Moderate Expectations: A Hawkeye Discourse

Welcome to the Franimal House (Wish I made that up)

2010-03-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

So, Iowa hired a new basketball coach on Sunday, in case you're living under a rock or Scott Dochterman's voyeuristic video camera stalker trip didn't pique your interests. And, despite the hot mid-major resume and professorial appearance, he couldn't be any more different from severed incumbent Todd Lickliter. Fran McCaffery, fresh off a "fran-tastic" three year run at Siena (upstate New York) where he guided the Saints to three straight NCAA tournaments, including first-round upsets over fourth-seeded Vanderbilt in 2008 and the Evan Turner-led Ohio State Buckeyes in 2009 (the game when Bill Raftery popularized "double onions!"), is our new head man. After his explosively perfect press conference on Monday, the bespectacled, stately gent know as "White Magic" for his street-wise playing days in urban Philadelphia has already won over the black-and-gold faithful in ways pretty boy Steve Alford and "systematic" Lick never could.

Fran is the only D1 coach to have guided three different teams from traditional one-bid leagues to the NCAA tournament, spearheading vast turnarounds at Lehigh, North Carolina-Greensboro, and of course Siena. The 49-year-old doesn't run a "system," per se, which should be refreshing to fans sick and tired of hearing Lickliter's favorite justification for success. During the presser, Fran said his teams will play up-tempo and switch up defenses based on match-ups, terms foreign and frightening to Lickliter. There will be obvious eyebrow raises concerned with the current roster's ability to run-and-gun (Cougill on the fastbreak is a scary thought), but Coach has reiterated that he will adapt to the strengths of his players. His teams at Siena shot an inordinately low amount of threes, directly contrasting with the previous regime, and were known for hardly ever fouling. Recruiting is a question mark, if only because McCaffery, a Digger Phelps assistant at Notre Dame during the '90s, hasn't been in the Midwest in quite some time. It will be interesting to see if he still decides to primarily recruit the East Coast, or strengthens pipelines in Chicago and the Twin Cities. His wife, Marge, a former All-American player herself at Notre Dame and Minnesota native, has a feisty reputation for dogging officials (she was kicked out of an '06 game) and baking apple pies for potential recruits. He has four young kids, and made sure they were on display throughout Monday's festivities.

Essentially, he's the anti-Lick.

The theme ran rampant during the press conference and continued into a meet-and-greet with Iowa students and the general public later in the evening: change is here. Fran emphasized the benefits of raising a family in Iowa City, community interaction, and getting fans back in the seats. He spoke of having relationships with players, inviting them to his home and making them feel like family. He wants recruits to feel safe, parents to trust their children to his hands. He talked about moving the student section behind the opponents' bench, telling anecdotes from his first visit to Carver in the '80s when his Lehigh team was crushed in front of a raucous sell-out crowd by George Raveling's primetime Hawkeyes. The interaction with the media was a night-and-day difference — Fran was smooth, poised, with a quick East Coast-drenched swagger in his voice. He told humorous tales about recruiting former Hawkeye greats Jess Settles and Kenyon Murray, delineating a knowledge of Hawkeye history that Lick could never grasp. He didn't inundate the media with tales of his successes at Siena: he knows this is Iowa, and made it clear this was his first job choice, a job he pursued instead of openings at Seton Hall and St. John's.

Fran clearly outlined a blueprint for improvement and keeping current players/recruiting class, discussed possibly nabbing a former Hawk player as an assistant on his staff, and even laughed politely when Barta made a joke about Mrs. McCaffery needing seat-belts on gameday. Talk rampaged of bringing the fans back with fast-break ball played "the right way," getting the arena "rockin' again" and making it impossible to buy tickets. Talk of practice facilities and renovations generated excitement, not excuses. It's undeniable — Fran said all the right things, and it was obvious he set out to portray himself as everything Lickliter wasn't. He was comfortable, the opposite of aloof, friendly, engaging, and told the fans everything they wanted to hear. Expect improvement year one, per Fran. How much? Nobody really knows, but I would pencil the Hawks in for 13-15 wins. Am I lost in the allure of a Fran-high? Maybe. But I am already more excited for basketball than I ever was under the Lickliter era, and my hardwood pulse is gradually thumping along again. That's an important aspect that cannot be overstated.

Step one is out of the way. Now comes the hard part. Can he recruit in the Big Ten? How will the current players adapt? How soon will the Hawks be back in the tournament? Nobody knows the answers to these questions. But here's one thing I'll guarantee — the fans have warmed up to Fran like no coach in the past decade, and the arena will be vastly more full next year. If Fran starts the non-conference slate with a good, winning record, watch out. The fans will come back. Now about that pep band...

The Crisis of Hawkeye Basketball: A Ship in Disrepair

2010-03-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

A storm has rumbled through Iowa City and swept up the apathy of an entire basketball-starved student body in the seemingly vast time span between my last blog post in December and the beautiful spring day materializing outside my window.

Bowl season has long come and gone, with gaping doe-eyes focused on the recent onset of spring football, a statewide attraction every year under Kirk Ferentz, and the not-so-distant date in May when that beautiful sun won't just be a painful classroom diversion but a sweet summer companion, too. Since December, I've been fired from a job, made some friends, watched some basketball, drank a bit too much, re-committed to a relationship, made above-average grades, and lived what most would call the stereotypical college existence. Though I miss the comfort and the weather of a beautiful Texas home (not a plantation, for you damn Yankees), I truly can't complain about a single thing. Well, almost. The University of Iowa has been everything I could have dreamt of and more, but there's just one pesky problem keeping me awake at night.

I toss and turn underneath my oppressive sheets, and wake up consumed by a numb stupor. I scour rumor-mongering message boards filled with keyboard-chattering twelve-year-olds and grown men stealing time on Mom's computer while she's at work, salivating over every name and every thread despite the fact that I consistently learn nothing from these "well-informed" batches of posters. I spend too much time on Twitter. I listen to crappy sportswriters with multitudes of anonymous tips. I get excited when I read about the Cedar Rapids Gazette's Scott Dochterman stalking Gary Barta at the airport, have nightmares of a chain-smoking Pat Harty wearing Blues Brothers' shades, and, like every blue-blooded young man, long for an elusive serving of "Big Ups." I think I am going crazy.

Why do I put myself through this seemingly inane struggle? Because I am a basketball fan. Much more than a fan, actually. I am a deviant, obsessed, thirsting for the game during my every waking moment. I bleed orange and sweat hardwood. It's unhealthy, but at the same time cathartic and comforting. I attended every single home contest (minus the holidays) for the hapless 10-22 Iowa Hawkeyes "basketball team" this past year, the worst record in school history by a long-shot. Maybe that wasn't the best idea for a guy who has battled depression in the last year. We are a national laughingstock, marked with an empty arena and a football team looming over the entire athletic department that marked up more wins than the black and gold hoopsters this past season. Including the Hawks, only two teams in the entire Division 1 landscape share the dubious distinction of having the football team post more wins than the basketball team. The program is stuck in the 1980s, with problems ranging from student section placement to a terrible pep band and a complete disconnect between the coach and the fanbase, which began with Steve Alford and culminated with this current mess. Ouch.

So athletic director Gary Barta did what he had to do. He fired Coach Todd Lickliter after a dismal and brief three-year tenure where he chalked up, you guessed it, the worst stretch in Iowa basketball history with a humbling 38-58 record. Player departures ran rampant, and more threatened if Lick was kept around. There was no sign of hope on the horizon. Perhaps his most egregious offense in fans' eyes was playing his diminutive son, John, a player horrifically incapable of saving face in Division 1 basketball and a move that was lampooned by state media outlets. The former National Coach of the Year at Butler, Lickliter guided the scrappy Bulldogs to a pair of Sweet Sixteens as head man for his alma mater, a tiny and basketball-obsessed private school in the heart of Indiana. He popularized the cliche and obnoxiously overstated "Butler Way," exemplified by selflessness and the strict adherence to a slow-down system chock full of shot-clock sapping three-point shooting, reduced turnovers, and defensive tenacity. Why was this system such a failure at Iowa? Where does the program go from here? Do the problems run deeper than merely a bad coach? What can we expect next year, and when will a new coach be hired? There are so many questions, and, since I haven't posted in more than three months, I should probably be reminded to pace myself. I'm afraid of going over the deep-end on my word count, seeing as I haven't even ventured near the meat of this blog post, so I better get started here.

These are my ten key questions regarding the present and future state of the "car-crash-can't-turn-away" Iowa basketball team, a sorrowful lesson in ineptitude.

1) The Lickliter firing may not have been the right thing to do, but it was the only thing Barta could do, right? How important is this next coaching hire?

First of all, yes, Barta had no choice. With hands tied behind his back and the bloodstains of a boneheaded hire coating his hands, he was forced to fire the only major coach he's ever hired. The fans had turned away in droves, revenue was dwindling with a dearth of booster support, and, if the rumors hold true, another pair of marquee transfers were bound to happen if Lick was given one more year. I think even the most ardent Lick supporters would contend that we couldn't afford any more transfers. It was Lickliter's head, or another year of vacant seats and potentially even Barta's job on the line without guaranteed improvement in 2010-11. But to say Lickliter was respected in NCAA coaching circles would be a vast understatement. Just look at Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo's recent lambasting of the firing and general critique of the "win-now" culture in NCAA coaching.

Granted, Izzo has no understanding of what's going on within the Iowa program and likely wouldn't say those things had Lickliter dominated the head-to-head matchup, but still, it's a microcosm of how Lick is viewed by virtually every coach in college basketball — with admiration and respect. Three years is an awfully short amount of time to turn a program around as badly damaged as Iowa's, but if Steve Alford dug the Hawks a hole, Lickliter happily leapt inside, content to be buried alive. It's difficult to explain to outsiders how bad the program had become, and how much apathy had grown.

It's impossible to build a system like Lick's predicated on experience and discipline when there's such a high player turnover rate, and it's difficult to be feasible when the fans aren't showing up anymore. Lickliter was aloof, awkward with the media, and distant from his players. He was an old-school coach and teacher, with no desire to be coddling or friendly. Just think back to his "feelings hurt" remark about Cougill or the treatment of Tucker after his second public intoxication charge. His style of basketball is not entertaining when the team isn't winning or scoring many points, and his personality whiny and disengaging. Fans were tired of the excuses about the schedule and facilities, too, though the latter had some merit. I'll get to that later. And when you've been playing basketball for 100+ years, it's a pretty big deal when you lose 20+ games for the first time.

Lick was making $1.2 million a year and his buyout won't be cheap, paying him 800K for the next few years, but it had to be done. It's not a good situation for anyone, and Lickliter seemed like a kind man with good intentions who was in way over his head. He tried to run a mid-major system at a Big Ten school, and the recruiting suffered. Iowa is such a different school and culture than Butler, where you have to recruit a special kind of talent (blue-collar, high ACTS, etc.). Winning in the Horizon League is just such a different initiative than winning in the Big Ten and competing week after week. It just is. I truly believe his heart never left Butler either. Sean Keeler of The Des Moines Register recalled a funny anecdote when Lick called him to complain about a column Keeler had written the previous week. The article? It was about Butler. And the tragic irony of the whole situation? Lickliter is rumored to be a prime candidate for the head coaching job at Toledo University. Remember when I said there were two Division 1 programs whose football teams won more games than the basketball team? Well, Toledo was the other one.

As for this being an important hire, I think Barta's job depends on it. Since taking over as AD in 2006, Barta has signed Kirk Ferentz to an extension, a move Helen Keller would consider a no-brainer. He's also overseen the Kinnick renovations and spearheaded the long overdue Carver renovations and construction of a practice facility. Nothing really ambiguous. His only major move was hiring Lickliter, now considered a pretty substantial fail. White-hot rumors of bargain bin mid-major candidates turning down interview requests are sure to have the restless fan base in a tussle (not helping his case), but Barta did an excellent job of keeping the Lick hire a secret until the day it was announced, so I don't think we'll know anything until we hear the final gun. The next coach needs to be exciting, engaging with the media, and a good recruiter. It has to be somebody the general fan has heard of, and it has to be someone excited to be here, not looking to jump to bigger lakes at the slightest opportunity. It's going to take more than a solid Xs and Os mind, or a middling Horizon League stiff whose made a couple of NITs with Wright State. This next coach will make or break Gary Barta, mark my words.

2) Barta needs to understand a new coach won't solve Iowa's basketball problem. What is the national perception of the program right now? What else needs to be done?

I'm starting off with a bang here. As I stated earlier, the insidious problems influencing every blackened inch of the program are much deeper and more difficult to pinpoint than just Lickliter being a poor coach. If Alford is named Coach of the Year this season for his work at New Mexico, a realistic possibility, Iowa will have fired or forced out two of the last four National COYS. Hmm. First of all, the facilities have been some of the worst in the conference for the better part of a decade now. Basketball needs to be made a priority in the athletic department, plain and simple. We all know football is the cash cow, but when the ballers are forced to share a practice court (the CHA floor, nonetheless) with the volleyball team and work around the schedule of Lisa Bluder's female hoopsters, then that's a serious problem for a Big Ten school. The construction of a separate practice facility along with new weight rooms, coaches offices, and other arena-specific touch ups will all be crucial in attracting more high-end talent, pleasing our coach, and fielding a successful basketball team in the 21st century. We can't keep riding off the coattails of the 1980s "Golden Age." It's been 30 years since our last Final Four appearance, and administrators need to wake up and acknowledge that. The practice facility is a good start.

Also, the gameday atmosphere is absolutely abysmal. The pre-game energy is as electric as my toothbrush and crowd noise resembles a funeral. Come to think of it, a funeral is a pretty good metaphor for this past season's success. Student turnout is bare unless tickets are dispensed for free, which might have to be a temporary solution until we right the ship, despite the inevitable financial losses. Senior citizens dot the crowd like it's bingo night, and the majority of Carver's wrinkled denizens sit on their hands and clap politely after each minor success. To call the arena dead would be insulting to those who are no longer with us. The student section needs to be moved from behind the basket and plopped courtside, behind the opponent's bench. More students would show up with the better seats, and arena noise would be amplified astronomically. We need a raucous atmosphere.

There's also a massive chasm between program and fans. An entire graduating class of UI students is about to don the cap and gown without having seen the Hawks compete in one NCAA tournament game. There is no tradition or culture with the current batch of students, no interest in the moribund basketball team. It's all football, and wrestling for the niche knuckleheads who love that stuff. We need an entirely new marketing strategy, to sell the program back to the students. The general fans will come back when the winning starts anew or if they take kindly to the new coach, but the students need to be convinced. They've turned their backs on the program. I wish it didn't have to be that way, that we weren't such a "football" or "tailgating" school and recognized the proud tradition of Hawkeye basketball, but with such a divide, it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to be a gradual process. Finally, the lovably dorky pep band needs to update their song list from the 1970s, stock up on band members, and generate some more excitement. The arena needs to crank up the volume on their music as well. Small steps back to respectability.

And the national perception of the program? Not good, but it depends on who you talk to. Bruce Pearl gushed about how great the job is and credited Iowa City's unique charm, constantly referencing the fans, Dr. Tom, and of course, the tradition. But the Hawks gave Pearl his coaching start and he's obligated to say those things. Most outsiders view the fans as fickle, the administration as quick-triggered, the local media enhancing a pressure-packed fishbowl environment that makes it difficult to win. Whether that's true or not isn't important; it's what many people think around the country. As you've most likely discovered, the Hawks are the only game in town, and all of the focus of the tiny state is beamed upon Iowa City. They see how Dr. Tom Davis was run out of town, how Steve Alford bolted for greener pastures and a school that appreciates him, how Lickliter faced the guillotine after only three years. It's not an attractive position right now. Recruiting to Iowa will never be easy, with the harsh winters and corn-fueled stereotypes. It's going to take someone eager to man the black-and-gold helm, and it's going to take time, before the national world recognizes Iowa as a legitimate basketball power again. It all starts with recruiting...

3) Should we want Anthony Tucker back?

Randy Larson, Tucker's lawyer, Prime Time League operator, and an Iowa City fixture, said Tucker would come back to the program if the new coach would have him. This is a tough one for me. Tucker is obviously a supremely-talented player with a divine stroke and decent first-step. He's blessed with a variety of offensive skills and instantly gives you 12-15 points a game with the long-range shooting. But, ignoring his off-court transgressions for just a moment, are his limitations as a player and locker room presence even worth bringing him back? Tucker is a terrible defender who seems preternaturally opposed to moving his feet. His shot selection is bad, and stalled the offense on more than one occasion last season. And rumors (I know, I shouldn't operate on rumors) float around cyberspace that Tucker was a primary catalyst for the divisive nature of the team, or a cleaving force for the Team Lickliter-Team Not Lickliter conflict seemingly inflicting the team last season. That could be totally false, for all I know, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were true. It's not as if Tucker were a sterling leader for the "younger" (Tucker was only a sophomore) players on the team, twice getting nabbed for embarrassing public intoxication charges and failing to qualify academically as a freshman. I've supported Tucker again and again because he is such a talented player, and God knows the Hawks need talent more than anything at this point. But is it worth selling one's soul and compromising values for the sake of having one good player back on the team? Tucker has been lazy and ungrateful for his second chance, generally a cancerous influence on the team. I've flip-flopped on this issue innumerable times, and you know what, it's just public intoxication. I'll release my inner college student and say "Bring 'em back!" After all, it could be good PR for a new coach with a knack for player relations.

4) Will anyone transfer?

Hell, I have no idea, and neither does anybody except the players. My inclination tells me no, but it's a legitimate fear for the whipped puppy emotional state of Hawkeye Nation to bear after witnessing nine transfers in Lick's tenure, including two leading scorers. The floodgates will always fling wide open with a new coach assuming the head mantle, so nothing should be too disturbing if someone decides to leave, but it's important to know who will be on the team going forward. Though Matt Gatens' and Aaron Fuller's names both emerged as the players who discussed leaving with Barta, I think it's safe to assume that at least Gatens will stay with the new coach. Though it's been tested the past two years, his blood has deep black-and-gold roots and he will be a Hawkeye for life. For him to even consider transferring from the school he committed to in the 8th grade is a testament to how bad things must have gotten behind the scenes with Lickliter. The one player whose name is consistently brought up is freshman point guard Cully Payne, because he defended Lickliter (he's one of his recruits) and publicly said after the season-ending loss to Michigan that he would consider leaving if Lick was canned. Seeing as he's the only true point guard on the roster right now, I think it would be foolish of him to go somewhere else, but his loyalty to Lick is the key factor. Remember, Payne switched his committment multiple times in high school from DePaul to Alabama and then finally to Iowa. A lot will depend on the new coaching hire, and the type of system he runs. Lickliter essentially attempted to run Alford's players off the team in 2007-08, most notably with star shooting guard Tony Freeman. Will that happen with the new coach? For Hawkeye fans chomping at the bit, they just have to wait and see.

5) How about the recruits?

Iowa has a fairly highly-regarded recruiting class set to join the Hawkeye ranks in 2010-11, with four three-star prospects and another potential scholarship offer if Anthony Tucker isn't interested in coming back for the next coach. Will each one stay true to their commitment despite the coaching change? This is pure speculation with no real basis until the next coach is announced, but each high school senior appears to bring a style of basketball that would fit in most any system or coach's wishlist. Cody Larson is a 6 ft. 8 power forward from South Dakota with the versatility, strength, and inside-outside game to draw comparisons to Butler's star pivot man, Matt Howard, who succeeds with savvy moves and raw effort instead of pure athleticism. He's considered a fairly sought-after commodity and has already stated he intends to stay with Iowa.

Zach McCabe is a slashing guarding from Dubuque, Iowa, and he played on the same high school team as current Hawk Eric May. McCabe, who was offered after Marshalltown car-dunker Chanse Creekmur de-committed last year, should bring a similar game to May's with more of an emphasis on perimeter shooting than explosive dunking. Chicago-area guard Ben Brust, a friend of Cully Payne's and AAU teammate, should stick around as long as Payne does. He would add much-needed scoring and ball-handling depth in the backcourt. Finally, Roy (or Devyn) Marble, Jr., son of the famous Hawkeye baller, rounds out this top-35 ranked class. The young Marble is a chicken-legged late bloomer with a sweet stroke, nice hops, and the baby-face of a 12-year-old. Older Hawkeye fans are predictably ecstatic with the pick-up, as inevitable visions of daddy's heroics flash across their minds, and the tweet-happy youngster appears poised and excited to start his own legacy. Though they won't bring instant gratification, this class could form a nice building block for the future if everyone stays committed. Like those restless, impatient message board posters, all these guys can do is sit and wait for the next coach to be announced.

