The rivalry between the Badgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes has grown and taken on new dimensions over the years. Iowa is one of Wisconsin's permanent rivals, meaning the two teams face each other every season in Big Ten play. The introduction of the Heartland Trophy in 2004 as the prize for the winner of each contest gave extra incentive to the teams, who already had between them head coach Bret Bielema's move to the Badgers despite a Hawkeye tattoo on his leg, and the Badgers' 1-4 record against Iowa in their last five games. All these things have contributed to making this one of the best rivalries in the Big Ten, and this weekend shouldn't dampen the spirit.
When Bielema was named head coach after the departure of Barry Alvarez, many people were surprised; Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz wasn't one of them. Bielema walked on as a player at Iowa and went on to become co-captain his senior year. Following his graduation, Bielema served as an assistant coach on the team for nine seasons before eventually landing at Wisconsin. Coaching at a different Big Ten school has had its perks for Bielema: He has a good idea of what the Badger game plan needs to be going into the game.
I lived in [the Iowa] program for three years in that defensive meeting room as a linebacker coach; they're solid and they're fundamental, they're tough, they're physical,"" Bielema said during his Monday press conference. ""They kind of do what they do. Maybe there isn't a lot of variation off of what they've done, the coaches that they have are tremendous technicians, and that's why they've been able to be so consistent over the years.""
The consistency the Hawkeyes have displayed has been especially apparent against the Badgers the last few seasons. In 2004, the ninth ranked Badgers visited the No. 17 Hawkeyes for the final game of the season and were routed 30-7 as the Hawkeyes ended up co-Big Ten champions.
In 2005, the Hawkeyes visited Camp Randall for the Badgers' last home game of the season, and Barry Alvarez's last as head coach. After being up 10-0, the Badgers ended up losing 20-10 in a heartbreaking loss in the rainy cold. The loss dashed Wisconsin's hopes of sharing a Big Ten title and left the team without a final home win for Alvarez. The home loss was the Badgers' only of the 2005 season, and they haven't lost at Camp Randall since.
Last season's matchup was another exciting chapter in the rivalry. For coach Bielema, it was his first return to Kinnick Stadium as head coach of the Badgers, a team ranked 16th in the nation going into the game. Quarterback Tyler Donovan made his first career start in the game, stepping in for the injured John Stocco, who had previously started 35 straight games. In a game that showcased his abilities and may have cemented his role as starter this season, Donovan threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns on the way to a 24-21 Badger win. The victory gave the Badgers 10 wins on the season and made Bielema the first rookie head coach in the Big Ten to achieve such a feat. Doing it against his former team couldn't have been sweeter for Bielema.
With the two teams playing under the lights Saturday night, look for a heated and intense game between these two rivals.
