Corridor Classic

Eastern Iowa's Corridor Classic began seven years ago as an opportunity for the two Division I baseball programs to play in one of the nicer minor league facilities. Cedar Rapids and Memorial Stadium seemed like a natural fit for the Northern Iowa Panthers to meet the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Over the years the weather has been questionable, but fans turned out to see a good game showcasing the state's best talent.

But in 2010 the Corridor Classic would change with the elimination of Northern Iowa's baseball program. The Hawkeyes had to find a new opponent if they wanted to keep this annual game alive. The natural fit was Coe College of Cedar Rapids, but the Kohawks are a Division III team, attempting to play with the Division I Hawkeyes. However as the game progressed it was obvious to see the difference in talent between the two schools. The Kohawks took an early 3-0 lead after the top of the first, but the Hawkeyes had a solid response. In the bottom of the inning the Hawkeyes took a 6-3 lead and continued to add to it as the score became 14-3 after three innings--the moment we decided to return home.

This battle of teams had much the same look as Corridor Classics of the past. Cheerleaders represented each team (and what doesn't say baseball more than cheerleaders?) as well as a good representation of fans from each school. Former Hawkeye womens basketball player, and current Coe head coach, Randi Peterson joined Iowa Associate Head Women's Coach Jan Jensen to throw out the first pitch.

However on this night we found out what a "Kohawk" looked like...and it isn't pretty. Of course you want your mascot to look tough, formidible and powerful. But this Kohawk is downright scarry. He looks more like a cross between Benjamin Franklin and a bird. I can't imagine how bad the other attempts were made a coming up with a costume, but let's hope they didn't waste much money coming up with this one.

And the other Cedar Rapids school was represented in the ballpark Tuesday night. Mount Mercy had a prominent billboard on the left field fence, while Iowa's adorned the right-center fence. Coe's marketing seemed to be absent in Memorial Stadium. Perhaps they were all out of money after designing the mascot's costume.

Sittin' In the Prinicpal's Office

Spring Training was everything I was hoping for it to be. I enjoyed weeing major league teams as up close and personal as I would their minor league affiliates. And although this Cub fan enjoyed watching his team train in Arizona like my father had always wanted to do, a favorite memory is watching the Dodgers play the Angels. Two Southern California teams re-igniting a freeway rivalry creating an opportunity that doesn't come often for this Midwesterner....As you can see from the adjacent picture, there is nothing like a Father and Son attending a baseball game together.....Of course Ronnie Woo Woo finds his way to HoHoKam. I have pictures of that as well......Growing up in Iowa and cheering for both the Hawkeyes and Drake Bulldogs the Northern Iowa Panthers has never been a team I've had a liking for. But how could any Iowan not be excited for what the basketball team did recently in upsetting number one ranked Kansas Jayhawks. The Missouri Valley has always been an underrated basketball conference. No matter if it has been Indiana State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, Creighton and most recently Drake, the conference has provided some very memorable games. While labled a "mid-major," there is nothing minor about the quality and consistency of play in the MVC.....

Iowa Pride

An outsider may not find anything glamorous about living in Iowa. They may visit and see farmland for miles. They may smell the hoglots that are frequently found in the rural areas. And the largest city in the state isn't among the top 100 in the nation. But one this that outsiders should notice is the pride residents of the Hawkeye State take in Iowa, and Iowans aren't afraid to show it.

Recently when travelling through the western part of the United States, it was easy to spot the Iowans, and it wasn't because of their pasty complextion due to the lack of sun over the winter months, it was due to the pride they took in wearing the colors of the schools they support.

No matter if it is the Hawkeyes, Cyclones or Panthers, the three state schools, or one of the smaller private colleges or universities Iowans aren't afraid to state their allegiance.
Our vacation began in Las Vegas and upon walking into the lobby of the MGM Grand the first t-shirt I saw was that of Northern Iowa on a college student. Obviously it was spring break and most college students will travel in a shirt sporting that of the school they attend, but as we continued to walk around Sin City, it was evident there were many more Iowans. On two other occasions that day I saw two older gentlemen wearing University of Iowa shirts and another college student with an Iowa State sweatshirt on. Then when it became cooler and I had to wear my Iowa Hawkeye jacket, I began to hear supportive comments. Two people said, "Go Hawks" and another offered to open the door for "a Hawkeye."

