The Hawkeyes Have Arrived in Tempe

Kirk Ferentz leads his Hawkeye Football team off the buses at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix as the Iowa Football team begins their preparation for the Insight Bowl in Arizona. Ferentz is accompanied by Insight Bowl team host, Steve Leach - a native of Dubuque and University of Iowa alum.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Night Out on the Town

The first Night out on the Town of the 2010 Bowl season features the Yard House, located in Scottsdale's Fasion District.

With a covered valet entrace, the Yard House is located on the lower level of one of Scottsdale many malls. Once inside the bar could be compared to that of the tv show, Cheers--a long, square wood bar with many beers on tap.

The menu is also varied with the traditional bar favorites such as hamburgers and assorted sandwiches. But the entree menu has a little for everyone from fish to pasta to a wide variety of salads.

The Move to Tempe

A few issues with the mobile uploads to Engy's has delayed a few posts regarding the Iowa Football team's move to Tempe, Arizona for the 2010 Insight Bowl. However below you will see a difference in climates as the team will leave the December chill of the Upper Midwest for the dry Southwest air of the Valley of the Sun.

On Friday Mike Riggan, owner of TanTara Tucking  Company and the provider of the equipment semi used by the Iowa Football team departed the campus of the University of Iowa. Within the tractor-trailer was the Jacobson Athletic Complex as the team relocates to the bowl city. On board were items used for practice and the game, as well as video, medical and office supplies of the team and administration to be set up at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, the home away from home of the Iowa Hawkeyes in preparation for their bowl tilt with the Missouri Tigers.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s will greet the team upon its arrival on Monday. In preparation for the football team, members of the equipment, video and training staff descended onto Tempe early Saturday to begin the relocaton process. On Monday the football team will arrive close to 4:30 into Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport where they will be greeted by members of the Insight Bowl staff. The Hawkeye's first Arizona practice will be Tuesday at Corona del Sol High School.

Preparing for Tempe

Fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes are excited about their upcoming trip to Tempe, Arizona for their Insight Bowl match-up with Missouri. The excitement bled over to the newspaper as a half page ad was placed in the Arizona Republic promoting the HawkeyeSports Web Site for locals to purchase tickets. The game is December 28th on ESPN.

 Designated as the practice facility in 2010 for the Big Ten team is Corona del Sol High School. Practices get under way early the week of December on both the school's participation and practifields.

 The home away from home for the Iowa Football team is the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, located on the south side of Tempe on an Indiana Reservation. Above is the view from the Sheraton as the sun sets on another Arizona evening.

And finally, Sun Devil stadium is where the Insigh Bowl will be played. The last four Insigh Bowl winners have shared the same locker rooms, located under the South stands, which is also home to the Arizona State Wildcat

Destination Tempe

On Sunday the University of Iowa Football team accepted a bid to play in the Insight Bowl located in Tempe, Arizona. Iowa's opponent will be the Missouri Tigers from the Big XII conference. This is the first time the border state universities have played one another since 1910.

The Insight Bowl will be played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. Game time in the desert will be 7pm (PT) on ESPN. Announcing the game on tv will be Sean McDonough and Matt Millen. The game can also be heard on the Hawkeye Sports Network with Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak.

This will be Iowa's first post-season appearance in the state of Arizona. Iowa fans will be well-represented on Mill Avenue as the Phoenix Iowa Club is the largest club in the nation. Arizona is also a popular winter destination for many Iowa snowbirds.

Gator Bowl Criteria

Interesting post found on the Gator Bowl's Facebook page. Here is their philosophy when choosing teams:

The Gator Bowl Association is gearing up for team announcement and will select teams based on the three primary elements of our mission:

1)      Economic impact on Northeast Florida
2)      Great national image
3)      Create community pride for residents

MISSION STATEMENT
The Gator Bowl Association’s mission is to provide Northeast Florida with the very best in college athletics and related activities in order to maximize positive impact on the area’s economy, national image and community pride.

Preparing for the announcement

Raymond James Stadium a day before the 2009 Outback Bowl

Many fans think the athletic department knows the bowl fate of their favorite team. It is true that it is the job of those within to sell one's program to a bowl's board of directors, but often decisions aren't made until the day after many of the conference championships. At Iowa, the possibilities are few, with a wide selection of opponents trying to work themselves out. Possible bowl cities may be Tampa, Jacksonville or Tempe, playing teams from the Big XII or SEC.

In preparation for Selection Sunday, video coordinators around the country are constantly calling one another to find out what they have heard or read. And while many scenarios seem cut and dry, until the selection is announced, the possibilities are many. Such was the case in 2009.

Sun Devil Stadium, the home to the Insight Bowl.

The entire week leading up to the announcement, many of the so-called experts showed Iowa playing Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Although the Broncos weren't done with their season, we began sharing games between each other. However, prior to leaving the office after practice on Championship Saturday, I had read a scenario in which the Hawkeyes could play the ACC Champion in the Orange Bowl. That night Clemson and Georgia Tech played in the Tampa night with the Yellow Jackets claiming the ACC title. I had brought home the office numbers of each video coordinator and made the call to Atlanta leaving a message to be heard upon their return.

This year I have been on the phone with the video staffs at Missouri, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Stanford, Nebraska, and Arkansas to name a few. All are friends, with each of us trying to get a better idea of what to expect come Sunday. The possibility of playing most of these schools are remote, if not impossible, but any information gained is beneficial, and perhaps it is the initial call to set up what may be the potential match-up.

While all of the fans sit and wait for the announcement, so will the staffs of all of the teams involved. But once that initial call is made, the preparation moves quickly.