Stanzi finds ways to win
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| AP photo Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi has been inconsistent this season. But the Hawkeyes have remained undefeated with an opportunistic defense. (AP photo) |
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By LUKE MEREDITH
The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Don’t like the way Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi is playing? Give it a little time.
At times, Stanzi can look awful. Such as last week, when he threw four interceptions in the third quarter against Indiana to help put the eighth-ranked Hawkeyes in a 10-point hole.
Then there is Good Ricky, the guy who bailed Iowa out by tossing two long TDs on consecutive throws to give his team a lead it would not relinquish in beating the Hoosiers, 42-24.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has long since tired of defending Stanzi and said he never considered pulling him against Indiana despite all those picks.
Ferentz views Stanzi as the resilient leader of a team that keeps finding ways to win, and though Stanzi’s individual numbers aren’t pretty – like the Hawkeyes – it’s tough to dispute Ferentz’s belief in him.
Stanzi, a 6-foot-4 junior from Mentor, Ohio, is 17-3 as a starter and has led the Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) to 13 consecutive wins, the second-longest streak in the country, heading into Saturday’s game against Northwestern (5-4, 2-3).
“He does have a rare ability, when he struggles, to come right back and just keep pushing forward, much like a relief pitcher,” Ferentz said. “If you’re in a high-risk position, you have to have that capability.”
There’s no Heisman Trophy talk around Stanzi, not with all the close games, a 56.4 percent completion rate and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14-to-13. But he has shown composure leading the Hawkeyes to the best start in school history.
Stanzi suffered through his fair share of criticism this season and has yet to blink. He was derided during the early portion of the season for throwing three interceptions that were brought back for touchdowns – he was called “Rick-Six” for a while – but he bounced back with pick-free games in wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State.
Then came the third quarter against the Hoosiers.
Every possession Iowa had in the quarter ended with a Stanzi interception, as pass after pass was battered by a stiff and swirling wind. But Iowa’s defense picked Stanzi up by allowing the Hoosiers to score just three points off those four picks, and his teammates made it a point to encourage him on the sidelines.
In the fourth quarter, Stanzi responded like he has all season.
On his first pass of the final quarter, Stanzi calmly rolled out on a play-action pass and hit Marvin McNutt in stride. McNutt dashed 92 yards for a touchdown.
On his next snap, Stanzi again went to the play action before stepping up in the pocket and floating a perfect pass downfield to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who cut through Indiana’s secondary for a 66-yard score to put Iowa ahead, 28-24.
“When you look at your team, you don’t want to let them down. Any time a guy makes a mistake, he knows that the team is behind him to go back and correct that mistake,” Stanzi said.
Stanzi, who also threw a TD pass to McNutt on the game’s final play to beat Michigan State, 15-13, on Oct. 24, is a big reason why Iowa has outscored opponents, 100-38, in the fourth quarter.
“Rick is very resilient and he always finds a way to come back,” McNutt said. “He’s a guy that, he’s never got negative energy inside the huddle.”
Ferentz has often said that Stanzi’s toughness has rubbed off on his teammates.
“We all make mistakes. Rick’s had his fair share, I’ve had my fair share,” wide receiver Trey Stross said. “One of my favorite quotes growing up is, ‘Adversity causes some to break, and others to break records.’ Rick’s the guy that, when adversity is in his way he kind of buckles down more, focuses in, tunes in a little more. He’s a great leader.”
