I knew at some point this season that I was going to do a story on Kenny Iwebema and his family. I've seen his mom, Veronica, around Iowa football so much the last couple years, that I just couldn't ignore it.
We had a long phone conversation last week. Veronica and her husband, Kenneth, are from Nigeria. This football stuff is pretty new to them. Kenny didn't start playing in Texas until high school, which is way late by Texas standards.
She has a different outlook on all this. One that, I think, makes a lot of sense and that people can draw strength from in a time like this.
"This is what I tell the kids when I see them coming, make sure your chin is up high. One thing in life, when everything is going so smoothly and you don't have any obstacles, when the obstacles come, you won't know how to handle it. Yes, we would love to have a win, but, yes, we would also love for the kids to grow up, learn it and, if you don't win it this year, there's next year and the year after.
"The bottomline is for them to have confidence in themselves, knowing that they go out there and do their best. For me, that's all I ask. Stay healthy, do your best. Their best might
not be good enough for my next-door neighbor, but guess what? The person playing it can say, yes, I did my best and that's what's most important. From a parent's point of view, I would like my child to be healthy than get in there and get hurt."
Last season, Kenny Iwebema missed a huge chunk and had shoulder surgery. He might miss Michigan State after suffering a concussion last week.
No worries. The Iwebemas will still be at Kinnick.
"Kenny got hurt last year, but that wasn't the end of life. That wasn't the end of life. When I see him on the field, I cheer for him to go out there and do his best. That's all anyone can ask for. Go out there and do their best. Listen to
what your coaches tell you. Do what your coaches tell you."
This interview was before Purdue. I couldn't fit them in the story I wrote last week. Reading those thoughts tonight (Thursday), I'm even more impressed with Veronica Iwebema.
####################################
The Iowa assistant coaches don't talk to the media often. Offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe is right up there with Punxsutawney Phil. (Kirk Ferentz is right, though. Coach O'Keefe wasn't front and center during 8-0 Big Ten 2002 or Citrus Bowl -- I'm done calling it Capital One -- miracle He just doesn't do media, right or wrong, that's how it is. I don't really care either way anymore. I stopped fighting that fight a few years ago.)
So, when wide receivers coach Lester Erb spoke to the media Tuesday, I expected to see an exasperated man, edgy, defensive and short with his answers.
I was wrong, wrong and wrong.
Coach Erb was affable and approachable. He made a joke about his hair turning gray because of the wicked turnover his receivers have experienced this season (what, are they 10 deep now at WR?). He offered observations and truths. No, he's not happy, either. Yes, he would like to have a few receivers who aren't freshmen. But he's not beating himself over the head, or at least didn't seem to be Tuesday.
He sees an upside to his group. And it's there. It might be more visible next season, but it's there, you can't deny it. DJK is electric. Cleveland is smooth. Chaney has terrific receiver skills for a kid who didn't play receiver at St. Louis University High School and won his first varsity letter at Iowa as a sprinter on the track team. Stross is a unique skill package. Sandeman is an Ed Hinkel starter kit. Brodell clearly had turned the corner before his injury.
"I think the great thing about it is these guys have such a big upside. Really, the one thing these guys have lacked coming in here is getting that game experience and obviously they're getting that game experience now.
"I think in any area when you're putting young players on the field, you're going to struggle whether it's in the pass game, whether it's in special teams, whether it's in the run game. Until those guys get that experience and the game slows down for them a little bit, there are going to be some inconsistencies. But, I've really been happy with the way the guys have been working and have been playing out there. I mean we've made some mistakes, but they're out there competing. That's all you can ask for."
I don't know if that's what some of you guys are looking for. I get the feeling some of you want fire and brimstone and tears and blood and spittle from coaches. They have those moments. I'm sure the only snorts players hear from Ferentz in practice are snorts of anger. But can you see the investment here? Can you see that coaches are close to and might even actually care about their players? They're not going torch them in public. They are going coach the heck out of them and try to make something out of them, but they have their backs, too. You get that, right?
You want answers. I want to find those answers for you. But try to remember, there are no incubators in football. Sometimes, time really does take time.