April 30: Final Day of NFL Draft; a little recap on Iowa sports

The NFL Draft closes out rounds 4-7 on Saturday April 30Th, as Iowa football players look to be drafted. Unlike other years, the NFL lock-out will close the door on those players not drafted.

The University of Iowa has seen undrafted free agents sign right after previous drafts and gone on to be successful in camp, making an NFL roster on opening day. The Class of 2011 will not have the same opportunity, unless they are drafted. Undrafted prospects will have to wait and see.

On Day 1 - Tampa Bay drafted Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn - #20 - in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft!

On Day 3 - Minnesota drafted Iowa DL Christian Ballard in Round 4 and recap of Iowa players in the Class of 2011.

On Tuesday, April 26 - The Iowa Basketball program signed another player for the Class of 2011 - fourth player for the Class of 2011 - 6-10 center Gabe Olaseni, a native of London, England.

On April 22Nd - The University of Iowa is announced Leadership Group Named For 2011 - 14 players selected to group.

Iowa Football and Iowa Basketball both appear on a good track heading into the 2011-12 season. For Iowa football, they will welcome a new series with new Big Ten opponent Nebraska. While the Iowa basketball program will look to get back to postseason for the first time, after five seasons not being involved in post-season play.

peace

The Hawkeyes arrive in The Valley on Monday, just in time to avoid Iowa's latest winter weather

The University of Iowa football team left the Eastern Iowa Airport for Phoenix and The Valley on Monday in preparation for the Tuesday, December 28Th Insight Bowl game with the Missouri Tigers. The Hawkeyes are slight underdogs heading into a classic Big Ten-Big 12 match up.

December 20, 2010 - Insight Central: Hawkeyes are Excited, Appreciative - University of Iowa Athletics

Iowa (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) vs. Missouri (10-2, 6-2 Big 12 North)

Over 100 years ago, the Iowa-Missouri football series ended after 12 games. The story was "Iowa stopped playing the Tigers because of racial threats against its 1st black player."

It should be an interesting Game 13 in the series in the 2010 Insight Bowl.

Tigers zero in on Iowa ‎- Columbia Daily Tribune (blog) - Dave Matter

Gary Pinkel said he's been cleared to practice when the team arrives in Tempe, Ariz., later this week. MU's contingent leaves for the Insight Bowl on ...

December 20, 2010 - Clayborn Recognized as Consensus All-American - U of I Athletics

peace

Week 6: For Iowa it's a Bye Week and for others it is Business as Usual

Tuesday night football: Troy (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) is @ Middle Tennessee (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) on ESPN2 in a huge Sun Belt showdown. The #14 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) have a bye week in Week 6, before heading up to Ann Arbor for a showdown with Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Big Ten play. Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will play @ Michigan in Week 6.


Clayborn Earns Big Ten Defensive Honor - U of Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa - - University of Iowa senior defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following Iowa's 24-3 win over Penn State last Saturday. The announcement came Monday from the Big Ten office ...

Iowa Football Has Break from Action this Weekend - U of Iowa
10/5/2010 - Iowa has an open week after defeating Penn State 24-3 in Kinnick Stadium to begin Big Ten Conference play. The Hawkeyes are 4-1, with home wins over Eastern Illinois, Iowa State, Ball State and Penn State and a loss at Arizona ...

A popular question on Iowa message boards, such as Rivals.com HawkeyeReport, is where would Iowa be ranked right now, if they had not been upset at the University of Arizona in Week 3? ESPN radio guy, Colin Cowherd on Monday called Iowa a Top 10 program, despite the loss in Tucson.

peace

Game Day: #21 Penn State @ #17 Iowa on ESPN, 7 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium

The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) have won seven of eight in this series under coach Kirk Ferentz, as Iowa hosts Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) in Iowa City tonight for a Homecoming for the Hawkeyes. The all-time series is tied at 11-11. Does Iowa get to +1 vs. the Nittany Lions on Satuday?

The Quarterbacks

• #12 senior Ricky Stanzi for Iowa vs. #1 true freshman Rob Bolden for PSU


• Iowa needs to avoid turnovers, Stanzi has 9 Tds to 1 INT


• PSU's true freshman has 5 INTs to 3 TDs

The Running Backs

• #32 Iowa sophomore Adam Robinson is the #1 gun now for the Hawkeyes


• PSU has #22 senior Evan Royster and #21 junior Stephon Green


• Establishing the run game is always a big priority for either program


• Can Iowa shutdown the Nittany Lions ground attack and force Bolden to make plays?

