Game on. The time has come. The annual clash between all that is right with the world and all that is evil. It’s the Iowa version of Yankees-Red Sox, 50 Cent-Ja Rule and USSR-USA. Or, for the freshman girls in the reading audience, Iowa State-Iowa is similar in tenacity to the rivalry between LC and Kristin on “Laguna Beach.” And in this version, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate plays the part of the cocky drama queen.

Now that the Hawkeye fans are nice and lathered up, let’s get to the issue at hand.

I am very disappointed in the lack of quality smack being dished out on both sides of the Cy-Hawk equation. C’mon now, this isn’t acceptable. It’s almost Saturday, and I haven’t even heard a Jason Berryman reference from my Iowa City brethren. Berryman is like a hanging Mark Mulder curve ball for those so interested in the junk talking. What fun is that?

I realize the game will be decided on the field; however, I have no problem with throwing the first right hook at the proverbial groin of Hawkeye Nation. This is a rivalry after all. All things mentioned from here on out should be taken with about as much seriousness as a Kevin Federline rap album. It’s all in good, clean fun.

Let’s get one thing straight. Despite the delusional sense of some on the eastern half of the state, Iowa State won handily last year, 23-3. If this was a UFC fight, Iowa would have tapped out in the first quarter. (In fact, Tate actually did tap out by concussing himself in the first half, but you get the point.)

Tate is so fearful of the Cardinal and Gold he has gone so far as to injure his abdomen this year to give himself a ready-built excuse after another beatdown. Smart man.

What exactly has changed from last year’s 20 point throttling to suddenly give Iowa the impression of imminent dominance? They are favored by 13, for crying out loud.

This is an Iowa team that lost to Northwestern last year and barely escaped a week ago in double overtime against a Syracuse team that has been so awful in recent years, it’s hard to find the words.

Well, actually, no it’s not. This is how bad the all-mighty Syracuse is: The Orange have the distinct honor of being Temple’s only win in three years. Yet, Iowa needed every part of two overtimes to defeat them. Very troubling.

Sure, Iowa has a stout defense that Stevie Hicks tore up for 130 yards last year. And, the Iowa pass defense is so good, it allowed Syracuse’s Perry Patterson, who happened to have the worst passing percentage in the entire NCAA last year, to throw for more than 200 yards and a touchdown, while the Hawks committed an estimated 76 pass interference penalties.

Yet, somehow the Hodge and Greenway-less Hawks are going to shut down Iowa State.

You say the inexperienced ISU defense won’t be able to contain the offensive juggernaut that managed to put up an explosive three points against the Cyclones last year.

Albert Young scares me, and Scott Chandler does some nice things, but the wide outs are as intimidating as a verbal threat from Mister Rogers. Andy Brodell, Dominique Douglas and Herb Grigsby make Ed Hinkel look like Jerry Rice.

It has to be rough on Iowa fans to know their “little brother” has walked into their so-called historic, hostile home and won three of the last four. Or that their $3-million-a-year coach has been humbled by Coach Mac five of seven times they have met. And no, you can’t blame the Conference USA officials for any of those losses, though I know you want to.

The rivalry continues. Beat the Hawks.

Brent Blum is a senior in journalism and mass communication. He hosts the Cyclone Radio Network’s football postgame show. Blum can also be heard from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1430 KASI.