Rejus Benn really, really, really hates Iowa
by RossWB on Jul 29, 2009 8:41 PM CDT
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PrintArrelious (which somehow gets inexplicably shortened to "Rejus") Benn has a problem. And that problem wears black and gold. Remember this choice quote from nearly a year ago?
Q: How about your least favorite moment?
A: Losing to Iowa. I hate Iowa.
At the time, it made a bit of sense. A middling Iowa team had knocked off a much higher-ranked Illinois team and handed them a loss that ultimately kept them from sharing the Big 10 Championship with Ohio State. Then again, it's not like that loss really did that much damage - Illinois still made the Rose Bowl and got to be USC's designated Big 10 Sacrificial Lamb. And Benn actually had one of his best statistical games of the season (4 catches, 87 yards).
But you might think that a year later, after having avenged that defeat in Iowa City, and with no more games against Iowa on the slate while Benn is at Illinois, he might have gotten over his hatred of all things tigerhawk. According to the Harty Party, nope.
"For some reason, I've just always hated Iowa," Benn said at the annual Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday. "I do not like Iowa."
Benn not only hates the Iowa football team, but almost everything associated with the program, from the school colors to the pink visitor's locker room at Kinnick Stadium.
He says it stems mostly from the fact that the Iowa fans charged on to the field at Kinnick Stadium after the Hawkeyes upset Illinois 10-6 in 2007 when Benn was a freshman.
"We probably would have charged the field if we were in the situation they were in at that time," Benn said. "But I think a lot of it is they charged the field in Iowa City. And the locker room was pink and hot. I just didn't like it.
"And that game we should have won."
Man, if the fans rushing the field after that Illinois game in 2007 (and I was there - that was a pretty tame rushing the field experience, as those things go) ticked him off that much, it's a good thing he doesn't play for Penn State. Or, worse yet, Minnesota:
Hawkeye Fans Take Down the Metrodome's Goalposts (via storminspank)
But overexcited Hawkeye fans? Pink locker rooms? "Stealing" wins? These aren't the true sources of Benn's rage. But I know the truth. He's still bitter that he and the Illini got shown up one man:
EPIC GREENWOOD. He'll be waiting for you on Sundays, Rejus.
(Yeah, I know that's Juice in the picture, and not Benn. And that McGee actually threw the INT to Greenwood. The interwebs failed me in my attempts to find a more technically accurate picture or video.)
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Well...
I don’t like Illinois either. I really don’t. Just don’t.
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
Not only that...
but it looks like he just juked Greenwood out of whatever male supportive garments he was wearing at the time.
@Bucketochicken: I would much rather have Iowa play Illinois than Iowa State every year. It’s unfortunate that we already have two rivalry games in the Big Ten when they so clearly should have one with Illinois. But maybe that’s cause I live in St. Louis and I have to hear about how great Illinois is (not to mention Missouri).
Yeah, I hear ya - I live in Chicago,
…and all my in-laws are native Champaign-Urbanianites. And huge Illini fans.
/sigh
I’d like to keep ISU (despite the inherent disadvantages for Iowa). It’s too much fun to drop. However, I would like to see it moved to the last game of the season. Or not. Whatever. As long as this “getting beat by ISU every couple years” shit stops. Or yeah, fuck it, drop the series for a few years. Whatever. Of course if that happened, the cries of “EIU is afraid to play us! Fuckin taverhawks!” from Ames would be screechy and annoying. Fuck Rhoads. I hope they spiral backward into a Criner-esque quagmire of sucktacular ineptitude. Or just McCarney-esque levels of sucktacular ineptitude buffered by the once-every-seven-years dance with staggering mediocrity wherein they eke out a Boise Bowl invite only to get thoroughly shitkicked by Coastal Caolina or whoever. Guh. Whatever. Fart.
But yeah, not having Illinois as a protected rivalry is just plain stupid.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
@Bucketochicken...
That paragraph was a delightful blend of profanity, adjectives, made-up words, sentence fragments, and anti-Cyclone sentiment. It was a pleasure to read.
by WaterlooChazz on Jul 30, 2009 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions
sucktacular ineptitude
is my new favorite phrase…and that you paired it up with quagmire was sublime reading.
