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Hawkeyes Lose Quaterback; National Championship Dreams
7-Nov-2009
Written by: Matt Bultman
Iowa quaterback Ricky Stanzi sprained his ankle during a game in which Iowa lost for the first time this season
Iowa lost their quarterback and their dreams of national championship all in the same day.
Ricky Stanzi injured his ankle in the second quarter of a 17-10 loss to Northwestern on a play when he fumbled in the end zone, leading to the Wildcats first touchdown.
In the post game press conference Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said the injury was pretty “severe.”
The loss snapped Iowa’s 13 game winning streak, the second longest in the nation. It doesn’t however hurt their chance at a Big Ten championship, assuming the Hawkeyes can win the rest of the conference games.
This was the Wildcat’s first win over a top ten opponent since 2004, when they knocked off the Buckeyes in overtime.
Iowa had four turnovers on the day, something that has plagued the team all season. Up to this point the Hawkeyes had survived their close calls, winning 4 games that they trailed going into the 4th quarter.
While the preliminary x-rays were negative, Stanzi is expected to miss at least a couple weeks which would be the rest of the regular season.
Iowa’s Rose Bowl hopes may now rest on the shoulders of true freshman James Vandenberg, who replaces Stanzi after his injury. The freshman was just 9-27 and could not lead Iowa to a score.
“Right now we just have to take the approach that he won't go, and if he does that's a bonus," Ferentz said after the game.
This may spell trouble for Iowa as they have to travel to Columbus next week to take on Ohio St. before finishing up the season at home against Minnesota.
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