After destroying the Wisconsin Badgers with 217 yds and 4TD’s, Shonn Greene and his IOWA HAWKEYE teammates are set to have a week off in preparation for the Fighting Illini.  This scenario can only conger up images that are imbedded into my HAWKEYE psyche. 

The year was 1990 and the HAWKEYES were facing the #1 ranked rushing defense in the BIG TEN in Memorial Stadium. Illinois was  ranked 3rd nationally for rushing defense.  On Iowa’s 1st offensive play Nick ran for 44 yards.  It was all downhill for the #5 Illini after that as Nick went on post 168 yards and 2 TD’s in a 56-28 route.   Tony Stewart added 101 rushing yards and a halfback pass to Danan Hughes for a touchdown.  We also scored on a fake field goal and amassed 540 total yards.

Unlike Nick Bell, SHONN GREENE will face an Illinois defense that well is not quite a stout as the 1990 version.  Shonn also gets a week to rest up but so do the Illini as they are playing the Badgers.  This game will be broadcast regionally so another huge day may just put this legendary HAWKEYE further into the national and dare I say Heisman spotlight.   Our stout defense will struggle against the mobile Juice Williams but maybe the Badgers will actually do us a favor this weekend and remind him that he plays in the Big Ten with some hard hits. 

I am not making my game prediction as of yet but as I look at the Illini defense I think our offensive line and SHONN GREENE are licking their chops for this game.  I hate bye weeks.