The SQUEEZE

Sorry blog, I've been neglecting you!!!

In the meantime, I've read about the Orange Bowl. I have to admit, I'm a little sick of the Will Smith references. We know the Orange Bowl is in Miami. We're glad you want to welcome us to the city. But now I have that stupid song stuck in my head at all hours of the day and night. I suppose I could look on the bright side...it's better than all the material for my finals taking over my brain and causing anxiety!

So back to the topic at hand.

Isn't it fun that Iowa and GA Tech share colors!?! I mean, I guess technically the colors aren't all that similar, but the mascots make it seem that way. I do have to say...Hawks EAT bugs though (right? along with mice and other small rodents? LOL) so I don't think we really have anything to worry about.

Anyway, in scoping out the competition, I came across this picture:

It's really sorta fun! But it reminds of the lame-ness that was US when lots of people brought bags of Tostitos to the Minnesota game. It felt like a cheap version of Ohio State's roses.

I mean, being an ameteur fan and all, I can't say for certain whether this sort of thing is common...but it really annoyed me because, quite frankly, I hate looking like an asshole and that's what happened when we got the Orange over Fiesta. Ahh well, at least I wasn't one of those chip-toting fans.

Instead I merrily enjoyed our shut-out while a bag of ice attached to my shin leaked into my shoe and froze my foot. It was totally worth it.

FLLLLLOOOORIDA!!!!!!!!!!

Today I bought a box of these:

Coincidence? I think not.

Actually, I do think it's a coincidence. I was a horrible fan today and forgot all about the Bowl berths being announced. Oh well.

That being said, I'm continuing to be a bad fan by not knowing who got chosen for other bowls. I do know that Bama kicked UF outta the way and Texas did the same (LITERALLY!) to Oklahoma. Although I only saw a snippet of the SEC title game and I didn't watch any Texas/Oklahoma...which I heard was absolutely a nail-biter!!!

School has just been consuming my life. :-( At least I'll be on break during the actual bowl games!!!!

The NFL...

VS

This morning, while doing some cardio, I was watching ESPN. I don't really watch a lot of TV in general because I suppose I'd prefer to use my excess time browsing the internet. But it's awfully hard to browse the internet while running on an elliptical so I was tuned into Mike and Mike's Morning Show. Most of the time I was listening to music with no closed captioning; but there's always little clues to let you know what's going on, even without sound... Such as the fact that the Indiana Colts are 11-0. Hmmm. Also, that the NFL is taking a stricter stance on when players can return after receiving concussions. Hmmm. Also that the Tennessee Titans play the Colts this Sunday. Hmmm.

Now, if you've been reading my blog, you'll know that I vacation in TN every summer. I heard about that crazy murder/suicide thing with a Tennessee Titans player while I was there, and morbidly curious person that I am...it definitely piqued my interest. However, I had largely forgotten about it until today. I'm seriously considering watching the match-up between the Colts and the Titans on Sunday. But that would definitely be breaking my rule of not becoming an NFL fan. Ohhhhh the choices.

If I remember correctly, the Titans are 5-6 this year. Not a winning record...(no duh, right?) but it would be pretty freaking sweet if the Colts imploded and the Titans got the win. Likely? Probably not. Fun to think about? Yes.

So I may or may not be tuning in on Sunday, but I can feel the forces at work...soon I may actually be an NFL fan as well...

Oops!!!

Sorry to be MIA!!!

I went to my parents' house for a bit. And I have a lot to be thankful for!

But I won't get into that because this is a football blog. So I'm gonna talk about football.

This weekend I watched Oklahoma State (12th) die a slow and painful death to unranked Oklahoma! Wooohooo! It was a spectacular shut out with some pretty fun plays! In the fourth quarter there was an 87 yard kick-off return for a TD that was pretty sweet. The dude (whose name I have no idea!) was weaving and even backtracked a bit at the very beginning. Fun to watch! Another sweet little deal happened near the end of the 4th quarter. Oklahoma fumbled, Oklahoma State picked it up and ran halfway down the field (I was scared they were gonna get a TD!!!) but when the OSU dude got tackled HE fumbled and Oklahoma recovered! It was so fun to watch! I can't believe I never used to watch football...I was missing so much!

