Iowa Football Warmup Music, NFL Draft Expectations and More

One of the struggles I’ve always had when writing for this site (and perhaps in my day job as well) is deciding where to draw the line. Not like, “oh man, he’s gone too far with that comment.” More like, “my goodness I’ve been reading for 27 minute and I still don’t know where this was going.” You can see how that might be a problem when sifting through comments searching for which questions to answer.

My initial reaction was to just get to them all. How hard could it be? But alas, I do have some time constraints and you all will run short of attention at some point. So I’ve decided on some ground rules here to keep myself from getting extra long-winded (is that the right phraseology when typing vs. speaking?).

For starters, I’m not answering every question. Unless there are only three questions, in which case, WTF guys? But assuming there are a solid grouping of questions, I’ll do my best to pick 3-5 to answer across a spectrum of topics. And then we’ll leave room for some rapid fire on questions that can be answered in fewer words.

Now, on to the reason you’re here. You had questions and now you think you’re entitled to the answers.

Three Up, Three Down

What are your Top 5 song choices to be played at Kinnick during warmups at the first game with fans post-Covid? (‘Back in Black’ not included.)

So to me, warmup music is slightly different than entrance music or walk out music. I think we all get those little goosebumps the first time you hear Back in Black start up in the stadium and after years of the same music every game, there are songs that just have a connotation to them that you can’t beat.

But when guys are just doing warmups and the booth DJ up in the sky has more of a free reign on music selection, I really enjoy when they choose music that leaves a good portion of the fanbase totally unsure of what to do. So here are my top 5 choices because I both like the genre and really enjoy people watching.

5. Ric Flair Drip - Offset (I like to envision the curious looks, followed by pleasant surprise when they catch a Ric Flair reference)

4. Renegade - K Camp (all the teenagers doing their dances while the dads try to figure out WTF is happening)

3. Mo Bamba - Sheck Wes (lyrics)

2. Up - Cardi B (more lyrics)

1. W.A.P. - Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion (listen to this around another person and try not to blush - the edited version below is still enough to do it)

Note: I have no idea if they actually play most of these, and they would certainly be heavily edited down, but you get the drift. Watching a stadium full of mostly middle-aged (I’m probably being kind), pasty, country folk (this isn’t a knock - I’m in my mid-30s from the middle of nowhere and burn easier than a can of gasoline with a match) try to discern what they should be doing with music geared toward 18-22 year-old inner city kids is a lot of fun.

Tell me which Iowa player from this years draft do you think will have the best NFL career and why. Also tell me what team you think will draft each player and when. Nixon, Smith-Marsette, Golston, Brandon Smith, Niemann, Jackson, Byers and Sargent.

- Boomeria

OK, I’m going to start here by saying I don’t want to take away from our actual draft coverage. In case you missed it, we actually have a draft scout on staff (shout out Rob Donaldson, co-host of our All-Eyes pod) and he’s working up full profiles on the guys expected to be drafted. That will include some details on where each guy might fit.

Having said that, I think we’re probably looking at Nixon falling to the 2nd and possibly 3rd after a slightly disappointing pro day (your classic case of the NFL caring too much about performance in shorts and not enough about what the video tells them). I think Golston and Alaric Jackson probably end up around the 5th round with ISM and Neimann likely in the 6th and Smith and Byers rounding things out in the 7th. Not sure we hear Sargent’s name called, but do think he can work his way into a role in the NFL.

In terms of the best career, it’s super hard to know but I like your call of Neimann. His pro day numbers were impressive and his on field performance has been very good. He’s going to have himself a long career. But in terms of upside, it’s hard not to go with Nixon. He has the sheer size and athleticism to continue developing into a very, very good pro so I’ll take him.

Can blind people see in their dreams?

- Petes Sake

No. But also yes. I’ve wondered about this a lot over the years but never took the time to Google it because reasons. So I finally did (thanks Petes Sake!) and the results are pretty much on par with my hypothesis.

People who are born blind do not see in their dreams. They do, however, dream and often through other senses such as smell, touch and hearing (eg they may smell, feel or hear things without seeing them).

On the other end, however, is the group of people who become blind some time after about the age of five. Those people do still see in their dreams as they have a concept of what vision would bring. Their dreams may vary wildly from what a seeing person’s might as their daily activities are completely different without the same bank of visual memories, but they’re still capable of seeing in their dreams.

On a related note, I continue to dream of an Iowa national championship, but like those born blind, my dream has no vision because I have genuinely no idea what that might look like.

Lightning Round

When will Weezy announce his decision on whether or not he’s wearing a hawk jersey on the court next season?

- Chuck Long’s Mom

Exact timing is certainly an unknown. In case you missed it yesterday afternoon, Wieskamp just announced he’s going to test the draft waters, but he will not be hiring an agent so he could still return. The NCAA dictates that players have until 10 days after the NBA combine to withdraw from the draft. This year, that means Wieskamp has until July 7th to change his mind.

Will Noah Fant be a HOF’er some day or will his lack of blocking prowess keep him out?

- HoustonHawkeye

No.

On a scale of 1-10, how much fun should college wrestling be to watch next year?

- HoustonHawkeye

10.

Is Kirk Ferentz really the last member of Hayden’s famed 1983 staff that’s still coaching?

- HoustonHawkeye

I did not fact check this, but Doc is a Capital “J” Journalist and one of the best on the Iowa beat so I’m going to guess he did. My quick (and bad) memory check says the math works out so I’m going TRUE.

Is anyone else going to ask questions that fit a lightning round Q&A?

- JPinIC

Doesn’t look like it.

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Alright, that’s it for this week folks. Barring me being booed off the stage, we’ll be back at the same time, same place next week.

Go Hawks.