Hello one and all.  This week I decided I’m going to do a little “melting pot” post about some things that have happened lately.  So I hope you enjoy.

For starters, how about that Hawkeyes football team huh?  Yes, I am still a little down because of that Wisconsin loss (in my book that’s a W, a big fat stinkin’ W),but bouncing right back and taking out the number 5 ranked Michigan State Spartans put a lot of hope back in my mind, and a little pep in my step.  If the Hawks can just solidify their dang special teams (along with getting some help from Purdue, Michigan, Indiana, or just Northwestern) we’ve got the Big Ten in the bag.  ツɥ ɯ ɔ и ๏v THE BAG!

The number 25 ranked women’s basketball team is going to be amazing.  They are seeking their fourth straight NCAA tourney bid and I’ll bet the house on them achieving that goal.  Sure they’ve had a few minor injuries to some important players, but they are going to be GREAT! GREAT, do you understand me?  Plus, take a little look at the recruiting class “The Blud Dog” has coming in, it’s phenomenal.  Oh and don’t be surprised if we have three-four all Big Ten players on this team.

I am now newly single…so yeah that was fun.

I spent Halloween weekend having fun with my parents, watching Derrick Rose tie a career high in points at the Chicago Bulls home opener with the self proclaimed “People’s Champ”, David Johnson, and then went out to a literal ghost town on Sunday night in Iowa City.  Which reminds me….

Those 1,000 or so odd students that ɥ ɯ ɔ и ๏ ɹ ʁ яear old students to get into barʊ¼ ϟ ღ ツ 回 ₪™ © ® ¿ ¡a City.  Way to go guys.  Enjoy the three mile walʊ¼ ϟ ღ ツ
es until the end of your junior year.

This weekend Hawks Nest is throwing another Tailgate party at the IMU for the Iowa Hawkeye away game against Indiana.  Here’s the info:

This FREE away football game tailgate is sponsored by The University of Iowa Student Government (UISG), Hawks Nest, Students Organizing for Better Alcohol Responsibility (SOBAR), Executive Council of Graduate & Professional Student (ECGPS), and the UI Athletic Department invites you to celebrate with fellow Hawkeye football fans.

Come for FREE Tailgating food, games, and a place to watch the Hawkeyes take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, November 6. The time has yet to be determined, but it will be either 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Food will be served 15 minutes prior to the gameɔ и.

So besides my crazy 18 hour schools schedule, doing this blog, working, playing in a rec basketball league, doing Hawks Nest stuff, moving, going out with friends and life in general, life is pretty slow right now!

As always On Iowa and Go Hawks

-Jer

For those of you prospective students who are interested in college football, I have a challenge for you.  Turn on tomorrow’s Iowa game against Wisconsin.  DO IT!  Sit there with your friends, your parents, your girlfriend, your teacher, your coach, whoever.

While you are watching pay close attention to what is being chanted on every Wisconsin third down.  DO IT!

What I want you to be paying attention to is the roarous chant for Norm Parker.

The challenge: try not to get the chills.

Norm Parker, Iowa’s defensive coordinator is in the hospital and is in some pretty serious stuff.  So what do Iowa fans do to show their love and respect for the wiley D-coordinator?  We will be chanting his name not only to remind our guys who this one is for, but we will be chanting to show Norm how much we miss seeing him on the sidelines.

It’s the Iowa way baby!

Here is the email that went out to the entire student body, alumni, and fans:

A movement has started to try to get everyone in the stadium this Saturday to scream and chant “Norm” on every Wisconsin third down. Bring signs and do whatever is necessary to get the entire stadium rocking.

The idea is to do this in honor of Norm Parker who as you probably know, has been hospitalized more then once and is in a serious battle with his diabetes. My understanding is he already lost his foot. If you watched the post game last week it looked like Ferentz had tears in his eyes after the game when Parker was mentioned. These two are huge friends. Norm has not been coaching.

Can you imagine how pumped up the defense will get if the entire stadium is rocking with a Norm chant. A ton of signs would also be great. Those of us watching on TV want to see the signs, hear the crowd and listen to the announcers explain what is going on.

Go to work guys and lets make this happen. Lets watch the power of viral marketing. Tell others to keep passing this message on. I posted this on facebook linking to an event request and suggest you do the same.

NORM, NORM, NORMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past weekend the Hawks Nest took 100-some odd students 8 hours north to lay our claim on the Big House.  Not only did our beloved Hawkeyes dismantle the four week hypothetical Heisman trophy winner (Denard Robinson), but we came out with a huge victory that should light a nice little fire under the players arses for the road ahead.

