Spring Two Deeps

Offense
SE - Sandeman, Johnson-Koulianos, Chaney
LT - Bulaga, Zusevics
LG - Vandervelde, Eubanks/Haganman
C - Koeppel, Ferentz
RG - Kuempel/Doering, Gettis
RT - Calloway, Reiff
TE - Moeaki, Reisner, Herman
QB - Stanzi, Vandenberg, Wienke
WR - Stross, McNutt
RB - Hampton, O'Meara, Brinson
FB - Morse, Leppert

Defense
DE - Clayborn, Geary
DT - Klug, Bigach
DT - Daniels, Hundertmark
DE - Ballard, Binns
OLB - Edds, Nielsen/Johnson
MLB - Angerer, Coleman
WLB - Hunter, Tarpinian
CB - Bernstine, Prater, Castillo
CB - Spievey, Lowe
SS - Sash, Cato
FS - Greenwood, Swanson

Special Teams
PK - Murray, Mossbrucker
P - Donahue, Guthrie
LS - Schulze, Murphy
H - Donahue
PR - Sandeman
KR - Hampton, Johnson-Koulianos

Only real surprises are at wide receiver where Colin Sandeman is listed in front of DJK. Johnson-Koulianos really came on late in the year, but I've been a big fan of Sandeman since the Iowa State game two years ago at Jack Trice. Also, it is really weird not seeing Kroul and King penciled in at DT. I'm sure it'll take a couple of games to get used to them not being on the field as well.

2009 Spring Prospectus

Ferentz March 25 Press Conference

per hawkmania.com

Iowa Pro Day Results

Per NFL.com

RB Shonn Greene (5-10 1/2, 227) ran a 4.55 and 4.59 in the 40, had a 39-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump, a 4.25 short shuttle and did 23 bench press reps.

OL Seth Olsen (6-4 1/2, 305) had a 28-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot, 7-inch broad jump and did 28 bench press reps.

CB Bradley Fletcher (6-0 1/8, 193) ran a 4.44 and 4.45 in the 40, had a 40-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump and a 4.22 short shuttle.

DL Mitch King (6-1 3/8, 278) ran a 4.89 and 4.92 in the 40, had a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 4-inch broad jump, a 4.40 short shuttle, a 7.55 three-cone drill and did 25 bench press reps.

TE Brandon Myers (6-3 3/8, 250) ran a 4.79 and 4.78 in the 40, had a 31-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 8-inch broad jump, a 4.45 short shuttle and a 7.36 three-cone drill and did 17 bench press reps.

C Rob Bruggeman (6-4, 293) ran a 5.05 and 5.09 in the 40, had a 33-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot, 8-inch broad jump, a 4.69 short shuttle, a 7.69 three-cone drill and did 32 bench press reps.

Black Friday for Iowa Basketball

Friday, March 27th, will be remembered as a vital day in the Todd Lickliter era. Four players, including Iowa's best, are transferring. Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson, The President David Palmer and Jermain Davis are taking their games elsewhere. This is a crushing blow not only to the actual team, but also to the enthusiasm and confidence of the program.

Coach Lick obviously gets a grace period due to the lack of talent he inherited in year one. However, patience is running thin throughout the program. The last three seasons, the Hawks of lost their top scorers to transfer (Tyler Smith to Tennessee, Tony Freeman to Southern Illinois, and Jake Kelly to, presumably, Indiana State).

Why is this happening? Tyler Smith and Jake Kelly had deaths in the family, but there could be other reasons. Tony Freeman didn't 'fit' with Lick's system. Perhaps Freeman is solely the exception. but there certainly could be inside issues dealing with the coaching staff that is causing this.

Regardless, Iowa lost four players in a single day. Two of them starters. Three of four of them point guards. This leaves the Hawks with one point guard on the team: Little Lick. This collective loss of point guards is almost more damaging then Kelly leaving by himself. Lickliter's system is deemed to be complicated. It's understood that it takes players, especially point guards, a couple of years to pick it up and have it flow naturally. Peterson improved greatly from his freshman season, Kelly took over games after a move to point guard, and Davis had spurts of being effective when he was healthy (see Iowa State).

This is catastrophic for next years team. Bawinkel doesn't have great handles, Gatens can't be asked to do everything (even if he is Superman), and Little Lick isn't the answer. So who is going to handle the ball next season? Maybe Anthony Tucker. Iowa is heavily recruiting JUCO point guard Malcolm Armstead. Kaylon Williams, a Cedar Rapids native who played his freshmen season at the University of Evansville, is transferring to be "closer to home." He averaged 6.3 points and 4.9 assists in 27 games. Even if he does come to the Hawks, he'll probably have to sit out a year due to transfer without a hardship.

