl loss) and they're playing them tough until the last minute - both times literally to the last minute. A lot of it is media stuff.”

The Big Ten finished 1-6 in bowl games last year and has lost its last six BCS bowl games. Ohio State lost title games in 2007 and 2008.

“You always feel a little something when somebody says, ‘Ah, they're not that good,' when talking about the big conferences out there, the SEC, the Big 12 and what not,” Iowa guard Julian Vandervelde said. “Whenever we get another opponent coming in here from a major conference especially a good opponent, we look at it as opportunity to really show that the Big Ten is better than a lot of people think.”

Sickness and health

Flu-like symptoms have infested the Iowa football team, much as it has other Big Ten schools. Fullback Wade Leppert did not play Saturday and was quarantined at the hotel Friday night in Ames with an undisclosed illness.

“I can't believe nobody picked that up Saturday,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I think we found out (at) 7 or 8 o'clock. Friday night I was told we had a guy with a fever. He just stayed in the hotel. We got a couple guys with it right now. I imagine we'll have more to go. I saw an article talking about just on college campuses right now it's probably a national thing. So we'll have to weather the bumps.”

Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga was hospitalized last week with an undisclosed illness.

He's listed as a starter but is not practicing yet. Ferentz said Bulaga is “day-to-day.”

Blocking machine

Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki has drawn praise for his pass-catching ability, but lately he's hearing from friend and foe alike on his blocking skills.

In the 2009 Outback Bowl, Moeaki blocked a South Carolina defender to the ground in front of Gamecocks Coach Steve Spurrier, prompting a tirade.

“I think I got (the defender) down on the sideline and accidentally went for another jab at the throat, and (Spurrier) started yelling at me for like a penalty or something,” Moeaki said. “He called me dirty. It was more of the heat of the moment.”

Offensive lineman Dace Richardson, who attended Warrenville South High School in Wheaton, Ill., with Moeaki, raved about Moeaki's blocking skills.

“Tony is amazing,” Richardson said. “He could play any position that he wanted to. We were watching film, and he was pancaking their D-linemen and their linebackers. He could be an offensive lineman if he wanted to or a quarterback. Whatever Tony wants to set his mind on being he can be.”