Nov. 02--IOWA CITY -- If this putrid performance doesn't prompt Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to ponder significant changes in his program, what will?
Northwestern got destroyed Saturday by Iowa, losing 48-7 in a game that wasn't that close. NU's only score came after Iowa punter Dillon Kidd dropped a snap inside his own 20.
The 38-7 halftime deficit was the Wildcats' largest since they trailed 49-17 at Wisconsin in 2010. Northwestern had the excuse that game of using quarterback Evan Watkins in place of the injured Dan Persa.
There was no excuse Saturday. NU's performance was culled from the Dark Ages of NU football, something from the Rick Venturi era.
Perhaps it's even more alarming that Fitzgerald detected no warning signs.
"I thought we prepared well," he said. "We had two really good weeks of practice."
Yes, both teams were idle last week -- and only one showed up to play Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
Other than freshman Justin Jackson, who spun his way to a 96-yard rushing effort, Northwestern did nothing right.
"I'm incredibly disappointed," Fitzgerald said. "Obviously it starts with me, starts with our staff. We have to look at our personnel. We had some guys play very poorly today."
NU's passing game is broken, having entered the day next to last in the Big Ten in efficiency.
The Wildcats mustered 75 yards through the air Saturday, its lowest pass total since 67 against Minnesota in 2012, a game they actually won.
Trevor Siemian could not spot the few open receivers created by offensive coordinator Mick McCall's game plan, settling instead for drive-killing sacks, five in all. Tony Jones was all alone along the left sideline in the second quarter, but Siemian didn't see him.
"We have to get the ball out of our hands," Fitzgerald said. "The quarterback gets the blame, but we have to protect him and get guys open."
Siemian finally was pulled after completing just 8 of 18 for 68 yards, saying he would have preferred to stay in and "get something going."
Zack Oliver fared no better in relief, going 1-for-6.
NU's defense was equally problematic, allowing Stevenson alum Mark Weisman to rush for 94 yards and three scores. He went untouched on both of his 8-yard touchdown runs.
Weisman took a handoff and tossed back to Jake Rudock on a flea flicker in the first quarter, and Matt VandeBerg was all alone for a 42-yard catch. It symbolized NU's lack of preparedness and discipline.
And the worst unit of all might have been special teams, which allowed Jonathan Parker to return the opening kickoff 54 yards. Iowa was given 15 more thanks to an out-of-bounds hit by Jimmy Hall.
Chris Gradone's punt was rejected by Ben Niemann, son of Northern Illinois defensive coordinator Jay Niemann, who also scooped it up for a 1-yard score.
"A dream," Niemann called it. "Picture perfect how you would envision it."
And a complete nightmare for Northwestern, which fell to 3-5, 2-3 in the Big Ten, its bowl hopes fading by the minute. Iowa boosted its chances of winning the Big Ten West with its superb performance, improving to 6-2, 3-1.
tgreenstein@tribune.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
