Final Full Practice

It was the final full day of practice at Barry University. On what would be a Thursday practice for the Hawkeyes, BCS rules allowed members of the media access to the first fifteen minutes of practice. It may have been the coolest day for practice in Florida for Iowa as temperatures were in the 60s with a breeze throughout the afternoon. Following practice the team went for dinner and a movie.

Friday, the Hawkeyes will return to Barry for a quick walk thru followed by the team photo at Land Shark Stadium

Below are the members of the police escort for the Hawkeyes who lead them around town.

Orange Bowl Police Escort

What puts the Orange Bowl among the elite are the special services they provide. One of those is the police escort. Some bowls only provide one or two officers to escort the team to practice or events. The Orange Bowl has over 15 officers. Below is video from today's trip to Barry Unviversity for practice.

FOX Sports at Practice

According to the Iowa Football calendar this Wednesday is a Sunday as the team enters into game week. On this final practice before entering the game week preparation the media was allowed into practice, and that includes the FOX Sports announcing team of Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, and Laura Okmin.

Kirk Ferentz takes time prior to practice for the FOX Sports sideline reporter and analysis.

Members of the local print media as well as network affiliates had access to the first two periods of practice.

Barry University Practice 1

First day of practice is over for the University of Iowa football team at Barry University. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s were a big change for this midwestern team.

Players enter the facilities of Barry University. BU is a Division II team which doesn't have football. The Iowa team is using the soccer fields for practice.
Prior to the start of Practice, Iowa Football Head Coach, Kirk Ferentz talks with members of the Orange Bowl committee, among those are Larry Gautier (far left) and Sean Crews (right of Ferentz).

Wide Receivers in the early drill period.

Kirk Ferentz overseeing members of the offensive line.

A welcome sight on the road from Barry to the Fontainebleau.

Wake Up to Miami

Hazy skies in the morning to be burned off by South Florida sun in time for the first Iowa Football practice in Miami.

Allowing the players a chance to enjoy their first night on South Beach and an opportunity to sleep in, a mid-morning brunch followed by position meetings is what's in store for the team's first day. Players then will load buses for Barry University for a practice to begin shortly before 2pm.

Weather for the upcoming week is ideal for the many Iowans who made the trip, although the locals are not looking forward to Tuesday's high of 68.

Next Stop Miami

Doors are shut and the truck is ready to roll. Iowa Football Head Coach, Kirk Ferentz placed his bag on last and sent the truck on its way. Driver and owner, Mike Riggan plans on arriving at South Beach the morning of the 26th.

There is little room left on the Iowa Football Equipment semi, and it will all be unloaded at either the Fontainebleau, Barry University or Land Shark Stadium.

Loading of the Equipment Truck

It all goes in here. Everything.

On Tuesday the Iowa Equipment Staff began loading a semi full of everything necessary to prepare for the 2010 Fed Ex Orange Bowl and its opponent, Georgia Tech. Video, medical, equipment, administrative, spirit squads, ticket operations, as well as personal luggage is what will be included in the back of the semi provided by Mike Riggan (Tantara Corp) and Ed Huff (North American Van Lines).

Trunk after trunk, box after box sits waiting to be the next thing to be packed. All equipment is necessary for Iowa Football to set up the Jacobson Building offices in the Fontainebleau Hotel located in Miami Beach, Florida. Ten meeting rooms, three offices and one medical facility is housed in the team hotel.
Also everything needed for practice at Barry University finds its place on the back of the semi. Once Iowa Football moves into its practice facility it consumes the entire location. One cannot assume Barry University has the necessary equipment for a Divison I BCS team, so the Iowa Equipment Staff takes everything.

Placed on the back of the semi is the Fed Ex Orange Bowl Logo. The logo for each game of Kirk Ferentz is placed on the tractor trailer.