6) What happens to Lil' John? And how will the Hawkeyes replace the stellar all-around play of Devan Bawinkel?

As you can tell with the quality of the ideas here, my stamina is obviously declining. Isn't this the question everyone hoped The BStiles would ask at Barta's press conference almost two weeks ago? Obviously, John Lickliter will follow his dear dad to whatever hokey mid-major show he decides to conduct next, or maybe he'll just try to make the team at Wartburg, which could be an insurmountable challenge. Poor John's confidence must have taken a hefty blow this past season with the ridicule not only from campus peers and message board dwellers but even the Des Moines media, which ran a painfully hilarious spoof bit mocking the Hawks' ineptitude and John's ability to play D1 basketball, which was admittedly lacking. The size of a frumpy hobbit, Lil' Lick (Lotta Bite) was forced to put in minutes after Tucker's midseason departure. Nobody can blame the poor guy for trying, and there were times early on when the tiny terror actually looked fairly competent, such as his mini-offensive explosion against Purdue, but as the season wore on and he was forced to guard people like Kalin Lucas and Evan Turner (yikes), viewers felt like they had to turn away before witnessing something terrible and graphic. It was something that neither John or Dad probably wanted to happen, but it did, and in playing his son, Coach Lick provided endless fodder for critics and fans already fed-up with his coaching tactics, player relations, and style in general. But there's no denying Lickliter truly lost the confidence and faith of Hawkeye Nation when Lil' John first suited up and took the court.

And Bawinkel? He's one of the nicer guys you'll meet, and all his teammates loved him. I felt I should get that out of the way before I blast him. He took an unorthodox path to Iowa, which probably should have been an immediate red flag, as Wink marauded as John Beilein's three-point marksman at West Virginia before Bob Huggins took over and ran him out of town. Hawkeye spectators discovered pretty quickly Bawinkel was a one-trick pony whose one trick didn't always work to perfection — much to the chagrin of many, Wink would do absolutely nothing but stand in the corner and wait for a pass, and if he wasn't open for a set three point shot, he would just pass it back to the point guard. This happened literally every game, and whether Lickliter forced into his mind that the only skill he possessed was propelling long-bombs or it was honestly the only thing he could do, shooting threes was the only thing Wink ever did in his two-year Iowa career. He almost single-handedly won the Northwestern game at Carver this past year, exploiting NW's 1-3-1 zone and launching 15 points worth of threes from his favorite spots. But the man famous for his lack of free throws and two-pointers will probably do the Hawks a favor by graduating and allowing Iowa to field five players on defense instead of usual four whenever Wink took the floor.

7) Can wide receiver Marvin McNutt pull double-duty this next season?

A popular running joke on campus this past season was that the football team could seriously take it to the basketball team on the court. Nobody laughed. Stocked with former hoopsters like defensive end Adrian Clayborn, tight end Tony Moeaki, and wideout Marvin McNutt, the Orange Bowl champs could be seen playing at the Field House on occasional weekends, throwing alley-oops and skying for rebounds 40 inches in the air, circus tricks and magical feats when paired next to the flat-footed ground dwellers occupying the men's hoops team. There were legitimate questions of whether anyone on the team besides Cole and Fuller could dunk until Bawinkel left the nation aghast and dropped a baby slam on the Big Ten Network's Mike Hall during a cute game of H.O.R.S.E. The point is, when the majority of the straight-faced student body proposes that the football team could beat the basketball team in a regular game and the coaches should scout intramural games for more talent, things are not where they need to be with the program.

8) Was there anything positive to build on from last season?

Not much, but moral victories (if they exist) took precedence and at least the Hawks finished above Indiana and Penn State in the final conference standings. Any time a coach is fired, you are essentially starting from scratch with uncertainty anyway. Iowa battled with uber-talented Texas early in the season until the second half, and had victories all-but-sealed against both Ohio State and Michigan at Carver until late-game jitters proved costly and finished in a pair of losses. The Hawks swept the Hoosiers, who may be the only team with less talent and more mess than Iowa, and scrapped out a tough victory over Penn State and the Fightin' Taylor Battles as well. The home win over Northwestern was a satisfying feast of revenge for the soul-crushing football loss, as the Bawinkel-sparked victory effectively shattered the 'Cats' NCAA hopes. And Iowa competed in road losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. But the way the season concluded left a familiar, sour taste that Hawk fans have come to know the past three years: no improvement was made. This was painfully evident in blistering blowouts at the hands of Wisconsin and Minnesota, historically bad defeats not seen in roughly a century. Cully Payne showed flashes of the scoring guard he can be with a 25-point outburst against Michigan in a 59-52 Big Ten tournament defeat (another in the first round), but under Lickliter, it was common for such a performance to be followed up with a 4-point, 6-turnover showing the next game. There was no consistency, and maybe youth played a role, maybe not, but it's difficult to take anything tangible from the minor, scattered victories last season.

9) Will fan support be any better next year?

No. Actually, it depends on the new coach, but with the mid-major quality names getting thrown around, anything short of a major-college head man leaving a comfortable post for a tough rebuilding job would likely generate mild excitement until the winning picks up steam and some quality recruiting classes start suiting up for the black-and-gold. So unless Barta has something grand up his sleeve, I don't think we'll see a huge improvement. But there is a lot of offseason between now and November, so it's hard to say right now.

10) Finally, what should our expectations be for next season? Am the only Hawkeye basketball fan left on campus?

It will be interested to gauge student interest next season. I think season ticket renewals could be at an all-time low. I'm tired of seeing the same 20 people at every Hawkeye game, lovable social outcasts searching for school spirit but with an inability to muster up the yells or the masses to generate real noise. The Hawks' Nest tries, but there's only so much they can do when the perception is so strongly anti-Lick and the quality is so poor. The student section needs to get better organization, a new name (no Alford!), and a more defined seating area. Without Lick, I am interested to see if more people will give basketball a chance. My guess is students will come out in decent numbers at first, but if the losing begins to mount again, you'll see the same apathy. That's just the way students are. And, our expectations?

Expect a hearty upset or two, but 12-14 wins should be the ceiling. It's just going to take some time, and fans have to realize the size of the hole the program is in. Whoever Barta decides to hire will need time to get his own recruits into the fold, but an important sign will be to see how he adapts to the core he is given right now. That's something Lickliter was terrible at, and Hawkeye basketball can't afford another 2-3 year of waiting for "the system" to develop.

Go Hawks!

Coaching Hire? If we are going for an unproven assistant, I want Steve Forbes from Tennessee. The Lone Tree, Iowa, native, ranked 8th nationally for assistant coaches on FoxSports.com, has said multiple times the Iowa job is his dream. The program need someone who wants to be a Hawkeye (not a Bulldog!) and would bring that enthusiasm. The noted recruiting guru may not be a big name, but he would bring in guys right away, he knows the state/program/culture, and would generate immediate excitement with the prospects he would garner. I promise. Brian Gregory from Dayton would also be a good choice because of his recruiting chops and ability to bring a relatively dead program up to a national level, once steering Dayton to a national ranking of 14th in the country. If we are waiting for a coach still in the tournament (I'm NOT mentioning Bruce Pearl), I want Baylor's Scott Drew. He has a prickish reputation and there's chatter concerned with sleazy recruiting tactics, but what he did with Baylor when they were about to cut their basketball program after all that scandal is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And he can recruit like a champ. Iowa could offer him a big raise from the 400K he's currently making, too. But my favorite choice? B.J. Armstrong, baby! He is a beloved former Hawk from the Detroit/Flint area, and he won some championships with MJ's Bulls. That cache alone would make him an excellent recruiter. Despite the fact that he doesn't have any coaching experience, the current super-NBA agent could bring in some top-flight assistants to take care of the Xs and Os. Sadly, it's been almost two weeks since Lick was fired, and I'm afraid B.J. would have been hired already if Barta truly wanted him.

Five quick March Madness thoughts before I run out of breath:

1) The Big East is MAD overrated. Only one team remains in the Elite Eight, West Virginia, and some of the conference's heavyweights fell victim to some massive upsets early. Syracuse couldn't overcome the loss of big man Arinze Onuaku and lost to scrappy Butler, which is a forgivable sin, but Georgetown collapsed against a hot-shooting Ohio squad and St. Mary's edged out a discombobulated Villanova team that never found their mojo. Marquette fell to much-maligned Pac-10 tournament champ Washington and Louisville to California, while Old Dominion polished off Notre Dame by a bucket. The ballyhooed Big East was portrayed all season long as the deepest, toughest, and the scrappiest, but conferences are judged in the NCAA tournament, and the Big East tripped over their plodding feet. Once again, the lesson is to ignore the ESPN talking-heads.
2) Mid-majors winning is a healthy, excellent thing for the tournament. I realize money and viewers are big aspects of the March Madness product, but teams like Northern Iowa, Cornell, St. Mary's, and Butler all give the tournament much-needed parity. Isn't that why we watch, with the knowledge that anyone can win at any given time? That's why people fill out brackets, watch fervently on that first Thursday and Friday for upsets, and cry out when their championship team loses on the first weekend? It's the Cinderella stories that make the tournament. It would be substantially more depressing if Kansas and North Carolina met in the championship game each season. Every fan base has hope at the beginning of the season. And the tournament is what gives each team hope, unfounded or not.
3) My bracket is now, sadly, defunct. My loud, bodacious uncle looks likely to take the Fries family pool, a transgression all participants vow to prevent each season. I had Kansas overtaking West Virginia in the final game, with Syracuse joining them in the Final Four. Baylor, my fourth team, still has a shot. Elite Eight teams like Georgetown, Ohio State, and Texas A&M are all out. And with UNI bowing to Michigan State last night, the team that held my heart is no longer battling for the crown. Long live Ali Stroke-a-manesh!
4) Elite Eight picks? I have Michigan State dispatching out-of-control Tennessee by controlling the glass and pounding the ball inside with a controlled, efficient half-court offense. Without Kalin Lucas, their ride will eventually run out, but not yet. Kansas State is too athletic for Butler, and Frank Martin might eat someone's face off if they lose, so I don't want to see that. Baylor is too athletic for Duke, and experienced West Virginia will control the game defensively and beat young Kentucky.
5) Finally, let's all laugh at Steve Alford.

Well, Bowl Season Kind of Sucks...

2009-12-24T23:24:00.001-08:00

Okay, so bowl season doesn't "suck," per se. But the rather underwhelming slate of meager rations dished out in the first week or so of holiday pigskin action has done nothing besides induce sleep and winter doldrums. I busily masticate my teeth against the bevy of Christmas treats that I so happily shove down my throat without fear of being bloated or the future impact on my heart instead of salivating over the mid-major talent show on my television screen. What is a football fan to do?

However, there is nothing quite like coming home to a mother eager to spoil you after a long semester of blase dorm food, though. My stomach is still adjusting to real taste, apparently, but that's a digestive issue I'd rather not get into on a blog. Much too personal. Let's just say I have newfound sympathy for Grandpa Fries and his natural aversion to spicy foods. You spend enough time munching on food that doesn't shift beyond the colors white or yellow, and your stomach takes a beating when cilantro gets thrown into the mixture. Or somebody named "Donnie Bravo." On a lighter note, the wonderful Texas weather is quite the pleasant change from the incessant ice and snow storms plaguing the Midwest, so with weather, food, friends, and family, life is pretty good.

Except for the bowl games.

Not only are the games pitting no-name scrubs against their equally bland brethren, the games themselves are defying earlier projections and proving to be horribly unpredictable. These teams have no business playing in bowl games. I mean, who has really watched enough of Middle Tennessee State to know they are on a 7-game win streak and were likely to beat Southern Mississippi? Hell, I doubt I'm alone in saying that the dreadfully manipulative little green bars on ESPN's Pick 'Em game, signifying how the "nation" voted on each contest, influenced my decision more often than not with these early games.

I currently stand 3-3, which is a luxurious status when observed next to some of my less fortunate fellow competitors (cough Jared Kalmus cough), but still fairly distressing so early in the battle. But the score cannot measure my apathy, nor the fans' in most of these cases. Glorified high school stadiums filled with more empty bleachers then functioning hearts are the stars of the show, battling for attention alongside such obscure, laughable sponsors as Beef O'Brady's and an obnoxious battering of New Mexico tourism pimping. We get it, you live in a desert. Native American people used to live there. Can I gamble? That's all I need to know.

But the season got off on a twisted ankle with Fresno State's baffling performance against Wyoming and their proud band of toothless ranch-hands known as "Poke Nation" (I'm not even kidding). Despite the pitfalls of their kicker, who "wasn't recruited by anybody," Wyoming, bearers of the vaunted "poop and mustard" uniforms, ended up stifling the supposedly more talented Bulldogs 35-28 in double overtime. Fresno, fielding the best statistical running back in the country, had given some good teams close calls this year, including Boise State, and beat Illinois in the final game of the season with an incredibly flukey 2-point conversion attempt that was tipped at the line of scrimmage before falling into the hands of a confused o-lineman for the win. I had 32 confidence points on this game, so it was slightly crippling, but almost nobody picked Wyoming, a 6-6 Mountain West outfit (Mountain West > your conference), so the loss did not bludgeon my chances.

Next, I nabbed my first victory as Rutgers strutted into Orlando, Florida, home of their opponent UCF Golden Knights, and marched all over them 45-24 with an explosive offense and a chip on their shoulder that their sunshine enemies seemed to be lacking from the outset. Maybe it was the jovial poking fun at the perceived vast disparity in fan attendance from both schools, but Piscataway's finest showed up in full red glory and Rutgers stomped on Disney World's college football team. Unfortunately, I just thrashed and I sweated all afternoon, thinking that I picked UCF for home field reasons, before casually checking my computer that night and finding that, some how, I'd picked Rutgers. Must have followed the people's choice.

I didn't pick Middle Tennessee over Southern Miss, just because perpetual 1,000 yard rusher Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss' running back for the past 17 years, was likely to want to exit his college football career with a bang. But the Blue Raiders answered every score and every drive, and looked like the much better TEAM. BYU took a defeated Oregon State squad to the woodshed, which I somehow didn't pick, forgetting that the Beavers' hearts were absolutely torn out in the close loss to Oregon, playing for a Pac-10 title and a slot in the Rose Bowl. When you lose that much in such heartbreaking fashion, it's difficult to rebound and get motivated to play the Las Vegas Bowl against the Cougars and their hearty band of married Mormons

Finally, Utah polished up that sterling 3-0 Mountain West resume with a hard fought victory over a California team still lacking their best and most exciting player, tailback Jahvid Best, after a frightening concussion more than a month ago, when he was propelled a couple of feet into the air diving for a touchdown. That's too bad, cause he changes how Cal plays the game offensively. And SMU provided fans (fans?) with a long-deserved glimmer of light, winning (and playing in) their first bowl since before the NCAA gave them the "death penalty," in Hawaii no less. I figured June Jones would be comfortable in the ol' dump of Aloha Stadium, and have SMU perfecting the run-and-shoot offense. Plus, his freshman QB is a phenom, quite the stud. All this game basically imparts upon its viewers is that June Jones is a gifted coach with a knack for turning programs around, something that's more valuable in college than in the pros, and the WAC conference is probably the weakest in the country, evident by Nevada's treasure trove of 1,000 yard rushers and the fact that they almost knocked off Boise State. SMU ran roughshod in this one, exposing the West Coast as undisciplined, undersized, and, quite frankly, untalented.

I'm not impressed so far, but I hope good fortune awaits those who are patient.

So happy holidays, and let's hope I get back on track!

From Little Cease' to Citrus Squeeze, I Got 'Em All...

2009-12-13T22:56:00.000-08:00

Bowl season is either a source of unbridled frustration or holiday cheer for your team, but I think there's one thing we can all celebrate: we won't be seeing any of Notre Dame and the Fightin' Clausens in this year's pigskin pandemonium. Because Jesus has no mercy for the rich, or the grossly subpar. Though youthful hot shot Brian Kelly looks to bring his dreadfully overdone tough guy coaching tactics to turn South Bend's drear into Christmas cheer, the only sideline improvement we'll be seeing from the Golden Domers next year will be a coach with a semi-recognizable chin. But before I venture unnecessarily off-topic, it's time for the J-Freezy bowl pick special, with a few comments justifying my seemingly scatter-brained selections. This is no time to get into BCS talking-head jargon; merely an occasion to enjoy (or suffer through) the ever-inflating slate of bowl games, where every one is a winner (except the poor losers stuck in Detroit) and mediocrity is accepted, just like in real life. So get ready for a 6-6 bonanza and awkward introductions to previously unknown universities that begin with "East" or "Middle," because the eyes of a nation (or at least a trailer park in West Virginia) will be focused in on at least one of the upcoming 34 (good lord, that's too many) bowl games this holiday season. We'll start here with Mr. Irrelevant himself, the Little Caesar's Bowl in the hellish, post-apocalyptic landscape known as Detroit, Michigan, a setting so bleak and so barren that Cormac McCarthy would have difficulty crafting a nastier locale.

Little Caesar's Bowl: Marshall Thundering Herd (6-6) vs. Ohio Bobcats (9-4) -- The Big Ten's embarassing ass-cheek of a tie-in game thankfully had no qualifiers from their major conference brethren this season, but don't think for one second that the smaller programs take any semblance of joy in having to spend their winter break in Detroit: Marshall's head coach resigned from his post after the season, apparently choosing to return to beautiful West Virginia instead. Prestige fail, much? The seemingly despairing Thundering Herd will be pitted against the Frank Solich-lead Bobcats, who have quietly been one of the more successful mid-major outfits in the country since Nebraska's dirty laundry of a head coach took the main mantle. Ohio will likely never be a "BCS-buster," but nobody is complaining about consistent 9 win seasons at a place that is notoriously difficult to be successful at. This isn't Lincoln, folks. Ohio University gets to 10-wins against a middling Conference USA squad that's lucky to have been invited to a bowl game.

(I'll continue these in typically sporadic order, based on my confidence level on ESPN's pick 'em. In all fairness, this is finals week, and I was unfairly forced to churn out three stories for The Daily Iowan today, so blog time equals unwind time)

Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Mississippi Rebels (8-4) -- This contest should be dubbed the Battle of the Underachievers. Both squads entered the season with darkhorse championship aspirations, and both conclude the year in solid, if unspectacular, fashion at the historic Dallas stadium. Oklahoma State can place some of the blame on a painfully unfair suspension of their best player, the Michael Crabtree-esque wideout Dez Bryant, along with an untimely concussion to quarterback Zac Robinson towards the end of the year. Ole' Miss expected a Heisman-worthy season from much ballyhooed QB Jevan Snead, yet ended up receiving something much worse. Inconsistency will be the buzzword here as each team maniacally searches for that elusive performance where it all "comes together." Expect a healthy mustering of Dexter McCluster from the Rebels' end, but the Cowpokes have too many offensive weapons, and they will strike vengeance for the Big 12 after Texas Tech's Cotton Bowl spanking at the hands of Manning U last season.

Papajohns.com Bowl (these names just keep getting better and better): South Carolina Gamecocks (7-5) vs. Connecticut Huskies (7-5): The Huskies became America's team after the sudden and tragic death of cornerback Jasper Howard to a mid-season stabbing at a campus party, and then quickly became God's team as well following a thrilling "upset" over Notre Dame that essentially plunged the dagger firmly into Charlie Weis' deep-fried heart. UConn rode that surge of emotion to a successful late-season campaign that landed them in a bowl game against the Ol' Ball Coach and his perpetually inconsistent band of Southern misfits. Once again, the flimsy 'Cocks, not known for finishing hard, look to plunge deep into the belly of the opposition. Okay, enough of that. The "other" USC began the year in a blaze of success before gradually fading into mediocre obscurity, and one has to question how long Spurrier is going to hang around to watch this team reach its peak at 7 or 8 wins. Stephen Garcia just isn't developing like he's supposed to, and there's far too many "me-first" athletes on both sides of the ball, as evidenced by their sloppy performance against the Iowa Hawkeyes in last season's Outback Bowl. Nothing has changed here. South Carolina shows up lackluster and turnover prone, while UConn comes motivated with something big, and something profound, to play for. Never underestimate the impact of tragedy, and losing a teammate, on a team's mindset. Huskies win.

