Drake Predictions, Night-Hawks, Slugger sent to 'Pen

(Chris)

The 101st edition of Drake Relays gives us something the previous 100 couldn't...a 14-year-old competitor. Prior Lake, Minnesota's Shaina Burns is in 7th grade and she's competing against college and pro athletes in the Heptathlon. Impressive.

A few predictions for this weekends events:

1. Someone by the last name of "Flood" will win a race.
2. Lolo Jones will wear sun-glasses, rain or shine.
3. Andy will be spotted, off-duty, under a tent.
4. Keith will use the term "vapor trail" in a sportcast.
5. Keith will use the term "vapor trail" again...

The Hawkeye football team will play two more regular season night games in 2010. The Sept. 18th road game at Arizona, and the Oct. 2nd home game with Penn State will both be played under the lights. If you're wondering why the home game against Ohio State on November 20th will be played during the day, it's because the Big Ten's TV contract doesn't allow in-conference night games after Nov. 1st. Bogus.

Former Hawkeye offensive tackle, Bryan Bulaga, will go early in Thursday night's NFL Draft. The consensus is, he'll either go 5th to Kansas City, or 9th, to Buffalo. One draft guru has him slipping out of the top 20, but that's not going to happen.

It sounds like Todd Lickliter, did, have a good incoming class for next season. South Dakota native Eric Larson asked out of his letter of intent when Fran McCaffery was hired. Today, he said he would sign with the Gators. Florida is a top-notch program. They've won a pair of national titles in the last 5 years.

Nick Nurse tells the Register he'll talk with Jamie Pollard, on Thursday, about the vacant top-assistant coaching position at ISU. I've heard people say that he would be taking a step down from D-League head coach, to D-I assistant coach. I think it's a lateral move, at worst, and somewhat of a step up. The only concerns I would have, is that he may be out (along with McDermott) after one season.

The Cubs moved Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen. They're now without an opening day starter, and their best hitter.

Big Ben gets a big suspension. Roethlisberger will have to sit out 4-6 games, to begin the 2010 season. Some say he may not be with the Steelers at the end of the week. I'd be surprised if they traded away a 28-year-old two-time Super Bowl MVP. He's a good decision-maker...........on the field.

Keith compared me to George Costanza in yesterday's blog. That's the best compliment I've ever gotten. All I've ever wanted in life is to drape myself in velvet, and naw on a block of cheese the size of a car battery.

New Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a finalist for the Iowa State head coaching position, a few years back. Gene Chizik ended up getting the job, and Kelly went to Cincinnati. Today, on the Dan Patrick Show, Kelly said he doesn't want ND to join the Big Ten because he doesn't want to have to take his players to Ames. We now know why Kelly didn't get the ISU job...he thinks the Cyclones are in the Big Ten.