I don't know what the future holds for the Hawkeyes. Iowa recently signed Devon Archie, an explosive JUCO forward, but that doesn't solve the absence of a point guard. It's a dark time for Iowa basketball right now. If all the players stay, Iowa is looking at a probable NIT appearance and perhaps an NCAA tourney bid. Now that they're gone, Iowa could very well be the worst team in the Big 10.

It's sad. It's depressing. Especially with the Madness going on right now. I want to be excited about Iowa basketball again. In my three years of college, we haven't even sniffed the tourney. My older friends talk about how amazing Carver was in Horner and Brunner's senior season. I want that. I want to unrealistically send the Hawks far in my bracket. I want them to be relevant again.

I want to be upbeat about the program. And I can't be right now.

My feelings on Jake Kelly leaving

My feelings on Jeff Peterson leaving

My feelings on Jermain Davis leaving

My feelings on The President leaving.

Clayborn v. Taxi Driver

After a week long break here at Hawkeye House, due to the blogger challenge, things have been a bit crazy in Iowa City.

First, Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn allegedly assaulted a taxi driver back in January. He has pleaded not guilty and has not been suspended by Coach Kirk Ferentz. This is an interesting move on Ferentz's part, as he has recently been swift to suspend those to have run into trouble with the law (see Shaun Prater).

Here is Gazette sports writer Marc Morehouse's blog on the Clayborn situation.

Top 10 Sports Meltdowns

Disclaimer: These videos may or may not (they do) contain language that is unsuitable for some people and most children. Watch accordingly.

10. Jim Boeheim - Syracuse Orange Head Coach






Apparently Coach Boeheim thinks Gerry is a good little ball player.

9. Phillip Wellman - Mississippi Braves AA Manager





I almost refused to put this one on here because I think Phil did this mostly for attention. I can't help myself though, it's too good.


8. Kevin Borseth - Michigan Women's Head Basketball Coach





Hawkeye House's pre-analyzation


7. Dennis Green - Arizona Cardinals Head Coach




As a Vikings fan, I find it hard to say that I would much rather take a crazy, ranting Denny Green than an inept Mike Tice or Brad Childress.



6. John Chaney - Temple Owls Head Coach




When an old, very angry black man tells you he's going to kick your ass, you listen. Coach Cal, are you listening? Be careful.



5. Bob Knight - Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach









I don't think mothers across the United States are buying Bob Knight's reasons why he likes the F bomb.

4. Mike Gundy - Oklahoma St. Cowboys Head Coach





Is there anything else to say about this one?


3. Chris Berman










Berman gets the trifecta because...

a. He doesn't like people ducking under the camera.
b. He likes to swear.
c. He's got a thing for redheads.

2. Jim Mora - The King of Head Coaches




I really, seriously wanted this one at #1, but the red-headed kid that can't talk good always takes the cake. Jim Mora needs to be back in the NFL soon. He's clearly the best coach in the history of coaching to give a press conference. If the Lions hired him, I would (maybe) watch a game just to see how Mora breaks down afterward.

Notice how when he punches the wall around the 2:50 mark, it says he's fired on the ticker. Comedic timing, my friends.

1. Boom Goes the Dynamite




I'm not sure if there will ever be a video that tops this. Massive breakdown, perfect uncomfortable teen, hilarious one-liners. The perfect storm. Congrats.

So let me know what you think? The order? Better meltdowns? Favorites? Others deserving of honors? Let me know and comment here.

Hawkeyes Prevail

(hawkeyereport.com photo)

In his last game in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, senior Cyrus Tate finished his regular season career in the most ideal way: a victory.

It wasn't an easy victory for the young Hawks. Jake Kelly overcame the flu, a fever, and mid-game vomiting to lead Iowa with 22 points, nine of which came after regulation. He also dished out 11 assists. Many of those dimes went to the Iowa big men, Tate and Jarryd Cole.

Coach Lickliter effectively played this pair at the same time for the first time this. Both Cole and Tate joined Kelly in the double-double department. The senior, in his first meaningful minutes since the injury, finished with 15 points and 10 boards. The sophomore beast was perfect from the field on his way to 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Matt Gatens and Devan Bawinkel played every minute of this game, 50 in all, and have done so the last few games. It's hard not to root for this young, gutsy Iowa team who has been short-handed much of Big 10 play.

