The Out-Of-Towner: After the Minnesota Smashing

First of all I would like to apologize for this blog not getting out until Monday.  My post game celebrations got a little out of hand and my better half and I spent all of Sunday nursing the mother of all hangovers.  It's just not every day that our beloved Hawkeyes display such total domination!  Saturday was surely a great way to end a pretty damned good regular season.  Four tough losses by a total of 12 points but a historic win over then seated #3 Penn State.  Our team and our fans have much to be proud of this year.  

With only one punt (1st possession) until the second team mercifully took the field in the fourth quarter and a crushing defensive unit that allowed no points and only 134 offensive yards, including -7 yards on the ground, it was the most lopsided Big Ten victory in Hawkeyes history, with a score of 55-0.  I really can't say enough about how well the Defense played Saturday, so I'll just move on.  

The offensive unit was simply unstoppable, racking up 483 yards of total offense.  Ricky Stanzi threw for 255 yards and 3 TD's and looked as sharp as we've seen him all year.  But the big story once again was Shonn Greene who set the single season rushing record, formerly held by Tavian Banks, with 144 yards on the ground.  That sets the new mark to beat at 1,729 total yards rushing.  Adding 2 more touchdowns and reaching another milestone of gaining 100+ yards in all 12 games of the season, Heisman voters have no choice but to put Greene near the top of their list.  Keep your fingers crossed fellow Hawkeyes.  

But wait, the domination didn't stop there.  Even special teams wanted in on the act Saturday night.  Two big punt returns in the first half doesn't touch the tip of it.  Stoudemeire's combined kick returns totaled 283 yards!  I'm not sure if that's a record or not (Andy?), but it has to be damned close.  And punter Ryan Donahue recieved the Big Ten special teams player of the week honors to top it all off.  

I'd like to give a shout out to my new friends and rabid Hawkeye fans, Andy and Renee, who I watched the game with at the Ultimate Sports Bar in St. Cloud, MN.  Andy wowed me with his impressive knowledge of Hawkeyes history and his nearly flawless home game attendance record (only missing 10 games in over 20 years).  Now that is dedication fellow Hawks fans can admire.  Andy's wife Renee let my girlfriend know that she was very grateful to have me around for the game as well.  Apparently, when I'm not around Andy is the loudest fan at the game.  Glad I could help, Renee!  

Stayed tuned readers to The Out-Of-Towner in the days and weeks to come.  Just because we won't have any games until (hopefully) New Year's day, I will continue to post.  I will continue to cover Bowl standings, scouting reports, team history, and fun Hawkeye facts.  Questions, comments and hate mail can be sent to pixley@iowahawkeyes.net.  Go Hawkeyes!!!

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