Northwestern University Athletics
The Skip Report: Northwestern vs. Iowa Preview
10/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Skip Myslenski's Friday preview provides a final update on Northwestern's health status coming off a bye week, and offers some insight into the genesis of what has become an intriguing Big Ten rivalry between Northwestern and Iowa.
MORE: Northwestern at Iowa Game Preview
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UPDATE: Pat Fitzgerald said this Monday about quarterback Trevor Siemian, who has been operating on a damaged ankle since the season's second week. "I think he's healthier than he's been, which helps," he said.
Then, in his next breath, he added this tease. "We expected to be able to do some things with him early in the year," he said now. "Unfortunately, that ended up changing through some injuries."
Siemian himself confirmed his coach's opening observation later in the week. "I feel as good as I've been since I was hurt," he said here.
Then later, when asked about his coach's tease, he added one of his own. "I think I know what he's talking about and I think we're getting there," he said now. "Just as far as moving the pocket and mixing things up. I think (those) are things we need to do. We've kind of gone that way and I'm sure we'll see that evolve the last couple of weeks."
So will he be running more?
Siemian laughed. "I guess so," he then said. "We'll see. It's all predicated on what's going on on the field."
Is he capable of running?
"I hope so," he finally said, smiling once again. "When I first got hurt, what everyone was worried about, what I was worried about, you've got to be able to protect yourself. When you can't move, you can't really protect yourself."
PART OF THE JOB: Siemian, of course, has played on despite his physical miseries, which is both admirable and a reason why his teammates regard him so highly as a leader. "But," he would say, "I'm not special. You're playing college football. I'm sure there's plenty of guys that don't feel too good this late in the season, plenty of guys in our locker room. So I'm not any different. Everybody's dinged up a little bit. For me to complain would be a little selfish."
That attitude is another reason the `Cats respect him.
MORE FROM THE INJURY REPORT: Safety Ibraheim Campbell, who has not played since exiting the `Cats win at Penn State, practiced this week. The same was true of superback Dan Vitale and receivers Kyle Prater and Miles Shuler, who were injured during their loss to Nebraska. So all are expected to play Saturday when the `Cats visit Iowa. "Getting back on the field with my teammates was a blessing. I'm just grateful and having fun again," said Shuler, who left Ryan Field on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury in that Husker game.
Asked about that moment, he said: "It was really scary at first. Having the numb feeling in your body, it was scary initially. But it went away and they (the team's medical staff) did a great job taking care of me. I'm just grateful."
QUICKLY NOTED:
• Siemian said he is capable of making all the necessary throws. But, even with his ankle improved, he noted whimsically that, "I'm not running a 4.38 (40) anytime soon."
• Still, noted Shuler, "You can see his ankle's a lot better. He's throwing the ball with confidence. We're just ready for this week."
• The 5-2 Hawkeyes, like the 'Cats, are coming off a bye-week. In their last game they fell at Maryland by seven
• Four of the last six meetings between this pair have been settled by seven points or less, including Iowa's win last year in overtime. "I don't know if there's been a lot of Big Ten games in my nine years that haven't been real close. Iowa's just another of those," Fitzgerald said when asked about that. "I think that's conference football. Everybody knows each other. Everybody respects each other. And you typically get everybody's `A' game when you get into conference play. I think this (rivalry) is along those lines."
• And make no mistake about it, this is a rivalry. "A great rivalry since we got competitive," said Fitzgerald. "It wasn't when we weren't very good. But now that we've gotten competitive, it's become a heck of a football game." Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz agreed, saying earlier this week, "As you're aware, in the `80s this wasn't much of a series. That's well-documented. (But) since I've been back, it's been a really tough series. I think a lot of people make the mistake of maybe living in the past. I mean, since '95 these guys have been really good. They've got a proud tradition, and they play like they have a proud tradition. They're a good program, an excellent program."
• Iowa, as always, is as basic as a primary reader and offers little in the way of whistles-and-bells. "You know exactly what you're going to get," Fitzgerald said, speaking of their defense. "They're so strong up front. They're very physical. They're great technically. The problem is they're very, very good at what they do. That's what makes it such a challenge." Said defensive tackle Greg Kuhar, speaking of its offense: "It's going to be like every other Big Ten football game. It's going to be another smash-mouth game. They can throw the ball when they need to. But I know they like the run."
• The Hawkeyes' best runner is senior Mark Weisman, a 6-foot, 240-pound battering ram who has 10 rushing touchdowns. Their quarterback is 6-foot-3 junior Jake Rudock, who has completed 64.8 percent of his passes and thrown for nine touchdowns with only three interceptions.
• The Hawkeyes average 25 yards per kickoff return, best in the Big Ten, and allow an average of just 14.9, also best in the conference. Their big playmaker is Jonathan Parker, who's averaging 29.8 yards per-return.
Saturday marks the 'Cats sixth game in Iowa City in the last nine years. They won there in '06, '08 and '09, but fell in their last two visits.
Ferentz, in his 16th season guiding the Hawkeyes, and Fitzgerald, in his ninth with the 'Cats, are the two longest-tenured active coaches in the Big Ten.
AND FINALLY, 'Cats center Brandon Vitabile, on whether the offensive line takes special care in protecting Siemian knowing that he is hobbled: "You never want your quarterback to get hit. It doesn't matter if he's got two great ankles, if he can fly, whatever. You never want him to get touched. But definitely you're more aware of it. You've got to hold on for another second, do whatever you need to do. We know we've got to help him as much as we can."
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