The Receivers and Tight Ends

• QB Ricky Stanzi and the Iowa attack should be healthier than the '09 game


• #15 senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulanos missed last year's game in Happy Valley and leads Iowa's solid WR/TE squad


• The TE position is often a huge part of the Iowa passing game


• #6 junior WR Derek Moye leads Penn State's receiving crew


• #83 senior Brett Brackett is a large WR at 6-6 242

Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line

• Iowa's defensive line is considered one of the best in the nation


• #94 Iowa senior DE Adrian Clayborn has been a little quiet thus far in '10


• #93 Iowa junior DT Mike Daniels doesn't start, but he is getting national attention


• PSU typically finds d-lineman to complement the Linebacker U motto


• #85 PSU senior Ollie Ogbu is a three year starter for the Nittany Lions

Linebackers

• Penn State is Linebacker U
• Iowa's linebackers were huge in '09
• #42 Iowa senior WLB Jeremiha Hunter is from York, PA and only returning starter for either squad and like last season is #2 in tackles for the Hawkeyes


• #33 Iowa senior MLB Jeff Tarpanian leads the Iowa's LBs in '10


• #48 PSU senior Chris Calasanti leads the 1-2-3 punch at LB U

Secondary

• Iowa's secondary is lead by returning safeties #9 junior Tyler Sash and #30 Brent Greenwood, while #28 junior Shaun Prater is the top corner this year


• #1 PSU junior FS Nick Sukay leads the Nittany Lions in the back 4

Special Teams

• Iowa has won the past two games in the kicking game


• Many would give the edge to Penn State heading into Kinnick Stadium


• Is this Joe Paterno's ace, as he heads into Iowa City?


• How will teams execute on Saturday night?

Coaching

• Joe Paterno - 45 years as head coach for PSU


• Kirk Ferentz - 12 years as head coach for Iowa


• The most seasoned staffs in the Big Ten squaring off


• Iowa will be missing long-time DC Norm Parker, for the third straight game, due to health reasons.

Outlook:

Field position is always important in football. Over the past nine games, there may not be any Big Ten game that field position hasn't turned out to be as huge factor for the winning program.

If Iowa can control field position and the line of scrimmage, Iowa is clearly worthy of the 7 point favorite.

Turnovers, penalties and special teams are likely statistics to keep a good eye on. Penn State has a true freshman at QB. Penn State has been very disciplined in there 3-1 start and have avoided penalties. Special teams could be an area where the Nittany Lions can be successful. Iowa is 3-1 and entered the season in the Top 10 by many. Special teams has been the only negative thus far.

Iowa and Penn State are usually close games. Iowa has played well at home scoring 35 points or more in three ball games. But, Penn State is clearly a better opponent, other than #16 Arizona, who upset Iowa 34-27, in Iowa's only road game in the out of conference. Penn State has already traveled to #1 Alabama, where they lost 3-24. So, a trip to Kinnick Stadium will not likely be as big a hurdle as it may have been had PSU had a traditional four game start at home, like Ohio State, this year.

Prediction:

#17 Iowa Hawkeyes 22

#21 Penn State 15

@ Kinnick Stadium

peace

Big Ten Players think highly of Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and DE Adrian Clayborn

Players around the Big Ten Conference have a lot of respect for Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz, as well as Iowa's top all-American candidate, senior DE Adrian Clayborn.

Which Big Ten coach would you most like to play for?
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa - 4
Comment: "They just always have such a well-coached team."

Big Ten player poll: Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor exciting, overrated
- AnnArbor.com

"He's (Adrian Clayborn, pictured above) a big play waiting to happen. He gets after the quarterback. He's a really intense player, and I love his game and just love watching him play." ~ Illinois cornerback Tavon Wilson

Big Ten players' top pick if they were starting a team? It's not Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor - Cleveland.com
CHICAGO — There's an obvious game-changer among the best football players in the Big Ten, and he's not Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. He's the antidote to Terrelle Pryor ...

News out of Iowa's Media Day and opening of 2010 College Football camp in Iowa City ...

The Hawkeyes have three sophomores seeking the #1 spot on the RB depth chart heading into '10. The Iowa Hawkeyes return 48 lettermen, 6 offensive, 8 defensive starters and basically everyone back on special teams for the 2010 season ...

