VERY Early Iowa/ISU Thoughts

The time and TV network for the annual Iowa-Iowa State football game was announced today. Another morning game at Jack Trice Stadium on Ruppert Murdoch’s national sports network. Looking back at the previous matchups between the Clones and Hawks can’t help but get me excited for football season. I know trash talking between both schools is a year-round sport and thought it would be interesting to discuss the game’s storylines.

Kirk Ferentz will once again lead the Hawkeyes into the house of horrors that has been Jack Trice Stadium. Ferentz is probably two or three more wins in Ames away from being completely beloved by all Hawkeye faithful. How do you think Iowa’s failure to win games at Jack Trice during Ferentz’s regime has affected the way he is viewed? His teams seem to be stellar near the end of the season, but slow out of the gate, usually sputtering against inferior Cyclone squads on the road. In terms of the Hawkeyes schedule I am sure all fans expect Iowa to be undefeated heading into a possible snow storm of a white out in a primetime clash in Happy Valley with revenge implications for Penn State. What do the Hawkeyes need to do to win at Jack Trice? What are your predictions? Rick Stanzi is key. He must play better than he did last year against the Cyclones at Kinnick. Iowa needs to make an early statement on offense and not let up. Now, this may be easier said than done considering the past years of neither team scoring twenty. With very winnable games at home Iowa’s bowl destination will be determined by the Hawkeyes play on the road. (ISU, PSU, WIS, MSU, OSU) How do you feel about another trip to Jack Trice Hawkeye fans? You have to be a little nervous?Leave us your thoughts!

Iowa will be facing a new Iowa State coach for the third time in four years. The Paul Rhoads regime is already underway and he has the same opportunity to make a great first impression as Chizik did. (15-13 in ‘07) Will Cyclone fans be quick to judge the coach based on a few games or a couple recruiting classes? Obviously Cyclone fans want to see this team in a bowl game ASAP, but what are realistic expectations? The Cyclones will not face any of the teams making up the three-headed monster that tied for the Big XII South Title last season. They only have three conference home games thanks to a neutral site contest in KC against K-State. How do you see the ISU schedule impacting the season? The Cyclones return offensive stars, but will they be able to stop anyone on defense? Rhoads has a strong defensive background and it will be tested early in the season against NDSU and Iowa.

 

-Matt Shattuck (KCCI Intern)

Greenway’s Take On Favre

Former Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway made this statement yesterday to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in regards to the Brett Favre saga.

“[Favre has] retired a couple of times, so you wonder where his loyalties lie,” Greenway said. “For us, it’s about we’re moving forward with what we’ve got here. We have a team that can obviously win at a high level and we have a team that, moving forward, we think can really compete for an NFC North title again and get to the championship game and hopefully further. As good as something may sound, we have a great team to play with right now, and there is no sense in looking outside of what we have within our 53 [-man roster].”

Greenway did what any good teammate should do, he’s sticking up for his fellow mates. What happens if Favre does NOT sign with the Vikings? And, the whole time guys like Greenway were lobbying for OLD #4 to wear purple. Then, quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson won’t believe their team believes IN THEM!

Instead, Greenway took the smart road and went to bat for the guys he’s going to battle with right now. IF, Favre shows up, then Greenway and the rest of the Purple People Eaters will adjust accordingly.

Personally, I’m not sick of the Favre saga and here’s why.

If someone (The Vikings) is willing to pay you to do what you love then WHY NOT hear them out. Favre will ALWAYS have the itch to play football. There are 40-year old men out there who haven’t played since high school, but still get the itch to slap on the pads one last time.

I hope Favre does come back. He’s great for football. Let’s face it, this Favre story has made ALL of us talk about the NFL in May when we usually are talking about baseball, the NBA or NHL playoffs. He’s a character and characters are GREAT for business.

Here’s to hoping Favre comes back for one more run.

Here’s a link to the whole article on Greenway/Favre.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/44748862.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Future on Ice?

The Iowa Chops are a minor league team without a parent club this evening.  It’s the second time in as many years that this has happened to an AHL franchise in Des Moines.

My question is this — how do you feel about the parent club switch-a-roo?

-Garman

Ducks Fly Away

The Anaheim Ducks have pulled their affiliation with the Iowa Chops. A year before their contract was up. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAYOFFS! That tells me that the relationship between Anaheim, the Chops, and maybe most important Schlegel Sports is as bad as it gets.

KCCI has been told by sources that financial reasons led to the break up. The Chops had a rise in attendence, so that leaves Schlegel Sports, the Chops owner, smelling of economy woes.

But dollars and cents aside, for the 2nd time in just over a year the Des Moines AHL team has no NHL affiliate.

What do you think? Will the AHL ever work? Is it time for local ownership? Is it just the economy claiming another victim?

AI

Top Five Iowa-Native Athletes

I spoke to this on my radio show this afternoon, but am curious as to what you think…

With the Manny Ramirez mess unfolding yesterday, dealing another HUGE black eye to the game of baseball, I’m fed up (so is Andy I. if you read a little farther down the page).

