On Iowa with Marc Morehouse

Big Ten officials

It's certainly worthy of discussion.

Here's the Big Ten's response:

BIG TEN CONFERENCE STATEMENT ON

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR OFFICIALS

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference is aware of the article on football official Stephen Pamon and conducted a background check on Pamon in 2005, along with all officials on staff at the time. At the conclusion of the 2005 background check, the conference office was notified of certain civil and criminal records for Pamon. Upon further third-party review, the conference was satisfied that the financial and criminal issues had been resolved at that time. It should be noted that the information collected during these background checks is considered confidential.

Other details reported in the article represent new information which was not available during the 2005 review process. Some of this latest information was available in public records while other details were based on anonymous sources and hearsay statements. The conference office intends to follow-up on the veracity and accuracy of the new information and will also provide an opportunity for Pamon to respond as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The Big Ten implemented a program for background checks on officials beginning with the 2005-06 academic year. All football and men’s and women’s basketball officials were checked by a third-party service for criminal and financial records prior to the 2005-06 seasons. In ensuing years, all new officials have received a background check with the intent of periodic checks thereafter. As a result of the new information contained in the aforementioned article, the Big Ten Conference will immediately adopt annual background checks on all football and men’s and women’s basketball officials.

(ME: Good idea, Big Ten, but too late.)

The Big Ten also has a code of conduct for all officials stating expectations for professionalism both on and off the field while prohibiting gambling on sports. Casino gambling was not prohibited by this code of conduct. In addition to the annual background checks, the conference office will begin a review of the permissibility of other forms of legalized gambling.

The Big Ten Conference will have no further comment.

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"The Big Ten Conference will have no further comment." They say that at the end of every news release, by the way.

Looks like we'll have something to talk about this summer at the Big Ten media days in Chicago.

As expected . . .

Here it is:

HAWKEYES LOSE THREE PLAYERS

IOWA CITY, IA – University of Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz has announced that three members of his Hawkeye football squad have decided to transfer. The three players, Dominique Douglas, Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield will leave the University of Iowa.

Ferentz had the following statement: “Dominique Douglas, Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield have decided to transfer from the University of Iowa and will continue their collegiate football careers elsewhere. None of the three will be on Iowa’s roster when classes resume in January.”

Douglas is a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore wide receiver from Detroit. He was Iowa’s leading receiver as a true freshman with 49 catches for 654 yards. Everson is a 6-1, 175-pound freshman defensive back from Detroit. He played in five games this past season and had one tackle. Satterfield is a 6-1, 180-pound freshman defensive back from Erie, PA.

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No big shock on any of these.

Two arrests during the season pretty much doomed Dominique Douglas, who still faces sentencing after pleading his unauthorized use of a credit card (a Class D felony) down to an aggravated misdemeanor.

Everson and Satterfield stopped practicing with the team in mid-October after Ferentz said they were no longer in good standing. They never returned but Ferentz never gave a reason for the decision.

Everson was considered one of the top "gets" in last year's recruiting class. The cornerback was a last-minute decommit from Michigan State.

Douglas, what more can you say? He's a talented wide receiver. He would've helped last year's team in a lot of ways, obviously. He threw it all away. His Facebook page says he might be headed to Rutgers. Priorities. He needs to have a few before stepping foot on another football field.

Everson and Satterfield were corners, so this is probably why Iowa has three corners already committed in this class, Shaun Prater, Demarco Paine and Jack Swanson.

There hasn't been any official word on freshman running back Jevon Pugh, who, the Quad City Times reported, is also gone. That would leave Iowa without a running back on the roster who has carried the ball in a game.

That's why you now see juco RB Nate Guillory and RB Jewel Hampton. And that's why a few more RBs might be on the way. And don't forget Shonn Greene, who may or may not return from academic limbo.

No word on Anthony Bowman. Educated guess, he'll probably be back this spring.

It's a long way to Feb. 6, when the national signing period begins. Applications are still being accepted, especially at RB.

Another Elite 11 QB

He committed to Michigan in July, picking the Wolverines over Iowa. But with Michigan's coaching situation in flux (Rich Rodriquez sounds like a definite "no," so stay tuned), Wienke had a change of heart after visiting Iowa last weekend.