Iowa RB Jewel Hampton seeks starting job - ‎The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa running back Jewel Hampton entered his sophomore year with the starting job all but locked up. It's a plum gig in an offense that ...
Now healthy, Iowa's Hampton back to compete ‎ - Gazette Online (blog)
Hawks have three-way race at running back ‎ - Quad City Times
IOWA MEDIA DAY: Packed backfield a good problem for Iowa ‎ - Marshalltown Times Republican

For Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker, retirement simply isn ... ‎- Gazette Online (blog)
One more year for Norm, and get the gold watch ready. For 15 minutes or so Monday morning, that rumor hatched and then sprouted wings. ...
Hawkeye football: Transcript of Kirk Ferentz's press conference ‎ - DesMoinesRegister.com
Notebook: Kickers to start camp in 'dead heat' - Quad City Times
Iowa Hawkeye football: Johnson-Koulianos embraces expectations ‎ - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

John Gaines/The Hawk Eye ‎- Burlington Hawk Eye
Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi (12) gets plenty of attention during media day Friday at the Hawkeyes' practice field in Iowa City. Iowa is ranked 10th in the ...
Stanzi not afraid to be out in front ‎ - Clinton Herald
Stanzi carries the flag for Hawkeyes - Sporting News

IOWA MEDIA DAY: Hawks' high hopes riding on Clayborn-led defense - ‎Marshalltown Times Republican
We know we have a lot of guys back on the defense," said starting strong safety Tyler Sash at Iowa's media day on Friday. Sash and fellow safety Brent ...
Big Ten players' top pick if they were starting a team? It's not ... ‎- Plain Dealer
Which Big Ten player would you pick first if you were building a ... ‎- DesMoinesRegister.com (blog)
Hawkeyes' Clayborn simply trying to improve - Clinton Herald

peace

Good choice in Terrelle Pryor as pre-season offensive player of the year, but not sure agree with defensive pick

The Big Ten media has picked Ohio State junior QB Terrelle Pryor for the offensive nod for the second straight season and Michigan State senior LB Greg Jones for the defensive nod for the second straight season.

Pryor in '09 lead Ohio State to their fifth straight Big Ten title, then victory in the 2010 Rose Bowl, with a win over Oregon.

Jones is a tackling machine for the Spartans, but MSU finished 6-7 overall in '09 and came up short in competing for a Big Ten title. Our choice would be Iowa senior DE Adrian Clayborn, who was dominating in wins over Arizona, Penn State and Georgia Tech for Iowa. He is a fine athlete at the DE position for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who finished second to Ohio State in the Big Ten in '09. The Hawkeyes lost in OT the the Buckeyes by a field goal in Columbus last season.

John Clay vs Terrelle Pryor: Who Deserves Preseason Big 10 ... ‎ - Bleacher Report

The Big Ten preseason offensive and defensive players of the year selected, were Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, and Michigan State linebacker Greg ...

MSU's Greg Jones, OSU's Terrelle Pryor take top spots in Big 10 again ‎- The Detroit News
Chicago -- Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones and Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor have been selected Big 10 preseason defensive and offensive ...
PM Ohio State Buckeyes links: Terrelle Pryor is no Tim Tebow ‎ - Plain Dealer (blog)

peace

Big Ten Media Day is just around the Corner; SEC and Pac 10 hold events

The Big Ten Conference will hold annual Kickoff Luncheon and Football Media Day, August 2-3, 2010 in Chicago. Thirty-three student athletes will be on hand. The University of Iowa will spotlight...

• Senior Quarterback Ricky Stanzi


• Senior Defensive End Adrian Clayborn


• Senior Defensive Tackle Karl Klug


• with head coach Kirk Ferentz, who will be entering his 12Th season as head Hawkeye

Big Ten Conference Official Athletic Site
Big Ten Announces 33 Football Standouts to Appear at 2010 Kickoff Luncheon ... BTN: Men's Golf - Big Ten Match Play Championship (2010), 1:00 a.m. ET ...
2010 Football Media Day - Big Ten Network
The TV network will offer four hours of live televised coverage that day, including the full press conferences for all 11 head coaches and Big Ten ...


At the recent SEC Media Day, the talk of the town was not the conference's continued dominance in the world of college football, but rather it's prevalence ...
2010 SEC Media Days: UF meets Pouncey controversy head-on‎ - Alligator Army (blog)
SEC Media Days: Saban, Alabama Do Best To Downplay Expectations ...‎ - ArkansasSports360.com
SEC Media Days: Nick Saban tells Alabama football team to forget ...‎ - NOLA.com

Back To Football At SEC Media Days‎ - ESPN - Chris Low
Robbie Caldwell took over for Bobby Johnson just a week before SEC media days. "Ah'm from New York originally," Caldwell purred. ...
2010 SEC MEDIA DAYS: ROBBIE CALDWELL, COMMODORE OF OUR HEARTS‎ - EDSBS
2010 SEC Media Days: Vanderbilt Interim Coach Robbie Caldwell ...‎ - SB Nation
Vandy's Caldwell gets a first: SEC media days‎ - WSFA

