Dropping two spots to No. 6 in the AP poll this week but moving all the way up to No. 3 in the Coaches poll, the Wisconsin Badgers football team has climbed a single spot to eighth in the list that matters, the College Football Playoff Rankings. Still, they find themselves behind the likes of Clemson (lost to Syracuse), Notre Dame (not even a Power Five team) and Alabama (evil).
Last week Wisconsin pulled away from Indiana late in the game to win by a wide margin, which would be promising if it wasn’t leading into Saturday’s matchup against the Buckeye-thrashing Iowa Hawkeyes. They beat Ohio State by 31, humiliating The OSU even more than The OSU humiliates itself by regularly having a nut as a mascot. Also, they did this; pretty dope.
If Bucky can hold off this rising Iowa team — which is quarterbacked by a Wisconsin native named Nate Stanley — the momentum going into next week against Michigan should be at a high enough level to maximize the inevitable let-down to come.
Before the 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Camp Randall, let’s see what else these lovable corn-enthusiasts have going for them.
Field of Dreams
You can’t talk about Iowa without at least mentioning Kevin Costner’s overrated film Field of Dreams. It is a ghost movie with corn and baseball subplots. Also it was made in 1989, which seems about 30 years too late for a movie this campy.
It’s sad that Costner’s involvement invites comparisons between Field of Dreams and his other, much much better baseball movie, Bull Durham, yet here we are.
Glass ceilings
I can’t say I’ve ever given Iowa too much thought, but I’m certain “beacon of progressive ideals” would not be floating around my head. Nevertheless, the University of Iowa was the first public university in the country to admit men and women on an equal basis, and it was also among the first institutions to grant women and African-Americans a law degree.
But that’s not all! In 1970, Iowa became the first state university to recognize the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied Union.
Good for you, Hawkeyes!
The Wave
This season Kinnick Stadium has begun a new tradition. Brace yourselves, cynics; it’s wholesome.
It’s called the “Iowa First Quarter Wave.”
Looking up at their neighbors at the new Stead Family Children’s Hospital building adjacent to the stadium, football fans say hi to the sick kids and their parents every week, which is a nice thought but nowhere near as cool as UW’s “eat shit, fuck you” chant?
Though to be fair, that’s probably not something that should be screamed at seriously ill children. Or in the vicinity of any children. You got us on this one, Iowa.
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