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
Late-night Johnnie Walker Black brings out the best in everyone
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Well crafted indeed
A tip of the cap to you bucketochicken
by Internet Legend on Jul 30, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I wish we played Illinois every year too
although I wouldn’t want to give up our annual games with Wisco and Minnesota to make it happen. I’d rather play jNW (and, no, not just because of their recent success against us; they’re just annoying douchebags and I’d rather not pay them – or their fans – any attention) and Purdue/Indiana less.
Maybe the Big Ten...
should have it so that you play 4 teams every year, and the other 4 every other year or every couple years.
I would say Iowa should play Minnesota, Wisky, Illinois, and probably NW every year. I could live with only seeing PSU, OSU, Michigan, MSU, Purdue, and Indiana on some sort of rotating basis, couldn’t you?
I think the question is
how much you want winnable games and how much you want exciting games. Most years, Indiana falls into Category 1 (unless they have Randle El or pre-fuck-up Kellen Lewis) and the W is nice, but the game is rarely something to get too jazzed about. On the other hand, games against Michigan and Ohio are never not exciting (yay, double negatives). The 2006 Ohio State game was probably the most jacked up I’ve ever been for a game at Kinnick and I was buzzing about the 2004 game even though it was maybe the worst Ohio State team of the last decade. Likewise, I don’t really give a shit that Michigan isn’t Michigan right now and that they’re coming off a 3-9 season… I’m still totally excited for that game.
Granted, until we go to a 10-game conference schedule (which will probably be the day after Hell starts selling popsicles), someone’s going to have to rotate off, but from a fan excitement standpoint, I’d rather not see Ohio State and Michigan rotate off too often.
Ideally...
if we are an 11-team league, I’d like to play all. But if we ever become a 12-team league, that would be tough to do. I don’t see the Big 10 kicking anyone out soon, so we will have to keep rotating teams off the schedule.
I would say that the OSU and Michigan games are exciting only if Iowa is good-to-great. Even when we are good (and sometimes great), we usually get stomped. When we are great (or when OSU or Mich is just good or even bad) we go roughly .500. I’d rather play them every other year instead of other options (playing them 9 of 11 years, or playing them almost never).
I’m not sure which makes me more mad/disappointed: losing to OSU by 20 or 30 points consistently, or dropping two in a row to teams like Indiana, NW, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue. We have managed to do both at some point in the last 5 years.
The main reason I wrote the idea (I’m sure its not a new idea) that you keep the same 4 teams each year, is because it would work so well for Iowa. It was more based on geography than winnable games.
I think I ended up agreeing with you on some points, so don’t take this post as some form of argument starter. I’m just feeling chatty.
by WaterlooChazz on Jul 30, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I feel like we've been pretty competitive with Michigan a lot of the time
Ohio State, not so much. That said, the only time in recent memory I can remember not being too excited about playing Ohio State or Michigan is 2000, when we terrible and it was obvious that OSU was going to pound us (and they did). So, yeah, if we suck it’s not quite as much fun to play them… but none of my expectations or predictions ever take into account the fact that we might suck. ;-)
Personally, I can handle dropping games to OSU a lot easier than losing repeatedly to the likes of Indiana. Iowa can still have a good season if they drop a game to Ohio State or Michigan, but losing to teams they “should” be better than (a la Indiana) makes that almost impossible.
I agree with most of what you said,
but I think us being competitive with Michigan is an exception to the rule.
Under Ferentz or Fry, we have NOT played Michigan 8 times.
Out of 16 games, Fry beat them 4 times (once by 26 points, all other wins were by 2 or less), and tied once. We lost 7 times by 14 points or more, and 3 of those times were by more than 20 points).
Out of 6 games, Ferentz has beat them twice (once by 25 pts). We’ve lost twice by 13 or more points, and two other losses (once by 3, and once by 6).
So, about 40% of the time we play them, we lose by roughly 2 touchdowns. So about 60% of the time I would call “competitive.” Maybe I should not expect more against an “elite” team. But I’d like to do better than just beat them 6 times (and tie once) in 29 years.
