CFN says Oklahoma 44 - Iowa 20

So does Iowa have the horses to run with Oklahoma?  Surprisingly the answer is yes.  Unless you count coaching.  Oklahoma's players are not head and shoulders above Iowa.  But Captain Coward thinks football is a game that rewards likability.  It isn't.  Football is a mean, nasty, brutish game played by Gladiators whose excellence is determined by their ability to be ruthless.  Iowa's players are handicapped by a man who has no idea what it means to go for the jugular.  Without that killer instinct Iowa will always under-achieve relative to the talent on the roster.  Iowa has a 5-star TE.  An all B1G running back (suspended) and wide-receiver and has at least 2 draft picks on the offensive line.  Iowa also has a QB who gets better the more the coaches allow him to improvise.  Sadly Iowa will not innovate with its game plan and Oklahoma will win 34-20.  And Captain Coward will look feckless against the guy who most fans wanted back in 1999. 

The Hawkeyes average 28.7 points per game on offense.


The Sooners average 40.3 (ouch!)

On defense Iowa averages 23.3/game.


On defense Oklahoma averages 22.8 (crap, another win for Stoops)


Vandy PE rating = 142.7


Landry Jones PE rating = 142.4

Iowa's leading rusher Coker (suspended) = 1384 yards and 15 TDs (Canzeri and Rogers should split the carries in this game, but the head coach will probably outsmart himself with some other arrangement).

Oklahoma's leading rusher Dominique Whaley has 627 yards and 9 TDs on the season but is out with an injury.

McNutt is the Hawkeyes leading WR with 1269 yards and 12 TDs.


Ryan Broyles is the leading WR for the Sooners with 1157 yards and 10 TDs but he is out with an injury.

Iowa's starting TE is CJ and he has 12 catches for 144 yards and 2 TDs.

The TE for the Sooners is James Hanna with 25 catches for 363 yards and 2 TDs.


Tony Jefferson leads the Sooners with 4 interceptions and 16 return yards for no TDs.


Tanner Miller leads the Hawkeyes with 3 interceptions and 114 return yards and 1 touchdown.
****************************************************************

So what can Iowa do to win this game?  Well the Sooners defense struggles with  the spread offense but Kirk doesn't know how to adapt to another team's weakness so you can scratch that idea.  Iowa's only chance at winning is to first have an 80/20 split between Rogers/Canzeri at the RB position.  But the real weapon that needs to be unleashed is the long bomb.  The third thing Iowa needs to do is adopt a "take-a-risk" game-plan that includes fake punts and onside kicks.  If Iowa can do the aforementioned things and Kirk can resist his idiotic "field position" mentality Iowa will have a chance.  If Kirk does what everyone expects and stubbornly clings to an offensive scheme that includes no "outside-the-box" thinking and a defense that eschews the blitz in favor of "bend-until-you-break" then the Hawkeyes are phucked.  In other words, we're phucked!!!!


 Iowa Hawkeyes

Player		Injury	Status/Updated	Notes
Brandon Scherff	OL	Undisclosed	Prob Fri - 12/29/11	Scherff did not play in Week 13 against Nebraska due to an undisclosed injury but is expected to play in the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma on Friday.
Nolan MacMillan	OL	Hernia	Doub Fri - 12/29/11	MacMillan has not played since Week 2 against Iowa State due to a sports hernia and is expected to miss the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma on Friday.
Marcus Coker	RB	Suspension	Out Fri - 12/24/11	Coker will miss the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma on Friday after being suspended for reasons related to his conduct.
Mika'il McCall	RB	Suspension	out for season - 12/22/11	McCall was suspended for Week 13 against Nebraska for violating team rules and his suspension will continue for the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma on December 30th.
Dominic Alvis	DL	Knee	out for season - 11/17/11	Alvis suffered a torn ACL against Michigan in Week 10 and will miss the remainder of the season as a result.
Shane DiBona	LB	Achilles	out for season - 10/19/11	DiBona will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury. He sustained the injury during preseason practice and has already undergone successful surgery.