I also watched WVU beat Pitt which was freaking sweet, seeing as they are (were) ranked ahead of the Hawkeyes. It probably doesn't matter that much now, but I enjoy seeing Iowa rise in the rankings nonetheless. As far as that game goes though, I don't remember much except that Pitt's coach sure does get angry. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, it makes me appreciate Captain Kirk that much more!

So here's to hoping that Iowa continues to look good regardless of the fact that they're done until we bowl!!!

Regular Season = OVER

Well, a shut-out finish with our back up quarterback is a pretty good last game present. Although both offenses didn't do much for me (honestly, it was probably the most boring game of the season...) I'm quite satisfied with the outcome. We came VERY VERY close to the perfect season (OSU really was almost a win, and I really don't think we would have lost to Northwestern had Stanzi not gone down). In celebration I've created this little video of highlights/memories of this season's games. I was thinking about waiting until the Bowl Game was over, but then I decided I was much too inpatient for that.



So I hope you enjoy my video. The quality of the vids kinda suck a lot, but I hope it portrays how I feel.

I really really really enjoyed this whole season. I'm so very glad that I got into football because even though I've wasted a LOT of time thinking about it and looking up articles, blogs and stats; it has definitely been worth it. I really think I can say that I'm now a fan for life.

GOOOO HAWKS!

The Final Countdown!!!

I can't believe the last home game is about to happen! Where did the time go?

What I'd like to see on Saturday: Gopher guts, Adrian Clayborn going for the kill, bones crunching, Hawkeye touchdowns, LOTS of picks by the Hawks and NONE by the rodents, crazy-ass plays and Vandenburg looking like the shit. No pressure boys, no pressure.

Also, here's something to ponder- those players are really tall. I'm 4'9.5" When I stand on a chair I am STILL shorter than some of those guys. Isn't it crazy the variety there is in the human race? Damn.

Okay, enough deep thinking.

I'm just going to put this out there. I'm absolutely positive I will be judged for it, but I guess I just don't care....

I've started recruiting for a midget football league. A tackle midget football league. These are the basics:
-5'5" and under
-co-ed
-it's an entire league, not just a team
-it'll be pro ball, but first I need sponsors.

Okay, so I'm totally kidding. I am NOT starting a midget football league, but I have been asking all my fellow shorties what position they would play if height wasn't an issue. I want ball time, so I chose running back, although it might be sorta fun to be a defensive lineman. I'd go for the sack every time. I'm just sayin... :-)

Go Hawks!

Well, I'll Be

I don't know shit about football, really. I mean, I've learned A LOT. But I lack a lot of knowledge as well as experience. In browsing other blogs and articles, I've discovered that I have almost no idea what the Hawkeye football program is like in general except for what I've seen this year.

Some things I discovered (so what if I really like lists?):

-Hawkeye fans are, in general, very classy. Although I've had a few rants about my not-so-sober peers in the student section; in general, fans of the black and gold seem to take what we get and be okay with it.

-Kirk Ferentz is not the best football coach in the world, but he's very endearing and is not like most other coaches out there. He matches up with the whole atmosphere of the state quite well. In my opinion, that includes valuing hardwork, realizing that life is not fair, and displaying a certain sense of humility.

-The team is irradic season-to-season. I knew about the Hillcrest dorm scandal including two players because I had friends somewhat involved...but I had no idea it was such a blow to the program. I think the integrity of people who in other ways seem to define the word was called into question. And really, the point I was trying to make in the second item in this list would be negated if the allegations of widespread conspiracy were true. But besides off the field conduct, it isn't as if our actual game was consistent either....

