Quarterback Mark Gronowski’s tough-nosed playing style has inspired some to compare him with a college star from almost two decades ago.
Think Tim Tebow, except in an Iowa uniform.
“There’s probably a good, fair comparison there, and it’s unusual,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said when asked about the connection between run-dominant quarterbacks. “That’s why Tim was famous, too. It’s a very unique thing. You don’t see it very often.”
Gronowski and his teammates will look to continue plowing past opponents when Iowa takes on Minnesota on Saturday afternoon in Iowa City in a border rivalry matchup.
In his first seven games with Iowa (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten), Gronowski has rushed for 289 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has completed 65.1% of his passes for 811 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck studied the tape of Iowa’s game last week, when Gronowski led the Hawkeyes to a 25-24 home win over Penn State. Gronowski rushed nine times for 130 yards and two TDs, and he completed 10 of 16 passes for 68 yards with one interception.
“He runs the ball like a running back, throws it like a quarterback,” Fleck said. “… He’s a winner. All he’s done is win.”
Before going to Iowa, Gronowski led South Dakota State to two FCS national titles.
The Golden Gophers hope that their hot defense can help keep Iowa in check.
Last week, Minnesota (5-2, 3-1) registered a program-record nine sacks in a 24-6 win over then-No. 25 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers averaged 41 points a game before running into the unit led by first-year Golden Gophers defensive coordinator Danny Collins.
“We’re still really aggressive, but I thought last year we were ultra-aggressive, whether you want to talk about blitzing or whether you want to talk about assignments,” Fleck said. “… Danny checks every single box and is really, really disciplined. I have a ton of respect for Danny and what he’s been able to do. And listen, we’re only going to continue to get better.”
On offense, Minnesota is led by quarterback Drake Lindsey, who has passed for 1,437 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first seven starts. He has spread the ball around, with four Golden Gophers notching multiple receiving touchdowns.
Gronowski’s top target in the passing game is Sam Phillips, who has 11 catches for 193 yards and is averaging 17.5 yards per reception. The Hawkeyes’ top running back is Kamari Moulton, who has rushed for 360 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Minnesota owns a 63-53-2 series lead over its longtime rivals. The Hawkeyes won 31-14 in Minneapolis last season.
The programs’ leaders, Ferentz and Fleck, are the two longest-tenured coaches in the Big Ten.
“First of all, there are no easy jobs in college football, I don’t think,” Ferentz said. “And we have our challenges, Minnesota has got their challenges. Every job does. But (Fleck) has done a great job, I think, of working around whatever challenges it is that they may have.
“He’s done something that really hasn’t been done there in quite some time. They’re winning consistently.”
