My whole world seems to stop on Super Bowl afternoon – so I’m catching up on a few organizational things including some blogging.  I’m watching the pre-game and may interject some comments.

Fun to watch the playoffs when I don’t care who wins.  What a finish to the season if WhO DaT NaTioN gets a super bowl championship; if the Colts win they are a blue collar team with Dallas Clark and Hawkeye History. 

I watched the Sarah Palin speech last night and am still looking for the next generation’s leaders.  President Obama can’t lead his way out of the proverbial paper sack – 13 months into his term he’s still campaigning.  I don’t see leadership in Gov. Palin either.  I like her, but people are pushing her into a leadership role for which she is not ready.

The 912 and Tea Party movements are engaging more citizens in politics, that is a good thing, and Gov. Palin’s speech was from the heart.  But those who are looking for the next Ronald Reagan in Palin, forget his “time in the wilderness” where he honed his philosophical tone by writing a-lot speaking around the nation and on TV.  Watch this TV broadcast from 1964 – 16 years before he was President.  YOU TUBE BROADCAST HERE   There is no Ronald Reagan type in either party today and I am afraid for the future.

To me it’s as simple as this.  Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  I’m not looking up the orgins of that quote – it just makes sense doesn’t it?

2008 campaign article

Study shows FDR spending policies lengthened, did not shorten the Depression.

I wish I started to buy gold when it was $400, not doing it now.  I hope the continued unravelling of the Global Warming Myth is turned into a new effort to protect the environment and an understanding that we need to learn how to help future generations survive this climate change we are seeing.  Science based on urgent collection of grant monies and financial profit - is an evil effort and must be stopped. 

Walter Payton :::tears::: gone too soon, we still love you.  Queen Latifa Rocked American the Beautiful…  No one will out do Whitney Houston’s Star Spangled Banner… what was a long time ago, I didn’t think much of this lady today…

Where I do appreciate every candidate and citizen that is newly engaged, this two party system has to come back and find a way to work together.  I hope Republicans do regain control of the 2011 congress and pass a fair and responsible reorganization of our healthcare system.  A reorganization that pays for itself by cutting waste, is portable and covers pre-existing conditions.  I am supporting Dr. Miller-Meeks for Congress in that effort.

I’m down to one bowl game yet tonight, so I thought I would blog for a while.  I’m waiting with much anticipation for the Iowa Georgia Tech game on Tuesday, and am glad Iowa plays on a night where there is only one game.  They will acquit themselves well, will have national coverage and I don’t have to worry through other games to get to the Hawkeyes…   In Kirk we Trust…

It’s also been restful that the holiday comes in front of the weekend so after the family events of the Holidays there is time to regroup for the work year…   World events aren’t as simply watched and worried about.

It’s going to get worse, not better.

I believe those who said that some predicted the upswing (I guess they are thinking about the stock market I haven’t seen any other upswing) but fewer predict it continuing.  I for one expect a miserable 2010 when it comes to world confidence and business growth.

My model will continue to find ways to be self sufficient (which is easy in rural American but tough in the upper midwest) planting, harvesting and canning the result in a cooperative effort with friends and family.  More target shooting with my gun, and helping others do the same…   Trying to get back to basics, putting some $ where my mouth is re: charities and politics…  what is important today?

As far as world events, I continue to be confused why smart people avoid the study of history.  A metaphor that has been used for economic issues today is this: Those who believe government bailouts work, must also believe that taking pails of water from the deep end of a swimming pool and dumping it into the shallow end will increase the depth of the shallow pool.  The government has no money; but it must TAKE money from those who are creating jobs for the government to do anything.  Government can’t create jobs; well they can but only short term jobs taking money from those who could create long term jobs.  Government can’t create prosperity.

Let’s go back to look at the War on Poverty – begun in 1964.  We’ve lost that too.  We now have generations that are used to welfare.

When are we going to man up and fix things?  It may already be too late.

The Health Care Bill is Crazy and what is this about calling it the Protection and Affordable Care Act – what a joke.

As you can tell by some previous posts I don’t believe in Global Warming.  I do believe in Climate Change and do believe we must be good stewards of our environment. The myth of Global Warming and Algore’s taking amazingly irresponsible advantage of the myth for financial gain has been more damaging to the world than the War on Terror has been. 

That said, I love LIVING WITH ED, the show on GREEN TV staring Ed Begley and his wife.  If everyone was as honest and empassioned as Ed Begley we would not be where we are today.

We are at a cross road – and have no leadership in the world today.  When will the voice of reason be heard?

What IS important today, in 2010?

Here’s a start: Vote Miller-Meeks

and ya just knew it wasn’t political didn’t you.  Well if it isn’t politics it must be Football!

Ferentz has a 70-53 record at Iowa, including two Big Ten championships.
Iowa Football Coach Ferentz Gets 7-year Extension

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has agreed to a new, seven-year contract that includes the same salary and bonus structures as his previous deal. Athletic director Gary Barta made the announcement on Thursday. The contract will run through the 2015 season. Last year, Ferentz’s average annual salary was $2.84 million.

