A Little Texty Text

Kirk Ferentz was on the Dan Patrick show yesterday and mentioned that he and Bill Belichick exchange text messages once in a while. Kirk said he can't figure out how to send one back, but I don't believe him.

Through some connections, I was able to obtain some text messaging records from the past few days.

10/8

BB: Wy 2go KF, def made the rite call w/ Stanzi over Christiansen. I watched E IL vs PSU. not impressed...

KF: Thx, nu it was the rite call when he cried. LMBO

BB: ROTFL

10/11

BB: J McDaniels is a WOMBAT.

KF: RUOK?

BB: No, worse, he's a UMWC

KF: ?

BB: Ungrateful midget wannabe coach.

KF: At least you didn't have to wear DNVR's unis

BB: Make me brf!

10/15

KF: U heard Prty in the USA yet? awsm!!!

BB: Miley rcks!

10/18

KF: 5 TDs in 1 qrtr! I think WI's D wld've dn better

BB: tru dat

KF: Brady mite hv a future in the NFL


Any needed translations can be found here.

Hawks beat WinconSIN to make it 7-0

One of the issues I have with watching sports is that we don't have cable or dish so most of the time I'm stuck with either

1. watching Florida play someone on CBS
   
2. watching Notre Dame play some one on NBC (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little)
   
3. or, if I get lucky, a Big Ten or Big 12 game on ABC

Well "say ello to my litt'l friend", ESPN 360 and a S-video cord. It's a marriage made in "cheap sports fan heaven".

ESPN 360 is about the best feature of ESPN's website ever. I can watch live games or replay recently played games right over my computer, including college football and basketball, NBA basketball, Euroleague soccer, and a bunch more. Plus, with an S-video cord (a measley 25 clams) I can send that signal right to my TV!

So I used my new found superpower to watch Iowa's 2 games yesterday. I say two games because it was like they were 2 different teams in the 2 different halfs. The first half was about as boring as can be. Iowa struggled in about every way, especially trying to run the ball.

In the 2nd half, Iowa came out smoking. They were great at converting on 3rd downs and came up with some great defensive stops. I really like how Stanzi played in the 2nd half. The throw on the run to Moeaki for a TD was fantastic.

Spievey comes down with his 2nd INT

Spievey was a beast on defense. He was playing well all over the field, but his last interception was especially nice. He baited WI's QB then dove fully extended and seemed to hang in the air for an extra second or two before coming down with the pick.

Iowa is 7-0 for the first time since 1985. If they beat MI St next week, it will be the first time in school history that they will have started 8-0. MI St started slowly but has been playing well recently, and Ferentz historically has not done well on the road in Lansing. Win or lose thought, I'm along for the ride!

*photo from DM Register*

Another Hawk Breaks a Wing

Get Well Soon!

Already without expected starting RB, Jewell Hampton, and defensive standout, Jordan Bernstine, now Iowa will have to do without top punt returner and Big 10 track star, Paul Chaney Jr.

Apparently he tore his ACL against Michigan. I didn't even notice during the game, so it must have been a subtle injury. I hope he's able to make it back next year. Word is that freshman Keenan Davis will be asked to shoulder more of the load.

On a more positive note, the Flyin' Hawaiian, aka Mr. Brittlebones, aka Tony Moeaki won Big Ten offensive player of the week for his role in the win over Michigan. This just in though...he stubbed his big toe and will sit out the game vs WI.

Gameday Diary 2nd half, Iowa vs Michigan

3rd Quarter

• MI goes 3 and out on first possession
• 14 - Robinson gives a good effort on a run, but it's called back for holding.
• 13 - Kirk and Brent start discussing IA's pink visitor's locker room. I meant to do a short post on this, but haven't yet. It's coming soon.
• 12 1/2 - Stanzi rushes for a 1st down
• 12 - Robinson rushes for another first down. All runs so far this half have been to the right side. I think O'keefe figured something out here.
• 11 - 3rd and 4 in MI territory. Stanzi ways underthrows the pass. IA settles for FG again. 23-14
• 10 - Michigan is trying to put together a drive. 3rd and 5, IA almost intercepts the pass. Another solid 3rd down stop for IA.
• 8 - 3 and out for IA, almost another interception at IA's own 20, but Moeaki has the presence of mind to hit the defender causing him to drop the ball. AHHH! Thank you Tony!
• 6 1/2 - Minor is rolling down the field. It looks like he's running downhill...IA needs to do something to slow him down.
• 4 1/2 - Another TD for Minor, he looks winded. He should. He just ran for about every gain that last possession. 23-21
• 4 - IA is forced to punt after little success, but by a stroke of luck the MI punt returner fumbles and IA recovers on the MI 21 yard line. Another MI turnover! Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!
• :30 - Moeaki receives pass from Stanzi for 1st and goal.
• At this point I start nervously talking to myself, saying things like "IA really needs a TD right now" and "Come on, come on" My wife looks up from the computer and says "Are they winning?" I'm glad she's keeping up with her new team so well.