"It was just with the whole Michigan thing, they don't have any clue who their coach is going to be and they don't know who is going to stick around, so I kind of felt like I was running out of time," Wienke told Hawkeye Report. "After my official visit last weekend and how well it went, I just decided that I was going to Iowa."

Wienke led Tuscola (Ill.) to the Class 1A championship game this fall. As a senior, Wienke completed 184 of 288 for 2,832 yards and 32 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

Wienke is an "Elite 11" quarterback, meaning he was invited to a camp that includes 11 of the nation's top quarterbacks. Iowa junior Jake Christensen was also an Elite 11 QB.

Wienke is the second QB in this current recruiting class. He joins Keokuk's James Vandenberg, who became Iowa's all-time prep passer this season.

Wienke is Iowa's 15th commitment. Iowa will likely have at least 22 scholarships to give out this season, maybe more.

Thoughts. . . Iowa had nowhere to go at QB last season except for Christensen. Coach Kirk Ferentz pretty much admitted that when, asked about the backups and their readiness, he said "read between the lines." Christensen was walking the tightwire without a net. Would it have been good for him to be pulled, even if for "teaching moments"? I don't know, but it would have been healthy for Iowa to have a viable backup or some healthy competition at the spot. Between Christensen, Arvell Nelson (practiced and played receiver toward the end of last season), Ricky Stanzi, Vandenberg and now Wienke (and maybe David Blackwell), there should be some competition.

Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

The Hawkeyes and Badgers are scheduled to meet Oct. 18 at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been vocal about re-establishing some form of a bye week since the NCAA gave the OK to 12-game seasons in 2006.

According to the State Journal, Big Ten presidents recently gave permission for schools to play games after Thanksgiving, if they can find a willing partner.

UW athletic director Barry Alvarez told the State Journal that football coach Bret Bielema has already had discussions with Ferentz.

"Bret wants to do it," Alvarez told the paper following a UW Athletic Board meeting Friday. "If Iowa doesn't want to do it, we'll just keep (looking). I'm sure Bret will try to find somebody. You need an open date. It's too hard. Twelve straight weeks is hard."

Kirk Ferentz was not in New York on Tuesday

I need to admit when I'm wrong on something. I should've done more checking. I'll review my thought process and make sure it doesn't happen again. I've been wrong one other time in nine years here. Trust me, you remember the wrong.

As always, my e-mail is marc.morehouse@gazettecommunications.com. Yes, it is the longest e-mail in history.

Write with any comments, criticisms.

I always answer.

I'll hopefully be shoveling out Lambeau Field later tonight, but I'll be back Tuesday.

Ferentz is out

Iowa AD Gary Barta said all this stuff at the UNI bkb game:

"No new news. I had a great night in NY last night. I have nothing new to report. I had a great dinner in NY last night. The Klinkenborgs were there. It was an awesome evening. There is just nothing new. We're focused on 2008. Just like the last time we talked to you." -- Why doesn't he say anything? -- "There's nothing to say. He's out recruiting. We're focused on 2008. He's our coach and that's the focus." -- "We're not going to respond to rumors. I've said several times that Kirk is our coach, we're focused on 2008, nothing's changed." -- "There's nothing to say." -- "There are rumors and we've said from the beginning, we're not going to respond to rumors. I think, and I haven't been here, that Kirk has been consistent over the years. He doesn't respond. The consistent message has been he likes it here. He's our coach. We're not going to respond to rumors. That's the same message we've been giving the last three weeks."

Iowa got two recruits today.

Ferentz is headed to Keokuk today to try to talk quarterback James Vandenberg into playing for the Hawkeyes.

I'm not sure there will be a press conference. But I'll keep asking.

New York City didn't happen . . .

The Draddy announcement is tonight during the National Football Foundation's annual awards banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Klinkenborg will be accompanied and athletics director Gary Barta.

According to the Detroit News, Michigan athletics director will be in New York tonight for the National Football Foundation's annual awards dinner and College Football Hall of Fame inductions.

EDIT ------------ An Iowa official called today and said that Ferentz was out recruiting last night and not in New York. I apologize for the error. ------------------------

BTW, I hope Klink wins. Either way, he'll be presented with an $18,000 just for being one of the 14 finalists. I had the opportunity to visit Mike and his mom, Mary, at their home in Rock Rapids this summer. Mike's grandfather, Everon, was the firecracker of the bunch. Mike had his trials while at Iowa, but he's a strong guy who'll be a helluva teacher and football coach someday.