The Big House, well, was The Big House.  The rafters shook, the noise pierced ears, the fans were a refreshing mixture of accepting, humble, and drunk, and the game was great (a little to close for comfort in the 4th quarter though).

I know I shouldn’t use this as an outlet to promote a group that I started, but I’m going to do just that.  For those prospective students out there that want to attend a school with a fan section that rivals that of the Cameron Crazies of Duke, Illini Pride of U of I, or the Paint Crew of Purdue, Iowa is the place for you.

If you would like the opportunity to go to at least one road football game a year, Hawks Nest and Iowa is where it’s at.  If you would like to go to at least two Men’s Basketball games a year, the Hawks Nest and Iowa will provide.  If you have interest in building one of the best student fan sections in all of sports, the Hawks Nest and Iowa are accepting applications NOW!

The athletics here at Iowa are on the up swing.  Not only are we home to the BEST collegiate wrestling program in all of the U, S, of A, but we have one of the best collegiate football coaches and a team that looks like it will stay in the rankings for years to come.  We are also home to a Men’s basketball program that is, in the words of T.J. Lavin (from the Real World/Road Rules Challenges), are going to absolutely “KILL IT”.

Oh and don’t forget about Bluder’s Bunch and the Women’s basketball program.

I know athletics had a lot to do with my decision in schooling, and I’m telling you folks, Iowa is where it’s at.

Plus, if you are wanting to get involved with athletics in some way, the Hawks Nest is always looking for Captains for individual sports as well as Executive Board Members.

Don’t miss out on these great opportunities to visit the Big House, or Spartan Stadium, or hopefully one day the Horseshoe!

As always On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

-Jer

I’m in a mood.

The last two weeks have been drafted by demons from hell.  They had to have been.

I have been seething and extremely overwhelmed, and it is because of gruesome and crabby UI educators.  So my question to you, dear reader, is why do teachers think it is a good idea to give tests/papers/projects during the same two weeks as everyone else on campus?  Is this really that good of an idea?  Don’t they want us to succeed in our lives here?  Don’t they want students to get in and get out (on second thought, at $27,000 a year, probably not)?  Or am I just being a giant, six foot tall, 200-plus sized baby?

The world may never know.

But anyways I feel like it has been a little too long since I wrote for my blog (much apologies to those people who follow me).  As I said the last two weeks have literally had me running around like a mad man.

It’s no secret, and I think I have mentioned it on here before, but I’m way over my head with things I’m doing here at the “U”.  I’m playing in a flag football co-rec league, I have Hawks Nest meetings every week (along with Hawks Nest functions, events, planning and idea-making), I am a grey squad player for the Women’s Basketball team (more on this later), I’m taking 18 semester hours (DON’T DO THIS! EVER), blogging for admissions, working, and trying to have a social life all at once.

As you can imagine, I’m drowning.  Treading ended weeks ago, now it just feels like there are 80-pound weights attached to each of my two ankles dragging me throw the dark and cold depths.  It’s a lovely site to imagine isn’t it?  Tell me, all of you teachers out there, do you like knowing this is how I, along with probably 20,000 other students feel?

DO YOU?

HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT?

But I suppose it’s my senior year and I’ve just got to keep on, keepin’ on.

Anyways let me tell you about this little endeavor I just started recently as a member of the Women’s Basketball team’s Grey Squad.  What happens is 5-6 guys show up to every practice and help play against the girls in drills, play offense and defense in different look schemes, and play as “mock-ups” of players from different teams that the Hawkeyes will play throughout the year.

As a giant basketball fan and someone who was going to walk on to St. Ambrose my freshman year of college, I love this.  It gives me the opportunity not only to play the type of basketball I’ve missed the last couple of years (you know, actual organized hoops, not that crap you see in the Field houses around the U.S.).  It also has given me a great chance to get to know the players and coaches that put so much effort into what they do on the court.  As the PR Director for Hawks Nest (the official student fan section on campus, a group that I co-created) my partaking in the grey squad and learning about our lady Hawkeyes is and will continue to be huge.  In return I am hoping to devise ways to interest our fans on campus to show and support this team as well as set up a few “Away Game Bus Trips” to support a Hawkeye team that went to the Women’s NCAA Tourney last year.

