For quarterback Jake Christensen, this was a mini-Super Bowl. He faced up against his homestate team and he performed. Yes, he missed a few. Yes, the offense has to find that thing called the end zone more than once a game (it hasn't been a heckuva a lot more than that). But let's back off for a day and give him this one.
For the offensive line. The O-line was better. Was it Bryan Bulaga and Dan Doering? Was it the defense that Illinois put in front of it? Probably a little of both. Get to know Bryan Bulaga. He ain't going away. Doering had a holding penalty, but he was sturdy. The kid has been the poster boy for internet recuiting hype gone wrong. He was requested for postgame interviews but didn't show. I can't say I blame him. The offensive line was a story in the negative sense last week; it's a feel-good this week. What will it be next week?
For Mike Humpal. He had a Greenway-Hodge game today. He's had them the last few weeks, it just leaped out against the spread option today.
For the kickers. We're starting from ground zero after Indiana. Daniel Murray nailed a 28-yarder and an extra point (we're making a note of that). Austin Signor had two or three touchbacks on kickoffs, a big deal in a field position gut check.
For Kirk Ferentz. Yeah, he makes $2.84 million a season. Think he was thinking stock options and boat drinks after Albert Young ran for the clinching first down in the final minute Saturday? Did you see the look on his face with about 40 seconds left? It was right there on ESPN. Football is his life, people. Football is his life. The guy doesn't know if a golf ball is dimpled or dented. I joked with him this summer at the Chicago thingie. I talked with him about fishing. Yeah, he fishes. One time, a few years back, in Canada. He thought he caught something called a walleye. His life is football and family. He likes ice cream. Other than that, football.