International Bowl: South Florida Bulls (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (7-5): The infamous "this game's in Canada, I thought this was supposed to be a vacation" bowl. Though the much-maligned country isn't nearly as bad as it may sound, it's still only a notch or two below the "Detroit Bowl" in it's popularity with coaches and players, not to mention the relatively cruddy matchups that it usually produces. South Florida showed flashes of greatness without their stud QB Matt Grothe, who was lost for much of the season with a blown ACL. Athletic backup B.J. Daniels looked like the real deal in a big win over Florida State, but that's before we found out Florida State sucked and was playing for a blow-up doll caricature of a head coach. As a reward for their second-half slide, the Jim Leavitt-led Bulls get the honor of playing Northern Illinois, a team that always seems to find itself creeping onto the bowl scene despite the lack of any recognizable figure or presence on their team. Dekalb's finest try to muster up their heaping helping of average to take down the athletic swamp creatures of South Florida, but Leavitt gets his team charged up and ready to play. Plus, the third-best team in Florida still beats the second-best team in Illinois (yea, you figure that one out).

Rose Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) vs. Oregon Ducks (10-2):
A little early in my list for the "Granddaddy Of 'Em All," eh? This tradition-laden contest and the root of all money-grubbing BCS evil pits the "borrring, we just won another Big Ten title" Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks, who finally de-throned the Trojans for Pac-10 supremacy and proved they are more then just a fancy uniform configuration (or 300). Ohio State won their conference in typically unspectacular fashion, with stifling defense, a hydra-headed running game, and sweater-vest sporting coach with a gameplan so conservative, Glen Beck masturbates to highlight reels of Terrell Pryor handing off on 3rd and 8. Oregon, meanwhile, has the Polynesian Tim Tebow in fiesty skull-cracking QB Jeremiah Masoli, and their own elemental running back duo in the "thunder" of LeGarrette Blount (back from suspension for being a raging animal) and "lightning" of miniature speedster LaMichael James. As much as I'd love to see OSU win for the Big Ten's ever-dwindling national rep, Oregon has an athletic, explosive team, and, quite frankly, the Buckeyes almost lost to my Vandenberg-led Hawkeyes in Columbus. That's all the evidence I need. Ducks win, sadly.

Independence Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies (6-6) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (7-5): See what happens when you don't play defense, kids? You end up in Shreveport, Louisiana for Christmas. This actually figures to be a highly entertaining game, if only because a guaranteed shootout is ready and roaring to take place. Both teams finished disappointing campaigns with thrilling climaxes to the season, with the Aggies putting on a show and almost cooling the Texas Longhorns in College Station and the Bulldogs capping off the worst season of the Mark Richt era with an upset of bitter rival Georgia Tech. If Texas A&M could learn to play effectively on that "other side of the ball," then they would be markedly better than their 6-6 record indicates. With a stable of talented young running backs, the quietest superstar QB in the nation, and an athletic cast of wide receivers, this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the country. For now, Aggie fans are happy to be back bowling under Mike Sherman, but it's going to take a "Junction Boys" type of effort for rusty ol' Joe Kines to improve the defensive consistency and reward the long-suffering fightin' farmers with a slot in that Big 12 title game. Georgia has been spoiled with 10+ win seasons, and most fans probably expected the same even with the departures of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL, both as lottery picks no less. With stud wide receiver AJ Green at his disposal, newcomer QB Joe Cox improved throughout the season, and the Bulldogs ended up fielding a scintillating quick-strike offense of their own. Look for this game to be one of the more entertaining contests on the docket. My heart says Aggies, but I've seen enough of the maroon marauders over my years in the deep South to know never to put your confidence in their abilities. Just when you think they've turned the corner, they let you down. Plus, Richt is proven. He's been in much bigger settings before, and will have his Dawgs ready to play. Not yet Aggies. Bulldogs win 45-42.

A Tentative Fiesta

2009-12-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

The melancholy winter months ahead are looming largely over the wayward flock of Hawkeye nation this December, but snow plows and -20 degree windchill are not the primary factors that make up the black cloud hanging ever-so menacingly in the Midwest sky; I'm talking about Iowa's utterly unjust behind-the-scenes battle with Penn State for at-large BCS supremacy. As many of you may already know, both Iowa and Penn State finished the 2009 college football regular season with a record of 10-2, tied for 2nd in the Big Ten conference. Iowa, however, owns the head-to-head matchup, beating Penn State in Happy Valley back on Sept. 26, 21-10, in one of the most thrilling Hawkeye victories of the past decade.

Ignoring common sense and the contrite values of on-field competition, the money-grubbing, attention-starved BCS head honchos are actually deliberating which of these two Big Ten schools to select for an at-large birth in their end of season fashion show that annually crowns the best team in the country. It's a system based entirely on historical prestige, name value, butts in seats, eyes glued to television screens, and the false premise of "tradition." It's never been a system that has inspired me to leap from my comfortable perch and riot, as the end of year bowl bonanza has always been "the way it is" since I started really paying attention to the sport at the beginning of the decade.

But Iowa's last BCS berth came in 2002, after an 8-0 conference run and Big Ten championship, so there was no controversy surrounding the prize that awaited the black and gold that season. This year, with uncertainty clouding the glorious goal at stake, I've been nervously chomping my finger nails and sweating buckets since Iowa's 12-0 defensive plastering of Minnesota on Nov. 21st, hoping and praying that my Hawks are one of the elite few chosen at the end of the year to receive the hefty monetary reward, flood of blue-chip recruits, television exposure, and last, but certainly not least, the fantastic competition that comes with a BCS bowl game. Maybe now that Jim Delaney, Big Ten commissioner and proponent of the BCS due to the stubborn, backwards-thinking greed of the Rose Bowl, might re-think his unabashed support for the system now that one of the teams from his own conference is attempting to crash the at-large party.

Both teams assuredly have their respective arguments. Iowa, of course, beat the Nittany Lions at their home stadium, and played on national TV almost every week this season. The Hawks has a notoriously large fanbase in Arizona, a sort of haven for the retired (folks undoubtedly worn down by a lifetime of winter) and the location of the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, the probable destination of the Big Ten at-large selection. Iowa fans always travel well and fill up the bowl stadiums (jumping Northwestern for an Outback bowl bid last year), and they've never been to the Fiesta, adding intrigue and new blood to the system. Penn State, on the other hand, is an undisputed national program, with fans scattered across the country and a wide-spanning history of undefeated tradition and national championships. Their coach, the venerated Joe Paterno, has been the head man for the Nittany Lions since the late '50s, and is perhaps the face of college football with his recognizably curmudgeon-ish disposition, ancient tenure, and famous horn rimmed glasses. Penn State has finished the 2009 season in scintillating fashion, thumping Michigan State in the season finale, while Iowa stumbled towards the climax in winning only one of its last three games after starting 9-0, due mainly to QB Ricky Stanzi's devastating ankle injury. But Stanzi, along with a host of other walking wounded, will return for the bowl game, wherever that may be.

In conclusion, it really all comes down to the fact that Iowa beat Penn State in a football game. Football games are played to win, and never should anything BUT winning decide the outcome or a team's success. Grouchy pragmatists may point to Kansas jumping Missouri for an Orange Bowl berth in 2007 as a sign of things to come for disillusioned Hawks. Missouri beat Kansas in the regular season, and the Tigers were Big 12 North champs. But two losses to Oklahoma, one in the regular season and the other in the Big 12 championship, left a corrosive stain on Mizzou's record, and 1-loss Kansas jumped the Tigers for a BCS berth. The Iowa-Penn State situation is different, however, because both teams have the same record, so that example is flawed. BCS, do the right thing, and put the Hawks in your bowl game, wherever that might be. The general consensus is that bowl game will be the Fiesta, against everybody's favorite blue and oranges barons of the trick play, the upset-minded Boise State Broncos, still riding the wave of momentum from their Fiesta bowl upset of Adrian Peterson's Oklahoma Sooners on an overtime Statue of Liberty play. Both of ESPN's resident bowl projection experts, Bruce Feldman and Mark Schlabach, have finally reached a consensus, placing Iowa in the Fiesta, but it's going to take an official announcement to assuage my raging fears. Other options include Miami's Orange Bowl, against the ACC champ (pulverizing Georgia Tech or up-and-down Clemson), or, if we do make the dreaded plunge into the ranks of "regular" New Year's Day bowls, the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Florida, site of perhaps the most memorable Hawkeye play of all time. The sweet taste of a 10-2 season, with the possibility of 11 wins, is still digesting, but it would go down the pipes a whole lot smoother with the sterling stamp of a BCS bowl game emblazoned on the resume. After a season such as this one, anything less just wouldn't do justice to all of the good fortune and craziness.

Next, I'll do a mini-season wrap up, with my own take on the best players, games, and moments of an incredible season.

Best Offensive Player: WR Marvin McNutt (RS-Sophomore) -- Whether due to inconsistency on the offensive line, injuries to their top 3 running backs, or Ricky Stanzi's patented pick-sixes, the 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes fielded an offense that was far from stable. They showed flashes of their potential, like the 28-point outburst in the 4th quarter of the Indiana game or consecutive long-ball touchdowns against Arkansas State, but achieving a steady rhythm was an elusive task for such an injury-plagued unit. Iowa fans never really knew what they were going to see on the field offensively any given Saturday, adding not only to the excitement of close, defensive-minded games, but the heart attack risk for overweight bearers of the black and gold. I'm giving this award to one of my new favorite players of the season, he of the endlessly manipulated last moniker, flypaper hands, and big play potential: former third-string QB and St. Louis native Marvin McNutt. Coming into the season, most fans saw McNutt's placement as number 1 on the depth chart as a fluke, a motivational ploy to get Derrell Johnson-Koulianous, the teams' established star at wideout, to put forth a bit more effort in practice. After all, the guy was a converted QB still learning the ins-and-outs of running routes, and could not have been ready for such a big role.

But McNutt quickly showed that he deserved a lasting spot in the starting lineup, becoming our most consistent threat for the first half of the season as DJK "got with the program," and then settling into the role of the Hawks' most incendiary deep threat. While DJK garnered more receptions and yards, McNutt still managed to put up 653 yards with a stunning 21.3 average yards per reception, nabbing 9 TDs to DJK's 2. His highlights included two touchdowns against Arkansas State, the 92-yard touchdown that ignited Kinnick Stadium against Indiana, his 2 stellar TD grabs against Ohio State at the Horseshoe, and finally, the iconic last-play touchdown catch to beat Michigan State in East Lansing and go 8-0 for the first time in program history. What's even more impressive about that play is that a fade route was originally called in the huddle, but McNutt, seeing that he could beat his man to the inside, persuaded Ken O'Keefe to change the call. The rest is history. McNutt's emergence is one of the best stories of the season, and the fact that he didn't make ANY of the All-Big Ten lists is incredibly stupid and inane. Honorable mention for this award could go to Stanzi, who ignored the haters and calmly won ball games with clutch savvy and nonchalant resiliency. Also, Adam Robinson was a fearsome sparkplug at running back until a stifling ankle injury ended his run at Michigan State, while offensive lineman Dace Richardson was a rock at right guard until yet ANOTHER ankle injury sidelined him for the season.

More awards to follow in the coming days...

The Granddaddy of Them All

2009-11-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

Imagine waking up from a dream, as vivid and realistic as dreams can be. Every aspect of the dream is going in your favor, and you are in utter shock. This kind of happiness does not occur in reality, and you are blissfully lost in the ignorant joys of the present, never thinking one action in advance of the next.

Then, the dream abruptly ends, your head bashes against the bed board, you realize class starts in 15 minutes, and all of the pleasures granted by that slumbering fantasy suddenly disappear, a night's worth of riches sapped away in one crushing counter-punch.

This is how Hawkeye Nation felt after last Saturday's 17-10 demoralization at the hands of the Northwestern Wildcats on a beautiful, 72-degree day inside the swollen red brick confines of Kinnick Stadium, stacked with sweltering hoards of black and gold faithful oozing into stadium aisles and desperately cheering for this destiny-fueled season to continue riding the train of disbelief, leaving fans' mouths agape week after week with stunning comebacks, stifling defense, and Stanzi's savvy in the clutch.

Throughout Iowa's dreadfully prehistoric 2nd half performance, when 3-and-outs became as common as Dominique Douglas arrest warrants, the fans still managed to keep their dream alive without ever batting an eyelid. They had been through this routine before. Trailing in their 9th game out of 10 on the season? No problem. This is the same Hawkeye outfit that needed to block two field goals in the final 7 seconds to beat Northern Iowa, recover an onside kick to wax Arkansas State off the board, return a punt block for a touchdown in the pouring rain to squelch Penn State in Happy Valley, score an improbable touchdown as time expired to beat Michigan State on the road for the first time since 1995, pile on 28 4th quarter points to bury Indiana, and -- I think you get the picture by now.

This team embodies resiliency, and nobody is a greater beacon for resiliency then QB Ricky Stanzi, whose Jekyll and Hyde performances have drawn both ire and quasi-worship from deranged Hawk fans all season long. Stanzi has thrown more pick-sixes this year then most QBs would care to remember, and nearly as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (15). Yet, when the 4th quarter begins, and the sky starts to dim, Stanzi straps his gloves on and goes to work. No game typifies that kind of nonchalant swagger and unprecedented poise more so then the Indiana contest on Halloween day. Stanzi played the most miserable 3 quarters of his life, tossing 4 picks in the 3rd quarter and 5 in all, repeatedly chucking the pigskin right into a ferocious gust of wind. Iowa fans, being the fickle farmers that they are, began calling for Stanzi's head, demanding that backup James Vandenberg be thrust in the game right this very moment.

Good thing Coach Kirk Ferentz kept his lid screwed on tight. Stanzi responded to the incessant chorus of jeers and boos with a scintillating 4th quarter, throwing for 177 yards and completing all of his passes, including two orgasmic touchdowns to fan favorites Marvin McNutt (the puns are endless) and DJK, he of the cursed Sports Illustrated cover that I will no longer mention again even though it's really cool and it's pinned up in my dorm room.

So, how does this all connect to Northwestern, and Iowa's impending date with "The" Ohio State university this weekend in a de facto Big Ten championship game for a berth in the Rose Bowl? Well, imagine that dream not only transitioning to reality, but dying right there on the Kinnick turf, something unholy and unforseen tainting the Saturday morning purity and silencing the rabid throng of Iowa supporters who had been generating deafening noise just minutes before. After an unabashedly boneheaded naked bootleg call by Ken O'Keefe with the ball on the 5, Stanzi was sacked by Northwestern's Corey Wooton, fumbling the ball and leading to NW's first TD of the day. But the image that followed was much more gruesome. Stanzi lying there in the endzone, an awkward, crumpled heap. His ankle was a twisted mess, a high sprain they'd call it, sidelining our hero for the rest of the regular season. Once the shock subsided, and the fans recovered from the sight of this season's most polarizing figure limping pathetically into the locker room, one question remained --and it was not "Where did Ashton Kutcher go?" Could James Vandenberg live up to his high school glory, and somehow get the Hawkeyes to 10-0?

The immediate answer to that question was a resounding no, as Vandenberg's first pass attempt was intercepted and the rest of them rarely successful, as the grossly underprepared RS-freshman bumbled his way through a nervous 9-27, 86 yard performance, only once venturing past the 50 yard line through almost three quarters of play. The loss could not be placed solely on Vandenberg's play, though most fans would confidently state that had Stanzi not been knocked out of the game, the Hawkeyes would have won. Vandenberg came into the NW game with 3 career passing attempts, and could not have known that he would be tossled headfirst into such a desperate situation, with "undefeated" and "national title" ringing in his youthful ears. Needless to say, the Iowa offense died with Stanzi's ankle that day, and the Wildcats' scrappy outfit of overachievers (hey, that's supposed to be us) made enough plays on both offense and defense to steal another heart-wrenching game from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

It took more then the standard 24-hours for Hawkeye fans to flush this disappointing turd of a game down the toilet, and the reasons mounted like Hawkeye bodies in the training room. It was devastating to lose Stanzi. It has been a season where the injuries have piled up in sickening numbers, with running backs, offensive linemen, and wide receivers dropping from the ranks with everything from torn tendons to confounding concussions, but Stanzi was the one player the Hawkeyes could not afford to lose, could not overcome. He's the rare talent that always gives your team a chance to win, despite his penchant for throwing the patented "Stanzi-ball" directly into the chest of the opposing team. Can we win another game without number 12? Number 2 on the list of disappointments was the fact that it was frickin' Northwestern, the pretentious, intellectual, purple-clad, 10,000 people per home game skid mark of the Big Ten conference. Now, realize I am being overly harsh for comedic purposes, as the Wildcats have brandished a respectable program since 1995 and severely own the Kirk Ferentz-lead Hawkeyes, but come on, really? Northwestern? Yes, Northwestern, the same Northwestern that has beaten Iowa 3 out of the last 4 trips to Kinnick and whose fanbase has taken to calling our glorious stadium "Ryan Field West." Oh really, is that why every time Iowa plays you guys we have like 10 times the fucking fans you do at your own stadium?

Sorry, but you can envision how this affects me. It's just hard to register that Jake Christensen is the last Iowa QB to beat the Wildcats (coincidence that he was in attendance? I think not). But most Hawkeye fans would acknowledge that were our admittedly narrow national championship dreams to die, it would have been much easier to swallow at Ohio State. But not Northwestern. Not Northwestern.

Lastly, the disappointment culminated in the sharp reality that what has been a historic dream season, reaching 8-0 and then 9-0 for the first time in the wide arc of our storied program, may end in something other then a Big Ten title or BCS berth. From McNutt's last second grab in East Lansing to Tyler Sash's laughable pinball interception return against Indiana, this has been a season that embraces the bizarre, glorifies the lucky, and most importantly, offers a tantalizing peak at destiny. Before the season, 9-0 seemed like quite the stretch with such a daunting road schedule, but as the leaves morphed to orange and the year grew older, fans began to imagine a world where the words "Iowa Hawkeyes-National Champions" didn't sound so far-fetched. With a brutal road trip to Ohio State looming, this was not the time to lose a home game to Northwestern.

Which segways into this weekend's pristine contest at The 'Shoe, one of America's storied venues and arguably the toughest place to play at in the Big Ten. 100,000 scarlet and grey clad Buckeye fans, like bloodthirsty spectators at a gladiator match, will be shouting in unison for their beloved defense to jettison our new baby-faced gunslinger to the brisk turf, pasted into another Buckeye Big Ten title montage along with the countless others that have come before. Young James Vandenberg will be getting his first start on the road in Columbus, and nobody will be giving him a shot. Though we are ranked one spot ahead of Ohio State at number 10 in the BCS, the talking heads and loudmouth ESPN pundits will be giving us less of a shot to win then John Wooden to beat Lance Armstrong in a bicycle race. The nation will be against us. But adversity is this Iowa team's best friend, and I don't see any reason why this special Hawkeye team has to stop embracing it. Matter of fact, I'm going to close this post with three reasons why Iowa will win right here.

Reason #1) Terrelle Pryor. The much-ballyhooed Buckeye signal caller may have emerged from high school with Vince Young-level hype and attention, but the talented sophomore's passing skills this season have left much to be desired. Though he's shown flashes of star potential, what with such a deadly mix of size and athleticism, don't confuse OSU wins with Pryor success. This Ohio State defense is what has made this team 8-2. Here are Pryor's 2009 passing statistics, courtesy of ESPN. You be the judge.

DATE OPP RESULT CMP ATT YDS CMP% LNG TD INT RAT ATT YDS AVG LNG TD
9/5 Navy W 31-27 14 21 174 66.7 38 1 1 142.46 6 30 5.0 11 1
9/12 USC L 18-15 11 25 177 44.0 56 0 1 95.47 10 36 3.6 17 0
9/19 @Toledo W 38-0 17 28 262 60.7 76 3 2 160.38 12 110 9.2 43 1
9/26 Illinois W 30-0 8 13 82 61.5 19 1 0 139.91 11 59 5.4 23 0
10/3 @Indiana W 33-14 17 28 166 60.7 23 3 1 138.73 16 63 3.9 18 1
10/10 Wisconsin W 31-13 5 13 87 38.5 32 1 1 104.68 10 35 3.5 27 0
10/17 @Purdue L 26-18 17 31 221 54.8 40 1 2 112.46 21 34 1.6 35 1
10/24 Minnesota W 38-7 13 25 239 52.0 62 2 1 150.70 15 104 6.9 19 1
10/31 New Mexico State W 45-0 11 23 135 47.8 43 1 0 111.48 9 83 9.2 27 1
11/7 @Penn State W 24-7 8 17 125 47.1 62 2 0 147.65 5 50 10.0 24 1

Reason #2) James Vandenberg. One's first reaction, a very understandable one at that, would be confusion and perhaps disgust. But I'm talking about Vandenberg the high school QB. I realize that Kirk Ferentz once proclaimed the everlasting truth that "what a kid does in high school amounts to what the kid did in high school," Vandenberg's crazy good statistics should be enough to get Hawkeye fans salivating over what he can do. Don't be fooled by the skittish young colt we all witnessed on Saturday. Vandenberg (the Mandenberg) holds 12 state of Iowa passing records, including career passing yards (7,709), career TD passes (93), and single-season passing yards from his senior year at Keokuk (3,729). The fact that he is capable of putting up these numbers shouldn't assuage Hawk fans' fears, but it gives us hope, and proves that the QB we saw last Saturday will not be the QB we see for the next 3 years here in Iowa City. Enough said.

