Hlas column: 'Northwestern!' isn't a pleasant utterance in Hawkeyeland

IOWA CITY - Iowa's football program can spin it any way it wants, but Northwestern sticks in the Hawkeyes' craws.

It would be very surprising if Iowa isn't fully motivated to play the Wildcats Saturday in Evanston, Ill.

Many of you probably don't need or want the recap, but here it is anyway: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009. Northwestern defeated Iowa in all of those years, and the Hawkeyes led by 10 or more points in three of those meetings.

Iowa blew a 24-7 halftime lead and surrendered two touchdowns in the final 2:10 in its 28-27 loss at Ryan Field in ‘05. The Hawkeyes played the ‘Cats at home in ‘08 and ‘09. They surrendered a 10-0 advantage in ‘08, and lost 22-17. They had four turnovers last year in the 17-10 loss that will haunt the program for a long time.

Leading 10-0, Ricky Stanzi got clobbered in the end zone on a naked bootleg in the second-quarter. Wildcat defensive end Corey Wooton rolled on top of Stanzi, forcing a fumble for a touchdown. Few plays in Hawkeye history have been as damaging.

Iowa lost Stanzi to a high ankle sprain for the rest of that game and two more, and the Hawkeyes didn't score another point against the Wildcats that day. They fell out of the national-title discussion with their first loss in 10 games.

Jerry Seinfeld frequently sneered and spit out the name “Newman!” in disgust at his troublemaking sitcom neighbor. “Northwestern!” is Iowa's Newman.

Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz gave plenty of praise to the Wildcats at his Tuesday press conference, but it sounded like a bit of bile seeped up from his throat with each compliment. Like good teams do, Northwestern has always seized opportunities when presented with them against Iowa in winning four of the last five meetings. Ferentz seethes at how the Hawkeyes have certainly offered those chances.

“(In) ‘06, we came in here with a sense of entitlement,” Ferentz said. “They came in here without a win in the league (they were 0-5) and they ran it down our throats (460 yards to 273) and we couldn't move the ball running or throwing against them.

“But the last two years, I think they have been two even games, two very good teams playing. We have had the home-field advantage and couldn't make anything out of it.”

The reason? Ferentz mentioned it more than once Tuesday. Iowa had five turnovers to Northwestern's one in 2008, and four to the Wildcats' one last year.

It's more than a guess that the 9-2 turnover difference over those two games has been mentioned from coach to players. The 9-2 note tumbled from Tyler Sash's mouth Tuesday almost immediately after he was asked about the Wildcats' recent dominance in the series.

I don't sense any snobbery or condescension toward Northwestern from Iowa's staff or players. They understand the Wildcats line up and play Big Ten football, and have been pretty capable at it for a good while now. But you know it drives the Hawkeyes nuts that the purple people with the smallest home crowds and toughest academic standards in the Big Ten have been able to keep taking precious victories away from them.

“Winning starts with not beating yourself,” Ferentz said, “and you know, they sat there while we turned it over nine times. You know, got on the bus and giggled all the way back to Chicago, probably just laughing at us, because we turned it over nine times and they turned it over twice.

“If you can do that, you sure like your odds on a game, and that's what they have done to their credit.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Las Vegas said Iowa was a 10-point favorite Saturday. It was a 3-point favorite against the ‘Cats in 2005, a 20-point favorite in the 2006 matchup, an 8-point pick in 2008, and a 15-point favorite last year.

Remembering the ‘06 game that started Iowa on its way from a 6-3 record to one that ended 6-7 with an Alamo Bowl loss, Ferentz said:

“We showed up like fat cats in that game, and they showed up like hungry cats, pardon the pun, and just nailed us. We deserved it.”

You would think the Hawkeyes should be starving for success Saturday.