Quick look at Kinnick Stadium’s new FieldTurf « Doc’s Office

Quick look at Kinnick Stadium’s new FieldTurf « Doc’s Office: "Here are a few pictures of Kinnick Stadium’’s new FieldTurf. The budget was $2.025 million, and Iowa associate athletics director Jane Meyer said the department won’t go over budget"

Click the link above for a short video. It is coming along nicely! Up close it still looks shaggy but they haven't laid the rubber/sand mix down yet. That will make it look much better! Are you ready for some football????

Linebacker U???

Yeah we all know OSU and PSU can turn out the LBs but just look at what Iowa has produced lately. Everyone knows about Abdul Hodge (drafted by Packers but hurt both knees so they released him and now with the Bengals) and Chad Greenway (drafted by Vikings and starting OLB). Last year our LBs were stout to say the least. MLB Angerer had 5 INTs and played so well he beat out Coleman who started more games in 2007-08 season. OLB Edds has been just a tremendous player. This will be his 3rd year as a starter. The biggest surprise last year was OLB Hunter. All the preseason talk was about how good Tarpinian is. When Tarp got hurt during Summer camp, the job was handed over to Hunter. Hunter started off like a rookie even though it was his sophomore year but he finished looking like a 3yr starting senior. Hunter came into Iowa with a lot of hype being one of the best OLBs in high school. Rivals rated him the 6th best in the Nation in 2006.

So it doesn't go without saying we have a lot of depth this year at LB with Tarp healthy, Coleman almost transferred but decided to stick it out (good thinking bro), and Tyler Nielsen at the other OLB who played well in the US Army All American game his senior year. Rumor has it Coleman is going to try to Red Shirt this year to keep 2 more years of eligibility after Angerer departs.

Future LBs are on there way in... Iowa has 3 commits so far in 2010 and all 3 are projected LBs. Iowa has 4 incoming freshman LBs this summer. But I highly doubt all these kids will stick it out at LB. Coach Ferentz is really good at finding spots for kids where they can succeed. We have had many kids come in at LB but leave playing another position with great success. Mitch King and Matt Kroul came in as LBs but ended up being outstanding undersized DLinemen. Mitch was signed by Titans and Kroul by the Jets. Gray, Morris, and Poggi all have about the same measurables. Gray was more highly sought after than the others but all three of these kids have the potential to be big time LBs at Iowa. They are going to help Iowa become Linebacker U!!!

Key stretches in the Big Ten this season - Big Ten - ESPN

Key stretches in the Big Ten this season - Big Ten - ESPN: "IOWA -- Michigan (Oct. 10), at Wisconsin (Oct. 17), at Michigan State (Oct. 24)
Don't get me wrong, the Penn State game (Sept. 26) is huge and could put Iowa in the league title mix. But the Hawkeyes must take care of business in October to be a serious contender. Iowa has dropped 10 of its last 12 meetings against Michigan, and trips to rival Wisconsin and on-the-rise Michigan State won't be easy. The four conference road games will make or break Iowa's season."

I disagree with the Michigan game. Michigan at home should be a blow out. At Penn St is huge as it starts the Big Ten schedule. I would add at Ohio St with an asterisk. It could become a national spotlight game if both teams can get through the season unscathed. Iowa has a tough schedule but trust me last year was no picnic without OSU and Mich.

Kinnick FieldTurf is taking shape!!!

I miss the grass but it is starting to grow on me already! I am ready for Northern Iowa kickoff to the season!!!

Penn State Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno: Notre Dame Fighting Irish not welcome in Big Ten - ESPN

Penn State Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno: Notre Dame Fighting Irish not welcome in Big Ten - ESPN: "Joe Paterno says he'd like to see either Rutgers, Pittsburgh or Syracuse join the Big Ten. The legendary Penn State coach also knows which school he wants to keep out: Notre Dame."

I am 100% with you Coach! ND has had plenty of chances to join the Big Ten but their lucrative contract with NBC and not wanting to share any revenue has kept them away. Plus I am sure they don't want to join now since the Big Ten has pretty much owned them every year. I wish Iowa would schedule those punks! I also would like to see Rutgers or Pitt from a football standpoint join our awesome conference.

Big Ten - ESPN - Iowa's offensive line

Big Ten - ESPN: "Iowa's offensive line: This group is well on its way to restoring the tradition established during the early part of coach Kirk Ferentz's tenure. Iowa boasts the league's top tackles tandem in Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway, and there are a host of experienced interior linemen. Julian Vandervelde developed nicely in 2008, and Andy Kuempel, Rafael Eubanks and Dan Doering all are solid options at guard. The emergence of oft-injured Dace Richardson this spring adds another body to the mix. Aside from the center spot, Iowa looks extremely solid up front."

Last year, the Hawks got back their Mojo. Rob Bruggeman and Seth Olsen led the way for Shonn Greene to win the Doak Walker Award. With Bruggie and Olsen headed to the NFL, the Hawks have two holes to fill. Good deal we had a lot of depth last year on our OLine and we gained a little more this year with Dace coming back and James Ferentz coming of a Redshirt. Rumor during spring had James running a lot with the 1st Team at Center. Eubanks played a lot of Center his Fresh and Soph years. Rumor also had it that Julian would be moving to Center. He is supposedly one of the smartest on the team so it would make sense to have him as your signal caller for your OLine. Here is how I see our OLine shaping up this summer:

LT - Bulaga
LG - Vandervelde
C - Eubanks
RG - Richardson (if healthy) or Doering
RT - Calloway

That there is a more experienced and bigger OLine than we had last year. This OLine could be scary! Then you add in a healthy Tony Moeaki at TE. He is one of the best blocking TEs I have seen in College Football. Too bad he has been bitten by the injury bug every year.