4th Quarter

• 15 - on 3rd down Wegher is stopped short. IA decides to go for it.
• 14 1/2 - IA runs a beautiful fake RB jump play(similar to what they ran in the 1st half), Stanzi rolls out and tries to throw it to Moeaki, but pass is broken up. Musberger thinks Stanzi could have run it in.
• 13 1/2 - MI 4th and 10 on the 2 yard line. Great defensive sequence for IA.
• 13 - IA 1st and 10, MI totally anticipating standard run on 1st down, Stanzi fakes the run, rolls out to find Moeaki again for another TD!!!! 30-21
  
  


• 12 1/2 - Forcier almost throws another inteception, proceeded by RR mouthing "COME ON, TATE!" Dude looks mad. Seems like IA's D is starting to wear them down. MI hasn't been able to do much on their last few possessions.
• 10 - IA starts another offensive possession, Robinson has a nice run called back due to holding
• 9 - Robinson gets it again for 14 yards, 2nd and 6
• 8 - IA can't do much with it and punts again. William Lowe gets called for personal foul on punt return. Dude got suckered into it by the MI player, but the refs only saw Lowe react. William, William, William...
• 7 1/2 - The best coaching decision by RR all night. Benches Forcier for Denard Robinson. DENARD, what kind of name is that? Could his mom not pronounce her Bs? Was it supposed to be Bernard? Ranks up there with Anfernee Hardaway.
• Shot of Denard Robinson's shoes. Apparently he doesn't tie them??? but he does use velcrow to keep them on...Moving on...
• 7-3 - Robinson and Minor rush down the field and score another TD. That looked way too easy. I'm not liking the change in the tone of this game. 30-28
• 2 1/2 - IA needs to keep the ball and run out the clock, but can't get the 1st. It's up to the D now. Oh man, it shouldn't have to come down to this.
• 1 1/2 - MI pushed back inside the 20. Robinson stays in the game. It's crunchtime!
• 1 - All MI needs is a FG. Robinson tries to go long to get into FG range, but the pass is picked off by Greenwood.
• Game! Final Score 30-28
• My wife turns to me , "Is it over? So, they won?" Yes, they won.

A couple things:

1) IA is 6-0. One of their best starts in years. I guess I picked a good year to start cheering for them. As a matter of fact, maybe this is why they're winning. Your welcome Hawkeye fans

2) Moeaki is the player of the game to me. He was blocking all over the field and had 2 TD receptions. Nice to have the big fragile guy back. When he's healthy, the offense looks much better.

3) I don't like having fun at someone's expense, but part of me cheered when Forcier was benched. Everytime I tried to feel sorry for him, I remembered his website and then it disappeared.

On to Wisconsin next week! IA has got this far, the hardest part is still to come.

Gameday Diary 1st half, Iowa vs Michigan

Pregame - Kinnick looked packed and the fans were ready for the game. Especially that guy in the yellow spandex body suit. He looked pumped.

1st quarter

• 14 - on 2nd play of the game, Stanzi throws a "pick 6", Michigan up 7-0 just like that. My first thought was "Crap, crap, crap, get it out of your system now Stanzi"
• 13 1/2 - Shot of G-rob in a turtle neck and Michigan sweatshirt. How is this guy still finding good coaching gigs? Haven't you done enough harm to young men's football careers?
• 12 - Stanzi throw to Mcnutt for his 1st completion. He needed that to shake off the interception
• 10 - DJK almost gets away with a 1st down catch that bounced off the ground into his hands. It's challenge and reversed. Good challenge and the right call.
• 9 - Michigan brings a blitz on 3rd and 12. Stanzi rolls away finds Moeki wide open. No one touches him into the end zone. 7-7
• 7 1/2 - With Michigan driving, Forcier throws interception. 1st of many Michigan turnovers.
• 6 - Iowa has driven down and Mcnutt barely misses catch for 2nd TD. The hawks have to settle for FG, which prompts Brent Musbergere to proclaim "And the Hawkeyes takes the lead for the first time tonight!" Someone tell him it's only the 1st quarter.
• 3 1/2 - Forcier has Michigan driving down the field and throws a frozen rope for a 1st down in Iowa territory.
• 1 - Michigan scores 1st Rushing TD against the Hawkeyes for the last 33 consecutive quarters! 10-14

