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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The question seemed innocuous and trite, but linebacker Chad Greenway's answer peeled to a deeper issue at stake today for the Iowa football team.
Just how big would it be for the Hawkeyes to win today at Ohio State?
"It would be huge for this team's confidence to go over there and get a win," Greenway said, "and know we can go on the road in a tough environment and get the job done."
The Hawkeyes think they can go on the road in a tough environment and get the job done. But they don't know for a fact yet.
Iowa failed its first test in this situation two weeks ago and "didn't really show a lot of maturity over at Iowa State," according to Greenway. That defeat could be one of the reasons why the word "confidence" slipped into conversations with reporters this week.
The Hawkeyes knew they'd be dealing with inexperience on the defensive line going into Big Ten play. They figured it might take some time to get a few other areas up and running. But confidence? The defending conference champions aren't supposed to be answering questions about their self-esteem.
"I don't think (our confidence is) as high as it could be or as low as it could be," Greenway said. "We're probably somewhere in the middle and building. Confidence is built by being comfortable in what you're doing and knowing you're on the right page as everybody else."
Ohio Stadium typically isn't the place where opponents go to feel better about themselves. Ohio State usually doesn't allow the opposition to feel comfortable in what it's doing. And through three games, the Hawkeyes have repeatedly stated that they need to turn the book to the same page.
No. 21 Iowa (2-1) opens Big Ten play at 11:05 a.m. against the eighth-ranked Buckeyes (2-1) inside a stadium they haven't left victorious since 1991.
"I don't think anybody's picking us to win this game," Iowa running back Albert Young said. "That's something we're going to use as extra motivation."
The Hawkeyes know it's going to take more than just extra motivation to beat Ohio State on its home turf. It's going to take a spotless performance in all three segments to start league play with a win.
"I know we're going to have to play our best football for four quarters," linebacker Abdul Hodge said. "We're going to have to start fast and finish strong if we want to win the game."
Iowa sparkled on offense, defense and special teams against Ohio State last year in a 33-7 victory. The Buckeyes are still stinging from their most lopsided defeat in 10 years.
"That was a low point for us for most of our careers, and that really stuck with us," Ohio State defensive end Mike Kudla said. "It's something that kind of motivated us through the offseason to really get better and not have another game like that."
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel tried to downplay the revenge aspect this week.
"I don't know if revenge is the right approach," he said. "I think remembrance of how good you better be, because you have to play a lot better than the last time you played them.
"If revenge becomes a factor, I'm afraid you lose sight of what it is that you're trying to square away. It's our performance that we need to square away, but all of us have lived with our lack of performance that day, whether it was coaching performance or playing performance, and you would hope anytime you have shortcomings that that serves as an added incentive to do better."
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said last year's one-sided win against Ohio State was "just one of those you throw out." He said the Hawkeyes caught the Buckeyes at the right time.
Ohio State won five of its final six games last season and helped the Hawkeyes to a share of the conference title by shredding Michigan on the final weekend of the Big Ten season.
Ohio State's improvement down the stretch coupled with its impressive collection of returning talent made the Buckeyes a popular choice to win the Big Ten entering this season. Thus far, however, Ohio State's explosive offense hasn't exploded and the Hawkeyes hope the time bomb doesn't go off this weekend.
The Buckeyes rank last in the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category, but it's not because of a shortage of weaponry. The Hawkeyes will spend today monitoring speedy receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes and the run-pass threat of quarterback Troy Smith.
"Pretty explosive," Greenway said of the Buckeye offense. "You've heard the names -- Ginn, Holmes, Smith -- all these guys are incredible athletes and can kill you any way. Anytime they touch the ball, it could be a touchdown, and that's a scary thought."
Ohio State's defense has just as many big names. Linebackers A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel are the Buckeyes' answer to Greenway, Hodge and Edmond Miles.
"They're good players, there's no question about it," Iowa quarterback Drew Tate said. "But they're the same guys who were here last year that we did pretty well on. I'm not saying that's going to happen again, but they're really elite players and they've got a reputation and they do a lot with their linebackers."
Ferentz said the defensive front is where the Buckeyes have made the most improvement since last year's meeting.
"Let's not forget about that," Young said. "It's tough to get out on the linebackers because the d-line is so strong. All those guys in the box, it's going to take a maximum team effort just to get something going against them."