Reason #3) The Hawkeye defense. This one is kind of a given folks, and it goes hand-in-hand with numero uno. Our conservative Cover-2 schemes are begging for opposing QB's to get overly comfortable with the short stuff and make mistakes. Pryor's nonchalant throwing, if you can even call it that, of the pigskin should lead to a few easy INTs for the boys in the secondary, most notably pickmeister Tyler Sash, who has 6 on the year. Look for Adrian Clayborn to disrupt the pocket and force Pryor to make plays with his legs, which he is capable of, but after a few staunch shots from our dreadlocked monster up front, I don't think he will be feeling too comfortable. Also watch out for Pat Angerer in the MLB spot. He's coming in, for lack of better word, juiced up. Playing for a Big Ten title, Angerer, the emotional leader of this defense, will have this unit's intensity exploding through the walls of Ohio Stadium. Look for him to make plays from sideline-to-sideline, shutting down "Boom" Herron and the OSU running attack while keeping a sterling eye on Pryor's every movement as well. The Hawks also need the defense to force a multitude of turnovers, something they've been relying on all season. Unfortunately, that aspect of Iowa's game has faded in recent weeks, but Vandenberg needs some good field position if Iowa is to put up enough points to win.

Final Score: Iowa-17 Ohio State-3.

So Hawkeye fans, don't stop believing in this magical season, because we've been living on a prayer since Day 1, and all we really want is for tonight to be a good night, right?

This one is for you, Hawkeye Nation. On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

Walking to Class...

2009-09-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Hey, did you come here for that crazy preacher guy?"

"Whaa..?" I muttered, nearly unintelligibly, back to him. The day's barrage of classes had worn me down, to say the least.

"Yea, he said feminists are going to hell because they want more freedom then they deserve or something! This dude totally owns his wife! He said earlier that dirty dancing is a sin, so some girl started grinding up right next to him. So awesome!"

"I'll have to check it out," I stated unenthusiastically as I walked to class. Sure enough, right outside the building where I was about to take an Anthropology exam, the man was there. He wore a well-trimmed black beard, with a 1920s paper boy beret atop his head and dated attire that appeared as if the mothballs had only recently left its premises. I noticed his sign, a laundry list of sins as common on this campus as Saturday night public intoxication charges and 2 a.m. Pancheros runs. Bubbly girls practically bursting with mockery rushed up to the pillar he was standing upon merely to take pictures, sent off to curious friends in class, while testosterone fueled machos challenged his views with blunt profanities and base insults as creative and insightful as an episode of the "O'Reily Factor." The worst was when the man received a call from his supposedly subservient "missus" back home at God-knows-where, only to become swarmed with crude remarks about "your husband cheating on you" or "why don't you pay taxes you "f*****g idiot," or when he quietly whispered about his father's alcoholism, largely to an empty crowd who had finished participating in their demeaning another person for the day, made much easier when that person seems so artificial and distant from what we see as humanity. Granted, this man was spouting absurdities, not grounded in reality, condemning the immoral masses to hell whilst preaching a literal interpretation of the Bible and professing to be a virtual saint himself. To take that, for lack of better word, bull seriously would be a gross ignorance and silly fodder for playful harassment from your friends. But something about the whole scenario just left me feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, not right. No matter the man, to treat another person as something sub-human, worthy of being treated like a dog, just isn't right. Yes, some culpability is on his part for coming to one of the most liberal universities in the Midwest and preaching of hellfire and brimstone, but this curb side preacher is just a voice, a voice like many other voices, who can be ignored, but never stomped and spat upon. People were so venomous and mean-spirited in their comments, malicious in their stares, that I was exposed to a dark, unrelenting side of humanity that nobody should want to see. When a human being is free from consequence, from nosy parents, church obligations, overbearing professors, or what have you, one is capable of grave, blackened evils. When a human being is unrestrained, capable of reducing another human being to a lowly status where it feels appropiate to belittle and attack like a boyhood bully, then there is obviously something inherently wrong in all of us. I understand that nobody, including myself, respects the self-righteous, you're going to hell type of condemnation, and rightfully so, but I just don't see the benefit or satisfaction in lowering a person to that level in order to feel more comfortable about one's own immoral lives. This was mob mentality at it's finest, and even when justified, as it might have been today, it's a scary thing to witness. Who's with me??

A Grave Injustice, Some Stifling Defense, And A Little Donahue Worship

2009-09-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

One team stands 2-1, renewed with a vigorous hope pouring forth from the collective heart of a fanbase still reeling from the horrors of a 0-12 2008 season. They have just toppled the number 3 team in the country by a field goal, standing ranked in the top 25 only one measly season after being at the lowest nadir of college football loserdom. The other team, perched atop a plateau of 3-0, is fresh off a stifling non-conference victory over Arizona, an admittedly lesser Pac-10 school than the former number 3 team in the nation, and started the year ranked number 22nd. That team is currently riding a 7 game winning streak dating back to a shocking upset victory of Penn State the previous season, yet currently sits unranked and disregarded by the national media at large. The former team is, of course, Washington, a horribly overrated West Coast team riding the coattails of ONE win, while the latter, unfortunate squad is Iowa, still being perpetually punished for a miracle win over Northern Iowa in week 1 and continuing a disgusting plummet in the national rankings despite not losing a game yet. Let's take Michigan as another example of how the AP poll voters are biased quacks who base their opinions off of 10-second Sportscenter snips and namebrand recognition of regal college football "powerhouses" by "name" only. The hallowed Wolverines, unproven and fresh from a 3-9 season a year ago, remain the most winningest college football program in history (due in large part to the fact that they've been playing football since the American Revolution), so naturally after a hyperbolized victory over the grossly overrated and overranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, irrelevant on the national scale (quality-wise) for at least the last decade, they move up from not even "receiving votes" in the previous week's AP poll to being ranked number 18. Because, of course, beating Notre Dame is always a national accomplishment on par with saving a child's life.

It is a gross and repulsive injustice that Iowa has fallen from the top 25...there is no doubt in my mind that had we beaten a Notre Dame or a Michigan this past weekend, teams on par with Arizona talentwise, then we would be back in the rankings and groveling at the top 20. I'm all for the underdog mantra of "staying under the radar," as I realize a lot of Hawkeye fans take a sense of pride in sneaking up on self-righteous opponents from that role, but rankings make a different in national exposure, recruiting, and how one is viewed in the all-important BCS rankings. If I said that I'd rather be unranked than ranked so that we could "sneak up on people," I'd be a liar. So while the double standard associated with big-name programs in college football is tiresome, I'm overly numb to it at this stage, and there is still no logical reason why the Hawkeyes are not ranked at this point. The pollsters obviously want us to prove ourselves on the grandest of national scales, beating the 5th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions to land our quiet name back in the prestigious rankings, but we shouldn't have to beat the number 5 team in the country just to sniff the top 25 again. It's just unfortunate that we could have thumped an unranked Notre Dame, and we would have been back in the national rank and file. That's all I'll say on that subject. On to Saturday's 27-17 defensive demolition of former Hawkeye Mike Stoops and his Arizona Wildcats on a brutally hot Blackout, perhaps the worst day of the year for it in Iowa!

The story of this past Saturday's rugged, hard-earned victory over a sleek, athletic Arizona team was far and away the defensive performance. The offense was, at times, sluggish and disjointed, especially with the continuation of Ricky Stanzi's first half passing woes, but the one constant was the defensive front's penchant for disruption at the line of scrimmage, as well as generally clogging the running lanes and holding Nic Grigsby, the nation's 2nd-leading rusher heading into the game, to only 75 yards, including 55 on one play. Adrian Clayborn exuded a freak athleticism that doesn't come around too often, racking up at least 6 solo tackles while constantly harassing Arizona's beautifully flustered QB, nabbing a sack and a late forced fumble on QB #1's unfortunate replacement. Even with all these flashy statistics, Clayborn's most impressive play came on a seemingly routine tackle of Grigsby after a one-yard gain, when both players got an even start from the jump and Clayborn ran across the entire line, chasing Grigsby down before he could even get started. Seeing a player so large chase down a much smaller, quicker player was a surreal experience, and a quintessential example of Clayborn's dastardly athleticism. Another wonderful testament to the stellar play of the Hawkeye defense would be the opposing QB play. Arnaud's performance last week was originally thought to be a nerves-induced rivalry choking, but after the duds put forth by Arizona's signal-callers, many Hawk fans are starting to re-think that sentiment. By the 3rd quarter, when he was mercifully pulled, Arizona's starting QB, Matt Scott, was 4-12 (?) for 50 yards. That's it. Though his strength was thought to be in his mobility, he only managed to pull off one halfway decent scramble. Everything else was squelched by the bad boys in black up front. His backup, more of a pocket passer, did lead the Wildcats to a garbage time touchdown, but he also threw the inevitable pick to Tyler Sash, a.k.a. The Velociraptor back there. Once again, it was like fielding a punt! All in all, Iowa tussled and tattered the Arizona offense all day, stifling the overmatched young quarterbacks, strong-arming the offensive line, and reigning poor Grigsby in like a a rambunctious toddler. On his 55-yard run, Amari Spievey made perhaps the best hustle play of this young season, chasing him down the entire field, not giving up on the play, developing a solid angle, and finally bringing him down at the one yard line. David Cato nabbed a ferocious tackle for loss on the next play, and Iowa held on to force Arizona to take a goal line field goal. Huge play. Though Iowa dominated the time of possession with an effective running game and some savvy plays by wideouts Colin Sandeman and Marvin McNutt, the score was still 7-7 early due to a nasty pick-six by Stanzi, and Arizona hung around up until a thoroughly dominate Iowa 3rd quarter, when two drives that ended in Daniel Murray field goals stalled what could have been a much more lopsided final score. Stanzi once again flushed a so-so first half with a sharp, precise showing after halftime, finishing with 205 yards and his lone pick. Adam Robinson continued his successful running, nabbing about 110 yards and 2 TDs, though a lot of his yards came on a 43 yard scamper on 3rd and 23, when KOK decided to play up to his conservative namesake and run a draw, only the line opened up a massive chasm and Robinson took full advantage. Brandon Wegher got in on the action himself once again, landing 43 yards and another impressive, leaping touchdown.

Another major story of this game, especially in the context of next week's big game, was the injuries. A lingering ankle injury kept the Glass Man himself, Tony Moeaki, out of this contest, but luckily his backup, the very capable and Brandon Myers-esque Allen Reisner, subbed in with flying colors, racking up about 40 receiving yards while showing off his wonderfully soft super-glue hands. Though Reisner doesn't have Moeaki's jaw-dropping athleticism or dominate run blocking capabilities, it's nice to know the injury prone superstar once again has a reliable backup. DJK also sat this one out with a hamstring injury, but luckily wideout is the Hawks' deepest position, and a vast array of characters filled in admirably, though I would like to see more of Keenan Davis out there. Perhaps the biggest, most figuratively and literally, hole to make up for was the conspicuous absence of left tackle Bryan Bulaga, apparently with intestinal issues due either to a thyroid problem or an infection from a tattoo, depending on who you listen to. No one seems to know when he will be cleared by the doctor, but in the meantime his admitedly undersized backup, redshirt frosh Riley Reiff, has done a fantastic, even dominate job, in his absence. He limited an All-Pac 10 defensive end to only one tackle, an essentially worthless game. But Penn State is another deal. One more player I should talk about is Heisman Candidate and Iowa punter Ryan Donahue, who has been having as dominate and entertaining a seasons as a punter could possibly have. He gives the Hawks fantastic field position everytime out, consistently pins the opponent inside their own 10/5 yard line, and contributed mightily to our narrow victory over UNI. If Donahue was a safety, only the gods could comprehend his potency. Donahue would possess a tenacity rivaling that of Bob Sanders, with a penchant for sternum-snapping hits and unyielding intensity, leading to the occasional "foaming at the mouth" whenever his rabid intensity exposes itself to the shockingly pleased Kinnick faithful, clad in midnight black while playing the role of bloodthirsty Romans clamoring for their ketchup-topped gladiator to slay the lion. His coverage skills would rival that of the fleece blanket wrapped around grandma's knees at Christmas time, or at least that of Champ Bailey. On a good day. Donahue would rise from his crippled feast, a mound of battered enemies, running backs searching for shoulder blades, wideouts missing toes, tight ends cross-eyed and stumbling from the severe spinal wreckage that Bomb-a-Hue proudly claims responsibility for. He raises his fist, bleached white, yet speckled with fresh grass and Nittany Lion cartilage, points to the lonely red-headed Hawk fan sitting in row 15, easily distinguishable among the Beaver Stadium White-Out, and shouts "I AM GINGER!" And you thought Donahue could only punt...

The epic revenge match against the Nittany Lions, which will be aired on ABC Primetime while welcoming in the College Gameday crew, should be the toughest test of our entire season. Penn State will bring new meaning to the words "motivation" and "hatred," looking to embarrass the Hawks on a national stage after Murray's field goal kept them out of the national championship last year. Not only does Ferentz's 6-2 record against JoePa suggest that PSU is our bitch, but even in basketball, a sport where the Hawks have barely been competent in recent years, Iowa knocked off the Nittany Lions in a late season thriller and kept them out of the NCAA tournament. DJK and Moeaki are expected back, but nobody seems to know if Bulaga will play or not, so look for Reiff to throw his 280-pound body into the biggest fire of his life. ISU and Arizona are one thing, but Penn State is an entirely different burn. We'll see. The raucous, much-ballyhooed White Out crowd will be a frightening experience, and new starters should be prepared to shiver in their cleats, but Penn State has played three straight cupcake opponents to start the season, and Iowa is their first challenge, a major one at that. It will be a competitive, physical, emotional game, with the factors stretched against us, but if Stanzi can limit the turnovers, the defense can continue to play at an elite level, and the youngest players can tune out the distractions of crowd noise, then we should make it a College Gameday to remember.

A Kegger for Wegher, and other tidbits from the Cy-Hawk game

2009-09-17T07:46:00.001-07:00

The run defense could use some work. Stanzi still hasn't played well in the first half. The offensive line can't seem to stay healthy and form a consistent unit. And, worst of all, it seems like Iowa's dominate 35-3 victory over Iowa State in Ames was more a product of Austen Arnaud's sheer incompetence than stifling coverage by an Iowa secondary that was more than questionable last week. Yet, the only two questions I had on my mind after this thoroughly satisfying thumping of our in-state little brother was "Who the heck cares?" and "Where's the victory celebration at?" That air of satisfaction embodied the attitude of most every Iowa fan, optimist and pragmatist, last Saturday as the Hawkeyes ventured on the road, to a place they had only been victorious at ONE time this entire decade (not since 2003 with the venerable Nathan Chandler at QB), and smashed their rivals in the biggest college football game played every year in the tiny state of Iowa, handing Paul Rhoads a humbling first loss as Cyclones' coach and relegating the Ames faithful to the middling stature of 3rd-best team in the Hawkeye state. Anyone who watched Iowa's first two games should be able to bellow with confidence that UNI is a much better team, both defensively and offensively, than the Division-1 Cyclones, so is it finally time that they realize the Big 12 is much too competitive for them to ever be successful, and become resigned to joining the MAC? We'll see. Right now, Hawkeyes infesting the rowdy streets of Iowa City on this Saturday night should be content to chant "In Heaven There is No Beer" at the local bars, kick back on Sunday, procrastinate on the inevitable piles of homework, and close those eyelids, just for a short while, with the satisfaction that your football team is unquestionably the best one in the state, and, right now at least, one of the best in the Big Ten.

It was a beautiful day in Ames, and the jam-packed crowd was as juiced as ever for what they had hoped would be a mirror of Iowa's last trip to State in 2007, when Jake Christensen and the heavily favored Hawks muddled their way through a dud of an offensive stinker, scoring only 13 points while the embattled 'Clones kicked 5 field goals to give Coach Chizik one-fifth of his career victories at Iowa State. The major concerns heading into this year's contest included the seemingly perpetual shuffling of the offensive-line, thought to finally be a full unit again with the return of left guard Julian Vandervelde and, more importantly, right tackle Kyle Calloway, but left tackle Bryan Bulaga was hospitalized late in the week with some phantom illness supposedly ranging from deadly heart failure to swine flu, and would be making the trip, but not playing. Kirk pacified any mortal fears with a reassurance that Bulaga would again play this season, sooner rather than later, but would not elaborate on the mystery illness or when he would be cleared by a doctor. Next, how would the gameplan differ with the obvious strength of the team being its passing? Would the coaches stubbornly stick to "balance" and predictability, or exhibit the confidence to let Stanzi air the ball out more? Also, the anemic running game gave fans reason to doubt the productivity of the offense against UNI the previous week. Would Adam Robinson be able to shoulder the majority of the load? Would we see more Wegher (hint, hint) or Jeff Brinson? Finally, with Shaun Prater not returning to the lineup until next week's game against Arizona, the secondary bore a major hole on the left side, likely to be filled once again by the shaky William Lowe/Greg Castillo combination. Would they be able to stave off a red-hot Arnaud? Well, you guys all watched the game, so here are the main points I could glean from it.

-Brandon Wegher is a young mustang. Wow, what a savior at the running back position! It's very easy to get lost in empty platitudes and absurd hyperbole for my fellow U of Iowa freshman from Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, but with the sparkling, explosive performance that he put on against the Cyclones, it became stunningly apparent that we have a more than capable running back for the future here at Iowa. Wegher made a bevy of eye-opening plays, included a leaping one-handed catch on a dump-off from Stanzi that would have been impressive had he just reigned it in and fell over, but was made even more incredible by the fact he maintained his balance while cutting and spinning his way forward for the first down. On one of the game's final, most punishing drives, Wegher nabbed almost ten yards a carry, darting his way through an obviously comfortable line's massive holes, charging his undersized body into the Cyclone secondary with reckless abandon. He finished with 15 carries for 101 yards and a diving touchdown from the 1 yard line, showing off his springy hops in the process of scoring his first collegiate touchdown after a senior year at Sioux City Heelan when he scored over 50 of them. Wegher is exciting because he can make plays athletically that nobody else on this roster can, and you can expect the undersized gem of the 2008 recruiting class to keep making them for the next four years. Oh yea, Adam Robinson had a pretty good game as well! He continues to run hard, and with fiery burst, rushing for almost 70 yards on just under 20 carries, setting up Iowa's first touchdown and providing a consistent option all game long. Look for Robinson and Wegher to get about even carries against Arizona next week. Paki and Brinson each nabbed a carry apiece, but both appear to be out of the rotation for the forseeable future.
-Ken O'Keefe came in with an excellent gameplan, and though it wasn't always executed to perfection, it showed a willingness to change and deviate towards common sense instead of what is expected all of the time. Seeing that the strength of this team was in its stacked wide receiver depth and gunslinging quarterback, the Hawks came out throwing, sometimes on all three downs, with 5-wideout sets! Never has Iowa run 5-wideout sets, or passed the ball to set up the run on first down. It was a bold, fresh decision by KOK, and a very fun, loose style of play that opposing defenses aren't used to seeing Iowa encourage. This may have been an abberration, as Iowa seems to have established their previously ambiguous running game, and ISU's Charmin-soft defense was just begging to give up yardage through the air, but whatever the reasoning, it was entertaining and refreshing to see KOK open up his playbook and let Stanzi dictate the game with the pass. Fantastic gameplan, and a huge reason the Hawks won.

-The offensive line did a very serviceable job against an admittedly overmatched Iowa State defensive front, even without Bulaga on the left side. Redshirt freshman Riley Reiff, known more for naked, drunken Pancheros runs than his play on the field, still needs to add some bulk, but appears much larger than when he was a freshman (yeahhh Chris Doyle yeahhh). He filled in quite nicely for Bulaga at left tackle, brandishing a mean streak and tenacity that are instrumental qualities to being an Iowa porker up front. Calloway's return made a huge difference, as well as Vandervelde's temporary effort, while Dace Richardson's return to prominence continues to be one of the best stories of the season. This line is deep, talented, with an apt blend of youth and experience, but we won't know the full extent of its dominance until we can have a week when they all are fully healthy. That is what defines a consistent, dominate offensive line, like our 2002 outfit. Hopefully against Penn State, the Hawks can acheive that.