The Nittany Lions certainly didn't make it easy. Talor Battle had a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. Penn St. slapped a press on the Hawks late in the 2nd half and created loads of turnovers, fueling their comeback. This definitely isn't the Penn State of old, the Nittany Lions have serious talent and may find themselves dancing soon depending on their Big 10 tournament performance.

This day belonged to the Hawkeyes though. Kelly banked in two 3's and blocked Battle twice in OT . Cole and Gatens hit four free throws in the last 30 seconds. Tate closed out his home career on a high note.

In Cyrus' words, "What a way to go out."

Game Notes:

• Jamelle Cornley officially scares me. There's something seriously, and probably clinically, wrong with him. Cornley was screaming at Bawinkel as he inbounded that. There's no doubt in my mind that if I was in Bawinkel's shoes, I would have called timeout, taken myself out, and filed a no-contact restraining order.
• The Carver crowd, sans the student section, was as packed and loud as any other time this season. Lick and the Hawks may finally have turned the proverbial PR corner. It could be the $10 tickets or even the gutsy play of the Hawks. Either way, it is working.
• The All Big 10 selections are announced tomorrow night. I'm calling Kelly for 2nd Team All Big 10 and Gatens as Freshman Player of the Year.
• Iowa plays Corperryale and the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday in the First Round of the Big 10 Tournament in Indianapolis. Hawkeye House will have complete coverage.

Honorary Hayden Fry Mustache Award

...goes to Mike Dunleavy. Mike has been successfully rocking a potent mustache. Ladies love it, men respect it. In honor of the legendary Hawkeye coach who sported one of the best mustaches in Iowa history, Hawkeye House will be randomly honoring those who choose to follow in his great footsteps.

Congrats Mike, if only your father wasn't so awful as an NBA coach.

(Penn St. game reactions coming tomorrow)

Wha...What happened?

A/P Photo

Lick is confused to what happened. I'm a little confused to what actually happened. Even John McCain is confused.

It was a really, really weird game for the Hawks.

Devan Bawinkel went ape and scored a game-high 24 points on eight treys. Jake Kelly is still on fire as he gathered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Hawks shot more free throws, made more deep bombs on 41% shooting, had less turnovers, played in Carver Hawkeye, and still lost.

Granted, Ohio State's Evan Turner took over the game with his 22 points and the Buckeyes as a team shot 55.6% from the field. That's extraordinarily hard to overcome.

I didn't get to attend the game in person because apparently the UI Main Library was in desperate need of my professional services, so I settled for watching a Big Ten Network replay at 3 in the morning. Therefore, I will not write an article, but only offer my observations. I feel like I can't get the proper feel for what actually happened just by watching it on television and looking at stats. I know that barely makes sense, but it's my method.

And. Here. We. Go.

• Jake Kelly has been going crazy and playing awfully well. Kelly is averaging 20.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 3.5 apg over his last six games. He only broke the 15 point barrier three times before this stretch. Three! That's hardly fathomable. I'm not sure what it is; he's getting healthier (though I believe I heard he's going to need surgery after the season) or he's getting his swagger back. All of this coming in the middle of a position switch. Either way, this is the Jake Kelly everyone has been waiting to see all season, if not more so.
• As mentioned before, Bawinkel channeled his inner Justin Johnson. Except, he stretched it out over the entirety of the game.
• Jermain Davis...
• Gatens was his usual solid self. Nothing spectacular, always productive.
• It's unfortunate to see Cy Tate hobbling around for his senior season. He flipped the proverbial switch sometime late last year and had an exceptional Big Ten Tournament (one game). He's a much bigger loss than Anthony Tucker or Tony Freeman.
• It's clear the Hawks are close to turning the corner. Although much of the Big Ten has a lot of young, talented players returning, Iowa returns 90+% of their minutes next year. The starting line-up right now goes: Sophomore (Kelly), Junior (Bawinkel), Freshman (Gatens), Freshman (Fuller), Sophomore (Cole).
• Mark Titus was on the Buckeye bench last night. My roommate Aaron was pumped that he was within shouting distance of him. For those of you who don't know, Titus runs a blog called Club Trillion that is hilarious. Check it out.

Prater Suspended after OWI

Oops.

Shaun Prater was cited for drunken driving early Saturday morning. Coach Ferentz isn't going easy on him easy. He said that Shaun will face a "multiple-game suspension in the fall." Not very smart for a potential start. He and Jordan Bernstine would have been vying for Bradley Fletcher's vacated corner spot.

My favorite line is when Prater told police officers that the bartender "must have put alcohol in his Coca-Cola."

I must have had a similar type of bartender that night. Why? Because that's what bartenders do when you order an alcoholic beverage.

Here's a link to the Gazette article.