-Although never a national powerhouse, Iowa has been on the brink of greatness several times (including this season!) which makes it a fun team to love. When we lose, it isn't as heartbreaking (I think...) because we're proud to be where we are.

-While Iowa is NOT and never will be a "football state" (wrestling state? yes...) we ARE the Hawkeye state, and we LOVE the Hawks!

Ex-Soccer Player? Well, F--- You.

Actually, I'm not as bitter as my title implies. It stung a bit more that we were SO close, but I'm still so very proud of the Hawks.

-I'm IMMENSELY proud of Vandenberg. He did a great job. I can't believe the difference a week makes. Or maybe the fact that the plays today were designed for his strengths whereas last week he was sorta just thrown into an effort that didn't match him as well as it could have....Regardless, I'm interested to see his development after Stanzi's gone.
-I'm proud that Moeaki got to show a little of his stuff.
-I'm proud (as always!) of my man McNutt! He sure can get that ball, can't he?
-I'm proud of Clayborn for some seriously great pushing to get where he needed to be. Of course, I feel like he always plays that way, so it's nothing new...but still something to be very proud of.
-I'm proud of Edds. I heard his name more than once today, and I feel like I often forget about him.
-I'm proud of DJK. I mean, he kinda put us back in....
-I'm so so so so proud to be a Hawkeye! I'm proud of our "next man in" mantra. I'm proud of our perserverence. I'm proud of all of it. Better to lose in overtime than not get to overtime at all.

Go HAWKS!

Oh Pat Angerer, How I Love You.

He seriously said this (regarding Vandenberg):

"Every time he comes over to my house he's always running his mouth," Angerer said. "I've literally choked him unconscious before and he's gotten up talking trash. We're going to be OK."

OMG. Really? And my very favorite quote all year (regarding Jeremiha Hunter's blocked field goal attempt by UNI): "He's fat. I didn't think he could just that high. He must have did something to jump real high and blocked it!"

I love the dude. Don't get mad, get Angerer! :-)

My Non-Speculation Report

I'm not much of a speculator (I think I invented that word?); I guess I feel too amateur for that. It's probably a good thing for anyone who reads my blog. But I will say, I have a hard time believing we'll pull off a win against Ohio State. I was reading a commentary in the Daily Iowan today that basically was trying to rally the troops and remind people that the season isn't over and a loss is just a loss, but please...we lost Stanzi. He might be just like everybody else at Iowa (a second or third choice) but he's ours. And damn, has he done the job. The only thing that's predictable about him was his unpredictability. And I suppose his ability to come back like he never left the place. But really, I just don't see any sort of dominance without him.

I guess for me, it's the fact that his team was behind him no matter what. I am not feeling that way about this new guy. Vander-what's-it. I mean, chances are he hasn't had nearly enough practice time with the likes of DJK, McNutt, etc. I swear I even saw it during the second half against Northwestern...one of the receivers waving his hands in the air to let our new play-caller know he was open. Like that looks good at all. Oh, and he didn't get a pass. It's even possible there was a sack during that play. I honestly can't remember. Regardless...the team dynamic has changed immensely and I'm not real sure how it's going to play out. I guess I'm just going to have to do what I've been doing all along: sit back and watch.

jNWU, You've Done It Again

Actually, I don't even want to credit Northwestern with this one. It was the football gods, deciding that one year of luck/good fortune was enough for this Iowa team. It is a bit eerie to realize that Penn State and the great upset were one year ago this weekend...

However, let's get back to today's game. When I walked into Kinnick today I could feel the energy. It was like a pulsating, rapid-firing, invisible wave that had engulfed our stadium. But alas, it all came crashing down, and crashing down fast. The SUCK that happened when the crowd realized Ricky "The Manzi" Stanzi was down and not getting up too fast was almost audible.

