Sitting in the glass house that is the Iowa BB program certainly leaves little room to throw stones.  However, the fact Iowa  may not have the most dysfunctional program in the State is worth at least a little snicker (or at least another round of inconsolableness for Pollard).

From Hlas:

It’s no surprise  Craig Brackins will turn pro, and it’s unfortunate Marquis Gilstrap has been denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

But now comes the news from Iowa State that men’s basketball players Justin Hamilton and Dominique Buckley are transferring. Unreal.

is not an indicator of future success.  However, I believe the following says a lot about the level of defenses Michigan has played to date and the one it will play Saturday night.  And since I don't have way with words and analysis of Bellanca,  I will let the numbers do the talking...

So Clayborn was named to the leadership committee.  While it seems to me that this committee is mostly a PR thing, I am pretty surprised to see him on there given the pending action.  If nothing else, it sure seems like KF has bought Clayborn's versions of the events.  Even if he is convicted/pleads guilty, I can't see the suspension being much longer than Allen's a couple of years ago.  Of course, it is entirely possible I have completely mis-judged this and his is looking at 4 or 5 games.

[Bumped. Welcome back, hoss.--OPS]

Thankfully, it appears that there will not be someone new trying to cover up Dolph's frequent on-air gaffes (I will never understand how he confused Sandeman and Reisner last year on two separate plays, but I digress).  Apparently, the Galloping Polishman's "resignation" was not as voluntary as the original statements were designed to portray.  Obviously, this is a good day for Iowa Football, its fans and Eddie P.  Hopefully, he will be around for many years to come. 

[Bumped, for obvious reasons. And yes, 3&OTKOKS, any commentary would be superfluous.--OPS]

"I want to see who they name as head coach," Gonzalez said. "Yeah, I hear they’re talking to Todd Haley, but then there’s this coach [Ferentz] from Iowa State, some [expletive] like that and I don’t want to deal with that. It seems like we’re rebuilding anyway, and I don’t want to do that. I don’t know that I want to do that any more than I already have been."

 

(source: The Suave)

Really not that much more to say.

Well, I guess I should actually thank our friends at the BTN for this one.  By sheduling today's game for the ridiculously early tip of 5:30, they have pretty much eliminated any chance of me watching this game.  I mean why would I want to watch a game in which Iowa actually has a decent chance to get a road win.   I understood the afternoon game on NYE, lots of people have the day off or are working half days.  But, 5:30 on a Wednesday in February, that is just stupid. I could only imagine if this game was in Carver, there would be approximately 5 people.

Sure these are two teams in "rebuilding" phases (though I think Indiana is more likely just riding out the year, waiting to dump most of their current roster) and few people outside of the respective states give a crap about this game.   So, why not just start the game at 7:00 and show it only in Iowa and Indiana.  They clearly have the capability to do regional telecasts as shown in football.    By starting it at that time, not only would the home stater's be more likely to watch, if you lived outside the region broadcasting the game, you would at least have an opportunity to go out and watch the game.  (For the record, I live in Chicago and would fall into the boat.) But with this start time pretty much every one is screwed.

For some reason, I just could not help but post this comment.  The following statement was made on MSN Sports (aka Fox sports) website regarding reasons to get excited about the upcoming MLB season.

Not since 2002 has the World Series gone the full seven games. That's six consecutive Fall Classics. Baseball hasn't endured a "drama drought" that long since the 1920s. In fact, over the last five World Series the losing team has gone just 2-20 -- bad enough to make them the head football coach at Auburn. Without question, baseball fans are due for a tense, white-knuckled World Series. The law of averages suggests that in 2009 we'll finally get one.

 

Glad to see that Brands got a well-earned raise today.  But you have to wonder if it doesn't eat at Brand's craw a little that, even with the raise, his anaual base salary is around 1.5 times less than KF's monthly  base salary.  I understand the disparity of revenues created between the sports and all that jazz.  Further, it wouldn't surprise if Brands isn't one of the highest paid wrestling coaches in the country.  But after winning a national championship and with the stage seemingly set up for Gable-esque run, it still seems like something is out of whack.  Of course, maybe that just says more about KF's salary than Brands.

Back in my indiscretion filled youth, I was always pretty impressed with some of the "souvenirs" my friends and I collected.  My personal favorites included an airplane picture from the 'Liner and a game ball from Kinnick.  But seriously, I bow in humility and humbleness to whomever had the cajones to steal  the "O" flag.  Granted the "I" would have been better, but that is nonetheless spectacular.  I truly hope it was some extremely sauced fan that after the game some how removed the flag from its pole, folded it up and got it out of the stadium.  That individual will have the best  "This one game... " story of all time.