-Ricky Stanzi continued his Jekyll and Hyde act with a 2-INT first half performance, then followed that up with a near-flawless 2 touchdown second half en route to the first 4-TD game of his career. He continues to prove that mistakes do nothing to influence his chuck-first, ask questions later mindset, and he is the king of "bounce-back" drives and performances after making a poor throw, but it's impossible to ignore all the points left on the board with Stanzi's shaky first half, when he consistently overthrew open wideouts and looked shockingly Christensen-esque at times. Luckily, his beautiful pass to DJK for the touchdown that put Iowa up 14-3 reaffirmed the people's belief that Stanzi can make all the capable throws, and his pair of second half endzone darts to Allen Resiner and Keenan Davis, respectively, identified him strongly as a clutch, 4th-quarter nightmare dating back to the iconic Penn State drive last year. If Stanzi's second-half passer rating were used strictly as a judge of his quarterbacking ability, he would be trumping Colt McCoy, not only in swagger but in the Heisman race. Just sayin'.

-Finally, I'll end with the undisputed stars of the game...safeties Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood, responsible for 6 Iowa State turnovers, including 4 interceptions by Arnaud in a paltry 79 yard effort, and 1 for his backup, Jerome Tiller. Black and gold pessimists will likely point to average defensive line play, allowing Cyclone back Alexander Robinson to gain 100 yards, as a potential pitfall for this team, and don't get me wrong, they will have to play better, but this is a talented group that can collapse the pocket and dominate the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, on this day, those interception were on Arnaud, not frenzied pressure from Adrian Clayborn or Broderick Binns. Instead of methodically attacking our soft Cover 2 with underneath slant routes and the like, always open with our secondary playing nearly 10 yards back, Arnaud, adrenaline flowing like a geyser, attempted to go for the homerun on numerous occasions, not anticipating turnover machine Sash would be playing centerfield and plucking Arnaud's duds from the sky like a low punt. Sash picked off three of Arnaud's passes, none of them requiring him to overly stretch his body to reach, adding some spice to the nabs with some fancy moves on his juke-heavy returns. He also forced a fumble on Robinson, a crucial turnover, finishing off his successful day with four forced turnovers, an unprecedented feat for a single player. If Sash keeps this up, he will break most every statistical record at Iowa, potentially going down as ONE of our best safeties of all time. Don't laugh. Just hope I didn't jinx him. Also can't forget about Greenwood, who fielded two major interceptions himself where he potentially could have called for fair catch. It was a satisfyingly productive day for a player who generates a fairly decent amount of blogosphere mockery. Amari Spievey had a relatively quiet day, which means that he was doing his job, while Willie Lowe played admirably at the other corner spot. Prater back next week, folks, so it's valuable that we've developed some depth in his absence. The Iowa run defense will be tested by the number 2 rusher in the nation, Arizona's Nic Grigsby, while Ricky Stanzi is pitted up against the fastest secondary he's had to face all season! Go Hawks, Blackout Saturday!

Stanzi is one lucky Manzi...

2009-09-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday's near-disaster performance by the 21st-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes against in-state "FCS" (1-AA dammit!) powerhouse Northern Iowa will either go down as a legendary "wake-up call" for the ages, unveiling the quintessential next-man in, blue collar attitude that so binds the fabric of the Hawks, or a flimsy, luck-fueled abberation, a la Syracuse in 2006, when a passionate goal-line stand led to a 6-7 season. Iowa's offense sputtered and slumped their way through an uninspiring 17 points in 4 quarters, including only 3 at halftime, in this insanely odd, unconventional 17-16 victory over the scrappy UNI Panthers. My Hawkeyes were thoroughly thumped and trounced, out-played and smacked around by UNI's bigger O-Line, left clawing at the brand new synthetic turf as Panther QB Pat Grace sharpened the surgical tools and methodically dissected the shaky Iowa secondary, already hurting with inexperience and injuries, fooling them with fakes and finding receivers so open you'd think the Hawkeyes were trying to catch up on riding lawnmowers. UNI was the better team on Saturday, yet they did not win. Coach Farley did an amazing job inciting his troops and instilling them with the attitude that they are the best team in the state, that they could come into a golden rush of over 70,000 Hawk fans and silence every single one of them. They did. Yet in a shockingly un-karmic middle finger to the values of hard work and perseverance, as well as simply better play, the football gods thankfully rained on UNI's supposedly impending parade (Farley said it's not a matter of "if" UNI will beat Iowa, but "when") and gave us the unnaturally good fortune of two blocked kicks in a row, in 7 seconds, to somehow pull this ball game out of our magic hats. I'm not sure what that kicker could have done to deserve such misfortune (besides live in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and kicking field goals with as much arch as a Shaquille O'Neal free throw), but whatever he did, thank you. Because the tears were already welling up in my eyes, the anguish ready to explode from my chest, as I frantically thought of ways I would cope with watching MY Iowa Hawkeyes, the hot preseason sleeper pick in the Big Ten (at least before Hampton's injury that is), at my first collegiate football game as a student at my dream school, lose the opening game of the season to a school not even classified as Division 1. That, my friends, is called misery. Thankfully, I didn't have to skip my post-game ritual of calling Dad and discussing the game, on account of sobbing, as the Hawkeyes miraculously found a way to block those two kicks, even after a heartwrenching rulebook nuance allowed UNI to kick again with one second remaining after the first block failed to cross the line of scrimmage, when just about every Hawkeye fan across the nation was ready to unload a shotgun shell into his/her battered brains. Farley can talk all he wants about "woulda, coulda, shoudas" (forgive the cheesy colloquialism), but at the end of the day, my favorite cliche remains true: a win is a win, and the scoreboard says the story.

The question now is, however, where do we go from here? Next week is the big (well, in Iowa I guess) rivalry week, ISU-Iowa, and while this game usually has zero bearing on how the rest of the season plays out, and making predictions is about as wise as sticking your hand in Pat Angerer's drink during dinner, I actually believe this contest will go a long way towards determining if UNI was the spurring catalyst to success that we needed, or a blinding light exposing our every weakness and plethora of gaping holes. Iowa State beat some Dakota directional high school program something on Thursday night, winning in semi-impressive fashion and moving the ball fairly well through the air with Austen Arnaud humming along at QB. That's what worries me, as our secondary was exposed as faulty on Saturday, and I still contend that had Phillip Bates not played last year, Arnaud would have led ISU to a victory at a sloppy Kinnick field. I'm not worried about their running game, because quite frankly, nobody runs on us, and their defense looked lackluster at best against competition that wasn't even close to UNI's quality, so if Ken O'Queef decides to hand Stanzi the reigns, as he should, instead of manically striving for a "balance" that isn't there, I think we can move the ball with relative ease and make this thing a surprise shootout. We all know Iowa has struggled mightily in the corn-y confines of Lames, Iowa this past decade, as something about a shoddy high school stadium and ugly women cheering for flabby farmboys and scrawny Jucos just gets our boys nervous. Yes, Iowa will play tight, and Iowa State will play like General Patton just gave the pre-game address, but even with an unproven running game, we have the better team, and that is undeniable. Before I make a final prediction, I'll go over some positives and negatives from Saturday's game, with thoughts centered specifically on any lineup changes, injuries, or demotions.

Stanzi, for being sacked and faced with pressure on so many occasions, had a more-than-solid game, passing for about 250 yard and a touchdown. Protection was inconsistent, and the running game didn't give him much of a security blanket, but Ricky had the play-action working to perfection in the 2nd half, and developed a beautiful, easy rapport with Tony Moeaki. He also had a few nice passes to Trey Stross, Allen Reisner, a conspicuously absent DJK, and Marvin McNutt. Stanzi will be fine, so Kirk/KOK, let's make it become known that this is his team, Stanzi-ball or not, because with his arm and bravado, he gives us our best chance to win every week (as well as our best chance to lose). Adam Robinson will be the back, no questions asked, against the Clones. He has burst and runs hard, with something to prove. Paki runs hard as well, but that's about it. His one shining chance in the sun was an epic fail, to say the least, as he showed none of the burst or vision required of a D1 back. I'm a huge Paki fan, and I love his energy, but there is just no way in hell he can be our running back with his physical defects and inability to pick the open holes and go. I'd love to see Brinson factor in there somehow, as he appears to be the most physically imposing of the three, with the best chance at being an everydown back, but he has missed a lot of practice, and if you haven't played before, Kirk won't cut you much slack in that department. A lot of that will depend on this week's practice. Wegher appears to be an emergency situational option at this point. Our O-Line was solid, but with injuries and inconsistent shuffling abound, they were not the dominant, monogamous unit that they were last year, and not even close to matching the preseason hype. In pass protection they appeared to miscommunicate/get beat numerous times, but in the run game they opened up plenty of holes that just weren't always hit. We all took Shonn Greene for granted, that's for sure! They will be aided by the return of potential All-Big Ten Kyle Calloway from a one game suspension, as well as the gradual return of two-year starter Julian Vandervelde. The other major concern is our defensive secondary, which is young and overly dependent on one player, future NFLer Amari Spievey, for production, especially until Shaun Prater's return from OWI suspension just in time for the Arizona game. Greg Castillo was attacked on numerous occasions by the savvy Grace, while William Lowe appears a bit undersized to be a lockdown option at that position. UNI picked us apart in the two minute offense, and we have to get more pressure on the QB, conservative schemes be damned. We can analyze defensive match-ups and offensive line play all week long, but everything goes out the window against ISU, so I'm predicting a rare, close 24-21 thriller, with Daniel Murray coming through again!

Joe Pug-Nation of Heat

2009-07-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

Every so often, an artist slips quietly onto a dimly lit stage, silencing the restless audience and stunning the open-mouthed music world with a message so touching, it transcends words, and penetrates human feeling. It blankets the spectrum, appealing to the anxious introvert, the confident lover, the struggling mother, the euphoric child, the bare-bones soul present in all of us. Joe Pug is that artist. Though Pug possesses the somber, time-weary voice of a battered, wizened man, surviving a life of tumult and heartache bearing nothing but the guitar on his back and phlegm in his throat, this folksy maestro from Chicago, Illinois happens to be a mere 20 years old, the first amazing feat by this incredibly promising, captivating young artist. Pug, who studied playwrighting at North Carolina before moving to Chicago and performed his first show just TWO months ago, isn't necessarily oozing with musical innovation here, as the inevitable Bob Dylan comparisons will be rushing through the floodgates as soon as more critics get their grubby hands on his material (his rapid ascension to this past summer's Lollapalooza sums up that meteoric rise), but music hasn't been this lyrically refreshing or this painfully visceral in quite some time. It certainly hasn't been produced this quickly, with such explosive lyrics and contrite emotion, by someone so young.

On Pug's succint 7-song EP, Nation of Heat (only a prelude to his upcoming 2009 album), he solidifies himself as one of the most scintillating young artists in the country, bringing the soulful yearning of the harmonica to the forefront of his music and using the acoustic guitar as a gentle complement to the real stars of the show, Pug's lyrics. Pug preaches of human yearning, politcal unrest, the dualing quests for autonomy and happiness, and social change, occasionally mocking an apathetic American culture behind a harmonica drenched folk tune and a drawling, enthralling voice that sounds strained, reflective, and confident in the potent ambiguity present in each precious syllable. His swooping metaphors, social vendettas, and nearly naked musical accompaniment will evoke comparisons with everyone from Dylan himself to Josh Ritter and Pug's occasional tour-mate, Justin Townes Earle. His music, tragic while blatantly fiery and proud at the same time, contains a bevy of country influences to go along with the obvious aura of folk, and Pug's unabashed plunge into the lost pursuit of basic, acoustic artistry, highlighting the lyrics and the meaning behind them instead of the artificial flash and dash that are so popular in mainstream music.

Pug's lyrical and complex metaphors leave the listener with a lingering sense of discontentment, the ultimate compliment to an artist, and his minimalist approach to the music, using only his acoustic guitar and a harmonica to accompany the words, places focus on the poetry and emphasizes the stark lyrical beauty contained in every deceptively simple gem that he produces. One could even say that his bare-bones approach is a blatant disregard for cultural standards. The listener is transplanted into Pug's restless psyche, searching for that last grasp of peace, that slice of nostalgic love and fulfillment that defines the never-ending spiritual journey of man. The brilliance of this EP is that each song can stand on its own, as a condensed, singular story focused on some feeling, character, or theme. Rarely can an artist fit each piece together with such flowing, cooperative cadence, yet still take it apart and scatter each song as a separate jewel, standing strong on its own accord.

The EP begins with the impossibly epic "Hymn #101," a poetic masterpiece spoken like a winding, heart-wrenching narrative, as if Pug is stumbling through an introspective journey filled with soaring highs and steep lows, and the listener can't help but stare and become swallowed up in Pug's quasi-mournful, passionate quest for the human spirit. When Pug says that he "comes to test the timber of my heart," nobody is disputing its rigid strength or brilliant sincerity. Next up is "Call it What You Will," a gravelly country piece, and perhaps the most empathetic song on the EP. Using sharp imagery and methodical, somber storytelling techniques, Pug appeals to the despairing lover, a universal theme, filled with the bitter pessimism that "words are just words" and can do nothing to mend his broken heart. "Nobody's Man" is an explosive cry for leaving a mark, becoming something other than a nameless face at the "bottom of the pile." The listener can feel the life pulsating from Pug's veins, and the desire to be alive, more than just a drone on default settings, rages throughout his every being. "Hymn #35" is a hauntingly beautiful, hypnotic portrait of a man, a paradoxical man who doesn't need to know where he is going, but just the fact that he is traveling somewhere, however aimless, is enough to keep the inner light burning. Impeccable stretches of harmonica break up the snippets of contradictory verse, and the listener feels one with Pug on his foggy journey yet again in this isolated chapter of his story.

"I Do my Father's Drugs" is a caustic, subtly biting piece about the shackles and constraints of those who came before us, and a cry for defining one's own individuality instead of following in a long line of idiocy and blind succession, hacking one's own path out of society's mess of wilderness. The veiled shot at "Dubya" is sure to incite the wanna-be activist in all of us, but this song is about much more than politics and Bush, as Pug addresses everything from the commercialization of patriotism and the cheapening of American values to the empty causes of war. "Speak Plainly Diana" is a sublime piece about the blurred ambiguity of relationships, and learning to accept and understand life's cruel, ever-changing journey. The unique, thumping guitar and soulful harmonica underlie Pug's quiet struggle, all contributing to this being my favorite song on the whole she-bang. Finally, the culmination of this EP materializes in the title track, "Nation of Heat." A gritty, brutally honest portrait of American life, one can just imagine rolling down the plains of the heartland, the flashes of suffering faces and run-down buildings acting as a symbol of the people's desperation, of hope, of the struggle to survive and thrive another day in this dog-eat-dog land of competition and greed. It is a fitting end to this EP, leaving a hardened, lasting impression on an emotionally exhausted listener. The 7-tracks turn out to be just barely enough for us to handle. Please, check this out, and you will be blessed with a rare lyrical experience that only comes around every so often. This isn't a man who will convert to radio luxuries, but with this once-in-a-generation talent, catch Pug at your college town bar joint before his loyal following skyrockets past cult status. Pug is "mainstream" only in that nobody who hears his music can deny his rare talent. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not your average Joe.
10.0/10.0

Grabbin Balls and Stuff....

2009-06-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

With my football student tickets prepared to rest firmly in my palm by July 6, the itch for Iowa Hawkeye football has evolved into a raging rash that needs to be scratched. Soon. The nation's sports pundits seem to think that Iowa has a decent chance at a Big Ten title (http://cfn.scout.com/2/864607.html), but my faith in the poor Hawks has been battered over the years like any woman involved with Brandon Marshall. I wouldn't say I'm a Bill Mahr-level atheist, but I'm no Pope Benedict. I think Iowa's offensive success will depend on quarterback Ricky (Swinging Dick) Stanzi's ability to keep defenses from loading up to stop the run and to avoid turnovers, two things that he succeeded at towards the end of 2008 with flying colors. Besides having shagalicious locks and ridiculously Tom Brady-esque features, Stanzi won the QB battle with incumbent Jake Christensen last year, but instead of being a good Hawkeye and staying with the team as a backup like he should, Jake is taking his Dick Cheney-accurate arm and quicksand-like elusiveness to Eastern Illinois, where is sure to be a scrub. Stanzi is indeed the Manzi from now on, and there are no worries about job security, but if the wispy 6 foot 4 Ohio-bred stud goes down for extended time, the backups are both inexperienced (but talented) redshirt freshmen. Eeek. Not an ideal scenario, especially with Stanzi not necessarily possessing that dirt on your overalls, pork tenderloin mama's lard-soaked cooking body that all Iowa boys seem to grow up having. If Stanzi can stay healthy, and Jewel Hampton/Jeff Brinson can provide a running game semi-appoaching what Shonn Green gave us last year, than Stanzi should be free to play-action all day and keep defenses on their toes.

1)
Ricky Stanzi (JR)-Stanzi came into his own down the stretch last year, orchestrating the big game winning drive to beat Penn State while leading Iowa to wins over Purdue, Minnesota, and South Carolina in the last three games. He showed an ability to stand tall in the pocket and make all the necessary throws, even those dreaded touch passes and sideline throws that seemed so difficult for Jake. He also showed some mobility and ability to throw on the run, all while fending off requests from blonde haired females to father their children. Unfortunately, Stanzi also cost Iowa a few games with his boneheaded interceptions and nonchalant carrying of the ball (Northwestern and Illinois come to mind), but again, he put a stop to that at the end of last season. The guy has never had to carry an offense, but he sure got me excited with the snippets of talent and beautiful throws he made last year. Hell, I thought he was the next coming of Chuck Long after the Florida International game! Quite frankly, Iowa hasn't had a QB this talented or poised since Drew Tate, and we all know how that went. Let's hope for less "Stanzi-balls" and more TDs.

2)
James Vandenberg (RS-FR)-A highschool standout from smalltown Keokuk, Iowa, this guy shattered all sorts of state passing records and seems to be the prototypical strong armed pocket passer, and Iowa's clear number 2 QB right now. Apparently wowing in practice, and pacifying the coaches' fears for the future so much that we didn't even land a scholarship QB from the '09 recruiting class. Should be a stud eventually.

3)
John Wienke (RS-FR)-Originally committed to Michigan (argggghhh), he switched to the Hawkeyes when Rich Rodriguez became the head coach since his spread offense didn't fit with Wienke's drop-back abilities. Wienke is another small town kid, only from Illinois, and seems almost to be a carbon copy of Vandenberg. Wienke is the son of a coach, and possesses a strong arm and stout athletic body rarely seen on Hawkeye QBs. He also happens to be left-handed, which sucks. Hawk fans salivating for another mobile QB like Brad Banks will be disappointed for the next few years, however, as Wienke is another steady pocket passer who won't move around alot. Will be interesting to see how this QB battle plays out between him and Vandenberg, as one of these guys is likely to transfer if he doesn't get the starting spot...

Splotch of Hodge Podge

2009-05-26T22:54:00.001-07:00

If that doesn't soak your denim cornfed britches even a little bit, than I would rather not check your vegetative pulse. Haters may dub that cheesy Hawkeye propaganda, but true-blue Iowans will feel more than a twinge of pride and a waterfall of tears just watching the first two minutes of that. Big props go to Scothawk there. As you can tell, Iowa football can't come soon enough of me. Long nights of aimless boredom inevitably lead to me watching a treasure chest full of nostalgic Hawkeye successes, and my daily bouts of "living the dream" usually just consist of me imagining myself planted among a sea of gold next fall. Though my loyal readers may be wavering in their interest, and the summertime has just begin, I think some Hawkeye football chatter is in definite order.

Besides Hawkeye football being on the cusp of possessing my brain, it is the NBA offseason for my Houston Rockets, and there are 5 main concerns that immediately spring to my mind for Daryl Morey and his brainiac crew to tackle.

1) Keep T-Mac on board (for now)- He likely won't be healthy and ready to play until January, so it's not like he'll screw up team chemistry for the 1st half of the season, when the Rockets will be defining their team and style of play. The ideal scenario would be for Houston to get off to a solid start to next year, developing a core and a foundation, so that McGrady's return would be a seamless one and the Rockets would gain that closing time scorer that they so desperately lack at this point. Next year is the final year of Tracy's massive bust of a contract, and with only half of a year in his creaky knees I don't see the benefit in trading him unless the other players absolutely abhor him. I realize my ideal scenario is highly unlikely, as anyone who watched a hobbled T-Mac limp around, hogging the ball and stalling any semblance of offensive movement or consistency, last season can attest that McGrady wasn't good for team chemistry. But saying that Houston is better without him is absurd. When healthy, he brings the explosive offensive force from the perimeter that could have pushed Houston over L.A. in the playoffs this year. I just don't see the big risk in giving him one last chance to prove himself in the last half of a contract year, when he'll likely be much more motivated than he was to start this season.

