Cyclone fans had no reason to expect a bowl this season. ISU was the underdog in
ten games, but the Cyclones managed to win six, and head to the Pinstripe Bowl. Iowa State looked sharp at the end of the season, even while losing at K-State, and many of us thought the Clones would beat Rutgers. Wrong.
Iowa State looked lost offensively. Whatever plan departing offensive coordinator Tom Herman had in mind, it did not work. Jared Barnett ran well, but passed poorly. Paul Rhoads then tried the Hawkeye-slayer, Steele Jantz. He threw several passes Yao Ming couldn't reach. Many fans wondered if Barnett was hurt. He did bang up his knee, but both Rhoads and Barnett said he could still play, and the QB switch had nothing to do with injury. Hmm. Sounds like a competition story heading into spring practice.
When a loss is fresh, everyone overreacts. ISU had a good season, relative to expectations. The Pinstripe Bowl feels like a step back because the Clones played uninspired football, but big picture, it was still a good year.
Temperatures in the fifties in New York City in late December? That was a bonus. I've seen Dick Clark look like a Popsicle on New Year's Eve...
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| Not frozen. (Courtesy LA Times) |
As I write this, the Insight Bowl is about to kick. It's up to the Hawks to bring a bowl win back to Iowa. I don't think they will, but I'd like to be wrong. It would bring a smile to see Bob Stoops, wearing one of those silly visors, standing there with a constipated look on his face as he tries to figure out how an Oklahoma team with superior talent lost to Iowa. However, by the time you read this, I think it's more likely the Sooners won by 17.
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| Big Game Bob? Not much lately. |
One of the misconceptions of our profession is that bowl trips are paid vacations. I can tell you from experience it's often a logistical nightmare, and 12 to 16 hour days are the norm. That's not to suggest covering a bowl isn't fun---it usually is---and we're happy to do it. It's one of the favorite assignments. However, it's also work. I'm proud of Chris Hassel and Zach Borg (along with photojournalists Brandon McCauley and Trent Reicks). They did all they could to give us the feel for being there...
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| I've never seen Chris this happy. |
New Year's Eve is an overrated holiday in my mind, and I usually don't like to be away from home on amateur night, but we had to make an exception for my friend, The Midnight Swinger. He'll get the year started on a fun note. I wish I could encourage you to join us, but I've learned the Swinging New Year at the Funny Bone is
sold out (9:45 p.m. show). Tickets remain for the
earlier show Saturday, as well as the Sunday show...
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| The Midnight Swinger |
What in the world was some corporate suit thinking canceling the KGGO morning show after 12+ years of high ratings and loyal listeners? Easy answer: figured out how to make more money in the short run. What a bad decision. Good luck to Heather, Round Guy, and Lou (Heather and Lou are being moved to WOW 98.3 for a news talk show)...
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3 comments:
Maybe a 'suit' WAS thinking. They heard the tired, monotonous, boring, strained chucklefest called a morning show on KGGO. That show is a tired as telling us the next song is Bob Seger, as if we wouldn't know that. Let Lou try and do a show. Maybe he can do some 'wacky' stuff, like playing canned laugh tracks or saying 'poop'. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Was anyone else outrage at ESPN's coverage of the game? We spent halftime watching a feature on an OU player. Wasn't there something about Iowa kids going to NY that could be featured, or perhaps show the band for fifteen seconds or so as they march? I had read only 5 kids from ISU had been to NYC before. Sounds like a feature story to me!
As a Cyclone fan I'm not too freaked out at the Pinstripe bowl loss.. though I am confused as to why people are surprised Barnett was pulled, he was 2 of 7 (and all 7 passes were way off the mark, the 2 receptions were more despite his throw than because of them) and had 5 rushes for 2 yards. My assumption is Barnett's knee was shaken up, they put in Jantz and he in two plays exceeded Barnett's total production to that point, so they kept him in. Jantz ended the season exactly where he was the entire year, the leader in all passing categories for ISU, despite playing in fewer games.
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