I needed to remember why I LOVE sports.  And in many ways, the things I adore are personified by Iowans.  Hard working, clean role-models.  But who is the best of the best?

My personal top 5 of all time break down into three categories — no brainers (first 3), best of the rest (next two), then a LARGE group of ”CLOSE, but not quite.”  You can follow that up with Future Stars — people who aren’t in the discussion yet, but could be down the road.  Here’s my list:

No Brainers
1. Dan Gable
2. Bob Feller
3. Nile Kinnick

Best Of the Rest
4. Kurt Warner
5. Zach Johnson

CLOSE, but not quite (in no particular order)
Shawn Johnson
Lolo Jones
Gary Thompson
Fred Hoiberg
Roger Craig
Tim Dwight
Cap Anson

Future Stars (may get there someday)
Michael Annett
Harrison Barnes
Scott Clemmensen
Dallas Clark
Ryan Sweeney

Who’s on your list?
-Garman

Anybody Else Numb?

I am numb to this news.

Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.

I read that this morning, shrugged, chuckled, shook my head and turned my full attention back to my Cheerios. It just doesn’t surprise me anymore, and if it surprises you I wish I shared your optimism.

Manny Ramirez is ruining baseball one dreadlock at a time. He drug his feet and pouted in Boston like a kid in a craft store until he finally got what he wanted. He started the trend of uniforms so baggy he could smuggle a Christmas ham out to left field, and then, because he can apparently do whatever he wants, sneak behind the Green Monster and eat it.

But that was all cute because it was, “Manny being Manny.” I wish I could create a phrase for myself as a Get Out of Jail Free Card. I’ll stop shooting highlights of games and fake a sore tongue so I don’t have to anchor, but I’ll get away with it because that’s just my personality…you know…Andy being Andy.

Today is the last straw for me and Manny. I will cover this story as my job seems fit. But only that. When ESPN starts their newest channel, ESPNManny, I’ll be the guy not watching.

AI

Pollard Picks Jackson

ISU has a new wrestling coach.  Kevin Jackson will be formally introduced as the new leader Friday at 11:00am.

 

I thought all along it was going to be Joe Heskett, but Pollard chose a guy with a little more experience — and more Gold medals.

Cyclones … happy with this?
-Garman

ISU Wrestling Update – April 23rd

We’re still searching to find out the new wrestling coach at Iowa State.  My gut feeling hasn’t changed (see below).

One update this afternoon — no news from Greg Randall at Boise State.  I spoke with him this afternoon, and he told me that while he’s still interested in the ISU job, he has not been contacted by anyone from Iowa State.  In fact, he told me that he’s looking ahead to next season and making plans for some of Bronco wrestlers to take part in off-season events.

If he’s the choice, it probably means that Jamie Pollard went elsewhere and was rebuffed.  Keep checking back to see any new updates … and be sure to watch Iowa’s Sports Leader tonight for the latest….

-Garman

Brands Not Interested In ISU

The Des Moines Register has an update this evening, saying that current Iowa assistant Terry Brands is out of the running for the ISU wrestling job (read the story here).

My gut feeling has been (and continues to be) that it will be Ohio State assistant Joe Heskett, the four-time all-American ISU alum.  He has refused comment — which to me is a sign that he’s in the running.  Jamie Pollard likes to put a gag rule in effect for his candidates.  So no news may in fact be news.

Cyclone fans, now that Terry Brands appears to be out of the running, who is your choice?

-Garman

So Who Is Next? – Update

After a couple of days, we’re closer to finding out who ISU’s new wrestling coach is.  I mean, we HAVE to be.  We can’t be getting farther away from it.

Here’s an update as of this afternoon:

Chris Bono, UT-Chattanooga coach.  The Des Moines Registersays Bono has applied for the job.  He is definitely interested.  We’ll see.

Joe Heskett, Ohio State assistant coach.  Still very interested.  No comment from Columbus about his candidacy.  Which is interesting, because Jamie Pollard like to keep his candidates under a gag rule.  Hmmmmmmm….

Terry Brands, Iowa assistant coach.  Still would be the biggest “surprise” guy on the list.  This immediately adds sizzle to the Iowa-ISU rivalry.  He strongly disagrees with Cael’s assessment of Pennsylvania HS talent being better than Iowa HS talent (see that tonight at 6).

Dan Gable, wrestling legend.  This rumor won’t die.  In my opinion, there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD that Gable comes to ISU.  Not happening.  In fact, I think it would hurt ISU’s program more than it would help.  You’re hiring a guy who has already retired TWICE.  He’s a great ambassador for the sport, but I can’t imagine any scenario that has Gable back on the bench in Ames.

Greg Randall, Boise State head coach.  LOTS of buzz from folks about this name today.  I spoke with him in the past ten minutes.  He says he has not been contacted by ISU, but is definitely interested.  He says the job “would definitely be a challenge, and I’m always up for a challenge.”  The 17-year Boise State vet (7 as head coach) is an Iowa native and a Hawkeye-alum.

What do you think now?
-Garman