Oklahoma Sooners

Player		Injury	Status/Updated	Notes
Roy Finch	RB	Poss. Suspension	Prob Fri - 12/22/11	Finch was cited for property damage on December 8th but is expected to be available for the Insight Bowl against Iowa on December 30th as he could face team discipline.
Jimmy Stevens	K	Quadricep	Ques Fri - 12/24/11	Stevens has not played since Week 4 against Missouri due to a quad injury and remains questionable for the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday.
Aaron Ripkowski	FB	Back	Doub Fri - 12/24/11	Ripkowski is not expected to play in the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday because of a back injury.
Brandon Williams	RB	Neck	Doub Fri - 12/24/11	Williams is nursing a neck injury and is expected to miss the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday.
Jaz Reynolds	WR	Kidney	Doub Fri - 12/24/11	Reynolds has been hospitalized due to a kidney injury and is expected to miss the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday.
Stephen Good	OL	Personal	Doub Fri - 12/24/11	Good has been dealing with legal issues but is expected to be available for the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday.
Ronnell Lewis	DE	Academics	Doub Fri - 12/24/11	Lewis is not expected to play in the Insight Bowl against Iowa on Friday due to academic issues.
Ryan Broyles	WR	Knee	out for season - 11/9/11	Broyles tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 10 against Texas A&M and will miss the remainder of the season as a result.
Dominique Whaley	RB	Ankle	out for season - 10/30/11	Whaley will likely miss the remainder of the season after breaking his left ankle during the first play in Week 9 against Kansas State.
Austin Haywood	TE	Personal	out for season - 10/29/11	Haywood will miss the remainder of the season due to a personal matter.

Congrats to Purdue. B1G will have a rare Bowl-winning record this season. BOOK IT!

B1G is on their way back to being SEXY!


Since 2000, the Big Ten has gone 30-46 in bowl games (a 39.4 winning percentage) and has enjoyed a winning record in only two of 11 seasons. Its high watermark was a 5-2 record in 2002, when the Buckeyes defeated Miami 31-24 in double overtime in the Fiesta Bowl to win their first national championship in 34 years.


That will all change this year.

Purdue = win over Western Michigan in the Pizza Bowl (lest I remind you that Western Michigan has beaten Iowa and Illinois in recent years).


Iowa = loss to Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl.


Northwestern = loss to Texas A&M in the Car Care Bowl.


Illinois = win against UCLA in the Kraft Bowl.


Penn State = win over Houston in the Ticket City Bowl.


Michigan State = win over Georgia in the Outback Bowl.


Nebraska = loss to South Carolina in the Cap 1 Bowl.


Ohio State = win over Florida in the Gator Bowl.


Wisconsin = loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.


Michigan = win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.


There you have it. 6 and 4 and the B1G's first bowl-winning season in years. THE RESPECT IS BACK!!!! Okay, maybe it's not back, but it's on its way back.

We HAWKEYE fans need to be grateful to Santa Claus for what he has given us

So what are the presents Santa delivered to us this year?


Hmmmmm?


A Basketball program that looks to be headed in the right direction for the first time in a decade!

For those of you who wanted a wrestling program that returned to the days of Dan Gable Glory Santa gave you the Brands brothers! (previous Christmas but it still counts as it is the gift that keeps on giving)


For all those who wanted Hawkeye football to be better in 2012 than it was in 2011 Santa gave you a football recruiting class that looks to be the best since 2005!


For all you cyber-bitchers who have wanted a new coordinator for over a decade Santa chose to give you one! (the wrong one)


For all those who want Pelini fired (me included) Santa gave the Huskers Kaczenski!


For all those who complained about Coker hogging all the carries, guess what, he won't be doing that this bowl season!

For all those who wanted Iowa skill players on par with Michigan and Ohio State, Santa gave you Davis/McNutt/Coker/Vandy/CJ - a fearsome fivesome! (completely mismanaged by Captain Coward)

For all those who wanted O-L-I-O to get a little justice (me included) Santa gave them a bowl ban, a scholarship reduction and probation extension.


For all those who wanted Iowa to go to a better bowl game than Penn State Santa gave you a JoePa scandal that will help Iowa continue its (overall) dominance of the Nittany Lions!