I used to get excited to play OSU, mostly because Oh How I Hate Ohio State. But, that enthusiasm is fading because we usually get stomped (an average of 20 points for all losses in the Fry/Ferentz eras).
You are probably right that it should be easier to tolerate this compared to dropping back-to-backers to IU, NW, Purdue, or ISU. I guess it all ticks me off. That pain only gets cured when we beat PSU, or stomp someone else, or win a bowl game.
by WaterlooChazz on Aug 2, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't like Penn State second most
I am learning to dislike Penn State and would love to keep them in the rotation. The teams I am indifferent to keeping year in and year out are: Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern (too often they just suck and there is no juice in the lead up to the game), and I am happy to rotate with Michigan and Ohio State but would not like to see BOTH off the schedule anymore.
I feel that it is important, and to a team’s benefit, to have a difficult schedule. My favorite Iowa schedule was the 1981 schedule. We opened with Nebraska at home and they were (I think) top 5. Then we went Ames, then we played UCLA at home and they were top 10. We also had Michigan (top 10 I believe) on that schedule. That was a great schedule. We went to the Rose Bowl that year, in large part I believe, because of how that non-conference schedule prepared us for the Big 10 season—which by the way, should be the most important purpose of the non-conference schedule. If we were a perennial National Championship contenders then I could be more understanding of the double patsy heavy schedule here or there. Those teams never get hurt in the voting by having weak schedules. Penn State will likely not suffer for having a joke schedule merely becasue they are Penn State. So I say load up with strong match-ups in terms of fan interest, TV interest and that means stout competition.
This year, for example, seems like such a waste to play Northern Iowa AND Ark St. It would be much more rewarding to play a Missouri (I know, I know) , or entice a Kansas State into a series (Bill is back as coach there so this could easily happen), or keep Pitt in there, maybe get South Florida (former Hawkeye coach is there!) or get a upper division PAC 10 team in there. Of course, I would love ND, and SEC pwer, or Oklahoma, Nebraska again!!! or Texas, USC, etc. but they will not agree to it. I know the $$ dictates these match-ups but I really would like to see us play two name brands AND Iowa State or let’s dump ISU and upgrade.
Of course, it would help if ISU got better in the rankings.
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
Of course
Arizona is an upper division Pac 10 but keeping these type teams on the schedule is my hope.
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
but
we love you.
don’t hate. bad for the complexion.
Eat what the monkey eats, then eat the monkey. -U.S. Navy survival guidance
Dislike is better than apathy...
which is the opposite of love. I think Bono said that.
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
by StoopsMyAss on Jul 30, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh yeah?
Well the Diner could kick Hambug Inn’s ass any day of the week.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jul 30, 2009 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Take that back, you pigfucker. TAKE. THAT. BACK.
storminspank: "Or we could join you can take our pants off."
by Patrick Vint on Jul 30, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions
Pigs?
Naw, we like chickens.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 30, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Not only that-
Pagliai’s? What the hell…
Canyon Pizza on its worst day is better than that slop.
…and @Rambler- I’m not sure that calling me a pigfucker wasn’t actually an attempt to defuse the situation by saying that I’m accepted as one of their own.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jul 30, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions
No
If they wanted you to join them, they would call you a cornfucker. Or maybe that’s for Nebraska fans. Whatever.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 30, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm with the penn state guys
I like playing them, most of their fans here and on BSD are hilarious and seem like good guys. The ones that aren’t have an active dislike for Iowa that is entertaining. KF said he thought they ought to look at a 13 game schedule (might happen) and Mack Brown was coveting the Big XI and Pac 10 due to the mostly full conference schedule they play every year, bitching about the championship game since its fucking them, and would like to drop it (won’t happen – $). Obliquely, I think he was suggesting jettisoning the clones, Kansas State and Mizzou, adding TCU to get back to 10 and one division. Seeing as how Delaney will never add a 12th team unless it’s ND and ND will only ever join the Big East, not Big XI, we’re stuck with this nonsensical schedule unless they add games so everyone can keep 6-7 homers. Look at what Mike Leach said the other day about playoffs and the BCS – he’s portrayed as crazy but ought to be the NCAA football czar.
