Big Ten Memories - Northwestern

For many years I shot the end zone camera for the Iowa Football team. That provided many different spots - inside scoreboards, within aisles, in little sheds - but no place provided so many different, and unique spots over the years than Northwestern.

My first trip in 1989 the end zone shot was something new to conference members. Some schools hadn't put much thought into a suitable location, but it didn't appear to be too tough for the Wildcats to come up with something. Attendance was low, and we could set up anywhere in the south end zone stands as there were few fans in the area. The angle wasn't great, but it was the best we could do.

Within the next few years Northwestern gave us the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena, where they played basketball, yet we were quite a distance from the stadium, it was stable. But in 1995 we had to battle the zero degree temperatures and howling winds as a snowstorm hit the morning of the game, giving way to sunny, clear and cold skies.

As Northwestern improved their facilities, the view from the basketball arena became blocked and a scaffolding was placed upon their locker rooms in the north end zone. The scaffold wasn't much, and we questioned the safety of it. But one thing it didn't do is protect me from the rain.

Prior to a game in the late 90s, along with the Iowa Football equipment staff, we decided to build a hut using a tarp. Rain had been in the forecast, and the equipment staff knew of my frustration with the lack of a secure shooting location. So there I stood, inside a blue tarp, attached to the scaffold with zip ties while the Northwestern student was being rained on. It was one of the last games of the year at Ryan Field, and I was told that impromptu hut is still sitting in a facility closet on the Evanston campus.

Then a few years later, it was a sunny day on Chicago's North Side. And a little tradition that former Iowa placekicker and I had started took on a different light on this Saturday afternoon. Nate Kaeding had used me as his focal point to aim at when kicking field goals and extra points. Every game in his career he would look for me in the end zone and I would give him a thumbs up. At Ryan Field, the scaffolding was located within 20 yards off the back line of the end zone, and field goals kicked in either pre-game or during the game would land near our spot. But on this day I could tell Nate had a different goal in mine. Not only was he aiming to make all of his attempts, but he wanted to hit the spot that he continuously aims for.

So as he trotted onto the field for an extra point attempt I was ready to give him the thumbs up. He located me, reciprocated my thumbs up and lined up for the one point attempt. I had a feeling something would happen so after I hit the record button, I "locked" my camera down. The snap, hold, kick ... and I took one step to the side and caught his extra point attempt. Of course I had to throw the ball back, but Nate and I had accomplished something that couldn't happen just anywhere.

Night Out on the Town

After opening successful "Shorts Burger and Shine" in downtown Iowa City, former Hawkeye place-kicker Nate Kaeding has opened another location near Kinnick Stadium in Stella's.

The former site of Melrose Market and Taste of Melrose, Stella's is a quaint dining experience with a variety of menu choices that changes every two months. The signature of each dish is the freshness of foods from the area. Iowa pork or meat will always be found on the menu with a nice selection of assorted fruits and vegetables from the area.

Variety is the word one would describe the assortment of beers on tap. Gone are the regulars such as Bud Light and Miller Lite, but Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pilsner Urquell and Hoefgarden are part of the lineup such as local beers from the Amanas and Knoxville, Iowa.

Parking and seating is limited as it sits on the edge of little University Heights. Stella's is able to accomodate more in the warmer Iowa months as the large front doors open to outdoor seating to the south and west. Parking is limited to the small lot shared by a dentist office and city hall. The large Kinnick Stadium parking lot,  a Kaeding, Alamo Bowl game-winning field goal away may be your best bet.

Stella's has only been open for a week and within days will also be open for breakfast and lunch. Dinner meals will be under $20 and judging by the soft opening last week, it will be worth it.

University of Iowa Children's Hospital Open

In addition to the popular Nate Kaeding Golf Scramble came the University of Iowa Children's Hospital Open held the following day at Brown Deer Golf Course in Coralville. Along with Nate and his wife Sam, Iowa Football coach Kirk Ferentz and his wife Mary as well as Iowa Radio Play by Play announcer Gary Dolphin hosted the two-day event wtih proceeds going to the Children's Hospital.

