Hawk Talk Daily: Random Thoughts

Oct. 10, 2010

EDITOR’S NOTE: Later this week, the UI Athletics Department will officially introduce its new free daily e-newsletter, “Hawk Talk Daily” — “HTD” for short. However, we decided to re-introduce a popular column from last year’s “Official Sports Report” — OSR — in advance to celebrate the start of the 2010 college football season. If you want to make sure you are on the list to receive HTD, send an e-mail to gohawks@hawkeyesports.com with “HTD” in the subject line. We’ll keep you posted as the launch of HTD nears. Enjoy!

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Random thoughts for the day before Columbus Day and the first day of “Michigan Week” for the Iowa Hawkeyes…

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Was that a sigh I heard across the state of Iowa about noon yesterday when the two football polls became public? Some fans of the Hawkeyes thought their favorite team may “move” a little, given the outcome of some of Saturday’s games. I was probably in that camp, too. Oh, well, there’s at least seven more opportunities to climb that latter and the best way to take it is one game/week/rung at a time.

Speaking of Saturday, if I talked to one, I talked to a 100 fans of the Hawkeyes in the past week who were struggling with having a “Saturday off.” Like the coaches and team members, fans, too, also get into a routine this time of year and bye week’s also kinda throw off their “internal college football clocks.” Heck of a deal.

Apparently, there’s another grand week of weather ahead for those of us in the Heartland. Hmmm…80 degrees and sunny last Saturday, projected 70s and sunny this Saturday…. Here’s hoping that Mother Nature smiles on the Hawkeyes and extends the “above normal” well into November…or at the very least through “Blackout Saturday” – Iowa vs. Michigan State on Oct. 30.

Speaking of being “deep” into the schedule, it’s probably fair now to start looking at the weekly Big Ten statistics for, at a minimum, “trends.” It’s said defense wins championships. If true, this week’s stats tell us Iowa and Ohio State are a notch above the rest. Let’s check back on that one in a few weeks…

Speaking of that Halloween Saturday, the Spartans will be the last of three straight nationally ranked opponents that remain on the October schedule for Kirk’s squad. Michigan, Wisconsin and Sparty. We’re deep enough into the season to know that each offer a significant test. We’ve also been around the Big Ten Conference long enough to know that taking anyone lightly, home or away, isn’t a very successful game plan.

Have you gotten “MAD” yet? If not, season tickets are on sale. Take the plunge and help Fran get the Hawkeyes back to the Madness that is March in college basketball.

Speaking of being “deep” into the schedule, it’s probably fair now to start looking at the weekly Big Ten statistics for, at a minimum, “trends.” It’s said defense wins championships. If true, this week’s stats tell us Iowa and Ohio State are a notch above the rest. Let’s check back on that one in a few weeks…

Come to think of it, Iowa’s November schedule is no bargain, either, but for a different reason: Three of the four are away from Kinnick and the one at home – Nov. 20 against Ohio State – has the potential to be an important one to say the least.

This is the last collection of “Randoms” that is likely to land first on hawkeyesports.com. If all goes according to plan, Hawk Talk Daily – “HTD” for short – will begin landing in e-mailboxes worldwide at the end of the week. If you’re a recipient, please pass your copy on to a few friends of the Hawkeyes – the more the merrier, as they say. And, if you aren’t, send us a note at gohawks@hawkeyesports.com and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Random Thoughts is written by Rick Klatt, the UI Athletics Department’s associate athletics director for external affairs, and is an exclusive feature of Hawk Talk Daily, the daily e-newsletter of the UI Athletics Department.

Go Hawks!