Stanzi has successful ankle surgery

November 10, 2:14 PMIowa Hawkeyes ExaminerJoe Winn

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Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed today that starting quarterback Rick Stanzi underwent successful ankle surgery earlier this week and will likely miss the remainder of the regular season.

Ferentz was optimistic that the junior signal caller, who had led Iowa to 13 consecutive victories prior to being injured in Saturday's loss to Northwestern, will be ready to play in the Hawkeyes bowl game.

"We think he's going to be just fine," The Captain said at his weekly press conference. "It's very, very doubtful that he'll play the next two weeks, but we're very, very confident that he'll return shortly thereafter."

He then went on to say that he was very, very fond of Captain Crunch Berry cereal.

Stanzi was of course injured when Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootton sacked him in the end zone, a play that invited the Hawkeyes eventual demise. Ferentz did not say whether Wootton is now the most despised player in Hawkeye Nation, though it's safe to say the all-Big Ten defender won't soon be returning to Iowa City without an armed entourage.

Keeping Stanzi's seat warm for the remainder of the regular season - assuming he himself doesn't sustain a gruesome ankle injury - will be redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, who completed 9-of-27 attempts for 82 yards and an interception while filling in for Rick on Saturday.

While his statistics weren't necessarily impressive - in fact, they were quite abysmal - he demonstrated great poise for a player boasting such little game experience, and he prompted several Hawkeye fans to think aloud, "Well, if that wasn't the sweetest bounce pass since Magic in his prime..."

Vandenberg will get his first career start this Saturday night in Columbus, where Ohio State fans, players and the sweater vest are undoubtedly already looking forward to celebrating yet another Big Ten championship.

Little do the Buckeyes realize, however, Iowa is 2-0 all time in Columbus on the 14th of November. At least the boys in black and gold have that going for them.