Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/88446
PREGAME REPORT P E N N S T A T E @ I O W A 8 P . M . , O C T . 2 0 B I G T E N N E T WO R K IOWA FACTS COACH Kirk Ferentz (Connecticut, '78) COACH'S RECORD 112-89 in his 17-year career, including 100-68 in 14 seasons at Iowa. TEAM'S RECORD 4-2 (2-0 Big Ten) RECORD VS. PENN STATE The Hawkeyes lead the series, 12-9. (Three Penn State victories have been vacated.) PREVIOUS MEETING The Lions' defense clamped down and forced three fourth- quarter turnovers in a 13-3 win at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 8, 2011. THE GOOD HOME, SWEET HOME Iowa has won 57 of its last 71 games in Kinnick Stadium and had a 6-1 home record in 2011. Penn State hasn't won in Iowa City since 1999 and that win has been vacated by the NCAA. THE BAD TAKE A PASS The Hawkeyes' passing at- tack, which averages 189 yards on 32.5 at- tempts per game and has totaled just two TDs, is the least-efficient in the Big Ten. THE UGLY A RUNNING CURSE Since January, Iowa has lost four running backs to injury, trans- fer or dismissal. Plus, the season-opening starter has missed the past three games with a concussion, the team's leading rusher might be out against Penn State and the two backups – a true freshman and sophomore – are coming off injuries. DID YOU KNOW? All of Ferentz's sons are part of the Iowa football program. James is the starting cen- ter, Steven is a freshman tight end and Brian is in his first season as offensive line coach after spending three years as an as- sistant for the New England Patriots with Bill O'Brien. "No question that's a great friendship there," O'Brien said. A depleted Hawkeye offense takes aim at the visiting Nittany Lions EMPTY BACKFIELD TIM OWEN | OWE N . T I M . B WI@G M A I L . C O M Before the Penn State-Iowa game Satur- day at Kinnick Stadium, a brewery in nearby Coralville, Iowa, is planning to stage a festival for the Hawkeyes. There will be a piñata and a live band, and the brewery even crafted a special beer for the occasion. But other than this being a midseason Big Ten matchup between two 4-2 teams, what the heck is the occasion? Named AIRBHGAPALOOZA (the AIRBGH O C T O B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 2 1 is an acronym for "Angry Iowa Running Back Hating God"), this festival is a tongue- in-cheek way to quash the curse that seems to have plagued Hawkeye running backs for the past decade. Since 2002, 25 Iowa run- ning backs have either transferred, left the team, been dismissed or suffered a season-ending injury. That means, on average, the Hawkeyes lose five running backs every two years. And B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M RUNNING IN PLACE With its top running backs hurt, Iowa will likely need a big game from QB James Vandenberg. John Beale