Under the new agreement, Ferentz’s assistant coaches will be eligible for additional compensation for significant achievements.

“As our head coach the past 10 years, he’s proven himself to be a winner and a strong leader of the Hawkeye program,” Barta said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have him as Iowa’s head football coach.”

Last season, Ferentz led the Hawkeyes to a 9-4 record and a 31-10 win against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2.

ESPN

2009 Schedule

A great Hawkeye blog worth reading – this post at least – I found it when I signed up for TWITTER…     The Greene Party

BTW Shonn won the Doak Walker award – excellent…

Link

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kirk Ferentz has led the University of Iowa football program to two Outback Bowl games and he can’t wait for trip No. 3.The Hawkeye head coach said that his staff knew following a 55-0 thumping of Minnesota on Nov. 22, that eight victories (five of them against Big Ten Conference competition), would send the black and gold to either the Alamo, Capital One, Champs Sports or Outback bowl.

“We knew we were going to a good bowl,” Ferentz said Sunday evening at a media conference inside the Hayden Fry Football Complex. “When you talk about San Antonio, Orlando or Tampa, you can’t go wrong and we know that first-hand. We knew we would be playing a good opponent, that comes hand-in-hand with those destinations. It’s nice to know this was going to have a good outcome and we’re thrilled to death with the way it turned out.”

An understandably upbeat Ferentz opened Sunday’s conference with a reference to a tongue-in-cheek comment he made Nov. 11 about his disdain for the holiday drink egg nog.

“I want to start out by apologizing if I offended anybody on the egg nog front last month,” Ferentz said. “I didn’t mean to. Anderson-Erickson was very kind. They sent us probably a months-load of egg nog which is upstairs in our refrigerator and everyone in our office has been enjoying that. It’s not that I hate egg nog, believe me. It’s just that I didn’t want to sit around drinking it in Iowa, so maybe I’ll have a glass when we’re down in Tampa.”

The Hawkeyes are playing in their fifth January bowl game in seven seasons. Kickoff against South Carolina will be 10 a.m. (Iowa time) on Thursday, Jan. 1 from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“The people down there are hospitable and everything about the Outback Bowl is great,” Ferentz said. “We’ll enjoy it. It’s nice to be down there. The Outback Bowl does a great job of not over-burdening the players, but they provide real nice opportunities. You want the guys to enjoy the experience, you want them to focus when they have to and get their work done, but also to have the chance to relax and have fun, too, and enjoy the area a little bit.”

Iowa is 3-3 in bowl games under Ferentz. The Hawkeyes defeated Florida 37-17 in the 2004 Outback Bowl (following the 2003 season) and dropped a controversial 31-24 decision to the Gators in 2006 (following the 2005 season).

Much has been made of Iowa’s young team and qualifying for a bowl game provides an invaluable chance for an extra month of practice.

“That’s great side benefit of going to a bowl game,” Ferentz said. “We missed out on that opportunity last year. It’s great for the team to be together for another month. You talk about the value of having younger players around guys like (Matt) Kroul, (Mitch) King, (Rob) Bruggeman, Shonn Greene — that’s a pretty powerful thing. It’s hard to find anything bad about bowl games. I always go back to what (former UI defensive coordinator) Bill Brashier said: `There’s no such thing as a bad bowl. Some are better than others, but there is no such thing as a bad one.’ I think you can say that about the experience in general. We would have been thrilled to go anywhere.”

“I know having our fan support is a real plus for us. That helped us, but I also feel like for anybody who selected us, it wasn’t going to be hard to sell this team, mainly because of the way we finished. Then we have a few players who are interesting for people to take a look at. I don’t think anybody has to be embarrassed about picking us and we’re certainly not embarrassed about the season we put together this year.”

UI head coach

The bowl-seasoned Hawkeye players will also be counted on to show the bowl rookies the proper way to approach the postseason festivities.

“The older guys will help the younger guys understand what they need to do,” Ferentz said.

Sunday was not an opportunity for the media to receive loads of information about the Gamecocks. UI defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski was offensive line and wide receivers coach at South Carolina from 1999-2001.

“I know Kaczenski worked there and I know they have a famous head coach (Steve Spurrier),” Ferentz said. “Outside of that, I don’t know much else. Being a (Southeastern Conference) team, I know they’re going to be extremely talented and there’s a reason Coach Spurrier has won that many games there. They’re going to be ready to go.”

Last season the Hawkeyes were bowl-eligible with a 6-6 record, but were not invited to a bowl game. Ferentz said that adds extra significance this season.

“It’s like a player missing a year,” he said. “I think they appreciate their opportunities a little more. Certainly for us to be back and playing in a great bowl, that’s going to make it that much better for us, so we’re thrilled.”

As he has done many times throughout the season, Ferentz emphasized that his staff and the Hawkeye players do not take their incredible fan support for granted. Ferentz said the Hawkeye fans always impress the bowl scouts and combining that with the Hawkeye performance on the football field makes for a noteworthy combination.