For all those who wanted Minnesota to continue their struggles Santa gave the Gophers Jerry Kill.


For all those who wanted a win over Northwestern Santa gave the Hawks a victory.


For all those who wanted a record-setting third win over the Wolverines Santa gave you just that in 2011!


For all those who wanted Kirk to get an extension and raise in the off-season (not me) Santa has already delivered that, and Barta will open that package in a few months!


And of course you wanted a Dalmatian puppy along with a busty, gift-wrapped blond under the tree and Santa was only too happy to oblige you!

A Christmas present for GoldenHawk's loyal readers.

This silent night we have four silent commits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I'll confirm them one by one as they reveal themselves over the coming weeks.  Enjoy your Christmas Eve.

WE MADE THE TOP 50!

Okay, so I'm over-reacting.  But CFN has rated Iowa's 2 BCS Bowls at #41 and #39.  How the hell they rated the 2003 Orange Bowl ahead of 2010 I will never know?!

39. 2003 Orange Bowl
No. 4 USC 38 ... No. 5 Iowa 17
Iowa started the game off with a bang as C.J. Jones took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Then Carson Palmer and the running game took over as the Trojans on a 38-3 run. Justin Fargas scored on touchdown runs of four and fifty yards, and Sultan McCullough and Sunny Byrd each ran for scores. Mike Williams added an 18-yard touchdown catch. Iowa's Nate Kaeding kicked a 35-yard field goal, but his field goal attempt at the end of the first half was blocked. Iowa scored a garbage time touchdown on an 18-yard touchdown pass with :34 to play.
Player of the Game: USC QB Carson Palmer completed 21-of-31 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown.
Stat Leaders Iowa - Passing: Brad Banks, 15-36, 204 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Fred Russell, 9-45. Receiving: Dallas Clark, 4-97
USC - Passing: Carson Palmer, 21-31, 303 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Justin Fargas, 20-122, 2 TD. Receiving: Mike Williams, 6-99, 1 TD 
*****************************************************************
41. 2010 Orange Bowl
No. 10 Iowa 24 … No. 9 Georgia Tech 14
Iowa held Georgia Tech’s high-powered rushing attack to 143 yards, and allowed just 155 total yards, but it wasn’t until Brandon Wegher tore off a 32-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes to play to put the game away. The Hawkeyes got off to a hot start with Ricky Stanzi connecting with Marvin McNutt from four yards out and with Colin Sandeman from 21 yards away for a 14-0 lead, but just when it seemed like they were going to put the game well out of reach, Stanzi was picked off by Jerrard Tarrant, who took the pass 40 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Down 17-7 to open the second half, Tech went on an 11-play, 71-yard drive culminating in a one yard Anthony Allen touchdown run, but penalties, a key late interception from Iowa’s Tyler Sash, and poor field position ended the Tech momentum. Tech QB Josh Nesbitt completed just 2-of-9 passes for 12 yards.
Player of the Game: Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn made nine tackles, all solo, with two sacks.
Stat Leaders: Georgia Tech: Passing: Josh Nesbitt, 2-9, 12 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Dwyer, 14-49, Receiving: Jonathan Dwyer, 2-12
Iowa: Passing: Ricky Stanzi, 17-29, 231 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon Wegher, 16-113, 1 TD, Receiving: Tony Moeaki, 4-85

GENE SMITH = TIM CURLEY

Here's what Smith said in response to OSU's NCAA punishment:

“We are surprised and disappointed with the NCAA’s decision. However, we have decided not to appeal the decision because we need to move forward as an institution. We recognize that this is a challenging time in intercollegiate athletics. Institutions of higher education must move to higher ground, and Ohio State embraces its leadership responsibilities and affirms its long-standing commitment to excellence in education and integrity in all it does.

“My primary concern, as always, is for our students, and this decision punishes future students for the actions of others in the past. Knowing our student-athletes, however, I have no doubt in their capacity to turn this into something positive — for themselves and for the institution. I am grateful to our entire Buckeye community for their continued support.

"All of us at Ohio State are determined to ensure that our compliance programs and protocols are best in class. We will assume a leadership role in representing our university and its values.