2) Keep Yao Ming- Yes, his foot injuries have been as routine as massive dumps after eating at a Chinese buffet, but the guy is Houston's rock and cornerstone. Houston is the only American home he has ever known, so besides being rash and illogical, getting rid of Yao because of his injury woes would also be unethical! I can't picture Mr. Ming getting around so easy in a place like New York. The value of a true, dominate big man cannot be stressed enough, and though there are many Rockets fans who argue that Houston is a better offensive team without Yao because they can push the ball and run the fastbreak, that is utter bullshit. Just watch the L.A. series when the shots weren't falling from three, and tell me that with a straight face. Just look at Dwight Howard and the Magic. It's such a rarity to have a large guy who you can just throw the ball into and expect a layup or free throws everytime, and Yao can be that guy when healthy. His size, his greatest asset, is also his biggest problem, however, as a man of his stature and weight (360 pounds) cannot support those quick feet of his. He only has one year left anyway, so I say Houston keeps the plan to build around the Great Wall unless another foot injury decimates next season. Then it's time to seriously look at getting rid of him, or find the Yao Ming voodoo doll sitting in Greg Popovich's office.

3) Keep Aaron Brooks!! At all costs- There have been minor rumblings of Houston looking at Steve Nash. I have one word for that-NO. Brooks is Houston's most exciting young player, and the future at the point guard position. He may be the lightest player in the league, but his scintallating range and 1st step are both rare in this league and traits that the Rockets need to embrace. Getting a washed up veteran like Nash would keep Houston competitive and competing for a spot in the Western finals, but it would heavily stunt their growth for the future and leave Houston in a similar position as Dallas is now with Kidd, stuck in an expensive rutt going nowhere. Who knows what effect it would have on Brooks, if he was still on the
team at all, and the chemistry of this team. I think they showed their heart and unity in the playoffs this year, pushing the much better Lakers to the brink and playing with reckless intensity every night. There are those who would argue that a stoic, pinpoint passer like Nash would be an instant energy boost for Houston and supercharge the other players, but either way, Houston needs Brooks!

4)Get another big man...ASAP- Houston's lack of any post depth was horrifically exposed in this year's playoffs, when 40something year old backup center Dikembe Mutombo went down with a career-ending knee injury and Yao was forced to be overworked, lacking any legitimately tall backup, and play the majority of the game. Not good for a guy his size. When Yao went down, it became like some surreal nightmare, with 6 foot 6 Chuck Hayes starting at center. I love Houston's guys at power forward (Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Hayes), but a backup for Yao is a necessity, and I don't know how they will get one without trading some of their valuable assets. I would love a Jason Maxiell from Detroit, but I don't know how much of a center he is or what it would take to get him, as he appears to be an integral part of their future. I would even take an effective, skilled stiff like Brad Miller, though his price might be too hefty. I'll leave that up to Morey and Rick Adelman, but it's stunningly apparent that Yao needs a big man. With T-Mac not coming back 'til January, I don't see too many tradeable folks. I would consider Shane Battier an untradeable player because of his defense and value to team chemistry, as well as Aaron Brooks and Ming (obviously), maybe even Lowry because he's the only point guard backup, but other than that everyone should be looked at as a trade option for a good backup.

5) Ron Artest? Von Wafer?- Artest was only signed to a one-year deal, as Houston was hoping for a "all cards on the table" moment with the Big Three healthy and a title in the future, but with all the injuries and problems with defining chemistry and a consistent playing style, that plan obviously didn't work out. Artest was a leader all season, and a fantastic, hard-nosed defensive player who gave Houston a physical presence they had lacked before, but his offensive game and shooting were horribly inconsistent. In the playoffs, he would go from 25 points one game to 8 the next, usually with a 4-16 shooting percentage. Every player goes through cold spells and brickfests, but Artest's problem was that he didn't know when to quit shooting and just take it the basket. There were none of those infamous attitude problems or mental breakdowns he had been known for, but is it worth it to re-sign him again? I think it's a must to nab him again for another couple years, at least for next year because Houston will really lack offensive weapons until T-Mac comes back. I would beopen to not re-signing him if they could get a better offensive player, as Shane Battier can occupy the defender's role, but I haven't heard of any players yet. Stay tuned. As for Von Wafer, he may become expendable with McGrady back, but his offense off the bench was a surprising spark for the Rockets. His venomous athleticism and deadeye three point shooting were invaluable for stretches during the regular season when Houston was undermanned, and he provided a force off the bench, but he often found himself in verbal sparring matches with Adelman over playing time and his reckless, shoot-first pass-later playing style. He's a fringe player and I could easily see him leaving or getting traded, but he may have earned a spot with his instant offense. I see him being used as trade bait, but in all honesty I'd rather see him stay. I love watching him play. Stay tuned, guys...

My next blog posts will all be centered around my upcoming trip to Europe, stocked with pictures, comments, observations, and hopefully witty, entertaining stories. Enjoy!

Game 7

2009-05-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ignoring the big red elephants in the room (keep T-Mac? Yao Ming's contract?) for the time being, it's time to all convince ourselves that Houston has a chance today, right? With the game's top closer, Kobe Bryant, in his legendary, celeb-stocked home arena, with two 7-footers in the post and a 6 ft. 10 guy waiting in the wings, undermanned and offensively challenged Houston shouldn't stand a chance against L.A. But this series has flashed a blazing middle finger to all convention and predictability, as Houston has scratched and clawed, playing stifling defense and hustling with a reckless energy juxtaposing heaviliy with L.A.'s rather lackadaiscal, arrogant sense of entitlement that they come out and play with. The Lakers are the most talented team in this league, at least in my opinion, and they've looked like it at times in this series, such as Game 5's 40 point blowout, but then there have been the double digit 1st quarter leads for Houston in games 3 and 6 that lead to blowouts on Houston's side. Starting a 6 ft. 6 offensive non-entity at center in Chuck Hayes and relying on great drive and kick passing and three point shooting to score points, Houston is playing with a fire that could go out at anytime. It's a testament to the work ethic and attitude of the Houston role players that they are even taking this thing to a Game 7; Aaron Brooks has emerged as one of the quickest, most explosive scoring points in the league, while Artest and Shane Battier are stellar perimeter defenders who will be asked to score plenty as well. Shane needs to hit his open threes, while Artest needs to play within the offense and take it the hoop instead of shooting one-foot fadeaways and jacking up a plethora of threes that slowly chip away the paint off the rim. Hayes and Scola MUST stay out of foul trouble because of lack of post depth and height in the paint. Hayes plays the best defense on Gasol because of his stout base and strength, while Scola was a major factor in Houston's Game 6 victory with his scoring and rebounding. He's the only guy on the team right now who can score down low. Carl Landry, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry will need to provide scoring sparks and some up-tempo energy off the pine as well, and the big thing will be getting off to a good start. Every time Houston has won since Yao Ming went down, they have exploded to crazy fast starts in the 1st quarter, developing a cushion firm enough to withstand LA's inevitable scoring runs. Since that has been the trend of the series, I would assume a fast start is essential, but we all know in Game 7 rulebooks are torn to shreds when nerves and adrenaline are running rampant. I sure wish Houston would have the chance to close out at home, but what more could you ask for than a Game 7 against the arrogant, Charmin-soft Lakers at the Staples Center? Houston should prolly get smashed today, but with the "heart of a champion" and the way we never know which Lakers team will show up or how much energy they will come out with, anything truly is possible. Just ask Kevin Garnett

The A.C.T.S. Conundrum

2009-05-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

http://parishpriestblogger.blogspot.com/
First of all, I would highly recommend reading Father David's post from today. As usual, he articulates perfectly what I'm trying to say, especially in the paragraph where he talks about the spirutal "high" of retreats and how real faith comes after the high has subsided, abandoning the superficial "addiction" that the good feeling of Jesus brings and developing a truly meaningful relationship with him. My big beef recently, the thing that had really been gnawing at my bones for a couple weeks, has been trying to stand up for the ACTS retreat, something that has benefited my life in so many ways but something I have so many doubts and questions with myself. Sometimes I wonder what my purpose/intention in leading ACTS is, and if I am actually doing anyone (or myself for that matter) any good. I am SO sick of having to defend the validity of ACTS to the throngs of passionate doubters as well, not because I don't have respect for them, but because more often than not I agree with their attacks and the only counter-defense I can erect is one that is flawed and littered with holes. It becomes impossible to stand up for the values and spiritual lessons imparted by ACTS when my fellow leaders are living a life of blatant hypocrisy...this shatters the impact it has on the retreatants and prospective retreatants, and alienates me from the people who I call my friends yet have no been on a retreat. They cannot accept a retreat that leads to one week or so of spiritual fulfillment and excitement, only to rot and decay back into the selfish, materialistic life that they were living before. And you know what? Neither can I. So how can I continue to stand up for something that I believe so strongly in, but that is crumbling from the inside due to the moral corruption of the so-called leaders? I just feel that the impact is so foggy and so lost in the translation due to the poisonous mouths of those who are doing the false preaching themselves. This has been my major gripe, and really my only gripe, since going on my first ACTS retreat 4 years ago. I cannot look at the disgusting hypocrisy of my "peers" and continue to believe fully in the message we are spreading, just because I know they are not living it and it cheapens my experience and my dedication to these values. I want with everything I have for all my friends and loved ones to go on these retreats and experience the amazing gift of grace that one receives, and I encourage anyone who has any doubts or misconceptions to speak to Father David, but I realize that you may not want to be a part of something that from the outside appears to be a huge facade of Jesus-worship manafactured only to mask the rancid life that you live on the weekends. But also realize that one person does not make the ACTS team: it is a community, a flawed one, but a community that is strong and made up of enough staunch, passionate people that it has a powerful impact. Just like all of humanity, not everyone can be perfect in their morals and beliefs, but the struggle and the effort is what makes these retreats so powerful and the struggle so tragic. The struggle is not meaningful without the effort, and that is my main concern. There are too many who are not even willing to change their lifestyle, stuck in the muck of their own selfishness and even, horrifically, making this retreat all about them and their own struggles, a pity party replacing a drenching rain of God's gifts. The retreat is about gratitude, about forming bonds and strong relationships with God and the people around you, and about overcoming struggles with faith, passion, and a belief in something more than the material, not about embracing a cocaine faith that feels thrilling for a few moments but soon disappates before anything of substance can come of it. I'm not going to divulge the secrets of ACTS...that is something that must be discovered on your own spiritual journey, an unexplainable event experienced tangibly, and I'm not trying to recruit, but it strikes me like a funeral bell that there are these misconceptions out there, breeding hypocrisy, that ACTS is a pushy, cultish group of God-fueled puppets only reading from a dry manuscript that means nothing to them and only creates the illusion of being God-driven. ACTS is a thriving, struggling, loving community, and though I have my own struggles and doubts about its power, I know at the end of the day that I gain my own self-fulfillment and contentment from it, and recognizing that others are struggling with me in solidarity makes the journey all the more meaningful.

The Tired Madman

2009-05-05T16:11:00.001-07:00

I've never been much of a sleeper, but this past year or so I've taken up my new profession as an Insomniac. Raging imaginations and a brain belching with satisfaction from a day's busy feast do little to satisfy the anxieties, stresses, and problems that keep me up all night. This only morphs me into a walking corpse the next day, and the next, and the next, basically setting me in some hallucinatory world where nothing makes sense and reality is surreal. Understanding me now? Because I sure don't. At least I don't look like Jeff Van Gundy yet, but when my hair starts falling out and big purple bags hang from myeyes, then I'll start to feel concern. My esteemed buddy Paul brings up the big, general existential fear of purpose, death, and the chilling realization that maybe we are just here, renting this place out until the great landlord evicts our sinful asses. With the end of everything innocent and connected to my seemingly brief childhood bombarding me these past few months at a rapid clip, it's pretty easy to lose track of life's importance and that an end always signifies a new beginning. Just with different people, and different places. That's the depressing part. Losing sleep just leaves you isolated too, as I wander the halls in a sleepy stupor just struggling to push a few funny words out to remind myself that I have a pulse. My madness is the opposite of divine sense, and my eye is anything but discerning. This year has been gratifying in various ways though, as I've always been toiling behind the scenes and I'm finally getting some gratification and assertions from people I care about that I don't go unnoticed. It's the kind of thing that helps one rest easier...

I can't leave without mentioning Yao Ming and the Rockets. Last week, good ole' prophet Fries pointed out the underrated characteristics of Ming and how valuable his free throw shooting would be in the playoffs. How does 10-10 and a Game 1 victory over the Lakers sound? I refuse to gloat, but I will say that I'm basking in the glow of my right-ness. But even I couldn't imagine the Rockets winning, and really outplaying in every area, the Lakers in the Staples Center last night. Anyone who watched the game, including even the most staunch Spurs' fan (cough cough), should have been able to see that the game wasn't a fluke. Battier and Artest played great, stingy defense on L.A.'s big three of Kobe, Odom, and Gasol, forcing guys like Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher to beat them with threes. It didn't happen. If Houston can continue that kind of defensive effort, then Clutch City will indeed be back. Stay thirsty my friends

Does Houston have a shot? Eh, not really...

2009-05-03T21:01:00.001-07:00

With the city bursting over the edges, bathed in a crazed excitement not seen since the "Clutch City" days back in the early '90s, does anyone really believe that the Houston Rockets have a chance to upset the Los Angeles Lakers, widely viewed as the most talented team in this entire playoffs and the already-crowned Western Conference Champs? Probably not, unless you live in Houston or happen to be Chinese. The Rockets are a fantastic defensive team, with two stout perimeter stoppers in the physical Ron Artest and charge-taking Dukie Shane Battier, and they have the advantage of L.A. having a few extra days of rust (along with a cross-your-fingers moment in Kobe missing practice today), but there isn't enough individual offensive talent on this team, and they are simply missing that go-to scorer in crunch time that can take over a game and send shivers down an opponents' spine (see Brandon Roy, followed by the Black Mamba). A healthy T-Mac in his prime would have filled that role, but all that whiny team-killer is good for now is looking dapper in a suit coat and cursing Houston's chances from the bench. Does it say something about the poor guy that Houston wins their 1st playoff series in around a decade with McGrady sidelined, or is it just a product of bad luck? You be the judge. Either way, I can't see Houston faring too well against the Lakers' bevy of talent. The regular season matchups tilted 4-0 (with a heavy 20 point scoring advantage) in L.A.'s favor, and Artest's boneheaded attempts to talk some trash and land in Kobe's head only resulted in more scoring outbursts for Bryant and embarassment for Mr. Artest, who was left with the painfully true remarks that Kobe had just "kicked his ass." Active, athletic bigs like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom are the types that give plodding Yao Ming fits, as he struggles to keep up with their foot speed, but with his size and touch I think he should be able to get his 20-10, he just might be giving up that much and more defensively. The only reason anybody is giving Houston a shot is their defense, but if Yao can't contain the big men, does it matter if Artest can lock down Kobe? Houston beat a good, talent-heavy Portland team that just wasn't ready to make a deep playoff run yet, but L.A. is seasoned, much better, and they have Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter. Enough said. I can't see this series going past 5 or 6 games in L.A.'s favor.

At the point guard spot, Aaron Brooks is matched up with veteran Derek Fisher. Brooks is crazy-fast with big testicles range and a smooth motor, allowing him to get in the lane against much bigger foes, but he still needs to learn how to play balanced and under control, and when to take his own shot instead of creating for others. He is immensely talented, however, and I think with his speed he should eat the slower Fisher alive. Point guard is L.A.'s achilles heel, and Fisher is a tad past his prime, but the guy can still lead a team, hit big shots, and get the ball in the hands of the Lakers' playmakers. He will be solid and fulfill his duties, but if Brooks can bring some of that Oregon Ducks' swagger, than he could be an offensive x-factor in the series.

Shane Battier will probably be matched up with Kobe most of the time on the perimeter, as he moves his feet better than Artest, takes more charges, and doesn't foul as much as Ronnie. No matter how good of defense Shane plays, however, Kobe dictates how many points Kobe gets, not anyone else. The guy is unstoppable, and there is only so much Shane can do. Battier was actually a big offensive player for Houston against Portland, knocking down the majority of his set three point shoots, and will need to continue to do so, along with playing stout defense, if Houston will have a chance to win. He probably has the biggest role of anyone in this series, and we will see if he has the legs to hang in there. If Houston takes this to a Game 7, you guys know who to thank-most underrated player around. Stay tuned.

Artest will also do his share of guarding Kobe, as his bulky frame and pushy tactics might get under Bryant's skin moreso than Battier's and fire up this team, but like I said above, getting under Kobe's skin might not always be the best strategy. Lost beneath his defensive effort and fabulous Game 6 in Round 1 was Ron's relatively horrible offensive series. Whether it was the tiresome work of keeping up with Roy or just a side-effect of his broke jumpshot, Ron couldn't hit anything consistently except layups and free throws. That would be okay if he didn't think he had to take every three pointer or 18-foot fadeaway shot that came around. If Ron can play with offensive discipline, stay stringent on his defensive duties, and get his Humvee body to the free throw line, than the Rockets will be okay. Trevor Ariza has been a big surprise for the Lakers, as his shooting has skyrocketed and athleticism been on full display. he will most likely be the guy Houston most often ignores on defense, so if he makes shots, than watch out. All I can say is, don't mess with the "Tru Warier" dawg.

Luis Scola has been a godsend at power forward, scoring with his arsenal of quirky, herky-jerky fakes, jives, and awkward hook shots. He can also hit the 15-footer with consistency, and plays physical, hard-nosed defense with his opponent. Unfortunately, he is matched up with Odom, who will exploit all of his athletic weaknesses. Odom is one of the most versatile players in the league, a 6 foot 10 forward who can run point, attack the basket, post up, and hit the outside shot. He will test all of Scola's abilities, and I see this being a major matchup problem for Houston.

At center, big Yao Ming takes on Pau Ga-Soft, whose Charmin-grade post moves and French pastry physicallity in the lane are screaming for an Artest body slam or a Yao Ming jump hook at the least. Gasol really is a talented, athletic player with freakishly long arms and a great shooting touch, and his quickness and solid range will test Yao's defense and rebounding ability. Big men like Gasol and Boozer (the past two years) have given Yao major defensive issues with their ability to hit 15-18 foot jump shots, as Yao doesn't have the speed to close out on them. He should be able to score at will, but like I said above, he will give up just as many points. This matchup is even.

Finally, the bench. Laugh if you will, but losing Mutombo was a big deal. He was Yao's only official backup, and since he was rested the entire regular season he had the energy to play major minutes, providing a defensive presence at the rim and great rebounding help despite his age and lack of mobility. Now, the only backup big men Houston has are Carl Landry, still looking a step slow from a scary gunshot wound, and Chuck Hayes, an undersized fullback of a power forward known more for his hilariously bad free throw hitch than for his basketball ability. Landry is a guy who can score and clean up around the rim, a really valuable bench guy, while Hayes, despite being only 6 foot 5, can guard anyone in the paint with his strength and rebound with the giants, even if he cannot make a layup. The major two bench guys for Houston, at least offensively, are Kyle Lowry and Von Wafer, two unheralded players who are enacting HUGE roles. Lowry was an afterthought in the Rafer Alston trade, but has quickly proved his mettle by stepping in at the backup point guard role and often outplaying Brooks. Lowry can bull his way into the lane and score at anytime with a body made for driving, while Wafer, who barely even made Houston's summer league team, played so well in the preseason that he earned a roster spot and made Luther Head expendable. Wafer plays with reckless abandon and doesn't know when to turn the switch off, but has an incredibly explosive first step, shocking leaping ability, and an unconventional but deadly three point shot. He is instant offense off the bench, and some much needed scoring punch/energy for a relatively dry, defensive-minded squad. That's what makes him and Lowry so valuable. The Lakers have Bynum coming off the bench now, and we all know what he can do when healthy. He will give Yao problems with his size and athleticism, and if any of Houston's bench is forced to guard him, look for Bynum to dominate inside. Not a good depth matchup here. Shannon Brown has been playing like Wafer as of late for L.A., so look for those two to trade buckets, while Sasha Vujasic is an x-factor with the three point shot. I give the bench advantage to L.A. just because of Bynum. Let's hope Yao makes him his bitch:)

33 years and counting...

