Lasting Images – Hayden Fry

Friday Hayden is supposed to be in Iowa City to kick off an announcement for the FRY-Days event.  Marc Morehouse has predicted a statue, which would look great outside of Kinnick. 

Throughout my life I have a lot of lasting images of Hayden, heck I went one year as Hayden for Halloween.  Had the shades, white pants and black hawkeye jacket.  Even named my dog Hayden.  I always remember being able to spot him from the stands with the white pants sticking out.  Remember his fist pumps in the air, and the stache.  I was lucky to meet him once and got a picture with him and my dad and buddy. 

My lasting image isn’t from a Big Ten Championship year or the 1 vs 2 game…but rather the 1995 Sun Bowl.  Hayden was 0-3 in Rose Bowls and 0-2 vs Washington in those Rose Bowls, but in 1995 the Hawks played the Pac-10 Co-Champs Huskies in El Paso and Sedrick Shaw, Jared DeVries, Tim Dwight and Tavian Banks went nuts on the Huskies.  Still can remember Sedrick’s long TD run in the 1^st quarter and Jim Nantz’s call.  “this time there’s running room for Sedrick Shaw, no one’s gonna catch him!  Touchdown Iowa”  Brion Hurley drilled a couple of long field goals too.  Hawks won 38-18. 

It wasn’t the Rose Bowl, but it was a big win for Hayden beating the Pac-10 Champs, and was carried off the field.  That’s my lasting image.

Who’s in your 5 College Football Entrances/Traditions

Getting pumped for the start of the college football season, going to take a look around the nation at my top 5 college football entrances/traditions.  It all starts in highschool running through cheerleader decorated paper and tearing it up to college teams touching an symbol or other extravagant actions.  Each home team puts a twist on how the teams enter the field and pump up the home crowd.  A lot of them are the same and copy cat rip offs but a few have stuck for years and stick out. 

Honorable Mention– Clemson (Howard’s Rock), Notre Dame (Play like a Champion Today)

5.Ohio State / Michigan – The 2 Big Ten Rivals are tied once again, and both are ones I’ve seen in person.  Ohio State’s script Ohio (though by the band) is actually pretty cool to see in person and then the tuba player dots the ‘I’ or a famous alum does.  They then do a mock swarm and run on to the field.  Michigan has been hitting the “GO BLUE” Banner for 40+ years now.  The Big House is a frenzy when the team runs from the locker rooms and jump and touch the banner held up  at mid field to the other sideline of the field while “Hail to the Victors” is playing.  Both are cool to see and glad I can say I’ve seen them both in person.

                   

4. Miami(Fl) – The innovators.  I remember in the 80s when Miami was coming on tv the entrance was something that matched the Bulls introductions in the 90s.  The Old Orange Bowl was spooky enough, and then to add the smog machine and the players then running through it on to the field.  Back then, talk about some intimidating going on.  It’s why it’s the U.

3.Iowa  - Back in Black Blaring and Enter Sandman blaring throughout Kinnick.  The big screen with the Hawk Semi running over the opponent on its way to Kinnick.  The I-O-W-A flags followed by the swarm, all the guys as one coming on to the field.  Hawkeye Fight Song then played by the Iowa Marching band.  Almost getting goosebumps (I want some football!)

2.Colorado – The stadium is cool no matter what you say with the mountains there…then add in a 500 pound buffalo running at speeds of 25 miles an hour out of the tunnel.  Don’t get in the way of Ralphie! 

1.Florida State – The only thing that may be able to slow down Ralphie is a spear…and that’s what happens in Talahassee.  Chief Osceola and Renegade ride out to the 50 yard line at Doak Campbell Stadium and throws a spear into the center of the FSU logo.  Oh and the spear is ON FIRE.  For an added twist when the Nole’s host the Florida Gators, Chief Osceola jumps off the horse and standing drives the spear in to the ground.  Add in the warchant and its pretty cool.

There’s my take…what’s yours?

My Fading Fantasy

The lockout is over, players are moving all over the place and I can tell the NFL’s actions with players and owners have had an effect on me that I can really tell.  I’m not that excited about my D12 Fantasy football money league.  I finally took a look at it last week and started to correspond with the other 11 owners.  This is something that usually has been a yearlong thing for me.  Talking trades of draft picks and making sure we have a full league and seeing what we can do to move the league in a better direction.

The League I commish, the Dirty Dozen, has been around since 2003.  We’ve had a good core set of 5 players all the years we’ve been going.  I’ve been in the league every year but one, commishing all but 2 years.  We’ve gone from Yahoo to Fanball to ESPN.com.  Had 12 to 16 and back to 12 teams.  Keepers were added and so was draft order based on the previous year’s finish, and even added the Double D Cup traveling trophy.  I’ve got stats of all-time wins and past division champions too, but for some reason I’m just not feeling it this year.

And it’s not like because I haven’t had success.  In the 7 years I’ve been in the league, I’ve been in the money bracket 6 years.  Won at least my buy in back for 5 of those years….and I can only point to a few reasons why.

