Hawkeyes hungry for Floyd of Rosedale

Construction work has begun on the new indoor practice facility. Once it’s finished, a part of the facility will be open for fans to walk through and look at some of the memorabilia and trophies that Iowa football has accumulated over the years.

And right now there would be four empty cases for rivalry trophies. Both fans and players don’t like to see four empty cases.

“We walk past them every day and give a little look to them,” senior Adam Gettis said. “This year we’re missing a couple trophies, and we’d like to have them back.”

The Heartland Trophy was won by Wisconsin in 2010, 31-30, and the Badgers get to keep it for at least two years. Iowa lost at Minnesota last year 27-24 to surrender Floyd of Rosedale. Earlier this season, Iowa lost the interim Cy-Hawk Trophy to Iowa State 44-41.

The Heroes Trophy will be presented for the first time after the Nebraska game Nov. 25.

So right now, it’s 0-for-3.

“I haven’t seen the trophy in our trophy case all year,” senior cornerback Shaun Prater said. “We’ve got to get that back.”

Since the Heartland Trophy was introduced in 2004, there has only been one short stretch when all the cases have been empty.

When Iowa lost at Iowa State 15-13 on Sept. 15, 2007, all three trophies went M.I.A. Two months later, the Hawkeyes reclaimed Floyd with a 21-16 win in Iowa City.

“Any loss is bad, especially one of those trophy games,” Gettis said. “They come run and get your trophy. It’s not fun.”

Most of the current Hawkeye team hasn’t got to experience a trophy grab from the other direction.

Iowa had won three straight to Iowa State before losing this fall. Iowa had won three straight against Minnesota and two straight to Wisconsin before the losses last year.

So the Hawkeyes have done some defending and been the victim of some hordes pilfering their sideline, but haven’t crossed the field and made a grab themselves since Oct. 18, 2008, when they beat Wisconsin 38-16 in Iowa City.

“Its a terrible feeling, one of the worst feelings every,” Iowa senior receiver Marvin McNutt said. “You don’t ever want to feel it again. You try not to ever have to feel it.

“We know what it means to the Hawkeyes, the tradition to the fans on both sides. We’re just making sure we’re coming out and doing what we need to do to get that pig back.”

The bronze bacon is there for the taking. Minnesota (1-6, 0-3) has been struggling this season.

The Gophers have lost their first three Big Ten games by a combined score of 140-31.

But Minnesota does have quarterback MarQueis Gray, another running quarterback who has given the Hawkeyes fits at times.

Gray leads the Gophers with 438 rushing yards and is also 56-for-115 passing for 747 yards.

“Play our assignment football, execute just the right way, we’ll be fine,” senior defensive tackle Mike Daniels said. “Just playing Iowa football, do what we’re supposed to do.”

Daniels said the loss last season to a Minnesota team that came in with just one win will keep Iowa focused in 2011.

“We shouldn’t take anybody lightly,” Daniels said. “Those guys came out and had something to prove… and they did it.”

In addition to getting back a rivalry trophy, a win would make Iowa bowl-eligible for the 11th straight season under Kirk Ferentz.

And it would be the last chance for the seniors to rush over and steal a trophy.

“We want the Floyd of Rosedale; we want the pig this year,” Gettis said. “We want to run over there and take it from them.”

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Tags: Floyd of Rosedale, football, Minnesota

Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football