2nd Quarter

• 13 - Iowa drives down again and Mcnutt looks to have a catch for 1st down, but it's call incomplete. Iowa has to settle for another FG. 13-14
• I've seen enough Bdubs commercials that I'm starting to crave me some boneless wings in Asian Zing sauce. MMMM..wings.
• 12 - Michigan has done a great job so far in running the ball. Brandon Minor has not missed a beat.
• While scrambling, Forcier stumbles and falls on a 3rd and 14. Good pressure by the D
• Another commerical break, maybe I should finally look into AFLAC.
• 8 1/2 - Strauss makes diving reception for 1st down. We needed that!
• 8 - OH SNAP!, bad snap goes flying over Stanzi's head
• 7 - DJK grabs a 47 yard pass for 1st and goal. 2nd nice completion on this drive.
• 6 - Stanzi tries to run it in, but is stopped just short.
• 5 1/2 - Wegher does his best Jordan impression and just skies while the Oline has pushed into the endzone. 20-14
• 4 - Guy named Graham has been all over Stanzi tonight. Sacks him for a loss of 9 yards.
• 3 - Iowa punts. Now would be a bad time to give up a TD. Michigan will start out will ball after halftime.
• 2 1/2 - RichRod is all over some guy named Floyd who had a flag thrown on him during the return for a 10 yard penalty. RR's reputation for profanity is legendary, looks like he's living up to the legend.
• 1 1/2 - Michigan is within FG range.
• 1 - Angerer forces fumble and Iowa recovers. 2nd big Turnover. Think Iowa will just run out the clock? Think again!
• 3 seconds. Iowa has very efficiently driven down with very little time left to get just within field goal range. Then promptly get delay of game penalty to make the kick even harder.
• Musberger takes this time to promote the upcoming season of Desperate Housewives. No one cares Brent.
• FG no good, impressive try though.
• Halftime - 20-14, Iowa

1st half definitely could have gone better, but at least we're up. Surprise of the game so far - Michigan's Oline has played well and opened up some nice holes for Minor to work with. Still got 2 quarters to go!

Fight, Fight, Fight for Iowa!

This is kinda random, but I found the tune and words for the Iowa fight song. I guess this is good to know, even though only dorks know the words to their school's fight song.

I like the line "until the final gun". You could never get away with putting the word gun in a fight song today.

Iowa 24, Arkansas St 21

With the narrow win over Arkansas St, the Hawkeyes are off to one of their best starts in 3 decades. Nice to get a win here, but I was hoping for a little more out of this game.

On the upside, Stanzi threw for almost 300 yards and had 3 touchdowns. Marvin Mcnutt had 2 TD receptions and 121 receiving yards. So there were some signs of life from the passing game.

On the downside, the defense allowed them to score 14 points and Stanzi had 2 interceptions, one of them leading to a touchdown. Also, neither Wegher or Robinson were very productive.

Regardless, sometimes in order to start a season the way Iowa has, teams need to get a little lucky. With this game out of the way, Iowa can now look forward to next weekend against Michigan.

Michigan just lost to archrival Michigan St, but has been getting plenty of production out of QB Tate Forcier. I'm not worried about Iowa scoring against Michigan's D, but I am worried about Iowa stopping the passing game of the Wolverines.

Big Ten game + Iowa's best start in years x Night game at Kinnick x coverage on ABC = great atmosphere and excitement. Should be interesting!

2010 Recruits

Believe it or not, the football season is about 1/3rd of the way done already! Of course, there is still a long way to go, but I wanted to take a look at some of the incoming freshman in Iowa's recruiting class next year. Looks like the recruiters are keeping busy...

Andrew Donnal, OL, 6-7, 265

• another talented and huge Offensive lineman to add to the mix
• had his pick of Big Ten schools
• made solid verbal committment
  
  

Marcus Coker, RB, 6-1, 225

• rushed for almost 400 yrs in one game (!) for Dematha Catholic High School
• attributed the success of Shonn Greene and their similar running styles to his desire to play for Iowa
• made solid verbal committment

AJ Derby, QB, 6-4, 210

• versatile athlete and highest rated football recruit in Iowa this year, plays for Iowa City High
• recruited by schools from across the nation including Florida, Michigan, LSU, Alabama, and Nebraska
• expected to make verbal committment Friday, Oct 2 to the Hawkeyes

These 3 players seem to be the cream of the crop, but if there's one thing I've noticed in looking at Iowa's recruiting classes, it's that Ferentz knows how to find a diamond in the rough. I could be overlooking someone, but that's what makes it interesting!

Here are a few other names to keep an ear out for...

• Seantrel Henderson, one of the top ten high school players in the nation
• Andre Dawson, Cedar Rapids native
• James Kohler, Ames native