STORMINSPANK'S HAWKEYE RAMBLINGS

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART SIX OF EIGHT (JARRYD COLE)

2009-11-05T22:27:00.000-06:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part SIX is up:
http://www.hawkeyenation.com/basketball/iowa-hoops-will-be-better-part-vi-jarryd-cole

If you missed the other articles in the series, here are they are:

PART ONE - YEAR THREE
PART TWO - MATT GATENS
PART THREE - DR. TOM AND EUROPE
PART FOUR - ANTHONY TUCKER
PART FIVE - STRENGTH
PART SIX - JARRYD COLE

Parts 7 and 8 to follow...

FOOTBALL: Iowa Holds Firm at #4 in the Latest GRI Rating

2009-11-04T10:24:00.002-06:00

GRI (Gade Ratings Index) - 11/4/09

Rank	Team	Points	Last	This Week
1.	Florida (10)	162	1	vs Vanderbilt
2.	Alabama (5)	149	2	vs LSU
3.	Texas (2)	144	3	vs UCF
4.	Iowa	113	4	vs Northwestern
5.	Oregon	78	9	at Stanford
6.	Cincinnati	75	6	vs UConn
7.	TCU	70	7	at San Diego State
8.	Boise State	62	8	at La Tech
9.	Georgia Tech	30	NR	vs Wake Forest
10.	LSU	25	10	at Alabama

Dropped Out: USC (5).

Also Receiving Votes: Penn State 22, Pittsburgh 2, Utah 1.

About the GRI: The GRI has been successfully ranking college football teams for 5+ years. The GRI consists of voters from across the nation. Currently at least one of our voters represents the following regions: Midwest, West Coast, Southwest and Atlantic Coast. The first GRI is released each year on the Wednesday after Big Ten Conference play has started. It is then released on a weekly basis for the rest of the regular season. The GRI continues to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to unbiased, comprehensive college football rankings.

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART FIVE OF EIGHT (STRENGTH)

2009-10-30T21:03:00.001-05:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part FIVE is up:
http://www.hawkeyenation.com/basketb...art-v-strength

If you missed the other articles in the series, here are they are:

PART ONE - YEAR THREE
PART TWO - MATT GATENS
PART THREE - DR. TOM AND EUROPE
PART FOUR - ANTHONY TUCKER
PART FIVE - STRENGTH

Parts 6-8 to follow...

FOOTBALL: MSU's Jeremy Ware's Helmet to Helmet Hit on Iowa's Colin Sandeman

2009-10-25T10:28:00.007-05:00

It was the right call by the officials, no matter how long it took for the flag to come in.
I don't know how any self respecting football fan can not see that this was a blantant H2H.

Here's the video.

Here's the screenshot.

It's pretty obvious, folks.

Ware should be given a 1 game suspension from the Big Ten, while the Big Ten Network should suspend Wayne Larrivee for his lack of knowledge and the way he approached the hit. If Coleman from Ohio State was given a suspension, so should Ware.

Check the rules

PROTECTION OF DEFENSELESS PLAYERS—In 2008, the committee
introduced a separate rule prohibiting initiating contact with and targeting a
defenseless opponent (Rule 9-1-3).
The following are situations in which defenseless players are susceptible to
serious injury:
• The quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who has handed or
pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate
further in the play;
• The kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a
reasonable length of time to regain his balance after the kick;
• The passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a
reasonable length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the
ball;
• The pass receiver whose concentration is on the ball;
• The pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when the pass is no longer
catchable;
• The kick receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball;
• The kick receiver who has just touched the ball;
• The player who has relaxed once the ball has become dead; and
• The player who is obviously out of the play.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS FR-9
These players are protected by rules that have been in place for many years. It
is of the utmost importance that participants, coaches and game officials carefully
and diligently observe safety rules.
Intentional helmet-to-helmet contact is never legal, nor is any other blow directed toward an opponent’s head. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified.

