Iowa notebook: farmers, fierce competition, and foot issues
By Courtney Baumann
Saturday against Wisconsin will mark the sixth-annual America Needs Farmers game, but the slogan has been around for much longer than that.
In fact, the ANF decal first appeared on Iowa’s helmets on Nov. 2, 1985, thanks to former head coach Hayden Fry.
During the ’80s, nearly 20,000 of Iowa’s 121,000 family farms went under — just a portion of the 235,000 that came to an end nationally. The farm crisis of the 1980s affected many Iowa players and fans directly, and Fry felt the need to address the issue.
Dallas Clark was named to the America Needs Farmers Wall of Honor Tuesday, making the All-American tight end the fifth former Hawkeye to receive the honor.
Clark was drafted 24th in the 2003 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, and he was a starter on the Super Bowl XLI Champion team.
The Iowa native played nine total years for the Colts before playing one season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and another for the Baltimore Ravens. Clark retired in 2014 after signing a one-day contract with Indianapolis so he could retire a Colt. He ended his career with 505 catches for 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns.
After his retirement, Clark returned to Iowa, where he bought his family’s 135-acre century farm and continues to grow organic corn and beans.
“Give me any reason to come back to Iowa City, and I’ll come back,” Clark said. “It is dear to my heart. You combine what Farm Bureau is doing and you combine the Hawkeye family and I can’t be more honored to be recognized by those two organizations.”
Testing the rushing game
The Big Ten’s No. 4 rushing attack in Iowa will face its biggest defensive challenge in Wisconsin Saturday.
Iowa, which has compiled 1,260 yards on the ground this season and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry, will be up against the No. 12 rushing defense in the nation.
The Badgers have allowed just 637 rushing yards through their first six games and allowed just 3.4 yards per attempt.
“They’re an excellent defense. They’re going to bring it every snap. You have to make sure you’re mentally ready for the pounding you’re going to get,” running back LeShun Daniels said. “There are going to be plenty of plays that are going to be 1-, 2-yard gains.”
Fellow Iowa running back Akrum Wadley concurred and added that in order to be successful, the offense has to “just grind.”
The duo combined for 326 of Iowa’s 365 rushing yards against Purdue.
“We’re focused on us right now. We just need to grind and keep doing the little things we’ve been doing the past couple of weeks,” Wadley said. “We already know it’s going to be a tough game, and we just need to grind.”
Injury updates
Tight end George Kittle left the game against Purdue midway through the first quarter with a foot injury and returned later wearing a walking boot. After the game, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said it looked to be a sprain.
Since then, Kittle has undergone an MRI, which came back negative.
“I don’t want to be Dr. Doom here. I think he’s got a chance,” Ferentz said. “The specialists have looked at it and said everything is good, so it depends on what he can do, how he can progress in the next couple days’ time, and we’re not going to rule him out. But it’s probably a long shot.”
Cole Croston did not play in West Lafayette, and Boone Myers left the game in the second half with a leg injury. Ferentz said the team has “a chance with Cole” but will have to see how the week goes with Myers.
“Right now, we’ve got to prepare — anytime a guy gets hurt, you’ve got to prepare like he’s not going to be there,” Ferentz said.” But if he can play, we’ll play him.”
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