Throwback Saturday

Saturday's Iowa Football game with Ball State was termed a "throwback" to the year of 1960, the last year of Forest Evashevski as head coach of the Hawkeyes. The uniforms were the most notable momento to the the team of '60, but there were a few other ways to honor that team.

Although not a throwback to the 1960 team, Danan Hughes was the analyst on the Big Ten Network. He teamed with Wayne Larrivee who has announced games in the conference for over twenty years. Hughes was a member of the Hawkeyes in the late 80s and early 90s graduating after the '92 season. Hughes played both football and baseball in college and went on to play with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The black helmets with Tiger Hawks were replaced with gold helmets featuring black numbers. Each helmet sported the name of the player who wore that jersey in 1960. For those that didn't have a coordinating number, "Evy" was placed above the facemask in honor of the coach.

Greeting members of the media as the exited the press box elevator was the lifesize bobblehead of former Hawkeye coach, Forest Evashevski.

Iowa's Throwback Game of 2010

When Iowa takes the field in late September at Kinnick Stadium against the Ball State Cardinals, don't be surprised to see a different look to the Hawkeyes as they emerge from the Southwest tunnel. The first time since the 2004 season opener against Kent State the Hawkeyes will participate in a "throwback" game, this to the 1958 season which resulted in the 1959 Rose Bowl.

Pictured above is the helmet of 1958 alongside the current Hawkeye model. No decals will be placed upon the bright gold helmet of the '50s. In front is the actual game uniform of Bernie Wyatt.
Currently there are no plans by Ball State to participate in the throwback era as Kent State did six years ago. Equipment manager, Greg Morris said the players are excited to honor the team of the 50s and participate in the event.

UPDATE: The Helmets will have a black stripe down the middle with numbers on both sides. A certain equipment manager was pulling someone's leg.

College Football Week 6

After making an appearance last year, we bring back the Washington State Dance Team. Someone should show them some love as they have little to cheer for in the far Northwest.

Tebow-NO
We should feel thankful that this is Tim Tebow's last year as a college quarterback. The media attention he has garnered since winning the Heisman Trophy has been over the top, but what was witnessed a week ago in preparation for LSU has been excessive. My guess is Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer played into the media's hands and kept them questioning Tebow's status. I believe Meyer knew early in the week as to his status, but kept all those who were covering the Gators, as well as the LSU Tigers guessing. The Man Crush that everyone has on him needs to come to an end.

Upside Down MAC
A year ago the Mid-American Conference garnered much attention for a number of teams with undefeated records. Among those at the top were Buffalo and Ball State. How much difference a year makes. The 2008 MAC Champ Bulls, are 0-2 in conference with only two overall wins. The regular season undefeated Cardinals are winless through six in 2009.

Pick Your Homecoming Opponents Carefully
This year the Iowa Hawkeyes scheduled mighty Michigan as their Homecoming opponent. Often schools around the country pick teams they have a good chance of defeating. However there are other reasons to schedule teams other than those rich in history. In the past Iowa has scheduled Indiana, Northwestern and Purdue. Each look as if it may be an easy win, but that shouldn't be the only criteria. Homecoming should also be a way to help sell tickets to a game which may be a hard sell. Michigan is not one of those teams. Demand was high in Iowa City a week ago causing scalpers to ask for higher prices than normal. Also tickets that normally could be sold to the general public were now being allotted for members of the Alumni Band and other University dignitaries that have a greater interest in academic research rather than the Wolverines. In 2010 Iowa has already tabbed Penn State as the Homecoming opponent. Get your tickets early as they will be harder to come by.

College Football Week 6

Kind of a slow week for college football, but it did set up some interesting match-ups for week seven. Before we get to that, a couple of items from the past week.

Still undefeated--There are still a few teams that continue to win and stay unbeaten. Many may have seen the monumental victory for Vanderbilt over Auburn. Another school of higher education that had the week off yet is undefeated is Northwestern. One team gaining their first appearance in the top 25 for many, many years is Ball State. With Brady Hoke leading the Cardinal, Ball State has steadily improved and is 6-0 this season. The former Michigan Asst. Head Coach may be proving he was the best candidate for the job in Ann Arbor.

Surf's Up--A team looking for an identity is Fresno State. They began the season with a convincing win at Rutgers as well as a double OT win at Toledo. The Bulldogs had every chance to upset Wisconsin at home, but couldn't make the necessary field goal. This past weekend they hosted a Hawaii team far from it 2007 BCS form and lost to the islanders.

The fourth of October--When returning from Michigan State this past weekend, Iowa radio play by play personality Gary Dolphin phoned his wife while waiting for the plane to depart East Lansing. As the conversation continued Gary's wife Cindy kept reminding him how great the fourth of October is. Finally Gary called her on it and found out it was their 33rd wedding anniversary. (However Cindy was incorrect. She told him it was their 38th.) Gary promised to take Cindy to dinner the following night. Here's hoping Gary called her by the right name.

Many interesting games this weekend. Among a few to keep tabs on:

• Oklahoma v Texas at Dallas in the Cotton Bowl. The winner has control of their destiny in the hunt for the national title game.


• LSU at Florida. Can Florida keep their title game hopes alive with the Tigers heading to the Swamp


• Notre Dame at North Carolina. The Irish have struggled winning on the road with Charlie Weiss. North Carolina may be for real and will need to prove so with a win this weekend.