WISCONSIN BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER

2009-10-14T21:12:00.003-05:00

It's Badger Week. BHGP already put up the mandatory Badger video.

Here's my version, complete with our favorite coach playing the role of the snake.

WISCONSIN BADGER BADGER BADGER BADGER (Flash Version)

Poor Quality YouTube Version:

FOOTBALL: GRI Released, Iowa Moves Up to 7th

2009-10-14T14:49:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GRI (Gade Ratings Index) - 10/14/09

Rank	Team	Points	Last	This Week
1.	Florida (12)	173	1	vs Arkansas
2.	Alabama (6)	164	2	vs South Carolina
3.	Texas	149	3	vs Oklahoma
4.	Virginia Tech	117	6	at Georgia Tech
5.	USC	92	5	at Notre Dame
6.	Boise State	65	7	at Tulsa
7.	Iowa	52	10	at Wisconsin
8.	Ohio State	51	8	at Purdue
9.	Cincinnati	43	9	at South Florida
10.	Miami (FL)	28	NR	at UCF

Dropped Out: LSU (4).

Also Receiving Votes: LSU 27, Oregon 21, TCU 8.

MEN'S BB: Fantastic ESPN Story about Former Iowa Hawkeye Jake Kelly

2009-10-09T17:00:00.006-05:00

ESPN's Dana O'Neil writes about Jake Kelly's transfer from Iowa to Indiana State. In the article, people unfamiliar with the situation will come to understand why Jake left, as well as what type of man Coach Lickliter is.

Photo courtesy of Bob Kelly

Iowa fans were there Jake when he lost his mother, I would encourage them to support him with the Sycamores, as well. This Hawk fan will be.

Good luck, Jake!

FOOTBALL: Latest GRI Poll is out - Iowa is at #10 this week

2009-10-07T20:01:00.003-05:00

It's Wednesday and we all know what that means, the Gade Ratings Index is released.

This week's ratings are below

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GRI (Gade Ratings Index) - 10/07/09

Rank	Team	Points	Last	This Week
1.	Florida (11)	172	1	at LSU
2.	Alabama (7)	163	2	at Ole Miss
3.	Texas	149	3	vs Colorado
4.	LSU	105	5	vs Florida
5.	USC	86	9	OFF
6.	Virginia Tech	82	4	vs Boston College
7.	Boise State	67	6	OFF
8.	Ohio State	38	NR	vs Wisconsin
9.	Cincinnati	36	10	OFF
10.	Iowa	35	7	vs Michigan

Dropped Out: Oklahoma (8).

Also Receiving Votes: Miami (FL) 25, Oregon 13, TCU 11, Auburn 7, NC State 1.

FOOTBALL: Why Tate Forcier will Struggle Against the Iowa Hawkeyes

2009-10-05T22:14:00.003-05:00

Some basic stats to project Tate Forcier's struggles in the upcoming Oct 10th Iowa game.

PHOTO COURTESY OF (RASHAUN RUCKER/Detroit Free Press)

Listed stats are:
Pass Efficiency Defense
Total Defense
Scoring Defense

Take a look at the defenses (specifically pass defenses) that Forcier has played against.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Western Michigan
PE D - 79th
Total D - 89th
Scoring D - 71st

Notre Dame
PE D - 76th
Total D - 96th
Scoring D - 58th

Eastern Michigan
PE D - 6th
Total D - 72nd
Scoring D - 99th
EM is 6th in PE, but Forcier was only 7/13 for 68 yards because the game was in hand.

Indiana
PE D - 86th
Total D - 46th
Scoring D - 63rd

Michigan St
PE D - 101st
Total D - 49th
Scoring D - 64th

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Now, look what he faces this Saturday -

Iowa
PE D - 4th
Total D - 32nd
Scoring D - 10th

And Tate Forcier has yet to win a game on the road.