One – We’ve had rumblings last year with active/inactive users.  Daily trade requests and questionable player perceived value.  Draft format was in there too and time it took to track all of this.  That resulted in losing 6 teams, blowing up the league and starting it over.  Maybe some stability will help.

Two – Being commish in a money league sucks, especially when you have to collect money after the season.  I’m still waiting for payment from one team from 2010 (they aren’t back in 2011).  I’m also going to be utilizing PayPal this year so hopefully that helps with collecting and paying out.

Three – My interest in picking players who are arguing over MILLIONS, and MILLIONS of dollars kind of in the back of my head ticks me off.  There are people out there going pay check to pay check and they are arguing over a lifestyle that many of us only dream of.  The lockout here is going to make me a little disinterested in the NFL this year, give me college any day.

Four – Finally I like the pick’em games more.  There is less drama, its right or wrong.  Black and White, no grey area and luck isn’t involved when you pick up a 3^rd string back guessing who might get hurt or get the most carries.  I’ll post those games when they are available for those interested!

Why playing in the Big Ten is special!

Weekend Movies

Saturday Night we rented Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.  It's about a little pill you take that helps you utilize the rest of your brain that as humans we don't normally utilize....if you stay hooked on it you also get to experience some side effects.

Cooper's character in all this does good and also causes his own issues with the antagonists in the film.

His main goal ultimately is to get off the drug but in the end you're left to wonder.

Thought it was a really good film.  Like the story, Cooper played a great character that is different from the Hangover and the A-Team.  DeNiro was good too.  Also....where can I get one of these pills?

3/5 Stars

Sunday afternoon Jason and I had a bro-date and went to see Captain America:The First Avenger.  The movie started out and tied to Thor talking about Odin's treasure.  This is the source the power that the Red Skull wants.

I kinda liked how Thor, Iron Man and the Avenger's are all here in aspect.  It kind of helps tie it all together.  Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving I thought were great, Chris Evans good.  I wish in the first few fight scenes we saw more action but that came in the final fight with Red Skull.  In the end I'm guessing we are tying it all in to the Avengers and next year we'll see it tied together.

Really good summer popcorn flick.  Giving it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Hawkeyes + Huskers = Heroes Game

Since last year and when the 2011/2012 schedules where announced that Iowa and Nebraska would be the last game of the year, got really excited..and I still am and thought of how this rivalry is going to build up and be Iowa’s next great game to look forward too.  Kind of like what Wisconsin has become for Iowa and attempt to be what Nebraska had with Oklahoma.

You knew the inevitable trophy was going to come.  I love Floyd of Rosedale, and the Heartland Trophy as a Bull is great too.  Last week someone decided to retire the current incarnation of the Cy-Hawk trophy but a new one will be coming apparently.  This week before the Big Ten Media Days a joint announcement was made of a trophy that will be announced with the word “HERO” standing out.

Thoughts were being tweeted around it going to be something to do with Kinnick, Berringer, and/or some other great Huskers and Hawkeyes?  Answer is no.  Introducing the Heroes game, and trophy.  The design isn’t ready, the trophy is going to honor local state heroes.  Have their name etched on it and hopefully the score too.  Oh, and its sponsored…yes it’s about $.  Soon you’ll have your toilet paper rollers in stadiums sponsored. 

Ok – now before you kill me, it’s a great concept…yes honor local people doing great things, we don’t get enough of that on the news, its more terrible things going on.  So yes, great concept….but really, this for what is one of the top 2 games in the Legends Division (along with Michigan-Michigan State).

Now back to football…look at the trophies in the Big Ten…Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug, the Old Oaken Bucket and Paul Bunyan’s Ax…now throw in HY-VEE Hero Trophy.  Which one doesn’t belong? 

As I’ve had time to think about it today, not every game needs a trophy.  The best rivalry in college football, Ohio State-Michigan, doesn’t have a trophy.  Their reward for winning usually was the Rose Bowl and Big Ten Championship Trophy. 

I wonder was there any thought of that?  Just bring the Big Ten Legends Division Title to the game, winner gets a ticket to Indianapolis.  Or as Ohio State-Michigan is dubbed “The Game” just call it Farmageddon (as you’ll hear from me). 

Rivalries aren’t built by title sponsors and trophies, their built by the games on the field.  The seed is planted for Hawks & Huskers, let’s let it grow, not sell it out.

Lawyer'd!

A week or so ago, went out and rented The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McCaughney.  Had a pretty good cast in it with Marissa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Bryan Cranston, and Trace Adkins…so a good staff.  I had heard good things about it and was McCaughney’s best movie in a while, and heard Trace Adkins was a bad ass….the movie didn’t disappoint.  It was a great story line and had enough twists and turns that kept you involved.  It wasn’t something that seems to be coming out of Hollywood lately where it’s all predictable.  McCaughney and Phillippe were both great in their spots, Trace Adkins was a BAD ASS.  And William H. Macy, one of my favorite actors who can do almost anything it seems, was good too.  Definitely one of the better movies I’ve seen in the past 2 years, probably since The Dark Knight.

4/5 Stars