“I know having our fan support is a real plus for us,” Ferentz said. “That helped us, but I also feel like for anybody who selected us, it wasn’t going to be hard to sell this team, mainly because of the way we finished. Then we have a few players who are interesting for people to take a look at. I don’t think anybody has to be embarrassed about picking us and we’re certainly not embarrassed about the season we put together this year.”

Iowa won its final three games and five of its last six to finish the regular season 8-4 overall.

The entire media conference wasn’t spent talking about the Outback Bowl or South Carolina. After being asked if any current student-athletes could become academic casualties at semester, Ferentz put an end to gossip that has been circulating of late.

“I did hear a rumor the other day that one of our notable players wasn’t going to class,” he said. “If he’s not, then our academic support folks are way off base. We just had an academic meeting the Monday before Thanksgiving and got great reports there. That one might go into the same category that he was up to 280 or 300 (pounds) at one point. I think you can put both those in the same box.”

Shonn Greene Data 

It’s only starting for Shonn Greene; and it couldn’t happen to a nicer young man.  Brown (currently #2 in the total yardage race) has a game this weekend, so he will probably out pace Shonn of that national honor but we’ll see – I think they add Bowl games into the final totals.

Go Hawkeyes – hoping for the January 1 – the Capital ONE Bowl against South Carolina!!!

===============

chicagotribune.com

SILVER FOOTBALL WINNER

Iowa’s Shonn Greene wins Chicago Tribune Silver Football

10th Hawkeye to take home honor

By Teddy Greenstein

Tribune reporter

10:02 PM CST, December 4, 2008

(IOWA CITY) A reporter handed Shonn Greene a 2008 Big Ten football media guide and asked him to look at Page 20, which listed Iowa’s preseason depth chart.

First-team running back: Paki O’Meara.

Second team: Nate Guillory.

“Wow,” Greene said. “No me.”

So if you were taken aback by Greene’s three-month rise from nowheresville to the nation’s leading rusher, you’re hardly alone.

A year ago Greene was taking classes at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa City and working at a furniture store for $8 an hour. Bad grades had cost him his scholarship.

But after running for 1,729 yards and 17 touchdowns for the 8-4 Hawkeyes, Greene earned the 2008 Tribune Silver Football, awarded annually to the Big Ten’s best player as determined by a vote of conference coaches. Greene won in a landslide, garnering seven first-place votes. (Coaches can’t vote for their own players.)

Greene is Iowa’s 10th Silver Football winner and the Hawkeyes’ first since quarterback Brad Banks, who similarly rose from anonymity to the league’s top gun in 2002.

Greene is the only Division I player to top 100 rushing yards in all 12 games this season.

“This guy is clearly an elite player,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Greene has a year of eligibility left. But the 5-foot-11-inch, 230-pound back will turn 24 in August — he attended a prep school before Iowa — and could go as high as the second round if he declares for the NFL draft. Greene said he would decide after Iowa’s bowl game.

“I told him that when the time’s right, we can put him on the phone with three or four people who know what the draft board looks like,” Ferentz said. “I also said, ‘Keep your options open.’ ”

Greene’s options look way better than they once did.

2008 Silver Football results

Bobby Jeter, 1958 Hawkeyes
Des Moines Register Article here

Bobby Jeter, Iowa Hawkeye running back and Hall of Fame cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, died this weekend.  He was the MVP of a Rose Bowl for the Hawkeyes when there were only 3,4 bowl games on every year and they were mostly on January 1.

Jeter was a particular favorite of my Dad’s – a great runner on a fantastic team of Coach Forest Evashevski’s that won the national title in the late 50’s.  “Evy” was also a favorite Coach of my Dad’s – held in high esteem because of the good years of IOWA football in the 50’s.  But Evy “retired” to become AD in the 60’s and the IOWA Football team was horrible in those years.  My folks would take some of us annually to knot hole games. (Knot hole games were $2.00 bleacher seats available once or twice a season – before they closed in the stadium)

IOWA never really regained national prominence until Hayden Fry showed up at IOWA in 1979.

I never saw Jeter play but we watched him play as a Packer (for some reason he never caught on as a running back in the pros but was an All -Pro Cornerback).

If you want to read more about Iowa Football – my family is covered a bit in this book – Link to Amazon.com.

It’s natural to follow IOWA players through the NFL or College coaching ranks – we still have some good ones – Nate Kaeding, Bobby Sanders, Dallas Clark and a few more…  I see Chuck Long was fired today from his Coaching job at SDSU.

All three Stoops bothers were Hawkeye players for Hayden Fry, Barry Alvarez and Brent Beliema at WISKY, Bill Snyder of Kansas, as well as Coach Ferentz all coached under Coach Fry.

I was thinking about Chuck during the Minnesota game on Saturday.  As QB of the Hawkeyes, his Freedom Bowl play in the Mid-80’s was a game “when nothing went wrong”, much like the the IOWA – MINN game last night.

