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Trophy games still matter in college football despite what people may say about conference realignment, the transfer portal, and an ever-changing landscape.
And they really matter to the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Heartland Trophy, a brass bull signifying the rivalry, is up for grabs this Saturday night when the Hawkeyes and Badgers square off inside what is sure to be an electric atmosphere inside Kinnick Stadium.
With this being the 98th rendition of the rivalry upon us, this game is different than others. It has withstood the test of time and is still played annually.
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz discussed what separates this rivalry from others in college football.
“Yeah, it’s interesting, I go way back when I got here, I remember we knocked them out of the Rose Bowl actually in ’81. I remember that. It was a tough game. I can’t tell you who the quarterback was. The only thing I remember from that game, they had run a bounce pass, quarterback throws it off the turf to a receiver, catches it behind the line and chucks it down there. We must have practiced it 30 times and they hit it for a touchdown against us, so practice doesn’t always make perfect. I’ll never forget that. It’s a hard play to defend. Everybody wants to come forward for obvious reasons.
“Then it was interesting, when that thing tailed off there at the late ’80s before I left here, their program had really gone to a place I don’t think anybody would have envisioned, and then Barry was hired in ’90. And up they went. Since I got back here in ’99, they’ve been nothing but strong. Impressive in all regards.
“We’re a lot alike. They have more population, I guess, a lot of in-state players on both teams. I think Barry and I had some similarities philosophically about what it should look like, that type…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kirk-ferentz-discusses-separates-iowa-154551353.html
Author : Hawkeyes Wire
Publish date : 2024-10-30 15:45:51
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