Early on I have learned that Coach Lisa Bluder is easily one of the best coaches I have ever seen work.  She gets so much out of her girls day in and day out, it’s no wonder she is 545-265 (.673) lifetime as a coach.  Bluder has 189-wins at Iowa in her ten years at the helm, which is good for second-most of any Hawkeye women’s basketball coach, behind Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer (269 wins).  She is tactically brilliant.  She is intense and caring.  She is a beast.  I suppose that’s why she is, “One of the most respected and admired coaches in collegiate basketball”.

If her winning record isn’t good enough, then take a quick look at her players.  Senior guard Kachine Alexander is up for two of the most prestigious awards in NCAA women’s basketball, the State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year award and the John R. Wooden Award.  She is returning four Academic All Big Ten players, a second team All-Big Ten shooting guard who was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award winner last year, a 3rd team All Big Ten point guard, an All-Big Ten Defensive Team player (“Kash”), and two Big Ten Tournament All Tournament Players.

Oh, and don’t forget about big bad Morgan Johnson, who is also looking primed to break her own record for blocks in a season (79), as she has blocked at least five of my shots in just the first week of practice.

Needless to say I’m pretty excited to see what this team can do, and I will be taking a crap load of pride in watching them this winter.

But enough with my rambling, because well, I should be working. It’s been a hectic two weeks filled with ups and down, but hey, I suppose it keeps me out of trouble.

As always On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

-Jer

Well, I don’t particularly agree with that, but IF I was Gordon Gekko (aka Michael Douglas) from Wall Street and Wall Street: Money Never Dies, I totally would.  After watching those two movies in the past three days, it has made me reevaluate my decision to be an English major.

For those of you that have not seen either of the movies, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  Netflix people!

Anyways this post is kind of purposeless and off topic, but I just really wish I could be a huge broker in New York, wearing suits for no apparent reason, smoking illegal cigars, and driving fast motorcycles on the way to important meetings.  I mean who wouldn’t want to look like this every day of the week (note: I’m the only one in white!).

So for all of you that think being an English major, or any other major besides some sort of fiance or business will be cool, watch Wall Street before you make your decision!

As always On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

Yes I realize it is now Wednesday and I’m four days late on my topic, but until I start getting some comments, I’m just going to roll with it.

For those of you who actually read this blog and don’t know, there is something special that happens before every single Iowa football game, whether it be in the beautiful Iowa City area, Tucson, or outside the Orange Bowl; the legendary, the outrageous, the obscene, the HI-LARIOUS, Iowa tailgate.

There’s absolutely nothing better. NOTHING

Being of the legal age, I myself intake a few adult beverages and enjoy the friends around me (sure, sometimes we “Ice” one or two of them, but hey, when you are told a time to be at a tailgate, be at the tailgate! Just a warning for you youngsters out there). But it isn’t the booze that makes these tailgates unforgettable, it’s the people you spend them with and the ol’ cliche “memories you make with them”.

Take this weekend for example. I, along with my buddy Bryce, and his friend from back home, woke up at 5:30, got ready for the longggggggggg day, and jumped into his Jeep at little after 6:30 to find a spot for the day.

One mile away, and 20 dollars later the festivities were in full fledged mode.

I should have known right away that the place we parked (and I will keep that location between me and my fellow tailgaters as to not embarrass some people I will soon discuss) was a little, lets say, odd.  There were some things that happened to my friends and I this weekend that I’ve never seen before.  It was as if we parked in “I’ve got an awesome Tailgate story for you” Heaven.

For starters, when we arrived, the tailgate party around us pretty much dropped everything but their Jell-o shots and classy beer to watch us three boys put together a grill. The staring continued until we left.

Shorty after, I had a lovely and respectable 31 year old woman (from said tailgate), with two kids (She was an Iowa State fan) think I was 27 years of age, and date-able.  When I proceeded to inform her that I was, in fact only 21, she not so secretly discussed with her sister that I was in fact “legal” and that “my age doesn’t really matter in this day and age” (and for those of you wondering, “OMG this woman had two kids at a tailgate at seven in the morning while she was drunk and hitting on a 21 year old”, have no fear.  Her children, as she quickly informed me, were with a grandmother and her ex husband; which was acceptable because, and I quote, “momma needed a day off to drink”.) Real winner, I know (again she was an Iowa State fan).

The fun doesn’t stop there.  Bryce’s buddy (I’ll spare him a shout out, because this is kind of embarrassing) was harassed by my “charming, 31 year old, mother of three’s” lovely sister, who tried everything in the book to do the “hippity dippity” with him right there on the grass. I mean this girl tried free Jell-o shots, she tried being sexy when she walked, she tried sitting on his lap, hell she looked like she wanted to try licking his face.