But, when you’re a Hawkeye, you’re a Hawkeye for life.

RIP Bobby Jeter 1918-2008

[11/23 10:23pm note - it appears that there could be more celebration in Iowa City tonight - from what I can see Brown ran for just less than 100 yards (UCONN vs USF tonight) which gives Shonn Greene the National Individual Rushing championship.  I do not believe any of the three leaders has another game, but I could be wrong.

And I was hoping that the Hawkeyes may crack the top 25 with the win on SATURDAY but they did not.  Consensus about 28 in the national rankings according to all the polls. -pf]

Hawks Bring Floyd of Rosedale Back to Iowa City

Kinnick North has always been a friendly place for IOWA Hawkeyes and last night was no different.  Playing outside in MINN as the last BIG TEN game of the season, (brrrrr) will be a much tougher “house” even though we’ll still probably outnumber the Gophers in the stands.  (this was the last game the Gophers will play in the HHH dome).

After a very tense and hard fought first quarter, where IOWA escaped with a 3-0 lead, the (once 7W-1L) Gophers of the University of Minnesota started to crack.  Penalties, Interceptions and yes, Shonn Greene doing his thing – lead to a 27-0 half time lead.  Shonn was also within 16 yards of a 100 yard game by halftime; a 100 yard game would complete his season.

TOUCHDOWN IOWA! TOUCHDOWN IOWA!

The Hawkeyes continued to pour it on and the Gophers continued their collapse as IOWA cruised to a 55-0 shellacking of the Gophers in IOWA’s quest to keep FLOYD of ROSEDALE in IOWA for another season.

The Gophers stacked the line and blitzed a lot, which opened up deep passing lanes for Stanzi, who had his best collegiate game to date.  DJK, after dropping one of the first passes thrown right to him early in the game, caught everything else in sight for 3 long touchdowns and 188 total receiving yards.

Greene, again was the story of the night as the 2nd place back (UCONN’s Brown) plays to night and has to have a 140 yard night to win the rushing crown.  Brown outpacing Greene is possible but would be sad, as Greene sat out the entire 4th Q due to the blowout.

Greene has carried this team and allowed Stanzi the time to mature as a QB – forcing teams to play 7,8 in the box to stop him.  Hope he has an incredible Bowl performance, but thanks Shonn, for a great season and best to you in your NFL career.

Good news, bad news as always for the Hawkeyes.  We are generally placed about one station above where we should play because IOWA fans travel so well to bowl games.  The Hawks may even get chosen for the January 1 Outback Bowl – which would be amazing – sitting in OCTOBER with a 3-3 record.  All in all though, not a bad season to finish 8-4 when the four loses were decided by a total of 12 points.

Kudos to Coach, the staff and the IOWA HAWKEYE team.

Links to a DMR article

IPC link

video links

University links

Cedar Rapids Gazette article

Shonn Greene does it again.

what an awesome kid – what a huge heart!

You’ve heard the story, a Freshman sensation in 2005 but injury ridden, then grades slipped, wasn’t even at Iowa or playing football in 2007; working at a furniture store going to classes at Kirkwood Community College.  He could have gone home to New Jersey.

Today – Two touchdowns – one 75 yards of beauty; the second, more impressive, running OVER people for a 15 yard run…  30 rushes 209 yards for the game – should keep him at least in 3rd place in the country.  He’s the only player who’s rushed for 100 yards in each game.

He has one more season of eligibility, but I can’t believe he’ll stay.  He’s ready; he’s healthy and he’s 23.  He should have a great future in the NFL; we wish him every success (and a Chicago Bear uniform).

Some hokey-pokey in the locker room today….

Notes on the young man

and here

Iowa 22 – Purdue 17

 

In a “sea of greene” (yeah, the Students and some other Iowa fans all had green T-shirts on today) IOWA stuns Penn State with a last second field goal to win 24-23 today at Kinnick.

Iowa now @ 6-4, have lost 4 games by a total of 12 points.  Cold, wet and windy day in Iowa City, this win was so needed by a good team with great character – this win feels so good.

If I’m not mistaken, Murray’s last field goal attempt lost the PITT game 3,4 games ago.

What a struggle.  The Hawks gave up 10 points on turnovers (a fumble by Stanzi that looked more like a bad delivery by the center) and an interception.  Penn State had too many field goals that should have been touchdowns – a great bend but don’t break – defense by the Hawks.

The game was televised to 70% of the country – a great game to watch; Shonn Greene still got a 100 yard game (117 in 28 carries)  against one of the nation’s best defenses. I think that’s 100 yards or more for Shonn in each game this season.  Was 3rd in the nation last week.

Looking at some of the final stats, Iowa’s 7-10 3rd down efficiency is remarkable, and there was less than 600 yards of offense total, mostly because of the weather.