“It is important to remember that Ohio State has one of the nation’s largest self supporting athletics programs, with students succeeding both in competition and in the classroom. We have more than 1,000 students who compete in 36 intercollegiate sports, and the overall grade-point average of our student-athletes is just over 3.0. During the last two years, the University has had more student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team than any other school. Further, Ohio State finished second in last year’s Directors’ Cup, which recognizes the best athletics programs in the country.”

THANK YOU George Raveling

Once upon a time Iowa recruited some of the best basketball players in the USA. That time was over a generation ago, but I remember it as if it was only a quarter of a century in the past. Names like Ed Horton; BJ Armstrong and Roy Marble. And thank god Roy Marble wasn't gay and chose to have children. In fact if this season isn't a total disaster (only a partial disaster) it will be because of legacies like Mike Gatens and Roy Marble Junior. I don't think Junior is part of his name but he isn't writing this blog so he is "Junior" as far as I'm concerned. And let's not forget the awesome transformation Darius Stokes (son of Greg Stokes) will likely go thru sometime in 2012. Hopefully early 2012 so Iowa can avoid looking like a joke in B1G play.


Am I feeling optimistic that Iowa will get it turned around this season? No, we're gonna suck and suck hard. But there are glimmers of what this team can become once next year's freshmen arrive on campus. Some of the building blocks are in place and next year some badly needed additional blocks will be added. So if Fran learned anything in kindergarten it is that if you assemble little wooden blocks correctly you can create a pyramid and then climb up that pyramid and jump off with a basketball and bang your head on a basketball hoop right before you dunk the ball and score the winning points. At least that's what a drunken dream told me after I lost $10,000 betting on this year's team.


Oh and by the way, Iowa crushed the "Duke" of the Southland conference tonight 105-64. Check the stats below.

IOWA

STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Eric May, G-F 23 3-4 2-2 2-2 1 1 2 3 0 1 0 10
Melsahn Basabe, F 13 6-9 0-0 2-3 1 9 0 2 1 0 2 14
Matt Gatens, G 22 5-9 1-4 0-0 1 5 5 2 0 3 2 11
Roy Devyn Marble, G-F 23 5-8 0-0 9-10 2 3 6 1 0 1 0 19
Zach McCabe, F 13 3-7 0-1 2-2 4 8 1 0 0 0 3 8
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Andrew Brommer, F 15 0-2 0-0 1-4 1 5 1 0 0 0 1 1
Bryce Cartwright, G 17 1-6 0-0 0-0 2 3 8 2 0 3 0 2
Devon Archie, F 4 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2
Cody Cox, F 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Darius Stokes, F 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 4 1 0 0 1 2 0
Branden Stubbs, G 6 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 2 3 0 0 1 1 2
Kyle Denning, G 3 1-2 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2
Steven McCarty, G 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Josh Oglesby, G 17 4-6 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 9
Gabriel Olaseni, C 9 4-5 0-0 0-0 1 2 1 0 3 0 1 8
Aaron White, F 21 8-13 1-3 0-0 3 5 2 2 2 1 1 17
Christopher Rickert, NA 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
42-76 5-13 16-21 16 50 32 12 7 14 15 105
55.3% 38.5% 76.2%
***********************************************

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Jarvis Garner, F 9 1-3 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 2
Anthony Borden, C 10 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0
Ryan Williams, G 14 1-6 0-2 3-4 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 5
LaQuentin Miles, G-F 26 5-13 0-0 2-3 0 0 3 1 0 2 1 12
Mark Rutledge, G-F 24 1-4 1-1 1-2 0 4 3 0 0 2 0 4
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Robert Crawford, G 4 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Dewan Clayborn, G 18 6-8 6-8 0-0 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 18
Chris Henson, F 14 2-6 0-2 0-0 1 1 0 0 1 1 3 4
Terry Tidwell, F 6 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1
Jordan Harks, F 32 4-13 0-1 0-0 7 15 2 1 1 3 3 8
Carlin Bremner, G 13 1-8 1-3 0-0 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 3
Lenell Brown, G 7 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Oliver Wells, NA 17 2-6 0-1 3-3 0 2 2 1 0 2 0 7
Joe Harris, NA 6 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
23-73 8-19 10-14 13 31 15 8 2 19 17 64
31.5% 42.1% 71.4%

Is CFN on a run of bad luck or foreshadowing happy Hawkeye news?