Now, die-hard fan that I am, you might believe that I would be pissed and yelling obscenities. Not the case actually. I was very sad for Ricky. I had just met his parents (at my house!?!?!) and saw what genuinely nice people they are. So my first thoughts were about how they were feeling. Secondly, I think I realized two things the average intoxicated fans near me seemed not to even entertain. Ricky did not get hurt on purpose. Furthermore, the poor kid they put in to replace him was absolutely without question trying his very hardest. I've been telling people all day; no one goes out on the field contemplating how they're going to mess it up for their team. They are going out there scared out of their mind, and using every fiber of their being to do the very best job they know how to do.

So while I left the game disappointed that our winning streak was over, I was not pissed at the world, or at anyone really. I'm happy that NWU feels good about themselves, although I don't believe upsetting a team that lost their slightly irradic, but always adequate quarterback is as much of a defeat as say, outscoring a highly ranked, national championship hopeful (ahem, Penn State) team. But let them celebrate. I'm not here to steal joy.

I'm here to say that as a fan watching my first lost game, GO HAWKS! I still love you!

Northwestern aka jNWU

So I read other blogs. Probably blogs that are a little more legitimate than mine; and they refer to Northwestern as "jNWU" or "justNorthwestern." I don't know why they do that, but it kinda makes me nervous. Although I was pretty damn nervous about Indiana, and look how that turned out (oh Stanzi, and your heart-attack inducing games that have so far been wins in the end...) but really, are we trying to play with the irony gods here?!?! We don't have a very good record against Northwestern I am told (or I read for myself). However, we also have been playing a record-breaking season, so maybe old records mean nothing this year. Regardless, I wish I didn't read those blogs quite as often as I do. In everyday life (and in regards to most sports) I'm not very superstitous. Actually, I wasn't when I first became a football fan. I remember making off the cuff comments about winning games we hadn't played yet and being a great team and having other fans and players freak out at me. They went all apeshit knocking on wood and shushing me for simply verbalizing what I KNOW they had thought about. However, times have changed. Now it's me trying to block crazy thoughts from entering my conscious and not wanting to read what really amounts to just words.

And I thought I enjoyed this fan stuff.

Just Kidding!

Go Hawks!

Possible But Cheesy T-shirt Slogans

Don't ask me why I was thinking about this stuff. I don't even know.

"Hawks: Angrier than Angerer"

"StanziTime" or the variant: "Half-Time...Stanzi-Time"

"You've Been Sashed!"

"Clayborn=Slayborn"

And my personal favorite: "Bust A McNutt"

The Ultimate Fail

Stanzi may have thrown a hell of a lot of interceptions in a really short timeframe, but at least this didn't happen:



Poor kid. Clearly he felt terrible.

I guess I'm just happy that hasn't been Iowa yet. However, if that sort of thing WERE to ever happen, I'm confident we'd win. ;-) (I'm only partly kidding...)

GO HAWKS!

PS: I made a "Bust A McNutt" shirt and it is AWESOME. :-)

The Thrill of Indiana!

While my hands are still stinging from clapping and my throat's still raw from yelling, I'm going to put this out there. A win is a win is a win. But oh. my. god.

First of all, I was texting during the game and admittedly had given up on my team ("I'm prepared to lose," is what I said). No, I'm not a fair-weather fan; because I was still gonna have my Hawk love, but I really did not think we were going to win. I thought we were going to lose by double digits. I don't have the exact stats, but it felt as though we were down by two touchdowns for half the game. I know it wasn't actually that long, but it REALLY felt like it.

Anyway, my love for McNutt is back in full force and more. I mean, can the kid get any more likable? First, his name is awesome. Second, he catches and he RUNS. I don't even know whether he made one or two touchdowns. It doesn't really matter in my book.

Also, I am SO sick of hearing lame-ass fans shouting and complaining about Stanzi. In case they haven't noticed, we're 9-0. In case they also haven't noticed, the team is ever faithful to their man and that means more to me than any civilian's opinion. I was recently conversing with one of the offensive linemen about the nail-biter at MSU. I expressed my genuine awe and shock at the narrowness of our escape. His reply? "I knew we were going to get it." That's it. He just knew. While I will NEVER be that blindly faithful, I think we can all learn something from that statement. Bitching about our quarterback and believing he should be benched (yes, I heard this today...) is NOT the spirit of the Hawkeyes. The spirit of the Hawkeyes is knowing every player on that field is working to the best of their ability to make not only that game, but each individual block, run, pass, etc the most perfect it can be. As an athlete I can say that NO ONE wants to be the best more than the players themselves. And that's where the faith part comes in. (Shout out to Talya!)

