Big Ten makes a bid for some national respect

Iowa’s Orange Bowl victory validated its strong season and vindicated the Big Ten Conference on the national stage.

Four Big Ten teams won at least 10 games, and the Big Ten was the first conference to earn four wins over teams ranked in the top 15 since 1998. Three of four Big Ten teams were underdogs in those games, and all three won by at least nine points. The conference’s image was one of scorn throughout the season, but the bowl wins give the Big Ten respect in the short term.

“As far as that national perception of the conference, it’s been quite a few years now where people are starting to question the Big Ten on the big stage,” said Anthony Herron, a former Iowa player and Big Ten Network analyst. “So getting a winning record the last few years and winning the big games against the major opponents, that’s huge. Winning the Rose Bowl, beating LSU, now winning in the Orange Bowl, beating the ACC champs, it’s huge.”

Iowa and Ohio State won the Orange and Rose bowls in impressive fashion. Iowa’s defense smothered Georgia Tech’s vaunted spread option attack, holding the ACC champ to 143 rushing yards, 164 under its average. Georgia Tech’s total yardage of 155 was the lowest in an Orange Bowl since 1989.

Ohio State’s defense rocked Pac-10 champion Oregon, holding the Ducks to 20 points and 200 yards fewer than its season average. Penn State beat LSU in the Capital One Bowl, and Wisconsin outplayed and overpowered Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.

“We’ve beaten a couple conference champions as well,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I think each and every one of us, every member institution, takes a lot of pride every time we go out and take the field against a non-league opponent. You know that’s certainly part of the territory.”

True Grit

Running back Adam Robinson was a pre-game question mark after he sprained a shoulder in practice. Typical of his season, he gritted through the pain and rushed for 59 yards on 14 carries.

Robinson has had tough luck with injuries. He suffered a high ankle sprain against Michigan State and missed two games.

“If you can go, you need to go,” Robinson said. “What I did this year, I suffered a high ankle sprain in the middle of the season. I kind of rehabbed it and got back in there for Ohio State. That’s really been the story for Brandon (Wegher), too. He’s been dinged up all season and persevered thought it. A lot of teammates have had that same story.”

Fake backfires

With a three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Ferentz elected to try a fake field goal on fourth-and-goal from the Yellow Jackets’ 4. Iowa punter Ryan Donahue scooped the ball to kicker Daniel Murray, who raced for the end zone. Georgia Tech safety Morgan Burnett caught Murray, who then fumbled.

Ferentz said he approved the play.

“At that point, the field goal would have affected the game; the touchdown would have dramatically affected the game. We thought we had a chance to execute it.”