Top storylines for 2010 college football conference media days‎ - ESPN - Mark Schlabach -
Nebraska, and possibly Colorado, will be making a last appearance at Big 12 media days. The Buffaloes are leaving for the Pac-10, and the Cornhuskers are ...
Rounding up Wednesday in Hoover‎ - Jackson Clarion Ledger (blog)
SEC Media Days Notebook‎ - Dothan Eagle

Pac-10 Football Media Day Scheduled For July 29 at Rose Bowl‎ - UCLA Athletics Official Site
The 2010 Pac-10 Football Media Day will be held next Thursday, July 29. For the first time, it will be held at the Rose Bowl, home of the Bruins. ...
Fans Can Take Part in Pac-10 Football Media Day‎ - Pac 10
Defensive Back Rahim Moore Talks UCLA Football and Pac-10 Competition‎ - FS West

Catch the 2010 College Football Season on television, as games kick-off on Thursday, September 2Nd.

peace

Iowa welcomes in the 2008 College Football season with 46-3 win over Maine

Iowa's Shonn Greene returns to the Iowa Hawkeyes with a 109 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. Iowa scores 4 rushing touchdowns, with Greene, Paki O'Meara and two by true freshman Jewell Hampton.

Iowa played two quarterbacks equally, with starter Jake Christensen and his backup Ricky Stanzi. A good first game for both quarterbacks and one would think we will see more of both quarterbacks next Saturday, as the Iowa Hawkeyes host Florida International U.

Maine scored right as the half ended on a 40 yard field goal, fueled by several costly Iowa penalties. Iowa (1-0) lead Maine (0-1) 22-3 at halftime.

Highlights of the game:

• Junior AJ Edds play at LB - including a tackle for a safety in the 2nd quarter
• Sophomore Paki O'Meara showed a nice ability catching the football out of the backfield
• 3rd string true frosh RB Jewell Hamption had a very nice 4th quarter, running for 68 yards on 9 carries
• the kicking game looked solid with punter sophomore Ryan Donahue, true frosh PK Trent Mossbrucker and the kickoffs and placekicking of PK Daniel Murray
• Sophomore Adrian Clayborn looked very solid as a starting DE
• Senior Andy Brodell looked very solid as a punt returner, again... nice to see him back healthy and contributing

Iowa did what you would expect. A predicted 45-6 outcome before the game ended with a 46-3 final score. Iowa has a lot of clean up work to do. They have a lot of improvement to do in most areas of the game. But, it was nice to see a good crowd and some smiles again at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. They always say teams improve the most from Game 1 to Game 2. We will hopefully find out next Saturday, vs. FIU.

The coaching staff played a lot of true freshmen today, which should help with overall team depth. No true freshmen or redshirt freshmen started today, other than PK Mossbrucker, who played with sophomore Murray, spliting the place kicking duties. Murray handled kickoffs and did very well.

peace

Maybe it's time to flip back to 2005... but make it 2008?

Is 2008 the year, that Kirk Ferentz helps Iowa catch back up with the pundits that believe Iowa would walk on water in 2005 and 2006?

"Believe the hype... Hawkeyes will contend for a BCS bowl" (2005 Sporting News Big Ten Preview cover)

#3. Iowa Hawkeyes (that's nationally, not in the Big Ten)... "the defensive line, where all four players who started all 12 games last year are gone." "Never sell Kirk Ferentz short or underestimate his resourcefulness. Iowa coach stands among the elite in his profession." (page 46 - Athlon Sports 2005 Big Ten Regional Edition)

Back in 2005, all most every preview magazine had Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz walking on water. Actually, every preview magazine, other than Game Plan, had Iowa in the Top 25 entering the 2005 season. Only Game Plan didn't buy it. Kirk Ferentz was wary, if we go back and listen, but the national media had Ferentz mania.

"This is the league's best program not named Ohio State. Want proof?
The Hawkeyes could win the Big Ten for the third time in five seasons.
Imagine what Ferentz would do if he had the same talent as Michigan.
Scary. Take a bow, Kirk." (Tom Dienhart's take on Iowa in the 2006 Sporting News Big Ten Preview)

The following season, the Iowa Hawkeyes were a 2006 Preseason Consensus Top 25 Team. Nobody had Iowa in the Top 5, like 2005, but every preseason magazine had Iowa in its Top 25. By the way, Iowa finished 2-6 in the Big Ten in '06. So much for the pundits predictions.