On that note: Hawks, way to bust a McNutt!!!!

ETA: I need to make a shout out to Adrian Clayborn. IMO, the very best defensive player we have right now. And that's AFTER Sash's sweet TD!

What Da Heck?

I'm really confused. It's a product of my newness at this football stuff, but all these different polls and who gets to choose the winner and how the computers love Iowa but people hate us...all that; it's confusing. I'm used to sports like gymnastics where, even if the judging is subjective, it's pretty clear who the winner is based on points alone.

I tried to get this guy (thanks Keith!) to explain how football rankings work to me, and I just wound up even more confused. But have no fear, I don't really care. I like to watch the game. I like to watch us WIN. Whatever happens in the post-season is great, especially if it's us playing and us winning, but really, I just like to watch the ball make it to the end-zone.

That said, I'm really kinda sad that being part of the Big 10 makes us look lame. Anybody who knows me that I'm one of the most competitive girls you will ever meet. Forget everybody winning, forget making people feel good. I want to be on top of the podium...and it is SO totally lame that people's perceptions get to decide where the Hawks end up.

Anyway, I really don't know what I'm talking about here. I guess I just am trying to tide myself over until Saturday. Thank God it's an early game (sorry all you tailgaters!) because I can't wait!

The Reverse Silver Lining

You know, you often hear about that silver lining that appears in bad situations. Folks, right now I am in the midst of seeing what I'd like to call the black lining to a fabulously brilliant, fluffy white cloud on a perfect day.

I think I care too much. It's Tuesday night, and I'm getting nervous. I'm getting nervous for a game that isn't going to happen for 4 more days. I'm getting nervous for a game against an opponent with a 1-3 Big 10 and 4-4 overall record. I'm getting nervous because I can't stand the thought of us losing. I can't stand the thought of us losing to anyone, but particularly at home, after our record breaking 8-0 start to a...well, I don't feel qualified enough to say "bad" but maybe a "less than stellar" team.

Before last week's game began, I kept telling everyone, "I just want it to be over! I don't even want to watch; I want to know the scores and I want it to be over!" How's that for nuts? I told you I care too much! Now, looking back, I'm obviously glad I watched. I mean, my dad compared it to "The Catch" of the 2005 Capital One bowl.

This is an audio...I just love the passion behind it, especially starting right after the 1:30 mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnKckP-Ayow&feature=related
But here's the video in case seeing is believing (actual catch around 1:05 mark):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5ipzYMb2SQ&feature=related

And heeeeeeeere's McNutt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZgMtnxysUI

By the way, I almost had a heart attack watching those last few plays.

Anyway, I'm getting off topic, which might actually be a good thing because it's distracting me from my nervous feelings.

Actually, I have a final thought, speaking of nervousness. If I have to watch another Iowa player go down, I might go down myself! As if seeing Greenwood carried off on a stretcher wasn't bad enough, watching Sandeman twitch on the field literally made me want to throw up. When they cut back from commercial and he was walking off the field, I almost freaking fainted. I tell you, if nothing else, football is exercising my adrenal glands.

I'm out. Go Hawks!

Ahh, The Beginning.

As I write this, I should be writing a paper, or at least viewing the classic '80s television show Doogie Howser, M.D. in order to write said paper. However, here I sit, as I have for the past hour, obsessing over my new love. I LOVE football. I LOVE it. More specifically, I love the Hawkeyes. Sure, I have spent a lot of time in the past couple months watching youtube videos of not just the Hawks, but other teams as well. And I can appreciate their great plays and last minute touchdowns. I'm even beginning to appreciate the hard hits and total knockouts associated with this crazy game. And crazy it is. But mostly I love my team.

