Nov. 01--IOWA CITY -- If this garbage performance doesn't prompt Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to ponder major changes in every aspect of his program, nothing will.
Northwestern is getting destroyed at Kinnick Stadium, down to Iowa 38-7 at the break. NU's only score came after Iowa punter WHO dropped a snap and went down at the 18-yard line.
It's the largest halftime deficit since the Wildcats trailed 49-17 at Wisconsin in 2010. That game, Northwestern had the excuse of starting Evan Watkins at quarterback in place of the injured Dan Persa.
Today, there is no excuse. This performance is something from the Dark Ages, worthy of the Rick Venturi era.
There are two teams with equal amounts of talent, both coming off a bye. Only Iowa has shown up to play, carving up NU's defense for 298 yards. The Wildcats have 55.
Among NU's many problems: Quarterback Trevor Siemian has been unable to spot open receivers -- Tony Jones was alone along the left sideline on one play -- and has instead taken drive-killing sacks.
NU's defense has been helpless against Mark Weisman, the Stevenson alum who came to Iowa as a walk-on.
It started terribly for Northwestern -- allowing a 54-yard kickoff return, combined with a Jimmy Hall late hit -- and got worse from there.
Oh to be a fly on the wall in the NU locker room at the half.
tgreenstein@tribune.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