If that was not enough, the two sisters had a chain smoking mother that seemed to be taking pictures of her daughters communicating badly with us “strapping young COLLEGE STUDENTS” (if I end up on the Internet somehow for that, I will find you ma’am).

With the addition of our friends finally showing up (FINALLY) the ladies got the hint, which we had been trying to convey in numerous ways all morning long… “Ladies, we’re just not that into you”. (Note: Under the gracious God in the sky, at no point did we lead these ladies on in anyway shape imaginable.)

Oh but the fun doesn’t end there.

A woman across the street had to be carried away on a stretcher (guarded by police officers) while screaming what seemed to be the chorus to the LMFAO’s “Shots” (you know the song, “SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS……”.  The only problem was that when she was screaming the words, it sounded more like “COPS, COPS, COPS, COPS, COPS”).

Three men walked out of a Port-a-John (how they fit and used the bathroom at the same time is still beyond me), and my friend Bryce found the girl of his dreams waiting in line for said Port-a-John’s (her name, the Whizzer).

I met the kid at the beginning of all the Iowa Hawkeye Football videos on Youtube.com (yes, the kid with the sunglasses, a backwards cap who always yells “AAAAAAHHHHAAAAAA” while flicking a bedazzled and sparkling shirt.) Funny, that was the very outfit he was wearing at the tailgate.

There was plenty more that happened, that well, I just can’t remember for one reason or another (wink).

So to bring this semi long post to a close, Iowa tailgating cannot be beat, kind of like our football team. BOOM!

As always, On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

-Jer

For those of you who are reading, I would like it to be known that before I took the keys to this very blog, I was the co-creator and co-writer of one of the best and unheard of sports blogs in the nation, The Manchise.  We covered everything from Olympic Curling to NFL spreads and lord knows I miss writing for a fan base that included my mother, and well, that’s about it.

So I was thinking, why not continue that tradition.

So without further adieu, here is my first NFL spread preview of the year.

(Note: Gambling on Sports is illegal, but seeing that they put these spreads in newspapers, why not go through them, right?)

Starting with tonight’s game:

Vikings (+5) at Saints (-5):Take the Saints. Favre has nobody to throw to, AD fumbled “all day” in their last match-up, and frankly, I cannot recall the last time the Super Bowl winners lost their first game the next season.

Panthers (+6.5) at Giants (-6.5): This game is somewhat ugly. Sure Eli Manning can sling the ball around, but his offensive line has gotten worse, and Brandon Jacobs is about as good as a swimsuit in the December cold.  Matt Moore has proved to be an adequate fill in for the expendable Jake Delhomme, and the two headed monster at running back for the Panthers should have another great season. I’m taking the Panthers.

Dolphins (-3) at Bills (+3):Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins. I don’t care if Miami was running out a one-legged Chad Henne, and a fully baked Ricky Williams; the Bills are that bad. Mark me down for the Dolphins to cover.

Falcons (-2) at Steelers (+2):Another weird game.  Matt Ryan last year was average (sophomore season) at best, and Michael Turner didn’t take the leap everyone thought they would. BUT, the Steelers are missing their horny starting quarterback, and starting an untested back-up. But I feel like the pieces around Dennis Dixon are strong enough to help the Steelers cover.

Lions (+6.5) at Bears (-6.5):This hurts me. Actually, every time I see the Bears favored for the rest of the season, will in fact hurt me.  I mean when I see polish sausage, Ditka-type mustaches, and old school Walter Payton jerseys I get a little teary eyed. But, the Bears suck. I’m sorry. Mike Martz is a joke, Jay Cutler has no time to make a pass, and Chicago’s offensive line is full of “Sally’s”.  Add in the Lions pass happy offense, and the Bears abominable secondary, and I think the Lions will cover. (God I hope my reverse jinx works…..)

Bengals (+4.5) at Patriots (-4.5): Am I crazy for wanting to believe in a team that features two VH1 reality stars, and a quarterback that is more “Hot and Cold” than Katy Perry? Perhaps yes. I like the Bengals.

Browns (+3) at Buccaneers (-3):I think Josh Freeman is an adequate quarterback, and I think Tampa has some decent young weapons. But I think the Browns do as well. I’m going with the Browns and the “Ol’ Interceptor” himself, Jake Delhomme.

Broncos (+2.5) at Jaguars (-2.5): MJD. Enough said.

Colts (-2) at Texans (+2): Until the Texans beat the Colts (1-15 all time), I will always bet my money on Peyton Manning and that “Big Gun” offense.

