Even though the original Floyd of Rosedale trophy is six feet under, the rivalry between the Iowa and Minnesota football teams is more alive than ever.
The two squads have faced off on a near-annual basis since 1891 and leading up to their meeting in 1935, then-Minnesota governor Floyd Olson wagered a prize hog with his Iowa counterpart Clyde Herring. The Hawkeyes claimed victory in that matchup and took home a live pig, which died two years later and is buried in Mabel, Minnesota, six miles north of the Iowa border.
The pig’s likeness is now enshrined in bronze as a 98-pound trophy – which sits in Minnesota for the first time a decade after the Gophers topped the Hawkeyes, 12-10, in a controversial finish that forever etched the term “invalid fair catch” into the college football lexicon.
For Iowa tight end Luke Lachey, it’s hard to ignore Iowa fans’ shirts decrying the referees’ fateful call on Cooper DeJean’s punt-return touchdown. At the same time, Lachey also has a more nuanced perspective. He told reporters Tuesday how he and Hawkeye teammate Deontae Craig are taking a sports officiating class this semester.
“We had a presentation last week about whether or not referees should talk to reporters after the game and talk to the media, whether that would be good for the sport,” Lachey said. “We had our pros and cons, but I think that [invalid fair catch] call would have got a lot of traction in the media.”
Even with all the outside attention stemming from last season’s battle, Lachey and the Hawkeyes have put the past behind them. DeJean has swapped out the Black and Gold in favor of the Kelly green of the Philadelphia Eagles, and his former college squad is content with letting the present speak for itself.
“You can’t change a play that’s already happened, you know, once it’s on film it’s out there,” Lachey said. “So we just really got to focus on what he can control now, and what we control now is going out there and putting our best foot forward for the game on Saturday.”
Compared to 2022’s frigid contest, where temperatures plummeted more than 10 degrees below zero, Saturday’s matchup will harbor warmer weather and a Gopher defense that’s been heating up as of late. Under new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, Minnesota has pitched back-to-back shutouts and leads the Big Ten in interceptions with seven.
“I think right now they’re just flying around,” Hawkeye quarterback Cade McNamara said. “They’re not allowing a lot of points right now, and I think it’s just because of the amount of energy and effort that they’re playing with.”
The Gophers boast the fifth-best defense in the nation in terms of yards allowed per game. To combat this stout unit, McNamara will have to stay efficient in the passing game. Against Troy last week, McNamara posted his best single-game completion percentage (minimum 10 pass attempts) connecting on 19 of his 23 tosses as Iowa posted just one three-and-out.
“I think we just feel the tempo, the consistency of each play working, and then we’re able to build on it,” McNamara said. “What was a really good sign was that just about every single time [Troy] scored, we scored. For us to answer even when we’re facing adversity as a team, I think that’s a really good sign.”
McNamara also credited part of the offense’s success to his offensive line, which helped pave the way for 284 net rushing yards against the Trojans. Last year against the Gophers, the ground game nearly hit rock bottom, netting 11 yards as lead back Kaleb Johnson managed 18 on six carries.
For Iowa center Logan Jones, the difference in performance derives from an increase in experience among the front five.
“It’s maturity, we’ve been through so many things now,” Jones said of the Iowa offensive line. “There’s been rough games for us and there will continue to be some rough games and bad plays and whatnot, but that’s just football. If we continue to grow and develop, and especially through the season, just continuing to get better and better. It doesn’t have to be huge, giant steps.”
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz agreed with Jones’ assessment, explaining how much the offensive line growth will be paramount to offensive success. He said the Hawkeyes’ line has been better than what it was in recent years and has the potential to drive the offense forward.
“We can handle some things, not only the ability to block but also the ability to maybe be in the right spot to block the right guy with the right leverage,” he said. “And then our quarterback play, if we can get consistency there, too, those two things really help dictate how an offense goes.”
The Gophers’ offense has also experienced a boost in production this year. After putting up 244 yards and 17 points against North Carolina in its home opener, Minnesota has averaged 37.5 points and 404 yards over its next two contests. New quarterback Max Brosmer, a transfer from FCS New Hampshire, averages about 11 yards per completion while second-year running back Darius Taylor averages 7.5 per carry.
The Hawkeyes should be more than aware of this big play potential, as they’ve fallen victim to it against the Trojans, allowing three scores of at least 50 yards – two on pass plays and another on special teams – to wide receiver Devonte Ross.
Ferentz attributed the first passing touchdown, a 68-yard bomb down the right sideline, to cornerback TJ Hall’s inexperience, calling it a “mental error” for Hall not keeping the ball in front of his vision. Hall remains the starter on the depth chart across from veteran Jermari Harris, but Ferentz said there’s still competition for the second quarterback spot.
As for the second pass play and punt return, the head coach said the former was a breakdown in communication and the latter was poor execution in having too many players on one side of the field.
“It looked like junior high coverage, quite frankly,” Ferentz said of the 77-yard punt return score, where Ross dashed up the sideline untouched.
“The lack of ability stuff you can’t do anything about, but if it’s being sloppy, that’s not a good thing,” the head coach said. “Then the big play stuff, if a guy gets beat, a guy makes a great play, what are you going to do? You try to defend the best you can, but if you get beat, you get beat.
“But if there’s something you can stop or at least make tougher on them, then that’s what we’ve got to be doing.”
Injuries
Hawkeye running back Leshon Williams was hurt in Iowa’s game against Troy and will not play against Minnesota, Ferentz said. Williams, a senior, has 21 yards on 11 carries this season. Sophomore Jaziun Patterson, who scored his first touchdown of the season last week, should take Williams’ place behind Kaleb Johnson and Kamari Moulton.