Iowa newspaper trolls Hawkeyes with fantastic sports page headline
An Iowa newspaper had the perfect way to describe the Hawkeye’s 7-3 victory over South Dakota featuring two safeties and 21 punts.
Iowa football made it through their season opener against FCS South Dakota State with a 7-3 win.
You can already guess the game was lacking in offense based on that score line. But even 7-3 doesn’t tell the whole story.
Neither team scored a touchdown. Iowa’s seven points came via a field goal and two safeties. There were 21 punts between the two sides. The Hawkeyes had 166 yards of total offense. The Jackrabbits had 120.
What’s the best way to cover a victory like that? The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa had the answer.
Iowa newspaper trolls Hawkeyes with fantastic sports page headline
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“I-WA VICT-RY,” the screaming headline read, omitting all instances of an “O.”
A subhead said, “No ‘O’ in sight, but defense, special teams helps Hawkeyes squeak by Jackrabbits.”
Another article on the page invoked the saying made famous by former UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel: “Punting is winning.”
As far as season openers go, especially against FCS opposition, this one did not go the way anyone in Iowa would have hoped, even if the team still got a win. A 7-3 win over a lower-level opponent might as well be a loss.
Highlighting the effort of the defense and special teams is fair. The Hawkeyes didn’t give North Dakota an inch and scored more points than their offense.
Really though, the story of the game was the absolutely dismal offense. Quarterback Spencer Petras was ineffective. The run game was non-existent. The offensive line was overrun. And theoretically the opposition from here on out will only get more difficult.
A particularly fitting newspaper headline is the least of Iowa’s worries.
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