Raiders (+6) at Titans (-6): Until the Raiders beat anyone (5-11 last year), I will always bet my money on their opponent. But with that said I do like Jason Campbell, but he is still playing for Al Davis.

Packers (-3) at Eagles (+3):The Packers have been the most talked about team all pre-season. Aaron Rodgers looks like a Top-5 quarterback, and the guys around him are just as good.  Their defense is still some what questionable, but I’d rather put my money on the Pack, then a Donovan McNabb-less Eagles.

49ers (-3) at Seahawks (+3): Good Luck this season Pete Carroll, you are going to need it.

Cardinals (-4) at Rams (+4):Who really wants to put anything on this match-up? Not me, but with my pretend Monopoly money, I think I’m putting it on the Rams.

Cowboys (-3.5) at Redskins (+3.5): Would you rather have Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, and a mix of Marion Barber and Felix Jones, or Donovan McNabb’s bad ankle, Clinton Portis’ corpse, the soul of Larry Johnson, and Santana Moss?  How ’bout dem Cowboys!

Ravens (+2.5) at Jets (-2.5): Here are two possible Super Bowl teams. While the Jets just sured up their defense with the signing of Darelle Revis, the key is Mark Sanchez and his maturity from last year. The Ravens defense might be the weak link for once in a long time.  The acquisition of Anquan Boldin gives Joe Flacco another toy to play with, and Ray Rice is a top back. Give me the Ravens to not only cover, but win.

Chargers (-4.5) at Chiefs (+4.5): (In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice) Go Chargers!

Enjoy the first week of the NFL folks!

As always On Iowa, and Go Hawks!

Ladies and Gentlemen of Iowa City, I am happy to write that Hawkapalooza will go on. After a mind-blowing scare that rain and severe thunderstorms were going to put a damper our first annual Hawkapalooza, we have confirmation that the show will not be moved inside.

As a member of the Hawks Nest Executive Board, and a founding member, this is the best news I’ve heard in quite some time. With an estimated 10,000 people flooding Hubbard park last year for the inaugural Hawkapalooza (and even more expected this year), the worst possible thing that could have happened was thunderstorms.

We would have had to move the entire event into an enclosed venue, with the max capacity being 3,500. That’s a giant hit, and with all the work Hawks Nest did to get this event going, thunderstorms would have literally “rained on our parade.”

The group of 12 of us literally planned and fund-raised, planned and fund-raised, and then planned and fund-raised some more — all summer long. This event went from an on-paper plan to a full-out spectacle with an opening act (Super Mash Bros), a pep rally (featuring Jon Miller as host and athletes from the Iowa Football, Wrestling, and Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams), and a main act (Grammy Award-winning artist Big Boi [1/2 of OutKast]) … almost like a Phoenix rising from its ashes.

But over the past few days, those indecisive weathermen decided to give us mini heart attacks by changing the weather at least 10 times.

I mean: Come on, fellas! How can the weather go from clear, to possible rain, to guaranteed rain, to thunderstorms, to guaranteed thunderstorms, to now just rain up until six on Thursday?

Your faulty calculations of the doppelganger caused some extreme chaos in the hearts of many people. I hope you realize that.

But, as I said, the show is going to go on (a dream come true).

So for those of you that read this, come on down to Hubbard Park (next to the IMU) beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 2, for a *FREE* concert featuring mash-up group Super Mash Bros, a pep rally featuring some of your favorite Hawkeyes, and the man, the myth, the legend: “Sir Lucious Leftfoot” BIG BOI!

If that does not completely tickle your fancy, and you still need more convincing (I don’t see why), there will be free stuff (iPad anyone?), food, and a $1 raffle where you can win a variety of things — from 50 free boneless wings at Buffalo Wild Wings to two Press Box tickets to this Saturday’s Iowa football game! Plus, all the proceeds go to Dance Marathon (a UI student fundraiser for sick children).

Oh, and for those of you still reading, here is the set-list from a free show Big Boi just played in Miami. If I do say so myself, it’s pretty baller:

Do Dirty
Atliens
Skew it on the Bar-B
Rosa Parks
So Fresh, So Clean
Miss Jackson
General Patton
Follow Us
Daddy Fat Sax
Ghetto Music
B.O.B
Star Wars
The Way You Move
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Player’s Ball
Elevators
Shine Blockas
Fo Yo Sorrows
Shutterbugg
Tell C-Bone
Kryptonite

As always, On Iowa, and Go Hawks.

-Jerry