I like Penn State
As much as one can “like” a conference rival, anyway. Like Txhawkeye states, they have good fans and aren’t complete egotistical pricks (even though they easily could be) or hillbilly rube backwoods morons.
I’m also totally with Stoops on the ambivalence toward the four teams he mentioned, and I’m all for the 13 game schedule and/or dropping one non-conference for a conference game. Whatever. Just two UNI/Ark. St-level games is silly, even if it isn’t necessarily Iowa’s fault or whatever.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions
I'll admit it
I like Iowa. Always have. The Steeler inspired uniforms, Hayden Fry’s moustache, the kickass fight song, it’s all great.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 30, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions
My favorite thing about Iowa:
They hate Iowa State. If you ever knew an ISU fan, you’d know why that makes them alright in my book.
And I’ll admit it- I was kind of in awe the time that Hayden Fry was seated at the table next to me at Red Lobster in Coralville.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jul 30, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
I hate....
jNU, Minnesota, Wisc for the most part, OSU and Illinois….and whoever we’re playing that particular week. But Illinois is the only school I have a hard time cheering for during bowl season.
I hate...
everybody except the Hawks. Literally. Not just the Big Televen either. All other D1 schools. I hope they all lose every game….
"I'm not doing any good back here."
I'm torn
I love it when Michigan or whoever’s hot in the Big 10 at any given time pisses one down their leg against a bad non-conference opponent. Then I realize that it just plays into the whole “Big 10 is down this year” mantra and I get depressed.
And what the fuck is up with commentators always saying “the Big 10 is down this year” in both football and basketball every damned year? It can’t be possible… even if it is “down” every year, “down” would be the new “normal.”
by Angle's Dangle on Jul 30, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Because most announcers are unoriginal and borderline retarded (at best) from head trauma
So once a meme is out there, they run with it until someone else changes the narrative because most of them are too dumb to come up with anything on their own. That said, did you know that Mitch King used to have long hair but then he cut his hair and now he has short hair now? And also Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge are like, total BFFs even though one is from Nowhere, SD and the other is from Florida? AND one is White and the other is Black! And they’re STILL friends! It’s like a real-life “Tod and Copper!” One time Hodge even visited Greenway’s home in South Dakota and everyone was all like, “holycowwtf!!!LOLwut” but it was ok ‘cuz he was Chad’s friend so no one felt threatened or anything and they thought his hair was neat. The world sure is a crazy place! And Shonn Greene used to move furniture! And now he’s like a billion dollar baby, only not exactly and success story!! Matt Kroul! Pumpkin farm!!
Also, here’s some still shots of a barn and some cornfields, also.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I would tell you to lay of the Johnnie Walker, but I think it is to you what spinich is to Popeye. downright amazing and hysterical, I have to say.
It's not that I'm lazy, Bob, it's just that I don't care
No JWB for me today - well, not till it's nightcap time, anyway. But that's like, 9 or 10 hours away yet.
Thanks though!
Also, I love spinach.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions
About Bucketochicken...
Today’s comment did not have the same, JohnnieWalker-fueled awesomeness that yesterday’s had. Still good, but not great. I would have guessed that today’s comment was fueled by you huffing paint thinner.
by WaterlooChazz on Jul 30, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Nope. Just the stale, tired fumes of cubicle ennui.
Which is basically like paint thinner sans euphoria (or possible instant death).
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
@ Loogie...
What did Tulane ever do to you?
by WaterlooChazz on Jul 30, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Iowa fans are cool
except for that one dick in Orlando in 2002. YES YOUR BOWL GAME IS IN MIAMI! GO AWAY! STOP ANNOYING ME! YES, THE CAPITAL ONE BOWL ISN’T AS COOL AS YOU! F OFF! 
You know who you are.
Thank you for that beautiful GIF
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 30, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Is that emoticon beating off or listening to metal?
Or beating off to metal?
Either way, ity’s pretty cool. Also, he has a giant fist.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 30, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Does that mean
that the emoticon is supposed to be Rajon Rondo?
by Angle's Dangle on Jul 31, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he is shaving...to metal
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
Either that. or he's stabbing a ghost.
Either way, it’s fucking brutal.
by Bucketochicken on Jul 31, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
it won't stop!
"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know." Bill Parcells
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