Forcier has been pretty good so far. He makes freshman mistakes, though, and Iowa will capitalize on those.

Forcier hasn't played away from home in a stadium like Kinnick with fans like Iowa's.

Forcier hasn't seen a defense remotely as good as Iowa will bring on Saturday.

I think the frosh has supreme talent and potential, but he'll be shell shocked coming into Kinnick - not only because of the environment, but because of what the D will be bringing at him.

UM's hope will be on the ground in this one.

Iowa will handle Forcier, and the Wolverines, this Saturday.

MEN'S BB: ESPN/Sagarin puts the Iowa Basketball Program 10th All-Time in the Nation

2009-10-05T12:24:00.004-05:00

Iowa has never been an elite program? Think again...

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/1004/cbe1.pdf

Iowa 10th all-time.

Pretty impressive.

Eight Big Ten teams in the Top 15; Five Big Ten teams in the Top 10.

FOOTBALL: Thoughts on the Iowa Hawkeyes Going into the Arizona game

2009-09-14T17:06:00.004-05:00

The depth chart was released today....

IOWA OFFENSE
WR ....... 7 McNutt , 15 Johnson-Koulianos
LT ......... 79 Bulaga, 77 Reiff
LG ........ 78 Richardson, 73 Gettis, 68 Kuempel
C ......... 52 Eubanks, 67 Koeppel
RG ........ 63 Vandervelde, 74 Doering
RT ........ 60 Calloway, 56 Zusevics
TE ......... 81 Moeaki, 82 Reisner
QB ........ 12 Stanzi, 16 Vandenberg/14 Wienke
WR ....... 86 Stross, 26 Chaney, Jr.
RB ........ 32 Robinson, 3 Wegher
FB ......... 36 Morse, 47 Leppert

IOWA DEFENSE
DE ........ 94 Clayborn, 58 Daniel
DT ........ 95 Klug, 61 Meade
DT ........ 46 Ballard, 93 Daniels
DE ........ 91 Binns, 64 Hundertmark
OLB ...... 49 Edds, 45 T. Nielsen
MLB ..... 43 Angerer, 48 T. Johnson
WLB ..... 42 Hunter, 33 Tarpinian
LC ......... 10 Lowe, 28 Prater
SS ......... 9 Sash, 31 Cato
FS ......... 30 Greenwood, 20 Conklin
RC ........ 19 Spievey, 2 Casti llo
PT ......... 5 Donahue, 6 Guthrie
PK ........ 1 Murray, 8 Mossbrucker

My thoughts:
1.) That offensive line is killer. I love it! I love it! I love it! I hope that five can go all year with Reiff get some spot minutes at OT.

2.) Iowa's WR Corps is FANTASTIC. I think it is easily Ferentz's best squad he has ever had at Iowa. Easily.

3.) Does anyone really think Prater won't get most of the minutes on Sat? I think he will. Although, give Lowe credit, he looked good vs. ISU.

4.) Our safeties are pretty seasoned for their age. Almost like having Jovon Johnson and Antwan back there, but with more talent. Greenwood is to Allen and Sash is to Johnson. Obviously not a perfect comparison as two player CB and the other two played S, but it still will lead to stability in the backfield.

5.) I don't have any problem with Robinson ahead of Wegher. He didn't do anything to lose carries last game. Averaged (I think) something like 5 YPC and held onto the ball, what else do you need? Split carries between the two freshman will help them make it through the season... it's a long one.

6.) Our TE squad is stacked too. Without taking time to look, I'd say Iowa's TE squad is best in the Big Ten for sure.

7.) Stanzi has the weapons, he needs to know how to fire them accurately now!

MEN'S BB: First Glance at the New White Basketball Uniforms

2009-09-10T15:55:00.003-05:00

No Script wording on them unfortunately, but here's a look at them.

Asst Coach, Joel Cornette, put a goal out there that when he hit 200 Followers on Twitter, he would post the pic.