This makes Iowa Bowl Eligible with 2 games left.  Hmmm…  This could be interesting.  We play Purdue at home next week (Kinnick should be rockin!) then the last home game at Kinnick North against the Gophers…  [called Kinnick North because typically there are more Iowa fans than Minnesota fans at that game]

Shonn Greene is having a great come back season.  He arrived at Iowa – a MAN – Huge – as a freshman in 2005, but we had a large stable of running backs including Albert Young and Damian Simms.  Not getting much playing time in 2005-2006, he got into academic trouble and ended up at a community college in 2007.  Go Shonn.

He’s a Junior, but watch for him to move to the NFL next year.

Coached thanked the crowd in his post game.  It was a game of halves.  The first half Penn State dominated but could not get into the end zone more than once.  Half time was 13-7. Bottom line – Iowa scored the last 10 points and shut Penn State out in the fourth quarter – job well done.

Just the kind of game I needed after a very tough political week.

THANK YOU HAWKEYES!

I just spent an enjoyable day with my candidate for Congress at the Iowa-Iowa State “Battle for the CyHawk trophy” game yesterday.

Iowa won a close game, much closer than the final score of 17-5 would indicate.  And where it was a wet and windy day in Iowa City – we settled into the cozy comfort of a sky box with no less dignitaries than State Auditor David Vaudt to watch the game. 

Vaudt is a favorite of mine – as the “watch dog” of the State’s money (hmmm I mean OUR money) with the statehouse filled with Democrats who can’t spend that money fast enough, he regularly sends out pithy reminders of what that spending does to us Iowans.

The Presidential Race is not far from my mind, as McCain and Palin are scheduled to make a quick stop in Cedar Rapids on THURSDAY AM.  I plan to be there. The biggest news of course on the presidential front has been the Palin interview with Charles Gibson – I would simply encourage you to watch the full unedited interview which you can find easily on youtube.  Also I find the desperation of the Obama campaign to be amusing; it reminds me of the “boggarts” in the Harry Potter series.  (for you non Potter-heads a boggart is a shape shifter that changes based on your worst fears – and disappears when you can find it in yourself to laugh at it)  The funny thing is that a boggart can actually look like something dreadful, but it’s not. 

Ok, I’m not sure that is a useful analogy, but I’m leaving it in anyway.

The Obama campaign is failing at anything they can to de-legitimize McCain – the latest ad is a pathetic play on the fact that McCain has quite honestly said he does not do his own email.  Obama is trying to make that into a slam on McCain’s lack of technical savvy at a time when the McCain campaign is running a more savvy campaign that Obama.

There are all kinds of rebuttals to that ad – not the least of which was this one (Jonah Goldberg):

Lord knows I think the chicken-hawk arguments are stupid. And I don’t think the fact that Obama never served in the military should count against him in and of itself. But how stupid is it for the Obama campaign to claim that McCain is unqualified to be president because he can’t grasp cyber-security issues based on the fact he has never sent an email when the McCain campaign can just as easily say Obama can’t understand first order national security issues because he’s never fired a rife, flown a plane, commanded men in battle, or faced an enemy? I mean which prepares someone to be commander in chief better, hitting “send” on AOL or fighting a war?

more from Jonah here 

In reality McCain has been in the center of the cyber revolution which, if Senator Obama would have spent more time in the Senate rather than campaigning – never mind – it helped McCain.

And, there are valid reasons why McCain doesn’t find typing on a keyboard comfortable.

On another point I will flesh out in a post when I have time – is the audacity of Alan Greenspan introducing himself as a viable pundit on the economy.  This is the man who managed us TO the mess we’re in by not sounding alarms loud enough (or much at all?) on the housing “bubble” and financial institutions lax loan guidelines. 

A few days ago, I heard someone say, “my money was worth more when a Democrat was in charge”.  REALLY? 

Really, it was all a mirage.  Starting with the collapse of the .com bubble – my Dad always said “if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t” – why aren’t people saving rather than spending like there is no tomorrow?  I know.  It’s Bush’s Fault – just Google it - I believe everything I read on the internet.  :::smile:::

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Two University of Iowa football players have been arrested on drug charges, including one felony count.

James Lee Cleveland, 19, and Arvell M. Nelson, 19, were arrested early Saturday on different charges.

Cleveland faces up to seven years in prison for tax stamp violation, a Class D felony, and two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs, both serious misdemeanors.

Nelson was arrested for possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor carrying a maximum of one year in prison.

Both players live in Hillcrest Hall on the University of Iowa campus.

According to police reports, Iowa public safety officers found marijuana in plain view on top of Nelson’s desk at 2:41 a.m. Nelson admitted the marijuana was his, according to the complaint.

About 20 minutes later, Cleveland consented to a search of his room. Police founds 21 units of oxycodone and 24 does of carisoprodol in his desk.

Cleveland admitted the pills _ for which no prescription or label was found _ were his, according to the complaint.

Oxycodone usually is prescribed for pain relief, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxer.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and Athletics Director Gary Barta left on the annual Hawkeye cruise Saturday and are unavailable for comment until March 3.

“Obviously until we get all the facts and examine what’s going on, we’ll have no comment,” said Phil Haddy, Iowa’s sports information director. “In this case or with anything legal, until we have all the facts, we’ll have nothing to say on it.”

