April 20, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field on Friday, Aug. 31, prior to the San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs major league baseball game. The contest is slated for a 1:20 p.m. (CT) start.
The game, “Hawkeye Day with the Cubs,” will be played a day before the UI football team’s season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 1. The game time for football has yet to be announced.
McCaffery concluded his second year as Iowa’s head coach, bringing enthusiasm and excitement back to the Hawkeye program. This past season, McCaffery coached the Hawkeyes to 18 wins and an NIT bid. Iowa improved by seven wins from 2011 to 2012. McCaffery guided Iowa to four more Big Ten victories in 2012 than a year ago, which is the best improvement for an Iowa squad since 1994 to 1995.
Iowa’s NIT bid was its first postseason action since 2006, and after beating Dayton 84-75, the win was the program’s first in the postseason since 2003. McCaffery was one of only four Big Ten coaches to record four wins over ranked opponents in 2012, and the only one to accomplish the feat with an unranked team.
McCaffery, who also loves the sport of baseball, is excited about the Labor Day weekend festivities in Chicago.
“I’m honored that I was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Cubs game at Wrigley Field,” said McCaffery. “Not only am I looking forward to that opportunity, but also seeing all the black and gold that will be in Chicago that weekend. We have a tremendous fan base in the Chicago area and I know there will also be a large number of Hawkeye fans traveling to Chicago for the Cubs game and the Iowa football opener at Soldier Field. It will be a special weekend.”
Ticket packages to the Cubs game can be purchased at bravosportsmarketing.com.