However, we can't start here. Oh no. You see, unlike many (most?) Hawk fans, I have not been here through thick and thin. I have been here through thick, and that's it. But there's a reason for this. You see, I didn't like football until this summer. I spent a large portion of my summer staying with friends in TN. Tennessee may not be football capital of the United States (by now I've educated myself enough to realize that place would be Texas) but boy, do they love their football. They love the Titans, and they love UT. They love their HS ball and their middle school ball. And they even love their grade school ball. Which is how I became educated on this crazy game in the first place. A seven year old explained football to me. And by God, it worked. He used a few legos to map out an "I formation" and explained how they might do a fake, complete with how you use your arms to confuse the opponent. Then I watched a few of his games...and guess what? I ACTUALLY got it. I knew what was going on. With a few brief explanations from his parents, I was enjoying and understanding football. Wow.

So I came back to the good old IC and decided, in my senior year, to purchase my first football tickets. I couldn't have made a better decision.

Now, I couldn't complete this post without mentioning my friend, Jordan. The girl is good. She stood next to me at my very first game and answered every last one of my questions. According to her, she's been a football fan since she was born. And the girl knows the game. In fact, I remember that very first game against UNI, and how it came down to not just one, but TWO blocked field goals. At the first attempt, Jordan was there next to me, hands to cheeks, bemoaning our chances. I, naive to the core, thought there might be a good chance they'd miss. When the first attempt got blocked, Jordan and I both screamed. I didn't know that blocked field goals almost NEVER happen. I didn't know that we had won by what came down to pretty much luck. Oh, but we soon found out that not only was luck on the Hawkeyes' side, but skill too. Because it was then that the refs called out that UNI STILL had possession and they were about to attempt another field goal! Still naive, still hopeful, I KNEW they'd block it again. But this wasn't some blind faith I had in the Hawks. It was straight up ignorance. But that ignorance saved me, and probably my heart too. Jordan seemed on the verge of a heart attack next to me as we blocked that second attempt! Luckily all's well that ends well, and my very first football game went down with a W for my team.

Thus far, only two other games have much significance for me, and believe it or not, both are away. I'd heard about Penn State. Ohhhh, had I heard. I watched the videos, I was pulled into the hype. I not only wanted us to win again, but I NEEDED it. I wanted to have the same feelings my friends did when they rushed the field after that awe-inspiring 2008 upset. I actually traveled to my parents' house to watch this game. Both of my parents have been Hawk fans since WAAAAAY before I was ever born, and I wanted to cherish this shared experience with them. It also helped that my dad has an awesome giant HD TV. So when that awful opening play went down, it was me reminding my dad that the game had barely begun and that touchdown meant nothing. Besides, rumors had already been circulating that we were a second-half team, and boy did we prove it at (not so) Happy (anymore) Valley. My favorite play that game is probably the same as every other Hawk fan's: Adrian Clayborn's fabulous block and scoop to run for a touchdown. Ahhh, what a night. But as for plays of the season, so far that award is going to Marvin McNutt. Near the beginning of the season I had him pegged as my favorite receiver, but my love began to wane as I saw the GOD that is Tony Moeaki. However, McNutt has been redeemed and for good reason. This time it was my dad trying to reassure me. I KNEW we were going to lose to MSU on Saturday night. I KNEW it. I mean, we had just failed to catch 3 passes. There's 2 seconds left on the game clock at 4th and goal. A field goal wouldn't be enough; it had to be a touchdown. But my dad was freaking right. The hawks came through again! Another W, and we're 8-0.

I probably can't even appreciate that 8-0 as much as most other Hawk fans. I mean, who am I? I have yet to see a losing game! Of course I love the Hawks! But what a feat...if nothing else, this year's team has me convinced...I'll be a fan. I'll be a fan LONG-TIME.

-Andrea