Hawk Talk Daily: Random Thoughts

Aug. 27, 2012

• 2011 Fall Camp Central
• 2011 Football Game Day Parking Changes
• America Needs Farmers website
• 2011 UI Football Media Guide
• 2011 UI Football Fact Book
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
• gohawks.com
• Iowa Football Wallpaper

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Random thoughts on the Sunday before the 2012 season opener for Kirk’s squad…

The Klatt family is a big fan of actor Robert Downey Jr. and his Sherlock Holmes movies. Great mystery/adventures told with tremendous creativity and a superior dose of state-of-the-art special effects. We watched No. 2 in the franchise – “A Game of Shadows” – for the second time last night. Four-plus stars. Check it out sometime. You’ll likely enjoy it immensely.

FryFest 2012 is coming fast and the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau celebrated that fact with a well done YouTube video that we shared last week on our official Facebook page. I was surprised to see one friend describe it as “cheesy.” Well, in this case, “cheesy” is fantastic because FryFest is just that – Fantastic. Here’s a link to the video: HERE. My suggestion is to enjoy it for what it is: Some talented friends of the UI and the Iowa Hawkeyes having some fun promoting an event that has become part of the fabric of the greater Iowa City/Coralvillve community and, of course, the college football season. Learn more about FryFest 2012 by clicking HERE…and, yes, fans of the Cyclones are welcome to attend, too.

So, what does it really mean if the two-deeps have a few underclassmen listed? That was the question that seemed to be on everyone’s mind last Friday when Kirk released the chart for next Saturday’s season opener against Northern Illinois in the Windy City. For me, it’s always the same: The coaching staff puts the best we have at each position each Saturday. They have confidence in them, I have confidence in them. Doesn’t matter to me if they’re a senior or a rookie. You can review the two-deeps and more HERE.

To continue on the previous thought, I’m also reminded of today’s reality: This isn’t our father’s college football. High school seniors arrive on the UI campus bigger, faster, and stronger than ever before. Sure anyone probably benefits from a year or two of grooming, particularly the guys who have to tangle in the trenches However, as Greg Davis – our new offensive coordinator who boasts 38 years of college coaching experience – shared at this year’s Transamerica Challenge, skill position players who get comfortable with the speed of the game are very well equipped to contribute almost immediately.

Ron Rainey’s Iowa soccer team makes its first trip off campus today, squaring off against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls at 2 p.m. Rainey’s squad is perfect to date: Three wins, 12 goals scored, and no goals allowed. Go Hawks!

I think I mentioned recently that we would soon be introducing a new e-publication, Hawk Talk Monthly. Well, the debut edition of HTM should be landing in your e-mail box later this week. I’m very optimistic that fans of the Hawkeyes are going to love it. It will provide more great editorial accompanied by some exclusive photography and dressed up in a pretty neat looking graphic package compliments of Matt Ellison, our director of graphic arts. Special thanks, too, to our good friends at Transamerica for their support of the effort.

The HawkVision staff under the direction of Mike Moriarity has been cranking out lots of good video lately. The latest addition to what’s available inside Hawkeye All-Access is the first installment of Kirk’s weekly television show, “Iowa Football with Kirk Ferentz: The Pre-Season Special.” Here’s a link: HERE. Check it out and consider becoming a subscriber. You can read about the pre-season teelvision special HERE.

Want some more evidence of the momentum building behind Fran’s men’s basketball program: UI students have already purchased more season tickets for this year’s home schedule than they did a year ago. Yes, indeed, the Hawks Nest could be a rockin’ Carver this winter.

Part of the excitement about the men’s hoops program is the nationally ranked recruiting class Fran and his staff brought to campus this fall. The five of them are tall and small and from near and far. Here’s a heads up: The group of five is featured in the August Hawk Talk Monthly. So, there you have it. Another reason to be checking your e-mail twice later this week.

Our game notes for Iowa-Northern Illinois tell us that the Hawkeyes are 1-0 in season openers in Chicago’s Soldier Field, 2-0 in games played on Sept. 1, and 7-0 in games against the Huskies. Tickets are still available including a discounted price on four or more in certain sections of the upper deck: HERE.

Here’s a couple of opportunities: You can enter for the chance to be an honorary member of the grounds crew at Kinnick on game day HERE. You can bid for a game-day experience at this year’s Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series football game against Iowa State . And, you can register to win $10,000 if your name was selected from all entries and the Hawkeyes obliged by returning the opening kick (first or second half) for a touchdown HERE.

Lastly, my prediction for the 2012 Hawkeyes? Rose Bowl, baby! It’s the goal of every coach and student-athlete of every Big Ten Conference football team the week before kickoff. And, as Hayden once told me, few things are better in college football than a quarterback who has experience with bullets flyin’. We have that and, I think, a little more than what the average fan might be thinking.

Go Hawks!