Now Las Vegas is the number one spring break destination and many of the in-state schools were out at the same time, but the common theme continued into Arizona. The Phoenix area is a popular place for the snowbird Iowans. Seeing individulas support their Iowa schools shouldn't be abnormal, but they don't shy away from it.

Sitting by the pool at our hotel we find one older man walking by wearing a Northern Iowa shirt. Then at the Cubs spring training game, there were a number wearing "Hawkeye" shirts walking around the parking lot. Once I would say, "Go Hawks," the response was very enthusiastically as if the recent success of the football team made them more proud to be from Iowa.

And as you can see from the above picture, the pride Iowans have in their schools also exists in the businesses the transplanted one open away from home. This business with the tigerhawk logo is on one of the busiest streets in Mesa, Arizona, Country Club Drive. Definitely the Hawkeye logo may be frowned upon by the fans of the local Arizona schools, but obviously the owner doesn't care.

But the pride didn't stop with the state's three schools. Also at the Cubs game my wife and I saw two individuals with Drake t-shirts and on the streets of Tempe was a gentleman with a "Simpson College Baseball" shirt.

It isn't out of the ordinary for fans to support their teams wherever they go, but for Iowans it doesn't matter the size of the school, it is their team...and that their team represents where they are from.

College Football Week 7

With the first BCS poll announced over the weekend, this is a good time to showcase the ladies of one of the top FCS programs. On Saturday Southern Illinois defeated Northern Iowa in one of the most impressvie victories of the day. In a sold out UNI Dome, the Salukies from Carbondale defeated a Panther team which is next to unbeatable at home. However, in a division with a play-off all this victory will do for SIU is position them in a 16 team play-off. The Panthers have their backs to the wall with a must-win game at South Dakota State this weekend. With a loss, the Panthers are out of the play-off.

In College Basketball, ESPN has introduced Bracket Buster Weekend. It is intended to generate excitement among non-BCS conference teams and improve their seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The time has come for ESPN to do the same with College Football. Boise State is #4 in the first BCS poll released on Sunday. TCU is #8. Among the remaining game Boise has, one is against a team with a winning record giving them little hope to improve in the BCS poll. ESPN could reserve Thanksgiving weekend for a BCS buster set of games. Pairings could be announced on November 1 and each year the host team can rotate among the different conferences. A Boise State - TCU match-up would definitely create interest and perhaps provide credibility to the winner. Will the winner have a legitimate claim to being in the National Title Game? Doubtful, but it is one step closer to the playoff the media and fans have been asking for, with the winner guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl.

Look Back at Northern Iowa

A final look back at Saturday's scare in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes beat the FCS in-state rival Northern Iowa Panthers 17-16.

The first swarm of the year. A packed Kinnick Stadium awaited the start of the 2009 football season.

Back in the booth was Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak. Podolak, temporarily retired, returned to the booth. It was great to see and hear the two again. On this weekend Gary received the award of honorary letterman. Definitely deserved.

At halftime Hall of Fame Coach, Hayden Fry stopped by the Learfield Radio booth for a quick interview.

The Iowa - Northern Iowa football game marked the culmination of FryFest in Coralville. FryFest will look to become an annual event.

Iowa Survives Northern

Northern Iowa Football fans left disapointed Saturday as the Hawkeyes blocked two consecutive field goals and giving the Hawkeyes the 17-16 victory. Having the momentum for most of the game, Northern Iowa drove down to the Iowa 22 yard line in the last two minutes, but failed on two attempts, the first was a kick recovered by UNI only to find out there was one second on the clock and another attept.

Special Thanks to the Iowa City Press-Citizen for this photo.