This weekly breakdown of our opponent provides all you need to know while watching the game this Saturday.
Where: The Field to the north of the Beer Pavilion -- Ross-Ade Stadium.
Who: University of Iowa.
Mascot: Hawkeyes. Although their mascot is a hawk, the name originated in the 1800s describing
a Native American, Chief Black Hawk. Lucky for them, they are hidden in Iowa and no one cares about them like
they do the Fighting Illini or Washington Redskins.
Fun fact: Unfortunately, you can expect a big crowd of
Hawkeye fans on campus this weekend. Upon asking a colleague with Iowan roots about what the state is like he said, “There is absolutely nothing to do there. It is horrible and smells like manure.” So whether their fans are coming to cheer on
their team or escape their boring lives, expect a lot of them.
Notable alumni: Tom Brokaw, Ashton Kutcher, and Tom Arnold.
Who to watch: Purdue Pete. If all else fails, we have the best mascot -- I know, he isn't the official
mascot -- in the Big Ten according to a Chicago Tribune poll. Even though we heavily cheated to win the
poll, with four million more votes than second place, Pete will have plenty to
entertain on homecoming.
Series record: 46-35-3 (Purdue).
Game breakdown: With
a big crowd expected for homecoming, the team should be ready from the
kickoff. Regardless of how ready we are,
we can’t help it if we’re overmatched. However, with an increasingly stable quarterback situation I expect us
to hang in this game.
Prediction: We only lose by 10. Plus five for moral victories.
Next week: At University of Illinois.