The Children's Hospital Open took on a more competitive nature with the foursomes being joined by a local pro vying for a collective purse of $13,000. Ryan Smith of Muscatine joined us for the tournament and took home the championship with a six under 65.

Smith was a late addition to the tournament, and played very steady throughout the day. Eight birdies and two bogeys led to the one shot win over course pro Sean McCarty of Coralville. This was Smith's first tournament of the year as he looks to prepare for the PGA Tour stop at John Deere in the Quad Cities, or the lesser known Waterloo and Cedar Rapids Open.

Joe Ehrmann

Former Baltimore Colt, current high school football coach and the subject of the 2003 book, Season of Life, Joe Ehrmann spoke in Iowa City Thursday evening at the Englert Theater and Friday morning to the Iowa Football team. His message, geared to youth coaches, hit on the qualities in takes to be a Man / Woman and cultivating relationships with children of all ages.


Citizens from around the state were among the standing room only crowd. Individuals from as far as Des Moines and Prairie City / Monroe High Schools as well as Iowa City teenagers listened in on the message.



Joe was brought to Iowa City as a guest of Kirk and Mary Ferentz as well as Nate Kaeding. Kirk and Mary first forged a relationship with Ehrmann in Baltimore where their son, Brian played football for the ex-Colt. Kaeding was first introduced to Ehrmann a year ago when the motivational speaker addressed the San Diego Chargers, the NFL team Nate plays for. The event was sponsored by Transamerica / Aegon of Cedar Rapids.

(Top) Line forms early for the general admission seating in the Englert.

(Middle) Ehrmann with Iowa Head Football Coach, Kirk Ferentz.

(Bottom) Ehrmann addressing the Iowa Football team early Friday morning.

Nate Kaeding Golf Tournament - The Video

Based on my profession I tend to produce videos that have more of a look for tv than they do for a part-time blog. However this is a very short video on the outing.

Nate Kaeding Golf Outing

One of the highlights to Summer in the Iowa City / Coralville area is the annual Nate Kaeding Golf Tournament. The 2009 edition was the fourth annual and my third straight year of playing in the event. It is definitely a unique event as Thursday is the pre-event "Par-Tee" which includes an auction, food and entertainment. Friday is the golf outing with a different activity on every hole along with the golf tournament.

Par-Tee participants Jackie Kaeding (Nate's Sister), Matthew Engelbert, John Mills, Bob Rahfeldt, and Dana Engelbert.

The Live Auction underway, with items such as season tickets in the club level at Kinnick Stadium, University of Iowa Golf Cart, and a life-size Nile Kinnick painting among other items.

A table for the silent auction which includes private parties at the Cedar Rapids Kernels, MC Ginsbergs, Nate Kaeding Framed Signed Pro Bowl Jersey, Jason Baker signed mini-helmet and a package of wines from local Muddy Creek Wineries among other items.

Many of the Par-Tee members engaged in the Live Auction.

While the Live Auction was in process, many others enjoying the social activities.

A change to the golf outing for 2009 was allowing two foursomes to play simultaneously on the same hole allowing our two groups to play together. XOS Technologies sponsored the two teams and they included: Justin Moen, Chic Ejiasi, John Mills, Matthew Engelbert, (host) Nate Kaeding, Charlie Bullen, Bob Rahfeldt, Kevin Foor, and Joe Marinaro.

The Marriott of Coralville provides food and drink on many of the holes at Brown Deer Golf Course.

What makes the tournament different from others is the involvement of the Iowa City / Coralville Community. Here the Holiday Inn Express Suites of Coralville sponsors the 14th hole with a bean bag game giving players the opporuntiy to a whirlpool suite. Others sponsoring holes were FryFest, University of Iowa Sport Medicine, Cedar Rapids Distillery, Arctic Cat, Coralville Nissan and many others. The title sponsor was Corridor State Bank.

