What We Learned: Big Ten coaches give Iowa its due

Sporting News' Dave Curtis analyzes what Tuesday's buzz means to college football. Hawkeye magic So what if Iowa's 9-0 run hasn't won over the authors of the Harris Poll? The Hawkeyes seem to do well among hard drives across America. And they've certainly captivated the Big Ten coaches who must deal with them. Last week, Bill Lynch and Indiana fell victim to the latest minor miracle, highlighted by Tyler Sash's quadruple-doink pick six (and some, um, shaky work from the replay booth). "Iowa has something special going right now," Lynch said on a teleconference. "It's hard to put your finger on it." This week, Northwestern gets a chance at stopping Iowa's express ride to the Rose Bowl. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald knows all about amazing seasons and "Team of Destiny" labels. Although he didn't directly link the '09 Hawks to the '95 Big Ten champ Cats he played for, he can relate to the feeling of positive momentum and unexpected national attention.  ... (link)