Back in my indiscretion filled youth, I was always pretty impressed with some of the "souvenirs" my friends and I collected.  My personal favorites included an airplane picture from the 'Liner and a game ball from Kinnick.  But seriously, I bow in humility and humbleness to whomever had the cajones to steal  the "O" flag.  Granted the "I" would have been better, but that is nonetheless spectacular.  I truly hope it was some extremely sauced fan that after the game some how removed the flag from its pole, folded it up and got it out of the stadium.  That individual will have the best  "This one game... " story of all time.

However, if it's really needed back for the game this weekend (and I can't believe they don't have backups), there is only one person who could be trusted with such a mission...

Continue reading this post »

As eluded to in "Chance for Redemption" this is the time. This is an absolute, necessary, non-exaggeration, no hyperbole, must win game. Win this week and the season may be salvageable. Win and you kind-of make up for the loss to NW and get back on pace to where many saw the season going. More importantly, you get on the path to respect.

Lose, well that's it. Period. End of sentence. End of season. (of course I will still watch and support, but the optimism will be gone)

I could give two shits that is a road game. Indiana is not a good team and they are reeling. They non-longer have Shada-dominatrix, Hardy. If the coaching staff and team staff can't devise and execute a plan to contain, not stop, but contain, Lewis (including for christ's sake finally stopping the dump off to Thigpen), it's horseshit. Indiana's defense has been torched by MSU and Ball State. Ringer put up almost two c-notes on these guys and Ball State passed all over the field. So Green and company have no excuses.

Bleep

Just get it done.

That is all, you may continue about your day.

[bumped up from the diaries... --OPS]

Okay, so Pugh is now apparently gone and (under the belief that he had nothing to do with the allegations this fall) I hope he figures out where he will be happy.  The fact that it wasn't at Iowa, where he was nearly guaranteed to get significant carries as a sophomore at a Big Ten school, is really depressing, but I digress.

So we are left with the NG tube, who, from the comments of Eric Page, "he makes Damian Sims look like a giant" is every bit of his listed 5'10" - 185 that I am, and I am 5'7" 160.  Call me naive, but I don't how this guy will be effective and/or hold up for an entire B11 season.   And I think we can all safely admit that two freshman RB recruits that choose Iowa are unlikely to be the type who can immediately contribute.

Given this predicament, Ferentz better have someone coaching/teaching/flunky assistant be so far up Shonn Greene's ass that he can tell if Greene put mild or hot sauce on his Taco Bell. And this guy better be making sure that Greene is doing everything he is supposed to do get re-enrolled next fall and be ready to go.  I don't care if you have to walk/drag him to class, sit with him/tie him to a chair while he studies and does his work, take him to the gym and run a sprint or two (because, really what's the point of him coming back if he can't contribute).  Just get Greene back.  Is he a savior that will get this team back to respectability?  Clearly no.  But will they be better with him?  Clearly yes.  So Captain, my Captain, please, pretty please, get this done.

I personally witnessed [made up in my head] the following exchange.

Santa: So boy what do you want for Christmas?

Depressed Hawkeye Fan: I don't know there are so many things.  How about a New Year's Day Bowl.

Santa: Well that seems reasonable, let me see here. Hummm. Iowa... Hawkeyes... Yes, I see them here.  Boy, I'm not miracle worker here.

DHF: Ok, sorry.  How about an offense more predictable than a bowel movement 20 minutes after Chipotle?

Santa: Now you're talking son, that I can handle.  I mean, heck, even ole sweater vest opens it up from time to time. Wait... Boy, did you know Ken O'Keefe is stilling calls there in Iowa City?

DHF: Yes sir, sorry.

Santa: Boy, stop wasting my time.

DHF: Ok, how about a defense where linebackers, not named Greenway, don't cover slot receivers?

Santa: Boy, you are trying my patience.

DHF: Wait, I know it.  All I want in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD is our number one returning freshman wide receiver to return next year.

Santa: That's it your out of here!

DHF: But Saaaaannnnnnttttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

According Hawkcentral:

Seniors Albert Young and Damian Sims exhausted their eligibility this past season, leaving Jevon Pugh -- who has dealt with homesickness during his first year with the program -- as the only scholarship running back returning to Iowa's roster. This underscored the impetus for restocking the backfield with this recruiting class.

This is nice. In the face of a crapload of serious allegations against JP, there is no official comment either way regarding his status.  Then every recruit we talk to pops off that "I'm coming because the staff told us they don't have any returning running backs." Thus leaving every to assume that JP was in fact seriously mixed up in all that shit. Now, when JP does decide to return (despite the zero level of support he has received), it all gets blamed on "home sickness." Way to stay classy, guys.

Eds Note: If that comment was from JP himself (and I have looked to confirm in any fashion) then I recant the above.