2009-04-27T16:28:00.001-07:00

That's how many years in a row a Hawkeye has been picked up in the NFL draft, and the quality of that number has just skyrocketed since Coach Kirk Ferentz arrived at Iowa in 1999. Everyone from left tackle Robert Gallery getting picked up at number 2 overall in 2004 to Bobby Sanders, 2007's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, falling to the 2nd round, Kirk has used his NFL experience (coordinator with the Browns for almost a decade), pro-style offensive/defensive coaching tactics, and stable of well-qualified assistants to develop connections and future NFL players just as well as top programs like Oklahoma and Florida, incredible considering the disadvantages he has to work with at Iowa compared to other top programs. Iowa will never stand atop the Rivals recruiting rankings with the state's climate, flat plains, and general mass of Caucasians, amassing a glut of 4 and 5-stars like Easter candy, but its what Kirk and crew are able to do with their players once they arrive at Iowa that is the amazing thing. Player development and improvement is a key sign of a coaches' ability, and Kirk is as sterling as it gets. That definitely shows in this season's draft of Hawks, where pure athletic talent isn't overabundant but hard work and productive college careers are. Shonn Greene, fresh off a gawd damn grandiose one season where he shattered every record in the Iowa books while nabbing the Doak Walker Award for best running back in the nation, is the quintessential example of great coaching and greater effort overcoming expectations and lack of pure physical talent, while Mitch King, a 4-year starter who played with more intensity and reckless abandon than any Hawkeye in recent memory, made up for being criminally undersized with a motor that never stopped and leadership that can't be taught in the classrooms. Two great Hawkeyes who weren't highly recruited, but bided their time and became superstars on a national level. Let's start with Greene, Mark Sanchez's new workout buddy...

Greene, the newest member of the New York Jets as the first pick of the 3rd round, should factor in as a direct backup immediately and eventually succeed as the main back under the bright city lights. New coach Rex Ryan obviously wanted Greene, as he traded up 3 draft picks to nab him right off the bat on day 2, and gloated over the "pound and ground" attack that he desires. That is definitely Greene's preferred style, as his robust size, pulverizing rushing style, and frenetically quick feet for a guy his size all combine to make him a complete rusher. He won't be a speedster, as he possesses average burst, but once he hits the hole he has as much quickness as anyone. Iowa didn't use him as a receiver much, but he proved at the combine that he can definitely catch passes out of the backfield, important for the Jets in their offensive scheme and for grooming a young QB like Sanchez, who will be looking to dump off plenty with NFL defensive pressure in his grill. Thomas Jones, the incumbent Jets runner, had a great season last year, one of the best in the AFC, but he is on the decline for a running back (age 31), he is disgrunted and holding out of training camp (not good with a new coach), and is seriously underpaid and looking to be overpaid. This is all setting up for a very Shonn Greene future.

The very next pick of the 3rd round went to the St. Louis Rams, and they selected Iowa defensive back Bradley Fletcher. Fletch showed as much improvement as anyone on the team from his junior to his senior season, becoming a legitmate All-Big Ten lockdown corner and our most reliable cover guy. He has the speed to hang with NFL wideouts, and he is a more than solid tackler, but he is undersized and might get pushed around a bit if he stays at corner. His combine numbers got him drafted this high after a relatively quiet college career, but with his athleticism and tackling ability I envision a Charles Godfrey-esque move to safety. The Rams have a horrible secondary, and look for Fletcher to start off on special teams and move into a starting role right away.

Right guard Seth Olsen was snatched up by the Denver Broncos in the 4th round. He has been our most consistent lineman for at least 2 years, and was a valuable leader last year. He has fantastic size, but is a bit slow to play tackle, so look for him to immediately move into a backup role for Denver with an eventual starting spot coming up. The Broncos were known under Mike Shanahan for having a faceless, autonomous unit that stressed the "oneness" of the group over having individual guys. They had amazing success, with some absurd streak of having a different 1,000 yard rusher every year, and they had few defections, but they are rebuilding somewhat with new coach Josh McDaniels and I think Olsen will fit right in with the zone-blocking running scheme, which is what he ran at Iowa. Seamless transition.

The final Iowa guy picked up in the draft was tight end Brandon Myers going to the Oakland Raiders, who surprisingly traded up to get him in the 6th round. I never would have thought Myers would get drafted and King not, but I'll take it. With the Raiders' recently checkered draft history, including the selection of Hawkeye Robert Gallery 5 years ago (widely considered a bust), I don't know how happy I should be, but Myers will start off right away as the backup and a blocking tight end for pass catching threat Zach Miller. Myers was supposed to be a career backup, but due to injuries to talented starter Tony Moeaki, Myers was forced to step in and essentially became a 2-year starter. He doesn't have great speed, but he does have excellent hands and made a more than capable possesion guy. He also has the size to be a valuable blocker.

A plethora of black and gold headbusters were also picked up as undrafted free agents. Mitch King, who should get some reps at fullback and linebacker, is too small to play D-end in the NFL, but has more heart than most of the players taken ahead of him and the speed to beat most NFL O-linemen. I guarantee he will stick with someone, whether it is the Tennessee Titans (who picked him up) or not. Matt Kroul, his 4-year counterpart on the D-line and a steady run stuffer, is also undersized, and without the quickness of King I can't see him sticking with the NY Jets. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up center Rob Bruggeman, who I think will actually stick with somebody. The former walk-on was a key part of the Iowa resurgence on the O-line this past season, as his strength, work ethic, and smarts all made him the leader there with Olsen. He might not have NFL athleticism, but I really think with his work ethic he can make it. Finally, wideout Andy Brodell was picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Brodell showed against Texas in the Alamo Bowl that he has the speed and moves to be a playmaker, slicing up NFL cornerback Aaron Ross like swiss cheese, but he doesn't have the speed of most pro wide receivers and will probably make a team on special teams, if anything. I'll always remember that Alamo Bowl performance, though...

Here's a little Mitch King to send you off...

Yao Ming, Underrated???

2009-04-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone's favorite square-headed, 7 foot 6 Chinese man is the best center in the NBA. Period. What, you don't agree? You don't like his penchant for layups when an inch off the ground would guarantee a dunk, or you don't like his choice to shoot fadeaway jumpers instead of power finishes, or you marvel at his lack of footspeed?The guy is one of the least athletic players in the entire league, and he lacks that swagtastic aggressiveness befitting guys like Amare Stoudemire or Shaquile O'Neal, in his prime anyway, or guys that are beleived to be the great ones. This is a player who was widely considered to be a novelty act, another oversized foreigner with skills whose size would inevitably be the death of him (a George Murhesan, basically). So why is the man I affectionately call "The Big Poo-Nanny" the best big man in the league? Let's start with the statistical evidence, 1st pairing him with the guy who is widely considered to be Yao's biggest challenge to the title of best center in the league today, Dwight Howard. There is no denying Howard is a physical freak, with a chiseled body usually reserved for the gods and sick hops rarely seen on men his size. The general consensus is that Howard is the better ballplayer, but is that really the case? Maybe more exciting, but in no way better. I think it just reflects the common basketball fan's obsession with rim shattering dunks and superhuman characteristics on their athletes, or something that makes greater than us, with skills mere mortals could never hope to acheive. Sportscenter has pounded this image into our heads, and we have complacently taken the beating. Stromile Swift has been on ESPN's Top Ten Plays more times than Yao has...does anybody give a Chinaman's ass who Stromile Swift is (he specializes in sitting on the bench and looking dapper in a suit for some team, I just can't remember who because he's traded every summer)? Hell no! Most fans would probably think that with Yao Ming's height, they could be in the NBA, or just as good. Sure. You try bending over to tie your shoes at 7 ft. 6 without tipping over like the leaning tower of Pisa, only falling over in the process. Hell, I'm 6 ft. 5 and had trouble walking in a straight line in 8th grade! In this flashy, superficial modern era of ESPN, when true substance and the passion of sport is replaced with 30 second blips and sounds and Dr. Dunkensteins all over the world rule the highlight reels, a good ole' fashioned finesse big man like Yao Ming goes unappreciated for the skills that he brings to the table. Also, when we become blasted with so much fan hatred and criticism making fun of Yao's inability to jump or move laterally, we as fans start to let that poison seep into our subconsciousness and view Yao Ming with preconceived notions that he's going to suck, so every time he misses a blockout or lays the ball in softly over an embarassingly smaller defender, we scoff at our television in pompous disgust!! Well let me show you the stats first, and then you can be the judge...

First, we'll start with the career point averages. Ming averages about 19 ppg, while Howard averages 17. Not much of a disparity, especially considering Howard came into the league as a raw high schooler who could do nothing but catch and dunk (one could argue that is still all he does, simply with more power), while Yao had Chinese professional experience. First off, Chinese pro basketball is about as competitive as Howard's high school league, but I digress. Howard's career field goal percentage is 57 percent, while Yao's is 53. Once again, not much of a disparity, especially considering about 90 percent of Howard's shots are dunks and Yao is taking much tougher jumpers and hook shots. So, both of these guys are making more than half of the shots they take, and seem to be reliable post options at anytime. Yao is obviously the most offensively skilled of the two, while Howard is much more physical and explosive, so where is the big seperation in stats that decides this debate? Definitely not in the blocks per game, where both big men have a 2.0 career average. Howard is considered to be more of a defensive stalwart, but Yao clogs up the middle with just as much ferocity. If you're huge, you're huge, and people are going to have a tough time shooting over you no matter the quickness level. Both guys have been questioned on their character (not the bad connotation of character in today's sports world),and that they lack the killer instinct to take over a game and just have the want to brutalize their opponents. Howard has been called too goofy and too lackadaisacal, not taking the game seriously at all times, while Yao's cultural alienation and soft-spoken nature have been used to excuse his at times passive play and unwillingness to demand the ball when he is obviously the best option. In playoff games, defense and free throws are often the seemingly minuscule factors that decide close games. When the interior battles get more physical and cuts/bruise become a daily occurence, having a big man able to knock down free throws at all times is a huge benefit and rare luxury that hasn't been afforded to many teams over time. It is almost like having an unstoppable weapon when you can just throw it inside every time, expecting either a layup and a foul for an easy two. This, my friends, is what seperates Yao from his evil antagonist, Dwight Howard, whose kryptonite is his barely 60 percent free throw shooting. His stroke may not be as caveman-esque as Shaq's, but it is difficult for men built like Howard to stroke with the purity of Yao, who is a career 87 percent free throw shooter, astonishingly high for a big man and one of the best all time, period. Having a guy like Yao in clutch situations, such as the playoffs, is so much more valuable than having a guy like Howard, who, when the defenses tighten up, can really only score on putbacks and dunks. In Ming, Houston has an automatic two points whenever they please. Yao is too tall for smaller, athletic bigs, while physical, pushy hacks like Greg Oden will only send Yao to the line, where he is most dangerous. The biggest Yao critics will probably wonder why Houston has never left the 1st round of the playoffs in Yao's tenure, or why he doesn't dominate more than he does with these kind of so-called skills I've been harping on, but it is just not in the poor guy's personality to dominate. He has gotten better at demanding the ball and playing with a fiesty edge, but he still has a lot to learn.

Yao haters would probably like to point out that I failed to mention the rebound statistcs, where Dwight has a 13-10 career advantage. I will acknowledge that Dwight is a better rebounder, an immovable force impossible to block out who could just jump over you anyway, and that Yao doesn't chase the ball enough, but while Yao has good rebounding companions at power forward in guys like Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Chuck Hayes, Howard has offensive-minded softies like perimeter oriented big Rashard Lewis and finesse swingman Hedo Turkoglu as his power forward companions. Those guys wouldn't venture into the paint if a flock of naked virgins were lying underneath the basket. So, the debate is over, right? I'm sure many of you still aren't convinced. I'm willing to acknowledge Yao's faults, but all I'm asking is that you appreciate his gifts, immense talents, and fantastic heart. For a guy his size, he moves incredibly, and just watch his brilliant one-half performance in Game 1 against Portland if you want an example of what this guy can do when he is aggressively attacking the basket. Hell, he almost broke Hakeem the Dream's playoff record of 1st half points, and we all know about the two rings Hakeen has on his fingers, right? I didn't even mention Yao's aptitude for passing out of double teams, with an assist record matching that of Shaquille O'Neal and Amare himself. He rebounds better than Amare, and has an almost identical career scoring arc. Shaq obviously surpasses Yao in virtually all categories, but this isn't about the best center of the past decade in a half, it's about the best center right now, and that man is YAO MINGGG

The Tangent Express

2009-04-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentleman, thought it may be approaching the wee hours of the morning, my one blog post a day must be sustained, plus I've wanted to rant and rave about this particular issue since Monday. Is anyone else uber-pissed at Kevin Westerman playing in the Texas A&M spring game? Not the fact that he played, but that it raises a few major gripes in my eyes. To me, it emphasizes all that is wrong with STJ athletics. It proves that a certain coach has his backwards-thinking head shoved so far up his traditionalist ass that St. Joes will never be able to evolve and transition into a potential state-title winning team. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we will ever be on the consistent level of a Dallas, Houston, or even SA school because of the wide talent pool and range of boosters, but let me explain my point here. Too afraid to deviate from the old school, wishbone-style offense made famous in the 50s by such legends as Forest Evashevski and some other dead irrelevant guy, STJ is faced with de-evolution. Being creative and open to change are crucial elements to STJ competing on a larger stage; playing physical, 3 yards and a cloud of dust football may tear apart the district when you have a cast of guys who play hard and play together (cliche, I know) and are just plain bigger than the runts from Hyde Park, but once we run into a bigger/more athletic squad, airing it out and throwing in some "exotics," what legendary Iowa coach Hayden Fry called trick plays, become a must. The playoff game against the Dallas school is all the tangible evidence you need that we have the skill position talent. There is something to be said for sticking to a certain system and style that you know brings success, and not changing your values just to "keep up with the times," but this is the same issue I have with a certain Theology teacher-when does sticking to one's values become plain ignorant and close-minded?

This is all brings me to my point about the strong-armed Westerman, and how embarassing it is that he didn't start his senior year. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong at any time, seeing as I have a generally limited view of what goes on with the team seeing as I never played football. But with Kevin, we have a guy who, in his last game at Patti Welder stadium (a playoff game no less), got in the game on the last drive, with a victory already assured, leading the Flyers down the field in about 30 seconds with a series of crisp passes. Of course, you're gonna let the senior finish the drive out, correct? Wrong. Kevin was promptly pulled for a young Andre (nothing against Andre here, just a pawn), who got to run 3 straight zero gain QB draws to end the game. Is this how you reward one of your seniors, already slighted by the coaching staff in the 1st place? Now, this guy is a QB on a frickin major conference BCS school, while the preferred option QB who started in his place is now living it up in Lubbock, Texas. How do you justify not playing him now? If he's good enough to make the Aggies roster, he was good enough to play in TAPPS. It is an embarassment for the program, and a sign of the obstacles that STJ will always face to innovation and change for the better if they cannot look past their own narrow blinders and see the stud right beneath their eyes, preventing us from making that small leap from consistent success to a potential state title. I'm starting to ramble, so let me clarify that I am no big Kevin fan by any means, and this is nothing against the guy who started ahead of him, but seeing K-Dub play in the spring game filled me not only with Flyer pride but also a real bitter taste in my mouth that never should have been there...

Writer's Block? Excuses, Excuses

2009-04-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Sitting on my bed, pen in mouth and paper in hand, I sometimes hit a lull. Ten minutes stretches to thirty, with my eyes sometimes straying to the game on television or fingers clicking rabidly for Facebook updates. Already deep in a pile of distraction, I can't think of anything to write, so I put everything away and set that demonic alarm clark for 5 a.m., where the springs of inspiration can be found. Is this writer's block, or sheer laziness? Our good friend Paul Vincent brought up a simple yet compelling point the other day when he dismissed writer's block as nothing more than an excuse for bad, apathetic writers who only pump out work for the pleasure of getting compliments from others, not for their own satisfaction. True? In a way, definitely. I think writer's block is a legitimate gripe, especially when rest is elusive and life's duties are aplenty, but that is more a sign of external factors rearing their ugly heads than the creative well running dry. I always have thoughts and ideas racing through my mind 24/7, and I write them down as soon as I think of them because I know they'll disappear if I let myself go on through the day or, God forbid, fall asleep! This only adds to my distraction and disorder, preventing me from getting to the work I need to, as I have countless poems, stories, and essays tearing through my poor brain. This isn't writer's block, because I have the juices flowing in abundance, but I'm still not writing for these various reasons.

So what I'm trying to say is that society is the ultimate writer's block, not the gates of our own mind, which are wide open more often than we like to think in the mainstream world. I think a lot of lazy writers use it as an excuse, a break, one more item on society's laundrylist of lies and substitutes, a quintessential reflection of our overinflated, overmedicated nation that prescribes medication for something like restless leg syndrome. Even if the creative spigot runs dry, there is always something on our minds, right? I don't buy the excuse that you can't write anything. Simplicity is the ultimate tool, in my opinion. Turn off all distractions, and immerse yourself in your thoughts and in your passions. You know what you love to do and what you are knowledgable about, so write about it. It doesn't have to be beautiful expression or artistic gold, but the fact that you are producing something and working at it is better than filling your brain with a barrage of television images or checking your Facebook every 5 minutes. I know, I'm guilty too, and my mind is so distracted in disarray that it's a wonder I can even come up with anything. But I really think the ultimate way to end the block of the mind is to merely break it with simplicity. And, if all else fails, just turn off the news and get pissed off about something. It's not that hard :). My final point is that we all have an innate desire, whether expressed or not, to receive critical acclaim and praise for our stuff. We may claim to be non-conformist rebels to the powers at be and just be writing for our own pleasure and satisfaction, or, as our brilliant old crustball friend Zulfikar Ghose stressed, because "we are bored," none of us would pursue writing as a career and as a living if we didn't want some kind of feedback or reimbursement from it. The best writers are usually the ones who look at the world with a different perspective, seeing things that others see as normal routine or "just the way things are" as out of the ordinary or disturbing. Unfortunately, this also causes them to kill themselves, but it's what makes them great! They are not worried about commercial success, and their writing is able to flourish and grow without the constraints of a pushy editor or publishing house that wants you to create something that the masses will soak up, like that Twilight bullshit. Those are two extremes: writing purely for other people's entertainment, or purely for yourself. Finding that balance and recognizing that you can write for yourself while still speaking to others is the ultimate goal, and the most difficult. The constant brouhaha of society's noise and demands sometimes cause to write things that we may feel other people will like, ignoring our passions and our own voice, and realizing that voice is present and bringing it back is the key to killing the affliction known as writer's block. We write for ourselves, and if it is good, other's will follow. So if Jared and I are sitting in a cofee shop someday, poor, smelly, and homeless, clutching our laptops and the remains of our wallets, have sympathy for us. We may have avoided writer's block, and have nothing but the pride of our own individuality to show for it. Happy Patriot's Day bitches, let Zenmaster Gorney leave you all with a message of peace and fulfillment...

