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I posted this in another forum but I think it's appropriate here:
1) Iowa always takes the ball when they win the toss. The wind was blowing over 30mph and they took the ball. They started their first 8 or so drives inside their own 30, including one at the 1. Conversely, ISU spent 90% of the first half inside Iowa territory. Field position is killer in a defensive game like that, and the wind made it worse.
2) Tate is a fierce competitor, no doubt about it. But he's GOT to know when not to take on a defensive player helmet-to-helmet. He put himself in harm's way and it wasn't smart.
3) Iowa looked like they didn't care about this game (again) whereas ISU was hyped up from the start (again). I know Iowa won 15 in a row during Hayden's time here, but dammit, it's time to start treating this like a rivalry again. ISU has won 6 of 8, it's time for the Hawkeyes to stop looking down their noses at them.
I'm bummed because everybody going in was worried about Iowa's defensive line and running game. At the end of the 3rd quarter, Iowa had almost 180 yards rushing while ISU had 80 on 33 carries. There's no excuse for losing this game...
After thinking about it last night, I'm pretty pissed that Iowa doesn't seem to take this game nearly as seriously as Iowa State. I almost feel like the Hawkeyes came out arrogant yesterday, and when you've lost 6 out of 8, there's no room for it...
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