A Memorable Night in Tempe

Iowa's victory over Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl was their third straight bowl victory - a first for the program. Twenty-five seniors leave a lasting legacy for the underclassmen to continue. Those seniors led the team in the singing of the Iowa Fight Song while hoisting the Insight Bowl Champion Trophy.

Throughout the 2010 season the Iowa Football team appeared on ABC five times. On three of those broadcasts Sean McDonough and Matt Millen announced the game to a national audience. The same occurred for Tuesday night's Insight Bowl on ESPN. And dating back to the 2009 game in Columbus, this crew has had Iowa on the call for six games, whether on ABC, ESPN or ESPN Radio. (Within our conversation, Sean McDonough mentioned he has visited this web site).

Every bowl game has its advantages and the Insight has many. Above were the team hosts for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Alongside me from L-R: Jeff Smith, Steve Leach (Insight Bowl Committee Chairman and '84 U of Iowa Grad / '87 U of I Law School), Bob Whitehouse and Mike Muraco (Team Host Lead). These four were with the Hawkeyes every minute while in Arizona and took care of every detail. Steve had those of us who went in advance of the team to his house for a Bar B Que with his wife Beth, formerly of Wilton, Iowa

Parachute jumpers were among the pre-game activities. The jumper carrying the "Iowa" flag brought the loudest ovation.

With Ryan Donohue, the starting punter for the Iowa Football team prior to Iowa's game with Missouri.

Insight Bowl Champions

The Iowa Football Video Staff with the 2010 Insight Bowl Trophy

The 2010 season may not have ended with a record many followers of the Iowa Football team expected. And the news off the field surrounding the team disappointed all who follow them. So on this late Tuesday night in Arizona, those who stayed awake were treated to a victory that made them feel good about their Hawkeyes again. For the third straight year - the first team in program history - the Iowa Football ends their season with a bowl victory, this year the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona.

Iowa's Equipment Truck

On display outside Sun Devil Stadium is the Iowa Football Equipment Truck, owned by Mike Riggan. Mike has provided the equipment transportation for the Hawkeyes for close to thirty years. Riggan was among the first in the nation to provide such a service and clearly shows off his pride in the Hawkeyes.

Insight Bowl Team Photo

Monday brought the feel of Friday in Iowa's game week. We are less than 24 hours away from the kick-off of the 2010 Insight Bowl as the Hawkeyes take on the Missouri Tigers for the first time in 100 years. Two schools less than four hours apart will face each other a time zone away. On this day before the game the Iowa Hawkeyes took to Sun Devil Stadium, the home of the Insight Bowl for their team picture. The field is freshly painted and is in far greater shape than less than three weeks ago when the bottom picture was taken.

 

Today the field was freshly painted in preparation for Tuesday night's game. Game time is set for 8pm MT with game time temps in the 50s under clear skies.

Game Preparation

Game preparation takes on many roles. Moving an entire organization to a remote location for 7 - 10 days is an undertaking. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Jacobson Athletic Complex is relocated to Tempe, Arizona and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass. More than just practice goes on while the Hawkeyes are out of Iowa City. Trainers, Video, Equipment, Administration and an entire Football Staff set up shop in hotel ballrooms and meeting areas and continue to operate. Cat 5e cables are run from room to room for the coaches to continue their game planning while watching Missouri video as well as that day's practice. Trainers continue to tape ankles and rehab injured athletes using the equipment that must be transported on the team's equipment truck. Secretaries busily type up game plans as well as continuously modify based on what the coaches scheme up.

The team's video operations are set up in a centrally located meeting room. All practices are edited and shared out to ten meeting rooms for coaches and players to access.

Darrell Wilson begins his position meeting with the linebackers in one of the team's meeting rooms

Night Out on the Town

The Phoenix area is full of Iowans. Over the last week the Iowa Football team has been in Tempe preparing for the 2010 Insight Bowl, transplanted Iowans are all over the place. In Scottsdale there is a restaurant that would make any Hawkeye fan feel at home. Kinnicks Sports Bar and Grill is definitely "Iowa." The menu has selections with a Hawkeye-feel or with a connection to the Big Ten. Flags hang from the rafters of every Big Ten school as well as Chuck Long's jersey, and Nile Kinnick's Heisman is on display...well, a replica. Our waitress, Amanda (below) says it becomes very busy on game days and they are looking for a big crowd to watch the Insight Bowl.

Head Coaches Dinner at the Phoenician

On Christmas Night the staffs of the two participating teams of the 2010 Insight Bowl met for dinner with the Insight Bowl committee at the famed Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale. John Junker, Executive Director of the Fiesta Bowl which oversees the Insight welcomed Iowa and Missouri and introduced each coach for a short speech.

This is the first year in many the Insight Bowl isn't on New Year's Eve. Typically this dinner is later in the week, but it was determined Christmas evening may be the best time, as children attending experienced a special dinner consisting of mac and cheese or chicken strips followed by games, cookie decorating and movies.

Typically the above photo is of the participating team's coaches, but this is Mike Schumaker, Video Coordinator of Missouri along with myself.