Why not Script font next time?

FOOTBALL: Discover ISUISU.COM: Iowa State Fans are Already Looney... Oh Boy

2009-09-02T12:02:00.008-05:00

http://www.isuisu.com/2009/09/2009-iowa-state-cyclones-football-season-prediction/

9/12 Iowa (2008 record: 8-4, 2008 result Iowa 17 Iowa St 5) – It would appear that both offenses are going to have big advantages over the defenses. Iowa State, with the spread offense, should have luck moving the ball down the field against a defense that will be missing its top two DB’s for the contest. The Hawkeyes will play a 4-3 defense that the Cyclones should be able to exploit. Iowa has a very good offensive line and should be able to lean on an undersized ISU front seven. However, the Hawks will most likely be missing OL starter Julian Vandervelde and the RB’s are still unproven. The Cyclones have won the last two against Iowa at Jack Trice and Iowa is team that gets better as the season moves along.
Prediction: Iowa State 30 Iowa 28
Win (55% chance of victory)

Ok, let's get this straight.... a team that had 10 losses last year (a current 10 game losing streak mind you), went winless in the Big XII, has a new coach/new system has a 55% chance to beat a nationally ranked Iowa team coming off a News Years bowl win, having won 6 out of their last 7 games.

Look, I know... I know... Iowa plays like donkey crap against ISU, especially in Jack Trice stadium. However, some of this stuff is just ridiculous.

First things first, Iowa was 9-4 last year, not 8-4.
ISU's offense will have an advantage over Iowa's D? The same Iowa D that is arguably the best defense in the entire Big Ten?
Iowa will be missing its top 2 DBs? Is this foresight to say Amari Speivey will be injured? How often do spread offenses exploit Iowa's 4-3? Better do some research on that one too.
And the post says Julian is out, so supposedly that's going to have some affect on the line's play... huh? JV is a very nice lineman, but Iowa is deeper than the Pacific Ocean at OL. Seriously.

Wait, wait there's more... check out the About Us page.

So... what exactly is that dude pointing? Hmmm.......

MEN'S BB: 2010 Iowa Basketball Recruits All Ranked in Top 175 per Gibbons

2009-08-18T19:32:00.000-05:00

Link courtesy of Jonathon Brust (jdbrust on Twitter).

All 4 of 2010 Iowa BB recruits in Gibbons top 175!
http://tinyurl.com/Iowa175
Larson #103, Brust #136, McCabe #150, Marble #161

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART FOUR OF EIGHT (ANTHONY TUCKER)

2009-08-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part Four (Anthony Tucker) is up on Hawkeyenation.com

Read it HERE

OT: BREWSTER GOOGLES - Be the first to own a pair!

2009-07-27T16:58:00.006-05:00

Ever wonder what it must be like to see past what's truly in front of you? To be able to live on another level? To exist in another state of mind?

Throughout the past few years, Big Ten fans have witnessed Tim Brewster's infamous hype-machine. It's obvious he sees things that simple folk just can't see. He's just that much more in tune than everyone else.

Now, for a limited time, you too can see what Tim Brewster sees with the all-new BREWSTER GOOGLES! WOOOOOOOOO!

There are literally millions of uses for the Brewster Googles; some examples include:

Player Talent Comparisons!

Intrawebs Fun!

Past Games!

ORDER YOURS TODAY!

MEN'S BB: Full game video of Iowa Commit, Cody Larson (AAU Reebok AA Camp)

2009-07-26T21:27:00.003-05:00

Follow THIS LINK - Click on D-One vs. Dakota Schoolers on the right hand pane.

Larson is #34 in the white.

Thanks to hawkfaninboston for the heads up.

Of the 4 recruits verballed to the Hawkeyes for the 2010 class, Larson still remains my favorite to make the most impact.