Joe Marinaro of XOS Technologies, the sponsor of our two foursomes

The afternoon group of golfers ready to go. There were 36 foursomes in the morning and 37 in the afternoon.

Nate had many ex-Hawkeyes participate as well as current San Diego Chargers, Nate's current NFL team. Among the Chargers who participated were Mike Scifers, David Binn and radio analyst Hank Bauer. Jason Baker, former Hawkeye and current Carolina Panther also played in the event.

Proceeds from the event go to the Hope Lodge located on the University of Iowa campus.

Play Ball

Opening Day in Major League Baseball. The Cubs are in first place, for today, and all fans dream of post-season baseball in their parks. Starting today I will post photos I have taken of ballparks where teams are opening at home.

Busch Stadium, home of the Stl Cardinals. Colin and I took friend Scott to see the Brewers play during the 2008 season. Today the Cardinals lost to the Pirates 6-4.

PetCo Park, home of the San Diego Padres. These seats were courtesy of Nate Kaeding. The Padres opened up against the Dodgers and dropped the season opener, 4-1.


The Ballpark at Arlington. This has been a few years, but one of the rare afternoon games of the Texas Rangers. Cleveland was the opening opponent and lost to the Rangers 8-1.

The Metrodome. The final year that it will host the Minnesota Twins. Of course the above picture was taken during the Iowa - Minnesota game of 2008, but my trips to see the Twins pre-dates affordable digital cameras. The Twins dropped its last home indoor opener to Seattle, 6-1.

Iowa Football Coaches Clinic

Two days of my life I won't get back. However listening to Nate Kaeding talk on the fundamentals of place kicking may be the only interesting part of this weekend for me.

(Update) I've been told I was too rough on the event. Perhaps, but it is a long day and not all high school coaches are able to last the entire day of instruction without taking a break.

Adding to the Wall

On a wall in the Jacobson Athletic Complex are paintings of past Iowa Football All-Americans. Newly added to the wall is Doak Walker Award winner and 2008 Iowa Football MVP, running back Shonn Greene. He joins the likes of Nile Kinnick, Andre Tippett, LeRoy Smith, Chuck Long, Robert Gallery, and Nate Kaeding among others. Greene is the first to be added to the wall since Gallery and Kaeding were added following the 2003 season.

Iowa - Drake Women's Soccer

The University has had women's soccer for close to ten years, but I had never attended a game. On this beautiful fall-like night I thought I would take the family to a game. It was the season opener against the Drake Bulldogs. By the time we arrived the Hawkeyes were ahead 2-0 with about twenty minutes to go in the first half. Soon after taking a seat on the grassy knoll, the Hawkeyes scored a goal and increased their lead by one. We stayed until the 35 minute mark of the second half with hopes that Iowa could hold on to win this one.

I am definitely not a soccer fan, but it was more interesting to watch in person. A very good crowd showed up and few seats could be found in the permanent bleachers. I have met Iowa's head coach Ron Rainey, and talked with him on a number of occasions. He is definitely a person I would let my child play for. Very nice, humble and seemingly appreciative of the people around him. One of his players is the sister of a good friend of mine. Jackie Kaeding, the sister of Nate is also a very nice person. I met her at a San Diego Chargers playoff game in the '07 season and have talked with her many times as she worked this summer at Brown Deer Golf Course in Coralville, Iowa. It was these two reasons why we attended tonight's soccer match-up.

Although I am not a soccer fan, I was bored by tonight's atmosphere. We sat through a halftime with little entertainment. A contest for two little kids to dribble and kick a ball through the goal. This idea has been recycled throughout the many Iowa sporting events. Then the music that ensued sounded like they came from the original 8-Track. Then when the Iowa Fight Song was played, my wife and I were the only ones I heard clapping to it.

My wife said she may take Colin to more games this season. It won't be because of the half-time entertainment though. It will be for the play on the field and the beautiful soccer facility.