However, if it's really needed back for the game this weekend (and I can't believe they don't have backups), there is only one person who could be trusted with such a mission...

Continue reading this post »

As eluded to in "Chance for Redemption" this is the time. This is an absolute, necessary, non-exaggeration, no hyperbole, must win game. Win this week and the season may be salvageable. Win and you kind-of make up for the loss to NW and get back on pace to where many saw the season going. More importantly, you get on the path to respect.

Lose, well that's it. Period. End of sentence. End of season. (of course I will still watch and support, but the optimism will be gone)

I could give two shits that is a road game. Indiana is not a good team and they are reeling. They non-longer have Shada-dominatrix, Hardy. If the coaching staff and team staff can't devise and execute a plan to contain, not stop, but contain, Lewis (including for christ's sake finally stopping the dump off to Thigpen), it's horseshit. Indiana's defense has been torched by MSU and Ball State. Ringer put up almost two c-notes on these guys and Ball State passed all over the field. So Green and company have no excuses.

Bleep

Just get it done.

That is all, you may continue about your day.

[bumped up from the diaries... --OPS]

Okay, so Pugh is now apparently gone and (under the belief that he had nothing to do with the allegations this fall) I hope he figures out where he will be happy.  The fact that it wasn't at Iowa, where he was nearly guaranteed to get significant carries as a sophomore at a Big Ten school, is really depressing, but I digress.

So we are left with the NG tube, who, from the comments of Eric Page, "he makes Damian Sims look like a giant" is every bit of his listed 5'10" - 185 that I am, and I am 5'7" 160.  Call me naive, but I don't how this guy will be effective and/or hold up for an entire B11 season.   And I think we can all safely admit that two freshman RB recruits that choose Iowa are unlikely to be the type who can immediately contribute.

Given this predicament, Ferentz better have someone coaching/teaching/flunky assistant be so far up Shonn Greene's ass that he can tell if Greene put mild or hot sauce on his Taco Bell. And this guy better be making sure that Greene is doing everything he is supposed to do get re-enrolled next fall and be ready to go.  I don't care if you have to walk/drag him to class, sit with him/tie him to a chair while he studies and does his work, take him to the gym and run a sprint or two (because, really what's the point of him coming back if he can't contribute).  Just get Greene back.  Is he a savior that will get this team back to respectability?  Clearly no.  But will they be better with him?  Clearly yes.  So Captain, my Captain, please, pretty please, get this done.

I personally witnessed [made up in my head] the following exchange.

Santa: So boy what do you want for Christmas?

Depressed Hawkeye Fan: I don't know there are so many things.  How about a New Year's Day Bowl.

Santa: Well that seems reasonable, let me see here. Hummm. Iowa... Hawkeyes... Yes, I see them here.  Boy, I'm not miracle worker here.

DHF: Ok, sorry.  How about an offense more predictable than a bowel movement 20 minutes after Chipotle?

Santa: Now you're talking son, that I can handle.  I mean, heck, even ole sweater vest opens it up from time to time. Wait... Boy, did you know Ken O'Keefe is stilling calls there in Iowa City?

DHF: Yes sir, sorry.

Santa: Boy, stop wasting my time.

DHF: Ok, how about a defense where linebackers, not named Greenway, don't cover slot receivers?

Santa: Boy, you are trying my patience.

DHF: Wait, I know it.  All I want in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD is our number one returning freshman wide receiver to return next year.

Santa: That's it your out of here!

DHF: But Saaaaannnnnnttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

According Hawkcentral:

Seniors Albert Young and Damian Sims exhausted their eligibility this past season, leaving Jevon Pugh -- who has dealt with homesickness during his first year with the program -- as the only scholarship running back returning to Iowa's roster. This underscored the impetus for restocking the backfield with this recruiting class.

This is nice. In the face of a crapload of serious allegations against JP, there is no official comment either way regarding his status.  Then every recruit we talk to pops off that "I'm coming because the staff told us they don't have any returning running backs." Thus leaving every to assume that JP was in fact seriously mixed up in all that shit. Now, when JP does decide to return (despite the zero level of support he has received), it all gets blamed on "home sickness." Way to stay classy, guys.

Eds Note: If that comment was from JP himself (and I have looked to confirm in any fashion) then I recant the above.