Iowa Football Spring Scrimmage

Waking up to snow and frigid temperatures made some Hawkeye fans think last year's Minnesota season finale was tropical compared to today's Iowa Spring Classic. Yet the heartiest of Hawkeye fans showed up for their first look at the 2011 team. Gone are Stanzi, Sash, Clayborn and Ballard. They are replaced by Vandenberg, Bernstein, Binns and Daniels. Many fans were disappointed with the 8-5 record of 2010, but expectations for this Iowa team are low as youth and inexperience are two words that will be used often when discribing this year's team. Although the turnout for the scrimmage was far lower than previous games, it didn't stop some from tailgating and getting a few autogrpahs at the end.

What has become a tradition before the final spring practice, Director of Security for the Hawkeye football team, Ron Stewart stops at the locker in Malcom, Iowa to pick up brats, cooks them up and prepares them for the many members of the support staff. The grilled brat was very welcome on this cold day.

For the spring game players continue to use the locker room facilities within the Iowa Football complex. After getting taped and dressed they move in a swarm-like fashion across the street to Kinnick Stadium.

Fans huddled together and braved the windy conditions. Air temps were in the 40s with wind chills dropping into the 20s. The Iowa fans arrived early, shopped at the Iowa Hawk Shop clearance sale and waited around until the scrimmage started.

Only a couple of months removed from getting hit by a car in Scottsdale, Arizona, Ed Podolak was confined to a wheelchair, but assisted in the broadcast of the spring scrimmage with play by play man, Gary Dolphin. Podolak returned to Iowa City following his operations in Arizona for rehab. He has also found some time to attend a few practices.

For the little kids that stuck it out in the cold, players rewarded them by walking around the field signing autographs.

And the media had their final opportunity to talk to Iowa Football players and coaches until media day in August.

Football's Softball Tourney

At the end of spring football is the annual softball tournament pitting class against class as well with the winner taking on the coaching staff. This is followed by a team bar-b-q.

Spring Game

Images from the last day of Spring Practice, formerly known as the Iowa Spring Game.

The 2009 Iowa Football Video Staff. Jordan O'Brion, Kyle Yoder, Erick Tjarks, and Alec Johnson

Family and media are the only ones allowed into this scrimmage.

The annual picnic with families concludes the day's activities.

Practice 13 Under the Lights

Practice 13 is complete as this one went under the lights. The second of the spring practice session. Here Head Coach Kirk Ferentz addresses the team at the end, prior to midnight.

Now it is time to catch up on tonight's Lost episode.

Practice Under the Lights

One of the few times ever during spring practice, number 10 was under the lights. A start time of 9:15 allowed the Hawkeyes the opportunity to get a feel for potential game-like conditions in the fall. Ironically, this night's practice may have had the best weather of any this spring.

Ohio-gozaimasu

Occasionally during spring football, we are visited by coaches from all different levels and areas. But this spring Head Coach Atsushi Saijyo of Osaka Sangyo University Football Team of Osaka, Japan has brought a couple of his players with him to sit in on spring drills. Shown here with interpreter Reiko Fullard (wife of former Iowa Basketball player Ken Fullard) Saijyo will sit in on coaches meetings and practice to learn more of how to play the Iowa way. They will be here through the end of spring practice.

Practice Goes Inside

Practice 8 moved inside due to the anticipation of inclement weather. The University of Iowa is one of few schools with an indoor facility which contains a regulation football field.

Spring Practice #5

Images of Spring Practice Day 5. Today marks the end of the first third of drills. The weather cooperated for a beautiful day in Iowa City.

1st Day of Spring Practice

Images from the first day of Spring Practice--the first day toward the Big Ten Championship of 2009.

Darrell Wilson during pre-practice special teams

Lester Erb and specialists