Just how big would it be for the Hawkeyes to win today at Ohio State?
"It would be huge for this team's confidence to go over there and get a win," Greenway said, "and know we can go on the road in a tough environment and get the job done."
The Hawkeyes think they can go on the road in a tough environment and get the job done. But they don't know for a fact yet.
Iowa failed its first test in this situation two weeks ago and "didn't really show a lot of maturity over at Iowa State," according to Greenway. That defeat could be one of the reasons why the word "confidence" slipped into conversations with reporters this week.
The Hawkeyes knew they'd be dealing with inexperience on the defensive line going into Big Ten play. They figured it might take some time to get a few other areas up and running. But confidence? The defending conference champions aren't supposed to be answering questions about their self-esteem.
"I don't think (our confidence is) as high as it could be or as low as it could be," Greenway said. "We're probably somewhere in the middle and building. Confidence is built by being comfortable in what you're doing and knowing you're on the right page as everybody else."
Ohio Stadium typically isn't the place where opponents go to feel better about themselves. Ohio State usually doesn't allow the opposition to feel comfortable in what it's doing. And through three games, the Hawkeyes have repeatedly stated that they need to turn the book to the same page.
No. 21 Iowa (2-1) opens Big Ten play at 11:05 a.m. against the eighth-ranked Buckeyes (2-1) inside a stadium they haven't left victorious since 1991.
"I don't think anybody's picking us to win this game," Iowa running back Albert Young said. "That's something we're going to use as extra motivation."
The Hawkeyes know it's going to take more than just extra motivation to beat Ohio State on its home turf. It's going to take a spotless performance in all three segments to start league play with a win.
"I know we're going to have to play our best football for four quarters," linebacker Abdul Hodge said. "We're going to have to start fast and finish strong if we want to win the game."
Iowa sparkled on offense, defense and special teams against Ohio State last year in a 33-7 victory. The Buckeyes are still stinging from their most lopsided defeat in 10 years.
"That was a low point for us for most of our careers, and that really stuck with us," Ohio State defensive end Mike Kudla said. "It's something that kind of motivated us through the offseason to really get better and not have another game like that."
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel tried to downplay the revenge aspect this week.
"I don't know if revenge is the right approach," he said. "I think remembrance of how good you better be, because you have to play a lot better than the last time you played them.
"If revenge becomes a factor, I'm afraid you lose sight of what it is that you're trying to square away. It's our performance that we need to square away, but all of us have lived with our lack of performance that day, whether it was coaching performance or playing performance, and you would hope anytime you have shortcomings that that serves as an added incentive to do better."
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said last year's one-sided win against Ohio State was "just one of those you throw out." He said the Hawkeyes caught the Buckeyes at the right time.
Ohio State won five of its final six games last season and helped the Hawkeyes to a share of the conference title by shredding Michigan on the final weekend of the Big Ten season.
Ohio State's improvement down the stretch coupled with its impressive collection of returning talent made the Buckeyes a popular choice to win the Big Ten entering this season. Thus far, however, Ohio State's explosive offense hasn't exploded and the Hawkeyes hope the time bomb doesn't go off this weekend.
The Buckeyes rank last in the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category, but it's not because of a shortage of weaponry. The Hawkeyes will spend today monitoring speedy receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes and the run-pass threat of quarterback Troy Smith.
"Pretty explosive," Greenway said of the Buckeye offense. "You've heard the names -- Ginn, Holmes, Smith -- all these guys are incredible athletes and can kill you any way. Anytime they touch the ball, it could be a touchdown, and that's a scary thought."
Ohio State's defense has just as many big names. Linebackers A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel are the Buckeyes' answer to Greenway, Hodge and Edmond Miles.
"They're good players, there's no question about it," Iowa quarterback Drew Tate said. "But they're the same guys who were here last year that we did pretty well on. I'm not saying that's going to happen again, but they're really elite players and they've got a reputation and they do a lot with their linebackers."
Ferentz said the defensive front is where the Buckeyes have made the most improvement since last year's meeting.
"Let's not forget about that," Young said. "It's tough to get out on the linebackers because the d-line is so strong. All those guys in the box, it's going to take a maximum team effort just to get something going against them."
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