3 Bowl games and CFN's predictions have been off 100% of the time.
*********************************

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Temple 37 ... Wyoming 15
- Temple D shuts down the Cowboys
- Wyoming gets down big, can't comeback
- CFN Thoughts & Analysis on the Gildan New New Mexico Bowl
- Gildan New New Mexico Bowl Preview
CFN Prediction: Wyoming 24-23 Line: Temple -6.5 O/U: 47.5
Pool Pick ATS: Temple Confidence Score: 84
OVERALL CONFIDENCE (35 most - 1 least): Tied 22 out of 35


Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio 24 ... Utah State 23
- Ohio & Tettleton come through late
- Utah State runs wild in stunning loss
- CFN Thoughts & Analysis on the Famous Idaho Potato
- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Preview & Prediction
CFN Prediction: Utah State 28-24 ... Line: Utah State -3.5 O/U: 58
Pool Pick ATS: Utah State Confidence Score: 77
OVERALL CONFIDENCE (35 most - 1 least): 21 out of 35


R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Louisiana-Lafayette 32 ... San Diego State 30
- Louisiana-Lafayette wins on a 50-yard Baer kick
- San Diego State's Lindley has a huge game in loss
- CFN Thoughts & Analysis on the New Orleans
- R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Preview & Prediction
CFN Prediction: San Diego State 35-27 ... Line: SDSU -5 O/U: 60
Pool Pick ATS: San Diego State Confidence Score: 41
OVERALL CONFIDENCE (35 most - 1 least): 15 out of 35 
****************************************************

"How in heavens does this silly article pertain to Iowa?" 

Glad you asked.  Here is what CFN is saying about the INSIGHT Bowl.

Insight Bowl  
December 30, 2011 Tempe, AZ, 10:00 pm
Iowa vs. Oklahoma    
CFN Prediction: COMING ... Line: Oklahoma -14 O/U: 58
Pool Pick ATS: Iowa   Confidence Score: 19
OVERALL CONFIDENCE (35 most - 1 least): 5 out of 35 


Now this may confuse you, but don't let the rewrite above fool you because CFN has already predicted a Hawkeye loss to the Sooners.  Only they're backtracking now and have deleted most of their earlier predictions after their disastrous prognostication skills made them rethink all their predictions for the games that have yet to be played.  Hopefully they will make it official soon and their guess about the INSIGHT Bowl will prove equally misguided.  Let's all cross our fingers.

Perfect time for the men's basketball team to pull out a win

This was another big recruiting weekend for Iowa.  Banquet - basketball game - Norm's presser - bowl preparation - hosting a bunch of 2012 recruits.  A busy weekend would be an understatement.


Thankfully the basketball team held up their end of the bargain.  Don't think it doesn't help to have those visitors watch Iowa perform as a "team" on the hardwood.  It was the legacies (Gatens/Marble) and the local boys (Gatens/McCabe) who made sure Iowa didn't earn the label of the worst D-1 basketball program in the state.


The win also transported Iowa's season from non-winning to winning - tho that may be temporary, only time will tell.

STATS:


STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Eric May, G-F 14 0-3 0-2 3-4 2 3 1 2 2 0 4 3
Melsahn Basabe, F 25 4-7 0-0 2-3 2 5 0 1 2 3 3 10
Matt Gatens, G 40 7-14 1-5 5-7 3 6 2 3 0 1 2 20
Roy Devyn Marble, G-F 19 3-7 0-1 4-5 0 1 5 2 0 2 1 10
Zach McCabe, F 24 4-5 0-0 0-0 3 6 1 2 0 0 2 8
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Andrew Brommer, F 13 2-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 1 0 2 2 4
Bryce Cartwright, G 28 2-9 0-1 8-8 0 1 3 1 0 3 1 12
Josh Oglesby, G 19 2-5 1-3 0-0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 5
Aaron White, F 18 4-4 1-1 1-2 2 5 1 0 1 1 2 10
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
28-56 3-13 23-29 13 31 16 12 6 12 17 82
50.0% 23.1% 79.3%

Christmas came early this year!