Cleveland is a 6-foot-1,195-pound, red-shirt freshman wide receiver from Baytown, Texas. He finished second in the team in catches in 2007, with 36 for 464 yards. He started 11 games last year.

Nelson, a 6-foot-4 backup quarterback from Cleveland, Ohio, played sparingly at quarterback and wide receiver last year. A red-shirt freshman, he is expected to challenge for the starting quarterback position this spring.

The arrests were merely the latest legal troubles for Iowa’s football players:

_ Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman pleaded guilty to credit card fraud, an aggravated misdemeanor reduced from a felony

_ Clint Huntrods was arrested for public intoxication

_ Four players, Ryan Bain, Bradley Fletcher, Ben Evans and Lance Tillison, were arrested for drunken driving

_ Dana Brown was arrested for domestic assault

_ Three players, Ricky Stanzi, Ryan Donahue and Tyler Gerstandt, were arrested for possession of alcohol under legal age

_ Brandon Myers was arrested for interference with official acts

Nelson was also arrested last August for failure to appear after an arrest for driving while his license was suspended.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

Bob Sanders and Dallas Clark – two former Iowa Hawkeye players play for the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts’ Sanders signs for five years, $37.5 million

Updated: December 28, 2007, 9:26 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders has signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract extension that includes $20 million in guaranteed money.

Sanders

The contract makes Sanders, 26, the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

Colts spokesman Craig Kelley said the team would not confirm the deal, but Sanders told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that he had signed the deal Friday.

“I got a call late in the evening yesterday from my agent and he said he was hoping to get it done,” Sanders told the AP. “I’m excited, very excited about it — knowing they want me around here makes me happy.”

The Pro Bowl selection, whose playoff performance sparked the Colts on their run to a Super Bowl victory last season, would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. Sanders is a strong contender for this year’s NFL defensive player of the year honors.

Sanders’ average salary of $7.5 million under the extension is nearly $1 million more than what the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Troy Polamalu got in his new deal in July, and the guaranteed money is more than what Ed Reed got when he signed an extension with the Baltimore Ravens in June 2006.

The Colts have doled out record contracts before to other top players. Before the start of training camp, Dwight Freeney signed a $72 million, six-year deal, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive end. The contract included a $30 million signing bonus.

After the 2003 season, quarterback Peyton Manning agreed to what was a then-record
$99.2 million, seven-year contract that contained a still-record $34.5 million signing bonus.

“When you come in, it’s hard but you’ve got to prove yourself and play well consistently,” Sanders said. “Just to be named with those guys, I’m honored. It’s a great honor.”

Coach Tony Dungy calls Sanders “The Eraser” for his ability to cover up mistakes.

He is also the heart of the Colts defense.

Last year, when Sanders missed 12 regular-season games, the Colts allowed a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry. When he returned in the playoffs, the Colts made a dramatic turnaround and wound up winning the Super Bowl. Sanders received much of the credit.

This year, with Sanders missing just one game because of injury, the Colts defense ranks
No. 1 in the league against the pass and has allowed a more respectable 3.9 yards per carry.

But Sanders had a bigger personal goal this year: staying healthy.

“It was just about being a player, being competitive,” he said. “I wanted to show everyone I could stay healthy. There were a lot of questions about whether I could stay healthy and I wanted to prove to everyone and myself that I could stay healthy, be consistent and play well.”

With Sanders playing closer to the line of scrimmage, almost as a linebacker for much of the season, he has 123 tackles, 2½ sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.

But his impact cannot be measured solely in numbers.

When Freeney went down with a season-ending foot injury in mid-November, Sanders became the defense’s uncontested leader and the results have been impressive.

Sanders’ signing is also significant because Colts tight end Dallas Clark, who is having a career year, is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Getting Sanders signed now means that if Indianapolis can’t reach agreement with Clark on a new deal, it will have the option of using the franchise tag to retain him for 2008.

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com senior NFL writers Chris Mortensen and Len Pasquarelli was used in this report.

below is a fair review of where Hawkeye Football is at for next season. I’m just happy Kirk is back with all the rumors this Fall about him going to Michigan.

Experience, schedule point toward Iowa improvement in 2008

By Ivan Maisel ESPN.com

All of America will watch Iowa on Jan. 3. Unfortunately for Hawkeyes fans, America will be watching the Iowa caucuses, not the FedEx Orange Bowl. Caucuses might fill the local hotels and restaurants, but they don’t satisfy Hawkeyes fans who have been treading water for three seasons.

Iowa went 7-5 in 2005 and 6-7 in 2006. Mathematicians might say the Hawkeyes “improved” to 6-6 this season. To the rest of us, the record indicates that Kirk Ferentz’s team jogged in place. A closer look, however, indicates that Iowa didn’t stand in place. The Hawkeyes turned the corner.

Scott Boehm/Getty Images
Kirk Ferentz played 31 freshmen — 11 true, 20 redshirt — during the 2007 season.