By 2007, none of the major preview magazines showed Top 25 love for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa finished 4-4 last year and 6-6 overall, so they are making progress, but after 2005-2007... the three year run of 2002-2004, where Iowa finished #8 nationally for three straight seasons has run its course. The 2008 predictions for Iowa are very low key.

It's quite ironic to reflect on the past seven years of college preview magazines. In 2002, clearly Iowa's best Big Ten season ever, not one preview magazine had Iowa on their radar.
Iowa was coming off its first bowl season under coach Ferentz, his third season as head coach. In 2001, Iowa went 7-5 (4-4 in the Big Ten) and defeated the Big 12's Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

In 2002, the preseason magazines picked Iowa #8 for the most part in the Big Ten, not the Nation, which is where Iowa finished that year, nationally. While Ohio State finished 8-0 in '02, so did Iowa in the 2002 Big Ten race. None of the major previews had Iowa better than #6.
Iowa is back off the radar. Does history and Kirk Ferentz repeat in 2008 and become the nation's surprise team, again? The previews for 2008 basically look at Iowa as #8 in the Big Ten. Only Phil Steele has Iowa in the top half of the Big Ten, picking the Hawkeyes #5.

Clearly, Iowa doesn't have the look of the '02 team, but if you liked Iowa in '05, why not like them in '08. Clearly, Iowa could be this year's Kansas or Illinois... a non-bowl team from last year that could go from mediocre to big-time? As page 11 of Pro Football Weekly:

"Iowa: Put it this way, the Hawkeyes went 6-6 with an offense that lost almost
all of its top receivers, didn't get any production from the line, and was
inconsistent in the backfield. The bloom is off Kirk Ferentz's rose,
but he has done more with less than he has coming back. The veteran
team should be far better on both side of the ball, but the real reason for
excitement is a schedule that lacks Ohio State and Michigan and brings
Wisconsin and Penn State to Iowa City."

What's changed with Kirk Ferentz, since 2005 or 2006? He did it once before, so why not again in 2008? He has a lot of confidence entering '08 with anchors in both the offensive and defensive lines returning. One of the strengths separating the 2002 team from Ferentz earlier teams was experience and strength in the trenches. Some random observations heading into '08:

1. Lindy's in 2005 rated RB Shonn Greene one of Iowa's top newcomers of impact - you can say that again in '08 as Greene is back after a year at a JUCO
2. They also called OT Kyle Calloway the Sleeper of the Class of 2005 - he may be the sleeper of the 2008 offensive line for Iowa
3. Also Lindy's 2005 scouting report mentions DT Matt Kroul "plays low and hard"... '08 will be his fourth year as a starting DT (Lindy's Top Newcomer back in '05)
4. The Sporting News in 2005 says "Iowa leaps up the list to land among the big boys"... the top incoming players (ranked by position): #1 QB Jake Christensen, #1 TE Tony Moeaki, #2 OL Dan Doering, and #5 DB Chris Rowell... all are involved in '08
5. The Sporting News in 2006 spoke of breakout player... DT Mitch King, who is the other fourth year starter at DT for Iowa in '08 (Also a two-time MVP per Lindy's '07 and '08)
6. Also mentioned as Top incoming players (ranked by position): #5 QB Ricky Stanzi, #5 TE AJ Edds (LB - day 1 at Iowa), and #2 LB Jeremiha Hunter... all are involved in '08
7. Athlon Sports in 2006 pointed out rising star C Rafael Eubanks, the junior looks to begin his third year as a starter.
8. Lindy's in 2007 highlighted OL Bryan Bulaga as Iowa's top newcomer, who is one of five returning starters in Iowa's O-Line for '08... all in the 2 deep return in the O-Line
9. Also Lindy's rated DB Jordan Bernstine as the #8 top incoming Big Ten recruit... ahead of #10 Bulaga. Both are projected as starters in '08
10. In '08, Iowa will replace departed DEs with two sophomores, just like they did in '05. Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard are both former "Newcomers of Impact" as mentioned by the past two issues of Lindy's
11. Back in '02, Iowa had to replace everyone in the backfield... new starting QB, new RB, new FB... Iowa has been through this before, but this time, Iowa's top two QBs return in '08.

It will be an interesting year in college football and the Big Ten this season. Iowa appears to have some talent returning, as Pro Football Weekly observed, so will Kirk Ferentz make up for lost opportunities with his '08 Iowa Hawkeyes?

peace