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Football
Buckeyes and Hawkeyes to Meet in Revenge Bowl II
By John Porentas
It has been a strange two years in the Ohio State vs. Iowa series.
In 2004 the Buckeyes traveled to Iowa City with high hopes and left yipping like a scalded dogs. The Hawkeyes thumped the Buckeyes 33-7, completely whipping them.
"They outplayed us in every aspect of the game, offense, defense, special teams," said OSU defensive tackle David Patterson.
"They came out ready and we were not. They dominated that game," Patterson said.
"We got blown out up there. It was a long day from start to finish," added running back Antonio Pittman.
"We took that loss personally. We weren't a bad team, we were an all right team that year. For us to get beat like that, that's something that we don't tolerate. We didn't move the ball at all. We didn't score until the fourth quarter."
The loss left the Buckeyes smarting and to some extent in shambles. The OSU coaching staff began rethinking just what it was they were doing that season. It also left the Buckeyes hungering for revenge the following season.
"You never forget those games and games like that," said senior defensive back Antonio Smith. "It was a terrible feeling. Last year it was a big key for us and a big pointer. We emphasized that all week, had pictures up in the lockerroom," Smith said.
The Buckeyes were able to do just that, dominating the line of scrimmage and taking advantage of a youthful Iowa defensive line and hand the Hawkeyes a one-sided 31-6 loss that in many ways mirrored the beating the Hawkeyes laid on the Buckeyes the year previous. It has also most likely left the Hawkeyes smarting for revenge, just like the Buckeyes were the previous year.
"Beating them last year I'm sure that they are doing the same thing and they want to get back at us this year, so it's going to be a challenging game," said Smith.
What remains to be seen is just who will emerge from Revenge Bowl II with the last laugh. The answer to that question will go a long way toward shaping this season for both teams. The 4-0 Hawkeyes are currently ranked No. 13 in both polls and a win over No. 1 Ohio State would certainly propel them into the top 10 and into the national championship picture. The Buckeyes, of course, are currently number one and need only to keep winning to get to the national championship game.
"My freshman year they beat us and last year we beat them," said Pittman.
"This is like the tie-breaker for me in my three years here. Those guys remember how it felt last year to come up here and get beat just as bad as we remember how it was to go up there and get beat. We know it's going to be a battle out there," Pittman said.
A game with so much at stake doesn't need much to stoke up interest in Iowa City, but this game has even more going for it. It is a night game that will give the Hawkeye faithful plenty of time to work themselves into a frenzy by game time. Additionally, ESPN Gameday will be on location there for the first time since 1985. Throw in the No.1 vs. No. 13 matchup, ,and the game promises to be the biggest football event in Iowa City in the last 20 years.
"I expect it to be just like the Penn State game last year, a hostile environment," said Pittman. "Their fans will have all day long to get prepared for the game."
Iowa fans are planning a "Gold Out" for the game, taking a cue from Penn State's "White Out" a year ago against the Buckeyes and OSU's "Scarlet Sea" last weekend against Penn State. It's not like the Kinnick Stadium crowd needed a lot of help to begin with. Kinnick is one of the toughest places to win in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have won 25 of their last 26 at home. The first row of the stands is within feet of the benches. That proximity is intimidating for even seasoned veterans.
"It's a different atmosphere," said Pittman.
"It's not like being at home. The fans are right up on your back. It's about two feet from the first row to the bench. It's kind of like at Penn State with a loud crowd. We just have to go out there and stay focused and play our game."
