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.

Hawkeyes - Badgers...on the Golf Course

Members of the Iowa and Wisconsin video staffs met each other for a round of golf in East Dubuque, Illinois. This is the most neutral site the staffs could agree upon. In the end the team from Iowa City was victorious.

(L-R) Matthew Engelbert (IOWA), David Blaker (Wisconsin), Ryan O'Donnell (Wisconsin), Kyle Yoder (IOWA), John Mills (XOS Technologies and mutual colleague), Rob Porteus (Wisconsin)
Competition was fierce. That same desire brought out the best, and sometimes worst, in each players game.

Rob Porteus addresses the ball on Lacoma's hole two. Threatening skies followed the golfers all round long. Due to heavy rain early in the morning Lacoma only offered their 9 hole course for play. Weather limited play to nine holes.

A young baby bird watches intently as the players tee off on hole four.

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.

Big Ten Video Meeting Day 1

Today marked the first day of Big Ten Video Meetings. This is the first year the conference decided to hold their gathering in a location other than Chicago. Indianapolis is a venue in which they shared with the NFL Video Directors as they come together yearly here to meet as well as shoot the upcoming NFL Combine. While I'm gone from my family for two days, all of the NFL Video Directors are in Indianapolis from February 16th - 25th.

The first day of meetings were highlighted by presentations from LRS Sports, Sony Electronics, Webb Electronics (pictured), DV Sport, Panasonic and XOS Technologies. XOS hosted the meeting for the fourth consecutive year and treated the conference video guys to dinner at St. Elmo Steakhouse (pictured below).