Heading into the Rose Bowl, it is hard to imagine anything could dampen the excited for Iowa as it prepares to playing the famed bowl for the first time since 1991. However, the unexpected announcement that TE Jake Duzey would miss the Rose Bowl after reinjuring his knee was unwelcome news to the Hawkeyes.
When Kirk Ferentz hinted at an offensive injury to be announced this week, immediate thoughts had to go to the persistent injuries of C.J. Beathard and Tevaun Smith. Losing a player like Duzey, while having a disappointing season, is less than ideal against a Stanford team where having as many options as possible could be a difference maker.