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.

Making the Call

With "Championship Saturday" complete the 20hr wait begins to find the bowl destination for 68 FBS teams. Wins by Texas and Alabama lets the national title game begins to take shape, with much debate. Yet the discussion won't end there as it will filtre throughout the BCS to the smallest of bowls.
In 2002 I recall the Rose Bowl committee was more than willing to name Iowa as the recipient of their bid. The Fed Ex Orange Bowl had other thoughts. A delegation from Pasadena flew to Iowa immediately following their last game to go over every detail of the trip, although much football had to be played. On selection Sunday I sat in the same seat Coach Ferentz would sit in to address the media. However I was standing in for Kirk until ABC was ready for him. Through the earpiece I could hear John Saunders discuss with Terry Bowden and Bob Davie the different scenarios such as Davie speaking on Iowa's behalf since they followed him nearly every week.
White sitting there in anticipation of the selection I could hear the trio decide on who would would defend each team, with Davie selecting Iowa based on his knowledge. I couldn't be 100% since I could hear the traffic of the downstown New York streets in the background, too. Terry Bowden took USC. That was 30 minutes prior to air time.
On this Sunday, the final decision will not be made until the last possible moment causing the remaining bowls to quickly take their teams. Let's hope Iowa is off the board once the BCS is decided.

Bowl Practice Begins

Iowa Football began its on-field preparation for their upcoming bowl game on Thursday and it will continue into the weekend. The opponent and site have yet to be determined, but time does not wait for the Hawkeyes. A big question is the health of quarterback Ricky Stanzi who was injured November 7 against Northwestern. As you see from the pictures below, Stanzi is back at practice and fully participating.

One Month from today is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, one of the many possibilities for the Hawkeyes.

The Decision

Fiesta....Orange....Capital One....For Iowa fans any one of these bowl games is a welcome escape from the blustery, wintery cold of Iowa. But for the Iowa Football team it is about placing themselves in the best bowl possible. Since the advent of the BCS the goal for each team is to play for the National Championship or participate in one of the BCS bowl games. With one week to go many teams are still in the hunt for one of the coveted bowl spots, and among them are two from the Big Ten--Iowa and Penn State. Each team has done their share of lobbying either in public or behind closed doors. They are both 10-2 and are known for their legion of fans who will sell out the stadium. If it was decided on the playing field, Iowa would recieve the bid. The Hawkeyes defeated the Nittany Lions in State College 21-10 the last weekend of September. But bowls aren't necessarily decided that way. Iowa fans have benefitted from having the intangibles go their way in the past, but that may not be the case in 2009. Penn State boasts the largest living alumni in the world, a traditional football power, and a Hall of Fame coach who is nearing the end of his career and the opportunity to have him at your bowl many not happen again. Iowa, for good reason boasts their large fan base who travels very well to bowl games as well as a large amount of Iowans who winter-specifically in Arizona, the win over Penn State with a more impressive 10-2 record based on their demanding schedule, and the higher BCS ranking. As long as the favorites win their remaining games this Championship weekend, the Fiesta Bowl will have the first option to select an at-large team--most likely either Penn State or Iowa. The lobbying may continue between now and Sunday afternoon, and for what its worth, here are two videos produced in 2006 that support Iowa's bid to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Process

At this time of the year rumors are flying. Either they are about coaching changes or of what team is playing who in what bowl. I have been fortunate to live through the first set of rumors only once in my professional life and the second set has become a regularity for many years. However this time around the focus is on whether we are in the BCS and who the opponent may be.
I had a few rattled on Facebook today when I posted, "I got a call from LSU today....." Immediately I had a few wondering what I meant as well as one who didn't think that sounded good. Before too many took this post and ran to the message boards with it, I quickly pointed out that they had called for a few different reasons. Among them was to ascertain Penn State's phone number.
Since there are many scenarios with different locations and different teams it is important to make the contacts early in order to be prepared for the final announcement. LSU and I made sure our formats were compatible - which they are - and that we would trade the entire season. LSU was looking to do the same with Penn State, their possible opponents in the Capital One Bowl.
I then put a call into Boise State to find out what they are hearing as well their expectations for exchange. With one game to go their focus was on New Mexico State, but with the end of the year banquet set for Sunday, the Bronco Video Coordinator knew he needed to be prepared as well. A day earlier he fielded a call from Alabama and I'm sure he will hear from others as the week progresses.
Unless Nebraska upsets Texas, my possibilities of schools to exchange with are few, if you read the many national predictions. The teams I am seeing are Boise State, TCU, Georgia Tech and LSU. There could be others, but those reappear the most. The bowls we could face any of those teams in are Fiesta, Orange, and LSU. The Outback is still a possibility as well, but a remote one at that. All of them among the finest of the bowl lineup.
Boise State is in a different position. I was informed if they don't make the BCS their possibilities drop to the Humanitarian Bowl in their home stadium or the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. Definitely there are perks to playing in the Big Ten.
The BCS Selection Show will be Sunday night at 7pm. We may know our status in that selective group earlier in the day when the Florida Citrus Sports Council releases their teams in the Capital One and Champs Sports Bowl. Then it becomes a wait and see for which game and the opponent. Then it is a rush to get the video in the coaches hands.

Regular Season Finale

After 12 straight weeks the Iowa Football regular season comes to a close. 10-2 record culminating with a victory over rival Minnesota in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. The victory was no different than eight others of the regular season, a tough battle with the decision in doubt until the last few minutes of the game. With this record the Hawkeyes have put themselves into position for a BCS bowl game or a trip to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl. Wherever the destination it was the first time the Hawkeyes finished with double digit wins since 2004 and quite possible could finish in the top ten, the first since that same year.

The family outside Kinnick Stadium prior to Saturday's game.
And what has become a good luck charm during the year, me along with the Minnesota Video guy, Mike Schaaf. Every game a picture has been taken with the opposing video coordinator, the Hawkeyes have been victorious. Of course I don't bring that up until after the picture has been taken.

One of the BCS bowls in consideration for the Hawkeyes is the FedEx Orange Bowl. With Voice of the Hawkeyes, Gary Dolphin is Orange Bowl representative Larry Gautier in the Learfield Booth prior to the Minnesota game. The Hawkeyes appeared in the 2003 South Flordia game bringing over 40,000 fans in a match-up with Southern California. Also in attendance Saturday were representatives from the Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowl. Iowa last appeared in the Capital One Bowl in 2005, and played in the most recent Outback Bowl against South Carolina. Iowa's bowl destination will not be known until December 6th when the bowl pairings will be announced.

On the Friday prior to the final home game, the Johnson County I-Club hosts the class of Seniors for the weekly breakfast. Seventeen seniors were honored.

Gary Dolphin introduced Head Football Coach, Kirk Ferentz.