Hawk Talk Daily: Random Thoughts

Oct. 22, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Random thoughts on a Friday when one of the most influential people in the world of sports visits little ol’ Cedar Rapids, compliments of a partner of the Iowa Hawkeyes…

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NORM!

So, if it rains on historic Kinnick Stadium Saturday afternoon is that a good thing or bad thing or an irrelevant thing for the good guys in black and gold?

NORM!

Who’s the big wig coming to “The Corridor?” Well, thanks to Doug Frank, regional vice president for Mediacom, George Bodenheimer, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, and president of ESPN and ABC Sports, will speak this afternoon “town hall meeting style” to a group assembled at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Bodenheimer will share his thoughts on entrepreneurship, risk, and the birth and growth of ESPN. Forbes magazine described Bodenheimer as “one of the most powerful people in media and sports.” The best part of the gig? All proceeds of the event will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

NORM!

Just a reminder that the fifth annual Blackout Saturday event is scheduled for next Saturday at Kinnick when the Hawkeyes entertain the high-flying Spartans of Michigan State. I’ll know the numbers next week, but if memory serves the Iowa-Michigan State series is another very close one…and there’s plenty of reason to believe that this year’s game will be a lot like many of the previous including last year’s: A knock-down, last-guy-standing wins kind of contest.

NORM!

I think – “back in the day” – rain was a benefit to the team that ran the ball more. However, that was before playing fields went synthetic and certainly before they went to FieldTurf. Maybe I’ll ask a coach or two and the Shoe Guy, and share their feedback with you next week. All things being equal, however, I’d prefer no rain and a ray of sunshine or two. They’ll be plenty of gray days ahead and the game will look better on ABC and ESPN.

Yes. I did write ABC and ESPN. It’s another week where, if you’re living somewhere in the lower 48 that doesn’t offer the Iowa-Wisconsin game on the ABC station in your area then turn to your ESPN HD channel. If it’s not there, check your ESPN standard definition channel.

NORM!

Yes. I did write ABC and ESPN. It’s another week where, if you’re living somewhere in the lower 48 that doesn’t offer the Iowa-Wisconsin game on the ABC station in your area then turn to your ESPN HD channel. If it’s not there, check your ESPN standard definition channel.

NORM!

Bumped into Jess Settles the other afternoon just before a practice of Fran’s squad. Until you stand nose-to-chest with these Hawkeyes, you don’t really realize just how big they are. Jess is pumped about the future of the men’s basketball program at his alma mater….and is hoping the fan base gets on board and helps make the turnaround quicker. He was delighted to hear that sales of season tickets to students were up. “They’re important, very important,” he smiled.

NORM!

I went searching through the Big Ten stats earlier this week looking for something about this game that jumped off the page. I came up empty. It appears two pretty evenly matched teams are going to collide in Iowa City on Saturday…both have scored their share of point, both have played good defense, both probably would prefer to run the ball than pass the ball. Perhaps there’s something to the fact Wisconsin has successfully kicked two times more field goals than Iowa has attempted…but perhaps not. So, folks, it might come down to something as real as home field advantage. The Hawkeyes are on a roll inside Kinnick in great measure to the teams that have been on the field and the support they receive. Ferentz suggested Tuesday that his squad is going to have to crank it up to another level Saturday. I’d suggest the 12th man plan on doing the same.

NORM!

There’s another very appropriate and fun event happening next Thursday at the Coralville Marriott: An evening honor C. W. “Bump” Elliott, the UI’s former director of athletics and long-time program volunteer for Elder Services of Iowa City. George Wine, long-time sports information director at the UI and author of “Wine Online,” a weekly feature of hawkeyesports.com, will be the master of ceremonies. For more information participation in the event, call (319) 338-0515.

NORM!

The folks in the ticket office at the UofMinnesota have asked that we offer a friendly reminder to fans of the Hawkeyes who are considering purchasing a ticket for Iowa’s game against the Gophers that is intended for use by a UM student: Don’t do it! Fans attempting to enter TCF Bank Stadium on game days with a UM student ticket are required to show a current UM student ID and are denied entry if they can’t.

NORM!

OK. About this “NORM!” thing. First, the idea is the brainchild of a fan of the Hawkeyes and it’s a good one for lots of reasons, most notably, it demonstrates once again how so special fans of the Hawkeyes are. Second, the UI Athletics Department needed to make to adjustments a pair the plan: (1) Chanting “NORM! each time the visiting team breaks its huddle on first down – instead of third down – doesn’t compete with other traditions that occur at the start of each and/or random opponent third downs and (2) it’s against stadium policy to allow signs inside Kinnick. There’s lots of good reasons why this is policy and, of course, folks will want to debate those, but I suggest we march on past that and instead march to the Krause Family Plaza on Saturday any time after 9 a.m. and sign the “Get Well Soon, NORM!” banner. That gesture will mean much to our beloved defensive coordinator. That and, of course, a stout defensive performance by the Hawkeyes!

Go Hawks!

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