When the Hawkeyes begin winter workouts, they will have more than 50 returning lettermen, as opposed to 37 last winter. They will have at least 15 returning starters. And unlike in 2006 — when the team went through the motions in the second half of the season, finishing 1-6 — this squad improved. These Hawkeyes won four of their last six.

“Even when we lost four in a row, I felt like the attitude of this team was more than solid,” Ferentz said Friday. “We were making progress. We have a lot of work to do. That last game will serve as a reminder of where we are.”

Iowa lost that last game, 28-19 to Western Michigan, when a victory would have meant a bowl game. But the same inexperience that contributed to a 2-4 start had everything to do with taking the Broncos of the Mid-American Conference for granted. Ferentz played 31 freshmen — 11 true, 20 redshirt — in 2007.

The offense, hit with a rash of injuries in August and September, bore the brunt of the inexperience. Iowa finished last in the Big Ten in the well-known categories (total offense, scoring, third-down conversions). More obscure numbers pointed out the problems, too. Iowa forced 21 turnovers but created only 37 points from them. The average touchdown drive went only 53 yards. Ryan Donahue set a school record by punting 86 times. And so on.

The offense floundered in part by design. If offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe had been any more conservative, he would lead former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Iowa state polls. For instance, sophomore quarterback Jake Christensen didn’t look downfield very often. The top five receivers averaged 11.5 yards per catch, and freshman Derrell Johnson-Koulianos led the team with only 38 catches.

But O’Keefe knew what he was doing. Christensen didn’t turn the ball over. Iowa committed only 13 turnovers, third in the country. Christensen threw two interceptions in the Western Michigan loss after throwing a total of three in the previous nine games.

The point for Iowa is simple. There is promise. In addition to the freshmen who gained experience, among the injured expected to be healthy are wide receiver Andy Brodell (hamstring), offensive lineman Dace Richardson (knee) and tight end Tony Moeaki (elbow, hand). Moeaki had a second surgery last week and will miss spring practice, Ferentz said.

The defense does lose leadership up front from ends Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison and linebackers Mike Humpal and Mike Klinkenborg. Four of the top six tacklers won’t be back. Look for freshman middle linebacker Jacody Coleman to emerge next season.

The 2008 schedule has no Ohio State, no Michigan, and home games against Wisconsin and Penn State. In other words, the Big Ten has set the table. A year from now, Iowa should be talking about football, not politics.

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.

For the last week rumors have been swirling between Ann Arbor and Iowa City that Kirk Frentz is going to be the next University of Michigan Football Head Coach.

Apparently that was only a well established rumor that developed so many “legs” that it took on the look of an urban legend.

And there it died.

Today the University of Iowa AD announced that neither he or Kirk had any contact with the Michigan AD.

Kirk is a good coach, and Iowa is lucky to have him.  Even with the disppointing record over the last three years, he’s the consensus guy for the job and I’m happy the rumor was just that.

I doubt two things -

1) that Iowa will be bowling this year (sigh…)
2) there will be any more talk about it until after the BCS bowls are over -

There seems to be an understanding that Les Miles (LSU coach) is in the running as is Cincinnati’s Coach and a few others.  We’ll see.

In Kirk We Trust

Iowa State (0-2) beat IOWA (2-0) 15-13 yesterday and it wasn’t as close as the score appeared. ISU took a 12-0 (4FG) into half time; Iowa scored 13 unanswered points in the second half but ISU produced a game winning drive, running out time and kicking a last second chip shot for the win.

“Culbertson is very representative of their football team,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He was 0-for-3 (in field goals this season) and he makes five today. He did a good job. Iowa State came ready to play and we struggled. They deserved the win.”

Several of those FGs were against a decent wind too. This is ISU’s big game of the year. I was worried about this game, ISU has a good, experienced QB and at least one WR that will be playing in the NFL next year.

Iowa played the first half in a daze, and ISU played with energy. I guess ISU had a lot of turn overs in the first two games and only one yesterday – can’t figure out why ISU lost two games (to Kent and UNI). The Iowa offensive and defensive lines were porous – we have work to do.

Next week Wisconsin @ Camp Randall in a night game carried by ESPN. We play well there, I just hope we play better than yesterday. This could be embarrassing. Go Hawks.

… and I’m already disappointed.

Glen Mason, last heard of when he was fired from MINEEEESOTA, is doing the color for the game… boy are they reaching, and that really shows how the B10 network and Iowa is ranked — too bad …   Hope the Hawks play well, time to grab my radio – I’m not listening to THAT….

Listening to the radio broadcast and watching the game on TV can be un-nerving. The radio feed is about 4,5 seconds ahead of the TV feed. Good thing is I can flip over to another game and never miss a play on the iowa game. Go PENN STATE beat ND… ::: smile :::

Oh, and it’s 7-0 Iowa – receivers are looking GREAT tonight, catching everything near them, but the kicking game is awful.

