July 8, 2008
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — It might come as a surprise that one of the most difficult things for a 6-foot-3, 264-pound Division I defensive lineman to do is relax. That’s the case with University of Iowa football star Mitch King, who is giving his body a much-needed reprieve before fall camp begins in August.
“I try to relax as much as possible,” King said. “I’m trying to enjoy my last summer at the University of Iowa. I’m just relaxing, enjoying myself and golfing a lot.”
Interspersed around the much-deserved time off, King has donated several hours lending a hand to those affected by natural disasters that struck the state this summer. He was in Parkersburg offering assistance following a tornado in May. He helped in Iowa City and in his hometown of Burlington following flooding in June.
“I feel responsible for helping,” King said.
The off-season hasn’t been completely void of activity for King, a defensive tackle. He has been working out 2 ½ hours a day as the Aug. 30 opener against Maine approaches. King is trying to erase the memory of last season’s 28-19 loss to Western Michigan that kept the Hawkeyes from attending their seventh consecutive bowl game.
“It was a shame that we let that one go,” King said. “It was within our grasp, we were on a run at the end of the year and we just kind of took that for granted. That loss really hit home. It has been a source of motivation, though, especially for the guys who played in that game and put all they had into it.”
Iowa has had 30 consecutive sellouts in Kinnick Stadium and the Hawkeyes open the 2008 campaign with their first three games at home — Maine (Aug. 30), Florida International (Sept. 6) and Iowa State (Sept. 13). King said he enjoys playing in front of 70,585 fans.
“It’s always fun to come out and watch a football game, especially in the Kinnick atmosphere,” King said. “Give us your support and we’ll give you 100 percent to go out there and try to win every game for our fans. We love all our fans and cherish everything they’ve given us in the past. We have some big home games and we just want all our fans to be there supporting us.”
Last season King was named first team all-Big Ten by the coaches and second team all-Big Ten by the media. For his career, he has 174 tackles, 39 ½ tackles for loss, 13 ½ quarterback sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. His exploits have not gone unnoticed by the national audience. King has been named to the 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List, as one of the top 42 collegiate defensive players in the country. As a junior he was credited with 58 total tackles, including 14 ½ tackles for loss and 4 ½ sacks. His tackle for loss total tied for 38th in Division I.
The UI Athletic Ticket Office is currently accepting orders for season tickets for the Hawkeyes’ 2008 home schedule. Three-game “mini-season” packages are also available for purchase. Single-game tickets, if available, will go on sale later this month. For more information about tickets, call 1-800 IA-HAWKS.
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