Oh we Hawk fans were patient. We sat there watching our football team under-perform all thru September and October with nary a single new commitment.  Then we get 2 new verbals in November and the Scout network won't even rank them!  We wrote letters to Santa asking him to put us back on the "nice" list. Well Santa not only got those letters, we apparently moved him to drop off our presents early this year.


A quick review.


Faith Ekakitie kick-started the process back on Pearl Harbor Day. Iowa dropped a bomb on the rest of the B1G when we served notice that we were replenishing our D-line with 4-star talents.


Next came Kevin Buford, a ranked 3-star Michigan cornerback according to Scout. When you look at former Hawkeye defensive backs Bob Sanders; Jovon Johnson; Bradley Fletcher and Amari Spievey and you realize that all 4 were unranked and carried the minimum number of stars possible (all the recruiting sites award 2 stars to ANYONE with an offer from a BCS conf. school) and then you look at Fleming/Buford with their ESPN/Scout rankings, you realize that Kirk is finally getting serious when it comes to cornerback recruiting.


B1G bomb number 3 was Anthony Morgan. YES! More Texas skill for the secondary. Can you say Damien Robinson? Better yet, can you say MERTON HANKS! That's right, Morgan looks to continue the tradition of Texas safeties who star at Iowa before becoming a star in the NFL.


Nuclear weapon number 4 is Tevaun Smith. Our allies in Canada are providing us yankees with this offensive ICBM. Some are labeling him as "under the radar" but he does have offers from other FBS programs, including one that played in a BCS Bowl last year. We should be grateful that more programs didn't go after him, since that helped Iowa to secure a talent equal in star rating to Cameron Wilson.

The best part of this arsenal of democracy we have added to our roster over the last 10 days?!  All are intelligent young men with good character.

Let's look at some of the football recruits for this weekend

NOTE: Nathan Sudfeld MAY visit this weekend.  Which would mean 3 QB's visiting at the same time!

Patton Robinette.  A kid from TN who reminds me of Jake Rudock.  Same high IQ.  Same size.  Same rating on Scout (29th with 3 stars). Both are from the south.  Both want to go into medicine.  Both have some nice offers.  

Albert Reid.  West Virginia commit who can play RB or DB.

Cody Sokol.  A kid born in Des Moines who has blown up as an Arizona Juco player.


Sean Draper another Glenville kid.  Looks like a 4-star recruit in 3-star clothing.  Now all we have to do is land him and keep him on the team.  Academics shouldn't be a problem with a 3.75 GPA.  Offers include Illinois, Indiana and Louisville.

Jehu Chesson.  Talented WR from Missouri who appears headed to Michigan. 

 


 

The Three Musketeers

I have been derelict in my duty of welcoming new members to the Hawkeye family.  Okay, I did welcome Faith, but not as properly as I should.

Faith Ekakitie is a consensus 4-star recruit and a kid who nearly got into Northwestern. Now don't worry about how to pronounce his last name, all you need to speak and spell is FAITH. He had over 20 offers, and from some of the finest academic as well as athletic institutions in the FBS realm. We won't have to worry about him flunking out, and despite what you've heard he could've been more patient and accepted an offer from Pat Fitzgerald but he chose to do what was best for him and his future. He'll be a Hawkeye, keep the faith.


Next up is a man called BUFORD who is known for WALKING TALL despite a stature that some have described as vertically challenged.  He gave his verbal on December 9th and even though the Hawkeyes haven't had a lot of luck with kids from Michigan, Kevin's a keeper. Oh you've heard the scuttlebutt that "Urban's stealing players from Penn State and Iowa is stealing players from Toledo" but don't be fooled. He's a nice 3-star athlete that can play a variety of positions including cornerback. For those of you who don't classify yourselves as recruitniks, I'll inform you that Iowa doesn't get too many 3-star cornerbacks. They usually come in rated with 2 stars like Bradley Fletcher and Jovon Johnson and Amari Spievey and Charles Godfrey. Didn't all those guys end up as professional football players?