MEN'S BB: Coach Joel Cornette is Now on Twitter

2009-07-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Iowa Hawkeye Assistant Basketball Coach - Joel Cornette - @joelcornette is now on Twitter.

MEN'S BB: Coach LaVall Jordan is Now on Twitter

2009-07-21T11:50:00.002-05:00

Iowa Assistant Men's BB Coach, LaVall Jordan, is now on Twitter.

Linky Link

http://twitter.com/HawkeyeCoachJ

MEN'S BB: F Zach McCabe from Heelan Verbals to the Iowa Hawkeyes

2009-07-17T13:55:00.004-05:00

As reported by Rob Howe on Hawkeyenation.com, Zach McCabe has given the Iowa Basketball Staff his verbal commitment. The verbal rounds out the 2010 class, which includes Larson, Marble, and Brust. Coach Lickliter had four targets for the 2010 class and he landed all four... something that is just GREAT to see.

McCabe, a two-sport stud out of Heelan and former teammate of current Hawk Brennan Cougill, recently did very well at an AAU tournament. Offers began pouring in, and some fans were worried that Iowa had lost its chance to land him.

Zach is a legit 6'6" who has range, but can also finish around the basket. He has decent hands and ball-handling for his height. Last summer, McCabe was out of the spotlight, as the #1 ranked player in the land, Harrison Barnes, was the main man on All-Iowa Attack. This summer, however, scouts have seen what McCabe can bring to the table.

According to a source up here in Minnesota, McCabe is one of the best shooters in the nation.
http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2009/07/harris on-barnes-writes-diary-f.html

When Barnes left his All-Iowa Attack AAU team this summer to play for Howard Pulley, it was a blessing in disguise for Sioux City wing Zach McCabe, who proved to be one of the best shooters in the country. He recently picked up an offer from Minnesota, Virginia, Utah and Arizona State this week.

How Long Until the NCAA Bans Twitter?

2009-07-17T10:32:00.003-05:00

From an Indy Star Article:

Twitter time

Several players on the Spiece Indy Stars 15-and-under team have taken to Twitter and have quickly developed a following. Jeremy Hollowell, a 6-6 sophomore-to-be from Lawrence Central, had 222 followers as of Thursday.

Spiece teammates Austin Burgett, Ron Patterson and Kellon Thomas all have accounts, as does coach Chris Hawkins.

"A lot of the college coaches are on there," Hollowell said. "I like having it on my phone because I can do it anywhere."

Hollowell took a visit to Indiana University earlier this month and has an unofficial visit to Purdue scheduled for Aug. 1. He previously had scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Iowa, and on Thursday Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio State and Xavier offered, said Hawkins.

Will this force Lickliter to get a Twitter Account? Will he need it to compete with TomCrean for Hollowell's services?

If coaches are able to talk to recruits basically by texting, isn't that illegal? It certainly is a grey area. Not sure how long the NCAA lets this go.

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART THREE OF EIGHT (EUROPE AND DR. TOM)

2009-07-16T18:56:00.001-05:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part Three (EUROPE AND DR. TOM) is up on Hawkeyenation.com

Read it HERE

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART TWO OF EIGHT (MATT GATENS)

2009-07-16T12:08:00.001-05:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part Two is up on Hawkeyenation.com

Read it HERE

MEN'S BB: Iowa Basketball Will Be Better Than You Think PART ONE OF EIGHT

2009-07-10T06:59:00.005-05:00

In an eight part series written for Hawkeyenation.com, I am out to prove Iowa Hawkeye Basketball will be better thank you think.

Part one is up on Hawkeyenation.com

MEN'S BB: Roy Marble, Jr Commits to Iowa

2009-07-02T13:40:00.002-05:00

Rob Howe of Hawkeyenation has confirmed that Roy Marble, Jr. has committed to play basketball for Coach Lickliter and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

This leaves Iowa with one more scholarship for the 2010 class, where Iowa hopes to sign Zach McCabe.

More to come...