Lincoln, NE is the place today for Heroes Game V.
At one time, the Iowa-Nebraska series was basically a one sided game.
Highly ranked Nebraska vs. the underdog Iowa program. A Nebraska program with 2 MNC is 11 and 12 years or within several seasons back in 1999 and 2000, when Ferentz returned to Iowa City from NFL.
For Kirk Ferentz, it is Game 9 in the series for him as a coach at Iowa. He was an OL coach for his first game as an Iowa assistant. It was the first opponent right out of the blocks. Same for him again as a head coach in 1999 in Iowa City.
For Mike Riley, the game comes in Lincoln on the final day of the regular season for the Huskers of the first season.
Is there much on the line today?
A trophy for the winner. But, there is more.
Yes, there is plenty more for Iowa.
Pride for the 5-6 Nebraska program, basically. Avoiding their first losing season, in eight years, under a new head coach.
Some will say bowl eligibility, but win or lose, 6-6 or 5-7, Mike Riley and the Huskers are bowl bound in 2015, due to eighty bowl slots now.
Win or lose ... the Huskers can become a 5-7 or 6-6 team to bowl at Nebraska.
Bragging rights between local Hawkeye and Husker fans in the 46th meeting of the old Iowa-Nebraska series. The fifth as a Heroes Game. It is also the 25th Friday after Thanksgiving game, a fine tradition for yhe past 25 years for many Husker or divided Husker families.
The House will be semi-divided in Memorial Stadium today. There may be 15k Iowa fans. At one time, when Nebraska was 3-6 for the first time, since 1958, the possibility of a lot of Black & Gold was possible. But, Nebraska found excitement to kickoff November, on the heels of a win over Top 10 Michigan State in Memorial Stadium.
For 18 Husker seniors, it is the final home game for them.
Heroes Game Day V has finally arrived. For some, it is the game they were waiting for all season.
The last four games have been competitive, like the first one for Kirk Ferentz in 1981.
Who are the difference makers today?
At QB, turnovers are the question;...
Iowa C.J. Beathard has limited it to 3 all season, while Tommy Armstrong was good for 3 in his last game, but Nebraska won despite the interceptions.
Will it be the same today?
Both teams have a running game, thougj this isn't a typical Huskers running game many would say. Many point out better than Michigan State and Ohio State, but is that really a complement in 2015?
Nebraska's offense isn't all about the pass, with some trouble, but Mike Riley is known for an air attack coming from Oregon State and some time as an NFL coach.
Iowa has become a balanced offense in 2015. At one time during the season, Top 3 in balanced offenses.
TEs are often big in games, just like whose QB plays better, whose TE group shines in Lincoln today?
Like always, which team or teams win the battles in the trench on either side?
1. Who establishes the run or stops it better?
2. Who pressures the QB more effectively?
3. Who peotects the QB better today in Lincoln?
The next question after turnovers and line play, is which team has or prevents more explosive plays on the field?
How will penalties and miscues play in the game?
The antics of Bo Pelini are gone after seven seasons, over half impacting this Heroes Game match up, with 75% of the outcomrs favoring the departed coach. The veteran of the series as only won 25% of his games.
His hot seat was silenced at 11-0 on the season.
Mike Riley is replaced a guy that never did worse than 9-4 or 10-4. Riley's best ever was one 10-4 season.
But, as it often is about in football, it is about 1-0 each week. Iowa is seeking it 12th straight, while Nebraska is seeking it's third straight in November.
It should be a good one today. 60% of The Daily Nebraskan took Iowa. Vegas basically is calling it a toss-up, with ever slight one to undefeated one.
58 points is the over/under.
So, some have it 42 - 13 one way or another 1 or is it more like 30 to 28?
We shall see, if Nebraska is the spoiler or Iowa continues spotless as the victor in Memorial Stadium for the second straight time.
Someone will make history, since Nebraska has never won back to back Top 10 games in Memorial Stadium and Iowa has never won 12 regular season games before.
peace
At one time, the Iowa-Nebraska series was basically a one sided game.
