Iowa adds FCS nonentity Tennessee Tech to its 2011 football schedule

I missed this when Tennessee Tech announced it here in December. I must have been busy last month.

With little fanfare -- and little deserved -- Iowa has added the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to its 2011 football schedule according to Hawkeyesports.com, the university's athletics site.

This was to be expected. Iowa already had a home game with Pittsburgh and a trip to Iowa State on its 2011 slate. That meant the remaining two nonconference games would be with an FCS team and a low-level FBS team. The low-level FBS team has yet to be added.

Tennessee Tech was 6-5 in 2009 for its first winning season since '04. The Golden Eagles play FBS teams almost every year, and have done so twice a year the last two seasons. The results aren't good. Ever.

In 2009, the Eagles lost at Kansas State, 49-7, and got kayoed at Georgia, 38-0.

Since 1997, TTU has played 17 games against FBS (formerly known as I-A) teams, all on the road. The total: FBS 17 Tennessee Tech 0. The total score: FBS 712 points, Tech 126.

“It has become a tradition for Tennessee Tech football to play these games against FBS opponents, and the game at Iowa in 2011 – just like the game at Arkansas next year -- will continue that tradition,” said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.

“Whether it's Auburn, Georgia, Arkansas or Iowa, playing this high caliber of opponent provides the team with a tremendous challenge, provides the players with a memorable experience, and it is also an important aspect of our financial picture.”

Well, he's right about all those things. It is a tremendous challenge. Surely it's a memorable experience. And the payout is good. The payout is the whole point, really.

So, the Hawkeyes have their designated season-opening victim for 2011. Enjoy the weather that day. It promises to be a lot better than the game.