At one point in 2000, Northwestern was the No. 12 team in the country and heading to Iowa City on what was supposed to be a path to Pasadena. But the 2-8 Iowa Hawkeyes upset the Wildcats, spoiling their Rose Bowl chances.
When the two teams play Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, the situation will be similar. Only this time, No. 6 Iowa
(9-1, 6-0 Big Ten) is dreaming of roses and the Cats (3-7, 1-5) are sitting in the Big Ten cellar.
“You could draw (parallels to 2000), certainly,” NU coach Randy Walker said. “But I’d really like to draw it all the way through Saturday (with a win).”
Walker wants his team to build off last week’s 41-37 victory over Indiana. But he said the Hawkeyes’ 2000 win and a 43-point drubbing of NU in Evanston last year provide no special incentive.
“I’m not a big ‘win one for the gipper’ type of guy,” Walker said. “I’ve never talked about revenge, and I never will. I don’t coach for that. I coach to see how well our kids can play, and we’re working hard to be a better football team this week.”
The Cats will have their hands full with an Iowa team whose only loss this season was a 36-31 decision to intrastate rival Iowa State.
But unlike 2000 — when the Cats came off a losing season and surprised the nation — the Hawkeyes won the Alamo Bowl last year and have eight returning starters from the top-ranked offense in the Big Ten.
“They had some things in place a year ago that were kind of sitting in the wings,” Walker said. “No matter what, they were going to be a very good team and have a chance to be very special.”
Iowa has extended its offensive success to this season. The Hawkeyes average 36 points a game, best in the conference and eighth nationally.
Senior quarterback Brad Banks leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 159.3 rating. Banks has been the Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season.
“What’s scary about him is he makes good throws, he is a very smart player at quarterback and he can beat you with his feet,” Walker said. “Just when you think you’ve got him, he runs around, escapes and makes a play.”
In last year’s meeting in Evanston, Banks was 7 of 9 for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Iowa also leads the nation in rushing defense, allowing only 62.3 yards a game. Walker knows his team will need to establish a running game to take the pressure off quarterback Brett Basanez.
And while Walker insists he isn’t thinking about revenge, it has crossed the minds of a couple of his seniors.
“We want to get back at them,” cornerback Raheem Covington said. “They took something away from us two years ago.”