Highly ranked Nebraska vs. the underdog Iowa program. A Nebraska program with 2 MNC is 11 and 12 years or within several seasons back in 1999 and 2000, when Ferentz returned to Iowa City from NFL.
For Kirk Ferentz, it is Game 9 in the series for him as a coach at Iowa. He was an OL coach for his first game as an Iowa assistant. It was the first opponent right out of the blocks. Same for him again as a head coach in 1999 in Iowa City.
For Mike Riley, the game comes in Lincoln on the final day of the regular season for the Huskers of the first season.
Is there much on the line today?
A trophy for the winner. But, there is more.
Yes, there is plenty more for Iowa.
Pride for the 5-6 Nebraska program, basically. Avoiding their first losing season, in eight years, under a new head coach.
Some will say bowl eligibility, but win or lose, 6-6 or 5-7, Mike Riley and the Huskers are bowl bound in 2015, due to eighty bowl slots now.
Win or lose ... the Huskers can become a 5-7 or 6-6 team to bowl at Nebraska.
Bragging rights between local Hawkeye and Husker fans in the 46th meeting of the old Iowa-Nebraska series. The fifth as a Heroes Game. It is also the 25th Friday after Thanksgiving game, a fine tradition for yhe past 25 years for many Husker or divided Husker families.
The House will be semi-divided in Memorial Stadium today. There may be 15k Iowa fans. At one time, when Nebraska was 3-6 for the first time, since 1958, the possibility of a lot of Black & Gold was possible. But, Nebraska found excitement to kickoff November, on the heels of a win over Top 10 Michigan State in Memorial Stadium.
For 18 Husker seniors, it is the final home game for them.
Heroes Game Day V has finally arrived. For some, it is the game they were waiting for all season.
The last four games have been competitive, like the first one for Kirk Ferentz in 1981.
Who are the difference makers today?
At QB, turnovers are the question;...
Iowa C.J. Beathard has limited it to 3 all season, while Tommy Armstrong was good for 3 in his last game, but Nebraska won despite the interceptions.
Will it be the same today?
Both teams have a running game, thougj this isn't a typical Huskers running game many would say. Many point out better than Michigan State and Ohio State, but is that really a complement in 2015?
Nebraska's offense isn't all about the pass, with some trouble, but Mike Riley is known for an air attack coming from Oregon State and some time as an NFL coach.
Iowa has become a balanced offense in 2015. At one time during the season, Top 3 in balanced offenses.
TEs are often big in games, just like whose QB plays better, whose TE group shines in Lincoln today?
Like always, which team or teams win the battles in the trench on either side?
1. Who establishes the run or stops it better?
2. Who pressures the QB more effectively?
3. Who peotects the QB better today in Lincoln?
The next question after turnovers and line play, is which team has or prevents more explosive plays on the field?
How will penalties and miscues play in the game?
The antics of Bo Pelini are gone after seven seasons, over half impacting this Heroes Game match up, with 75% of the outcomrs favoring the departed coach. The veteran of the series as only won 25% of his games.
His hot seat was silenced at 11-0 on the season.
Mike Riley is replaced a guy that never did worse than 9-4 or 10-4. Riley's best ever was one 10-4 season.
But, as it often is about in football, it is about 1-0 each week. Iowa is seeking it 12th straight, while Nebraska is seeking it's third straight in November.
It should be a good one today. 60% of The Daily Nebraskan took Iowa. Vegas basically is calling it a toss-up, with ever slight one to undefeated one.
58 points is the over/under.
So, some have it 42 - 13 one way or another 1 or is it more like 30 to 28?
We shall see, if Nebraska is the spoiler or Iowa continues spotless as the victor in Memorial Stadium for the second straight time.
Someone will make history, since Nebraska has never won back to back Top 10 games in Memorial Stadium and Iowa has never won 12 regular season games before.
peace