When one finds tranquility within self, one's expression flows like a streaming river

Spring Tidbits

2009-04-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

Next week, I'll be starting a series based on A.C.T.S., addressing any doubts or misconceptions while imparting a scripture passage, quote, of theme/ideal to meditate on based on that day's readings or other spirtual inspiration. This will be starting on Wednesday, and until then, it's Hawkeye football, baby. My brain is maintained by a black and gold fever that won't be quenched until September, as you, my ambiguous reader, can understand that I'm having a tough time during this period of sports duldrums, with baseball bats and crackers jacks doing little to satisfy my needs. Spring practice has reached its climax, and there's a lot that is set in stone to go along with a plethora of questions marks. Iowa had a very satisfying bounce-back season last year, going 9-4, losing 4 games by a total of 12 points, and finally learning how to close a team out by winning 5 of their last 6 games, including a thrashing of South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Sitting at 3-3 and finishing 9-4 shows a lot of character, but the problem is a lot of the leaders who helped contribute to such an impressive turnaround have graduated, including record-setting running back Shonn Greene, right guard Seth Olsen, and 4-year starter defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul. The fortunate thing is that there are clear, established replacements at all these positions, but with that problem solved comes a more pressing issue...the schedule. The Hawks had Ohio State and Michigan off their schedule the last two years, but the two conference behemoths return this season. Iowa has to play a revenge-minded Penn State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin on the road, a brutally tough trio. Talent galore returns at the skill positions, including a stable of thoroughbreds to replace Greene, the deepest linebacking core in the Kirk Ferentz era, a mammoth offensive line, and a leader at QB who played his best ball to end the season. I think if we can play well and steal one of those games on the road, then we could be in for another upper echelon Big Ten finish, but in college football, a team is truly different year by year. I'll tackle each storyline position by position, starting tomorrow with the QBs and the ridiculously good looking Ricky Stanzi a.k.a. Swingin' Dick Stanzi. Enjoy ladies..

umm shit, that's Seth Gorney

theree we gooo

Playoff Update and Iowa Spring Game

2009-04-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a little sports crazy at the moment, but I promise I won't keep publishing 5-page essays about the NBA and the Hawks, who I know 90 percent of you guys out there couldn't care less about! Good set of playoff games today, with the road teams controlling things starting with the Bulls over the Celtics. Derrick Rose and his playoff record-tying 36 point debut was incredible; no one could stop him from getting to the basket, and his poise was chilling. The dude didn't even crack a smirk all game. He is a complete assassin, and will be an All-Star for a long time. Don't you think John Calipari at Memphis last year wishes Rose could have shot free throws like that back in the title game though?? Cavs toyed with the Pistons all game, and Lebron was his usual jaw-dropping self, which is becoming so routine it's hard to be amazed by what he does anymore. Dallas beating San Antonio in Game 1 was a minor upset considering the game was in the hostile Alamo City, but your boy here called it. The surprising sparks for Dallas were tiny fetus-like Jose Barea and strong man Brandon Bass, who provided good sparks off the bench that the Spurs didn't get from their own bench. Parker was great from what I saw, but Duncan looked average and their defense wasn't very good. I'm telling you, their time is coming! Finally, Houston absolutely throttled Portland on the road, surprising even a die-hard like myself. The Rose Garden is so loud, like a college arena, and I thought H-town would be a tad rattled, but no way. Yao Ming took over from the start and played amazing ball, going 9-9 in the 1st half for 24 points and 7 boards. He didn't even take a shot in the 2nd half because the Rockets were up by 30 the whole time! Portland is a great young team and they will fight back, but remember they are all young and probably had the adrenaline racing tonight. Aaron Brooks had 27, Scola 19, and Artest 17 in a fantastic, balanced effort where the defense was there and the shots were falling. Every night isn't going to be this easy, but getting so much rest for the starters was crucial. Game 2 on Tuesday.

Not much to note from the Iowa spring game, which isn't even an official game. More of a glorified practice, especially considering they played it on the practice fields with the Kinnick grass getting torn up for turf transportation. Defense dominated, as is procedure in these things, but Ricky Stanzi looked more than solid and redshirt freshman running back Jeff Brinson looked really impressive before going out with a minor ankle tweak. Everybody on defense looked stout, and look for Clayborn and Ballard to shift inside frequently to make up for the loss of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. These guys are definite leaders, as long as Adrian doesn't punch anymore cab drivers in the middle of the night. The offensive line was shuffled up a bit, but the main thing was seeing Dace Richardson back out there, which was amazing. Dace was a 5-star lineman out of Chicago, but his knee is so torn up he's basically running bone on bone. Kirk said last year it would be nearly impossible for him to return, so it's a great story to see him working his way back all the way into the starting rotation. One major disappointment on offense, which also reflects a major positive, is flashy playmaker DJK's current spot in the wideout doghouse. He was in and out of Kirk's trouble-zone last season, scolded for wearing shades and a hat during a postgame interview, but came on at the end of last season with a bevy of productive games. He is one of the most talented guys on our roster, but Kirk is apparently sending him more messages about his focus, placing him 2nd team on the depth chart. Not a pass was sent his way all day today, either. On the other end, converted QB Marvin McNutt, trying to work as a wideout, has worked hard enough and impressed so much with his natural ability that he earned the number 1 overall spot on the depth chart. He has an excellent work ethic and fantastic natural athletic ability, and it's obvious the coaches want to get him on the field as much as possible. Hopefully, this is more McNutt outworking DJK than DJK hurting himself. Finally, I'll leave you with this last little tidbit until August rolls around...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3WpoPagwkc

Iowa Basketball-What Now?

2009-04-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Iowa Basketball has officially hit the panic button, at least in the eyes of the rabid, fickle Hawkeye faithful. There have been no reports of Todd Lickliter reading to little tykes at the local children's hospital as news of 4 players' transfers reached him, and no rushed, misguided attack on some distant enemy only partially responsible for our suffering, but Lickliter is still stuck in one of the most pressure packed situations since George Bush had to react after the 9/11 attacks...okay, maybe not that much, but the whole damn cornfed state of Iowa has their bloated blue eyes focused on him, and if he can rebuild this basketball program or not after 3 straight years in the crapper. Now, with two major players and two bench players gone from the team, it appears as if the Hawks are back to square one in the rebuilding phase, something the already fed-up, apathetic fans don't want to hear. With attendance at a painfully empty all-time low and statewide interest nowhere near it was in the Lute Olson/George Raveling/Tom Davis hey-day, fans are getting so frustrated they are even lamenting taking the much vilified Steve Alford and his slicked head of egocentricism for granted. Is this fair for poor old Lickliter, or are his impersonal tactics and strict adherence to the vaunted system the reasons why we haven't been able to win yet and the players don't want to stay? The first thing I want to say is impossible to express without a bevy of cliches...Rome, or Duke/North Carolina for that matter, wasn't built in a day. Quite frankly, Lickliter needs time to garner the type of players he wants, for the school to finish building the renovations (practice facilities, making Carver more accessible and modern) that they are just starting, and for his players to stay on board! He had amazing success at Butler, a mid-major school in a weak conference several notches below the Big Ten, so there are still question marks with recruiting and the like even though he had such success, especially against powerhouse teams in the tournament. I'm not a big fan of his whiny bench body language or plethora of references to "The Butler Way" or the "system," but I believe a lot of that is just him trying to re-affirm to himself and to the Hawkeye fans that he CAN win with this style of play, emphasizing the three point shot, disciplined passing in the half-court, and stingy defense, especially coming from the guards.

The big loss the Iowa Hawkeyes have faced in the past couple of weeks is Jake Kelly. Not only did he have the venerable distinction of being my favorite player on the squad and the most entertaining to watch by far, he simply our most skilled offensive guy and the only player on the team with a slick batch of one on one scoring moves, effective against any team with his long arms, slithery body, and smooth touch. After Jeff Peterson hurt his hamstring against Wisconsin, Jake came in at the point guard position and came into his own, looking amazing and supremely confident with the ball in his hands at all times. Jake drove, dished, and swished three after three, keeping Iowa in every game they played towards the end of the season and leading the Hawks to exciting upset wins against Michigan and Penn State. He averaged more than 20 points a game and racked up the assists, and was forced to guard the opposing team's best player every night. I will definitely remember Jake for shutting down Manny Harris in our win over UM. Kelly is transferring back home to Indiana State, as he has been confronted with brutal tragedy since his mother died in a freak accident plane crash over the summer. This is a horror few guys will ever face; no one should lose a parent at 19. Jake has my full support and I hope being back home will re-energize his spirits and ease his troubled mind. I know the boys in Terre Haute got themselves a new basketball fan for next year, and it has nothing to do with Larry Bird. Peterson is also transferring, probably to Missouri Valley cellar-dweller Missouri State, located in Jeff's hometown. Jeff had the point guard spot locked up until his injury, and though he is more a natural scorer and still had occasional turnover lapses, he showed signs of major improvement in his overall offensive game and decision making. Jeff couldn't have been dissatisfied with his role, as Jake's departure meant the point guard spot was all his again, but I think his relationship with Lickliter was severed Jeff's freshman year when he was benched the entire 2nd half of the season. His confidence seemed destroyed and hurt, and I think he struggled to find respect for Todd after this. Seems like he never got over it. The other two transfers are David Palmer, a tantalizing big man who showed flashes of star potential but never developed the consistent game to fit Lickliter's wishes, and wee little Jermain Davis, an energetic defensive guard who played with wanton abandon but who lacked the skill or size to probably be a Division 1 player. Davis and Palmer were unlikely to see much time off the pine anyway, but losing Kelly and Peterson not only leaves us without our best player but our only two point guards. Iowa also loses scrubmeister JR Angle to graduation, and Cyrus Tate, Iowa's most physical and cosnsistent post man, will retire his banging body from the black and gold for eternity.

As far as recruiting for next year, we should see a small bounty of riches if Lickliter can succeed in wooing some players to Iowa City, seeing that 4 scholarships are now available. Word on the internet street is that the reason some of the players grew discontented was because ole Lick told a few of the bench scrubs that they should leave so he could put their scholarships up for better use. Pretty harsh folks, and a pretty good reason to be upset if those are your teammates that he is talking to. Of course, it is all speculation and I'll just put on my naive blinders and choose to believe they all left for personal reasons. Still, that's three years in a row that our best player has departed. Just saying. The only two recruits who signed their letter of intents so far are Sioux City Heelan big man Brennan Cougill and Dubuque's Eric May, both statewide stars who have led their repspective squads to state titles and are some of the brightest stars in all of Iowa. Devon Archie, a frenetic athlete from a JUCO in Indiana, has verbally committed and will sign during the spring signing period later in April. The same appears true for Cully Payne, a true point who de-committed from Alabame after Anthony Grant became the new coach. He fills a vital need for the Hawks, who don't have a true point without him. Iowa is also trying to get at least two JUCO plyers, Malcom Armstead and Torye Pelham. Armstead is another point guard, a spot we cannot have too much of, while Pelham is an athletic big man who can score and bang around the rim. Our lack of size and athletes around the paint area is about as sore a need as the point guard position, but we'll see if we can land any of these guys. Marcus Jordan, 23's son, was also offered a scholarship, but citing the fact that he didn't want to play against his brother at Illinois (yeah right, like his brother will actually be playing anything but garbage time the next few years) and the fact that they recruited him first, Jordan selected Central Florida, which is understandable considering he probably wants to escape the gargantuan shadow of his father and make a name for himself. As far as the guys we are getting, Cougill is expected to fill a large role for us, both figuratively and literally. He is a large golden bear of an Iowan, with good scoring skills around the basket as well as a wide body for rebounding, good size at 6 foot 10, and sharp passing. He is not going to be a wunderkind right away, or maybe ever in his career, but is not meant to disparage him. He will provide such valuable size down low, where the Hawks are thirsting for anyone over 6 foot 7, and bring a stabilizing rebounding force who knows what it's like to win big ball games. May probably doesn't have the size or strength to be a 1st-year Big Ten wonder, but he is a great scorer at the high school level, even better than Matt Gatens, and a very solid athlete and hardworking teammate. I expect him to be a solid bench contributor providing depth for the rest of his career. I don't know much about Archie, but I've heard he's a raw athlete who attacks the rim and the boards with reckless abandon. Sounds kind of like a Kurt Looby type, but I'm not going to be pretend like I was overly thrilled that the only video I could find of him on the internet was getting dunked on by now former Hawkeye Jake Kelly. Stevie Wonder can see that Iowa needs more athleticism, however, and I think it's a good pickup. Payne is supposedly a really smooth, unselfish passer who is also a dead eye shooter. He lacks blow-by speed or athletcism, but he seems to posses all the skills that a Lickliter point guard should have, so frankly I'm excited about the guy. God knows we need a point guard more than anything else, at any cost. Goofy white guys were a staple of the Butler Way, why can't Iowa continue the tradition?? I'll take it.

And for the players we have returning, they are few and far between, led by Jesus Christ himself, Matt Gatens. Gatens was dubbed the savior of Iowa basketball before he even made it to his senior year of high school, an all-around American stud who hustles, makes shots, plays unselfishly, and just seems like an overall divine figure. He has Big Ten strength and fearlessness already, which I love to see, and assumed a leadership role on this youthful squad. He doesn't have gamebreaking athletic ability or great one-on-one skills, but the guy is a total player and should be one of the better Iowa-bred Hawkeyes ever when his career is over. You can bet the pressure will be scintillating next season. Anthony Tucker, fresh off a series of alcohol problems, illness, and academic ineligibility, should actually be ready this season. If you don't feel for the guy, you don't have a heart. He had maybe the toughest freshman year a kid could have, and through it all he has been a dedicated Hawkeye affirming time and time again that he is staying and intends to turn things around. Before his problems, he was one of the brightest stars on the entire team. His shot is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and he just knows the game on the offensive end. He's not merely a spot-up shooter, as he can drive and crash the boards too. Can't wait to have him back and watch the Tucker redemption show. I'm really excited for Jarryd Cole, who will be a junior next season. That's shocking to me. He's also the only guy remaining from that 1st Lickliter class, or the guys that were basically Alford recruits. Cole is undersized for what he's asked to do, but he plays with amazing energy and passion, fighting for every rebound and banging with bigger opponents on defense. Cole is very athletic and finishes with ease around the rim, but still needs polishing on his jittery post moves and practice on his outside jumper, of which there is none in his game. This is a guy who works harder than anyone, however, as he showed us with his rehab and his improved free throws, so I believe in the guy. Devan Bawinkel is a great role player who is asked to do nothing but shoot three pointers, which he excells at. He can be streaky, like anyone who relies strictly on the outside shot, and he will probably be asked to play way too many minutes, but leave the man open and thou shalt pay. Aaron Fuller is an important returning cog as well. Fuller has great talent and versatility, oozing with the potential to be a star playing different positions. He has long arms, attacks the glass, is smooth going to the basket, and can hit set three pointers. He also made the best hustle play all season, an outstanding block on a fastbreak that sparked our overtime win against Wisconsin. He makes a lot of boneheaded, unforced errors and looked like a lost freshman out there, but those are things that will heal with time. I think Fuller will be very good next year. Andrew Brommer returns after a rather ugly freshman year...he was considered the weak link of last year's class, but definitely proved that he wasn't quite ready for D1 ball. With the lack of depth, a redshirt wasn't possible though. He has good size and plays with more energy and quickness than Seth Gorney ever could, but the poor guy can barely make a layup in traffic and shot an embarassing free throw percentage. Hopefully he gets better, becaues I'm not convinced yet. Lickliter's young dumpling of a son is also a walk-on point guard for the Hawks, and though he looks like a 12-year old water boy I'm sure he's a good guy and a contributing practice player who the other players get along with. Or not, seeing as all the message board freaks seem to contend that Lickliter is on par with Satan in the eyes of the ballers.

In closing, I realize that in this modern age of college basketball, it is tough to win at Iowa. We had winning tradition and a sterling program for 2 or 3 decades, always good for the 2nd round with maybe a Sweet 16 or Elite 8 run thrown in (Final Four for Lute Olson!!), but with the contagious optimism of the Steve Alford era, when we though we were getting to that "next level", we instead received an arrogant greaseheaded prick who was only looking out for himself and his own future success. He had some pretty good teams, especially the beloved '06 team that had the infamous 1st round loss, but interest in the program died and fans felt a seperation from Iowa basketball for the 1st time since before Lute. Alford just wasn't an Iowa guy, and his salivation over the Indiana job when it opened up made it all the more apparent. Now the poor fool is stuck in New Mexico making NITs every year, and our program was left to rot with lack of fan support, no good recruiting connections or players left, crappy facilities way behind the times, and a program in shambles with a dated tradition that young fans can't even remember. Iowa is a tough place to recruit in the 1st place with the weather, cornfields, and steady supply of obese white people, but it's a fabulous college town if you can get past the stereotypes and the surrounding terrain of green grass and corn stalks. Lickliter is a man firmly dedicated to winning basketball games his way and developing a special system or tradition of doing things, and I like the idea of that unique, well-defined style being our mantra for years to come, but it takes serious time and recruiting flair to develop that, and Lickliter hasn't proven that he can do that in the Big Ten yet. I'm rooting for him, because I would sure love to have an established basketball progam, since at that point players won't give a crap about the boring state and will only want to play for a Big Ten winner. A lot is left to prove for Lickliter, and while things are fairly bleak I'll be rooting for him all the way.

NBA Playoffs Today...Who ya Got??

2009-04-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

The 7th-seeded Chicago Bulls are currently in an entertaining dogfight with the shorthanded Boston Celtics, missing the fiery glue of their team in high-octane Kevin Garnett. Without KG, I would think that few (if any) expect them to get past the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA finals, but losing to the Bulls is definitely not in the blueprint. I don't think Paul Pierce lets Beantown lose to the young Bulls, who just aren't quite at that elite level yet, but do you see anyone who can stop Derrick Rose? Thoughts??
The Cavs will take care of business in 4 or 5 games against the Pistons, no questions asked. Detroit is a shell of the team they used to be, with all their stars like Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace aging at a rapid clip. I like young guards Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey, but we are talking about Lebron James here, guys. Now that he finally has a legitimate wingman in Mo Williams and a rock-solid defense behind him, the Cavs will be in the NBA Finals out of a weak Eastern Conference.
In the playoffs, single players can take over games by themselves enitrely. Whether by the beauty of their own skill, the hand-check rule, or some generous calls by corrupt refs (D-Wade circa 2006 against Mavs), one superstar caliber player can get to the rim and score at anytime in the NBA. This is why I have Wade, playing at a divine level right now, and his green cast of characters getting past the Atlanta Hawks to play Cleveland in the 2nd round. Atlanta is a fun batch of athletic phenoms, but a team stocked with 6 foot 7 swingmen isn't going to win a title anytime soon.
Finally, Magic vs. 76ers is more intriguing than some "experts" are likely to think. Orlando has played poorly down the stretch, and I still contend that even though Dwight Howard is a freak of nature and monster among men, he's not an amazing basketball player. His post moves are lackluster at best, and his free throw shooting abysmal. Yes, he has mack truck-shoulders and otherworldly hops, allowing him to finish with reckless abandon around the rim and snatch rebounds like pinata candy, but if he runs into an equally capable center, than he's in trouble. Philadelphia is an athletic, up-tempo team without a real half-court offense or much shooting spark if they are forced to slow the game down. Luckily, both of these teams play fast-paced, so it should be fun to watch, and though I think this series could go to 6 or 7 , the Magic have more talent.

In the much deeper West, the general consensus is for the Lakers to roll through the playoffs into the Finals again, especially with the return of potent big man Andrew Bynum, who provides a physical complement to Charmin-soft Pau Gasol. They have the most talent (by far), the game's most feared closer in Kobe Bryant, two great post scoring options in Gasol and Bynum, and one of the NBA's most versatile players in Lamar Odom, who can come off the bench and provide unparalled depth. They don't have a great point guard in Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar, but when you have Kobe, is it that big of a deal? They have a tough 8 seed in the Utah Jazz, who are nearly unbeatable at home, but the Jazz haven't been totally healthy or together all season, plus I have a deep-seeded hatred for Dr. Flopenstein, Andrei Kirilenko, so Lakers all the way.
My Houston Rockets take on the Portland Trail Blazers in perhaps the biggest toss-up of the 1st round. This really could go either way. Portland is young, but exceptionally talented, with an excellent go-to scorer in Brandon Roy and two-headed post monster in LaMarcus Aldridge and big-time bust Greg Oden, who I'm not going to get into on this blog post. Houston has played eons better since T-Mac went down, relying on Yao Ming, stingy defense, and a balanced cast of scorers to win 53 games. They don't really have a reliable perimeter scorer down the stretch, but Portland has nobody with playoff experience, so who has the advantage? I'll go with Houston just to be different, and be loyal to my fanhood.
The Spurs play the Mavericks in a re-match of one of the best playoff series in my lifetime, with the famous Ginobli foul on Dirk in Game 7. Ginobli is absent for the rest of the postseason, which is the sole reason that I'm picking Dallas. I'm trying to let my San Antonio hate rest internally for this one, and just look at the series objectively, and I really believe that Dallas stands a chance. They have played fantastic to end the season, while the Spurs look old, banged up, and merely solid instead of spectacular. Obviously, you can never discount San Antonio in the playoffs, as they still have Duncan and Parker, but I'm thinking (or is it hoping?) that this year might be the end of an era. Dallas in 7.
Finally, we have the Denver Nuggets versus the New Orleans Hornets. Denver has been a new team since nabbing Chauncey Billups, who has brought this selfish cast of characters and one-on-one scorers together as dangerous team. New Orleans had an unfortunate series of injuries and odd defections that kept them from repeating last year's success, including the whole Tyson Chandler fiasco (he's still not playing). Chris Paul is amazing, and can make this team compete by himself, but they can't beat the Nuggets without major contributions from West and an inspired return from Chandler, who looks like he has no desire to play. The Nuggets are the weakest of the elite seeds, but they still beat the New Orlenans Chris Pauls...