Homecoming 2009 - Iowa v Michigan

For some reason when Michigan comes to Iowa City for a football game, the attention is unmatched. There is a special feeling in the air that doesn't associate with Ohio State or Iowa State. Perhaps it goes back to the classic battle of #1 v #2 in 1985 where the Hawkeyes won 12-10 on a Rob Houghtlin field goal with :02 to play.

This year's game was not only Homecoming, but it was also one of the few prime time contests in the History of Kinnick Stadium. It was also televised to a national television audience on ABC. Tickets for the game were going for over $300. A capacity crowd showed up on an October night that felt more like late November. Temperatures at kick-off was 30 degrees with a 24 degree wind chill.

Here the Iowa Video Staff takes a moment for a photo with ABC's lead College Football Play by Play man, Brent Musberger.
Saturday Night College Football on ABC means something special. Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit, the network's elite crew, was on hand.

A tradition that began less than ten years ago is the University of Iowa Alumni Band performing the pre-game routine. It is much like riding a bicycle for most of these aging performers as the show hasn't changed much over the last 25 years.

Michigan Video Coordinator, Phil Bromley (front center) and XOS Employees Joe Marinaro (back center) and John Mills (right) join me in the booth. Phil types in statistical information for the Wolverines while his assistant Kevin shoots the wide angle. Joe and John were in town to observe the in-game work flow, but most importantly to watch Joe's alma mater (Michigan) battle the Hawkeyes.

Amid a "BlackOut," the Hawkeyes take the field.



The team enters to AC/DC's "Back in Black." This has become a staple of the Kinnick Stadium experience.

College Football Week 4

While many top 20 teams continue to fall, the ladies of Alabama support the Crimson Tide as they continue to stay in the top 5. Alabama has proven to be worthy of their ranking. However Florida and Texas are my two teams that may find themselves being knocked off in the within the next three weeks. Florida must play at LSU in two weeks while Texas takes on Oklahoma in the Red River ShootOut in three weeks.

Talk in the press box following the Hawkeye upset of Penn State focused on ABC's decision to carry the Iowa - Michigan game on the 10th. Other options for the prime time game that week include Baylor at Oklahoma as well as Florida at LSU. However CBS has the first option for the SEC showdown, and if they pass, the broadcast would move to ESPN as ABC cannot show an SEC game in prime time. If that game does appear on cable the broadcast team of Musberger and Herbstreit will be live in Baton Rouge. However a matchup of undefeateds in Iowa City would be tough for ABC to pass up.

A score that went with little notice over the weekend had Idaho beating Northern Illinois in Dekalb. This is the same NIU team which upset Purdue the week before and pushed Wisconsin to the final minute. Idaho moves to 3-1 in the WAC and makes a statement for the improved football competition in the non-BCS conference. A potential key match-up comes in the second to last game of the season when the Vandals travel to Boise to take on the top 10 Broncos.

Hawks Upset #5 Penn State

A bit late on posting, but still worth seeing. The scoreboard reflected the outcome of the game for a few short minutes following the Hawkeye upset of Penn State Saturday night. Iowa fans could revel in it for a short time before the Nittany Lion staff turned off the lights on a White Out at Beaver Stadium. The win was the 7th in the last 8 for the Hawkeyes over Joe Paterno's club. Iowa currently ranks #13 in the AP / Writers poll while the Coaches have the Hawks at 17. Next week is a non-conference match-up with the Arkansas State Red Wolves out of the Sun Belt Conference. It will be on ESPN2 at 11am. Word from ABC workers leaving the Beaver Stadium Press Box Saturday night suggested Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit may be calling the Iowa - Michigan game on the 10th from Kinnick Stadium.