Half time 28-0, great game – a lot to work on, but a lot to praise. SYR = + 1 yard total offense in the first half – they are stacking 8 in the box so Jake is passing a lot and doing well. 192 yds passing in the first half – I suspect they will try to build on the 49 yards of running offense in the 2nd half. Jake looks good. A lot like a left handed Tate, a bit taller with a heavier body – gaining confidence with every game.

not giving the B10 network very good grades, lousy announcers, and they cut out 3 times during the game that I remember, to some promo or commercial for over a minute – appeared to be an accident – dunno – sloppy.

Final 35-0, very good effort for the Hawkeyes. Looks like ISU is having a rough year, but they always play Iowa tough. We travel to ISU next week. go Hawks!

Postscript at the top: Iowa won 16-3. A less than impressive victory over a MAC conference team, but a win is a win. Defense was good and showed some great moments. The offensive line is good and could be great if they stay healthy, especially at the center. Too many dropped balls and Christensen showed some major jitters – but I think he can only get better and maybe much better.

Syracuse from their loss on Friday night to Washington at the Dome. Looks to be another good practice game for Iowa – we definitely have an awesome 1-2 punch with Young and Sims at running back – would love to see them in the same backfield occasionally.

Lessons learned? Break out the radio to listen to Gary and Eddie for the game, the announcers were horrible. There are so many games televised anymore, and Iowa is not in the top 25 (nor should they be with this showing) this could have been the analyst first game – they didn’t even pronounce names right. Broadcasting 101.

I think I’ll start a Syracuse thread already, more to say – it should be a fun night game to watch at Kinnick.

Bad news is Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman may be tossed off the team after an arrest for theft 3 weeks ago. They are, however, back in school from what I understand.

Good news is Kick off is only days away! GO HAWKS!

Dace Richardson will be held back in the NI game Saturday but hoping to start against Syracuse at home next week. Alex Kanellis is out for the season, maybe permanently – too bad, he’s a class guy. Christensen is definitely the #1 QB going in, no clear #2 at this point (#2 and #3 have had mediocre practices) but good competition with the kicking game.

Iowa vs Northern Illinois – Saturday September 1 –2:34 kickoff, playing in historic (and sold out) Soldier Field in Chicago. ESPNU for me. Mediacom is carrying it nationally.

In Kirk We Trust

A little mood music?

http://www.scothawk.com/intro.html

Iowa 2007 Football schedule GO HAWKS!

This is a good time to preview the Hawkeye Football season again since scout.com has opened the premium access to their website through JULY 4.

Click here to read more yourself. (access will be limited after July 4)

Updates

I understand Shonn Greene (Running Back) has left the program. Generally understood to be failure to meat academic requirements. He’s left to attend a prep school and still has 2 years of eligibility (plans were to redshirt him in 2007 behind Sims and Young). He could come back for the 2008 season but that rarely happens once a student athlete leaves school.

Standout commits for the 2008 season are Jason Ford 4 star rating at Running Back from Belleville Illinois and 3 star (DL) Riley Reiff from South Dakota. Riley watched the Chad Greenway career at Iowa and had a 34-0 record in wrestling. At 6″ 5″ 240 as a HS Senior this guy could have a great future. James Ferentz (2 star rating, son of Coach Kirk) has also signed on for the 2008 season – he starting his senior year as a center with the Iowa City Little Hawks.

Here is a good, free, (I think) overview of the 2007 season, although they still mention Shonn as being on the roster, he is not. Amari Spievey, (CB) redshirt freshman, has also left the team – I’m assuming for academic reasons.

I usually won’t read much about Da Bears until the regular season starts.

The first Hawkeye game of the 2007 will be unusually exciting in that it will be played in Soldier Field, Chicago – home of Da Bears.

Coach Hoeppner died yesterday. Thoughts and Prayers to his family.   A good man and a fine coach. He will be missed.   read more here and here.

Park Ridge, Ill. — “The Big Ten Conference, along with our institutions, coaches and student-athletes, are greatly saddened by the passing of Terry Hoeppner,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany,

“In his time in Bloomington, we came to know Terry as a great leader of young men and an important member of the Big Ten coaching community. He will be truly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jane, and his children and grandchildren along with the entire Indiana University family.”

A little Mood Music? http://www.scothawk.com/intro.html

Iowa is looking to regain some respect in the Big Ten and the nation this season after the 2 point loss in the Alamo Bowl to the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns put a sad end to the Hawk’s first losing season since 2000.

On to 2007!

The Northern Illinois game is in Soldier Field in Chicago with a 2pm start.

All other games are TBA

Sep. 1 at Northern Illinois   Sep. 8 Syracuse

Sep. 15 at Iowa State         Sep. 22 at Wisconsin

Sep. 2 Indiana                Oct. 6 at Penn State

Oct. 13 Illinois              Oct. 20 at Purdue

Oct. 27 Michigan State        Nov. 3 at Northwestern

Nov. 10 Minnesota             Nov. 17 Western Michigan

You caught that too? Neither Michigan or Ohio State are on the Schedule for the Hawkeyes this year. (don’t like that much)