Unlike the previous two additions, today we added someone who wasn't a surprise at all. Anthony Morgan has more than one thing in common with Buford: Both can play multiple positions, both have 3 stars, and both are slated for the secondary. Morgan is specifically targeted for Safety, and when paired with Nico Law we could have a repeat of Sash/Greenwood. What? That ain't good enough for you? Okay, Sanders/Considine. Sheesh, it's hard to make you happy.


So, is there anything special about the past week's worth of favorable recruiting news? As a matter of fact yes. Iowa seems to be not only getting better athletes, but we also seem to be getting better students. And best of all, young men of character. That's three qualities the Three Musketeers must have if we are to win another BCS Bowl. No pressure.

Major announcement on the Horizon

Kirk to retire.

Joe Pa to be new head coach.


Zook new Offensive coordinator.


Sandusky new Defensive coordinator.


Fan base cheers itself into a stroke.

It's a Cyclone state!

Cyclones 86


Hawkeyes 76


Well, they beat our football coach and now our basketball coach.  As far as basketball goes I should just follow the Lady Hawks for the rest of the season (OOOPS, they also lost to Iowa State).  Whatever Fran is doing, it isn't working.  To be fair Lick really screwed Fran and Iowa.  How many millions did we pay Lick to chase off players and sink our program into the abyss?!

Say Hello to the Hawkeye class of 2012

22 total


Ekakitie - Canada via IL


Venckus - FL


Mabin - FL


Lile - MI


Taylor - MI


Malloy - IA


Ward - IL


Johnson - IL


Kornbrath - WV


Fleming - IL


Ott - NE


Wilson - OH


Keppy - IL


Lambert - NJ


Morgan - TX


Garmon - PA


Lynch - NY


Shaw - NJ


Kozan - CO


Sheffield - Juco - Colorado via CA


Smith - Canada via CT


Stewart - IL

FAITH RENEWED FOR 2012

Courtesy of Allen Trieu and Beth Long.

Iowa: 60 - Northern Iowa: 80 - Refs: negative 100

Hmmmmmm.  How can I sum up this game?  Apparently . . .

From v13:

An early peek at the Hawkeye swag courtesy of the Insight Bowl!!

Jewelry; chronometer; slacks (complete with iron and dual beverage dispenser) seatback; etc.  Oh I know what you're thinking, the Insight folks are doubling up on some of the gifts, WTF?!  Well if you hadn't been so lazy the first 18 years of your life you could've earned a scholarship to Iowa and then you too would be raking in the Hawkeye swag this Holiday season.

Thank you to Wisky and Sparty

For a great game that started off the new era in the B1G in historical fashion.  It also provided evidence that this quote is the dumbest ever to be placed on a Hawkeye Message board:   

We need a strong Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.  lets face it; with these teams being "down," it hurts the conference's image. I think what Brady Hoke is doing at Michigan is good for the conference; I think the Urban Meyer hire is great for the conference. I hope Penn State gets its mess cleaned up as soon as possible for not only them but for the good of the conference.

These 3 historically powerhouse teams can't stock pile ALL of the talent. When the Big 10 gets its mo jo back, good players are going to look at Iowa because of the strength of the conference; these players are going to want to come to Iowa to compete against some of the best teams and play in some of the best venues (Kinnick; the Big House, the Horseshoe, Beaver Stadium). Its a good thing to have a strong conference with strong traditional powers. It simply makes the Big 10 look so much better when being compared to the SEC.

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The idiot above thinks certain programs need to RULE the B1G.  If that reality ever came to be it would weaken the B1G instead of strengthen it.  Conferences with dynamic competition do not become stale.  They innovate in order to reach the top.  Before this season started the pundits said, "Ho hum.  It will be Nebraska and Ohio State in the inaugural championship this December.  It's a forgone conclusion so just get used to it."


Instead MSU and the Badgers made their claim that they can play with anyone.  Nothing would turn people off faster than a repeat of the 70's where only 2 teams had any chance of winning the conference.  Ohio State's dominance of our conference in the last decade actually weakened the perception of the B1G.  The SEC is a dynamic conference with more than 2/3 teams capable of being the champion.  THAT truth is what makes them strong and respected. 


