A plastic boot and metal crutches could not restrict Ricky Stanzi’s vivacious spirit. It wasn’t strong enough and the pain in his right ankle could not hold him back from being with his team.
Although his place as Iowa’s come-from-behind quarterback concluded once Northwestern’s Corey Wootton laid into him in the second quarter, Stanzi’s leadership tenacity was not deafened, not unseen, not overlooked.
Vacant of his black helmet and football padding, Iowa’s once starting quarterback returned to the sideline after halftime, missing his playing gear to possibly lead Iowa to another second-half turnaround.
The Hawkeyes did not accomplish win No. 10 without Stanzi at the helm, falling to Northwestern, 17-10, and with it, having their unbeaten hopes crumbled.
“We’re not going undefeated, that’s the only thing that’s obvious at this point,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said following the game. “Our guys know what’s going on. They can look at the scoreboard. They figure all that stuff out. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Stanzi’s four completions on nine attempts netted 134 yards passing before his injury. But when it was time for the next man in – redshirt freshman James Vandenberg – the offense struggled to produce.
When Vandenberg’s last three passes were incomplete to start the third quarter, Stanzi got right into his face, stomping his crutches on the turf, telling his replacement to look out for this and that, to remain confident.
“Rick was great on the sideline, giving me all the tips and looks he had gotten over the week,” Vandenberg said. “I was pretty familiar with most of them. We study all the film together. He put’s in a ton of time but I try to hang right there with him to make sure, if this does arise, I’d be ready.”
Vandenberg’s first throw was a pick to Wildcat linebacker Quentin Davie. The raw quarterback was 9-for-27 at the close, totaling 82 yards.
It wasn’t enough.
The losing sentiment that filtrating once the game clock expired was excruciating for players, junior wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos said, describing the sullen locker room as able to “hear a pin drop.”
“I understood the situation, but at the same time, I expected something magical to happen, because that’s the way it’s felt all year,” Johnson-Koulianos said. “And once that ball hit the turf, that’s when it hit me.
“I haven’t felt this way in a long time. It hurts a lot. It’s hurting everybody right now.”
Vandenberg arrived in the postgame interview room in a wrinkled blue shirt and stubble on his chin. The clear look of defeat was evident on his face.
“I made some mistakes that I shouldn’t make, and we had to pay for it in the end,” he said.
Filling in for Stanzi is no easy task, as he has led the Hawkeyes to nine victories this season.
“I thought James, for the amount of experience, or lack of experience he’s had in critical games, he did his best,” Johnson-Koulianos said. “He did a good job. I don’t think a lot of guys would have been able to go out [and play].”
Ferentz knows that with time, Vandenberg will show his talent with the football.
“I think James will be a better player next week,” Ferentz said. “We don’t have any choices. We just have to go out and keep playing.”
We’ve all heard “next man in,” but losing Stanzi the Manzi is a big blow regardless. Today’s loss aside, this is one of the most memorable seasons in the 20 years I’ve watched Iowa football, so the team can hold their heads high.
I’m sorry Hawkeye nation for the blind boot leg I called down at the end zone–oh, did I mention it was a blind boot leg right into NW’s all-american defensive end?–that resulted in a touchdown and Rick’s injury. Let me also apologize for the stagnant offense I’ve produced over the last decade while I’m at it. I should also apologize for every quarterback regressing during my tenure with the exception of Brad Banks. If you would have given me an extra year with him, I’m sure I could have turned him into a D III level quarterback. Finally, I want to say I’m sorry for Kirk’s unflinching loyalty in me. I have tried repeatedly to get myself fired, but you know Kirk–always the loyalist. But, hey Hawkeye nation, why would we want to win a national title and have a memorable season that all alums could remember? See you next year Mr. AJ Derby!
With all the injuries it was naive to think the Hawks would go undefeated living on the edge as they were.
Gear up and beat Ohio State and Minnesota and this defeat will be forgotten.
Although we should all feel terrible for Stanzi and be proud of what he has done for the Hawkeyes, he is at best a journeyman QB that has played to his full potential; he should be praised for his hard work at Iowa. Vandenberg is the future for the Hawkeyes and the timing of throwing him into the mix at this stage of the season will be nothing but a blessing for the 2010 Hawkeyes. Go Hawks!
Looks like a trip to Orlando.
The Big Ten will likely get one of the four at-large bids, but I’m betting Wisconsin or Penn State (with larger alumni bases) will get it.
Let’s hope we can survive Minnesota game. I’m conceding the Ohio State game.
If we do get a BCS bid, it will probably be the Fiesta Tostitos Bowl. (Texas will be in championship; Oklahoma State probably won’t be the top 14 of the BCS rankings.)
spot on, couldn’t be any closer, my thoughts exactly. you can go out to win or you can accidentally go 9-0 by showing up for a game and hoping that defense will score. well guess what, this time they didn’t. and it showed up that there is no offense, neither there is any offensive game plan. hasn’t been for a while
Yeah, seriously: a naked boot through the endzone? With the lead? DIVE PLAY! MAYBE a play-action to Moeaki. I was driving and listening to the game on the radio, and could picture the play from Dolph’s call–it sounded like it looked: a really, really, atrociously bad call.