GoldenHawk is glad that the B1G is no longer ruled by a pair of juggernauts.  And hopefully never will be again.

One thing to remember when reading sports fan posts on message boards -

Iowa 75 - Brown 54

Congrats to the men. The good news is that the fire is back. The bad news is that the basketball team is as flaky as the football team. One game they "bring it", another game they "sleepwalk" thru it. Though Brown is not a good team, any win at this point is to be commended.


I'm still convinced that Fran will need to experiment with a different starting 5 more than once this season. The conference season could get brutal. Hopefully they will improve as the season rolls along. But even if they do everyone knows that next year is when things HAVE to start improving.

STATS: IOWA

STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Eric May, G-F 19 4-8 0-2 0-0 1 4 3 1 0 0 0 8
Melsahn Basabe, F 24 5-12 0-0 4-7 2 10 0 0 1 1 2 14
Matt Gatens, G 30 3-8 1-2 2-2 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 9
Bryce Cartwright, G 28 2-7 0-0 0-0 0 3 5 2 0 1 2 4
Zach McCabe, F 19 3-6 1-1 2-2 4 7 0 0 0 2 3 9
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Andrew Brommer, F 12 3-3 0-0 3-6 3 4 0 1 2 2 3 9
Roy Devyn Marble, G-F 23 4-9 0-0 3-3 3 7 4 3 0 0 2 11
Darius Stokes, F 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Branden Stubbs, G 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0
Steven McCarty, G 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Josh Oglesby, G 17 1-5 0-2 0-0 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 2
Aaron White, F 19 3-10 0-3 3-4 4 9 1 0 0 1 1 9
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
28-69 2-10 17-24 18 49 15 8 3 9 17 75
40.6% 20.0% 70.8%
----------------------------------------------------------------

STATS: BROWN

STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Tyler Ponticelli, F 28 3-5 0-0 0-1 1 3 3 0 0 4 2 6
Dockery Walker, F 8 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0
Stephen Albrecht, G 21 2-8 1-5 0-0 0 1 0 1 0 0 4 5
Matt Sullivan, G 22 1-7 0-5 1-2 0 4 0 1 0 2 1 3
Sean McGonagill, G 36 4-11 0-3 1-2 1 8 6 2 0 2 2 9
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Jean Harris, G 12 2-5 2-3 0-0 0 2 1 0 0 1 2 6
Andrew McCarthy, F 25 7-13 0-2 3-6 4 7 0 0 2 1 2 17
Josh Biber, G-F 9 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 2
Christian Gore, G 24 1-4 1-2 1-2 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 4
Jon Schmidt, F 9 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1
Patrick Donnelly, NA 3 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tellef Lundevall, NA 3 0-1 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
21-60 4-22 8-17 9 35 12 5 2 12 20 54
35.0% 18.2% 47.1%

In lieu of wins stats can be fun

TEAM STATS:
**********

Pass Offense = Iowa 3rd.


Pass Efficiency = Iowa 4th.


Punting = Iowa 2nd.


PAT = Iowa tied for first.


Penalties = Iowa 2nd.


Opponent penalties = Iowa 3rd.


Red Zone Defense = Iowa 2nd. (RZ offense = IA 6th - ugh)


INDIVIDUAL STATS:
*********************


Marcus Coker = 2nd in the league in RUSHING.


Vandy = 2nd in PASSING AVERAGE PER GAME.


Vandy = 4th in PASS EFFICIENCY.


McNutt = 2nd in PASS RECEPTIONS PER GAME.


McNutt = 1st in RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME.


Vandy = 4th in TOTAL OFFENSE.


Coker = 4th in SCORING TDs. (McNutt 5th in SCORING TDs)


Meyer = 3rd in KICKER SCORING.


Coker = 3rd in ALL-PURPOSE YARDS.


Meyer = tied for first in PAT PERCENTAGE.


Morris = 5th among all TACKLERS.


Kirksey = 7th among all TACKLERS.


Bernstine = 10th among all TACKLERS.


Nardo = 18th among all TACKLERS.