Two sources . . .

Members of Michigan's search committee leaked today that Ferentz has been made priority No. 1. Lloyd Carr, who's retiring after 13 seasons at Michigan, is pushing for Ferentz, a source said. He has a say in this. Mary Sue Coleman, UM's president and the UI president when Ferentz was hired at Iowa, has a say in this. That's according to logic, by the way.

UM athletics director Bill Martin said in a statement Sunday, a day after LSU staved off Michigan and held on to Les Miles, "As for Michigan, we are continuing with the process we established and will continue to talk with and research our list of candidates."

Carr said during a Capital One Bowl teleconference that the process would wrap up "quickly," meaning by the end of December.

Now, remember, this is coming from Michigan's end. This is what Michigan people are saying. This is a Michigan story, and if it breaks, it will likely break out of Michigan.

Ferentz didn't talk at Saturday night's basketball game. The end-of-season press conference, that Ferentz said would happen in November, has been scuttled for this week and probably next.

When this exploded the first time around, Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News wrote that Ferentz was "approached by a third party representing Michigan to gauge his interest, and he let them know early this week his interest is at Iowa."

What could change in a week? Desperation, on Michigan's part. And money. If UM and Martin learned anything coming out of the LSU/Miles snafu it's that the price of college coaching has gone up. Lloyd Carr made $1.7 million. Ferentz makes $2.84 million at Iowa, and that's guaranteed through 2012 (that's $14.2 million over the next five years). Michigan knows it's going to take between $3.5 and $4 million to get in the ballpark, with a lot of coaches, not just Ferentz.

Remember, this is what Michigan wants. What Ferentz wants might be another story. We don't know that, though. Ferentz has talked with Fox Radio on Friday mornings during the season. Don't know if that's on the schedule this Friday, but I'm tuning in. Might as well. That might be as close as we get to that season-ending press conference.

How does that FlightTracker work?

Not so fast, my friend . . .

Not so fast, my friend.

Sounds like Miles will get a helluva new deal at LSU, per the Detroit News and Ann Arbor News (I think it's the News).

Is Kirk Ferentz behind curtain No. 2?

Iowa bowl hopes . . .

There are some crazy sportswriters out there who think it's as easy as no more seven-win teams. Heck, it might be, but I really doubt it. I just don't see it, but in my head, I've moved on to UNI basketball.

Speaking of which, if there is any ice tomorrow night, I'm not going.

Speaking of ice, goal and assist tonight for your favorite hockey-playing sportswriter. I also had eight penalty minutes, but we won't get into those.

I hate that college football's regular season is over tomorrow. It's the best sport, and you all know that's true.

Here are my favorite sports to watch on TV (and let's face it, fellas, TV sports is our national past time):

1) Any NCAA football game (and yes, I'm including the weirdo MAC games on Thursday's on ESPN2. On the sat dish, there are no shortages of college football games. If you haven't yet, get a dish. Get the dish and pay for the programming you want, not what someone picks for you.)

2) Any NFL game (BTW, the final total for our Packers tickets was $475. That's good money for Aaron Rodgers first start.)

3) Golf majors (I feel weird about cheering for Zach Johnson because I covered him. He's another in a long line of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City athletes who are showing us that, yeah, you can get there from here. I love that.)

4) Any, and I mean any, hockey game (I've been caught watching UM-Duluth vs. Wisconsin women's hockey. My wife wondered why. I said that UW had a cute defenseman, or defense person.)

5) Anything in HD. (Fellas, HD is the bomb. You guys will start watching hockey if you had HD. I'm serious. Great stuff.)

6) The Cubs (Been a fan all my life. I miss Steve Stone.)

7) Late-night college basketball (I guarantee I'll be a huge Grant Gibbs fan, because I'm on whatever late-night hoops ESPN is serving up.)

8) PRCA bull riding/National Finals Rodeo (If you guys haven't, you should. I took the family to a PRCA rodea last summer in Moab, Utah. I'm hooked. I don't know any of the names, but they're all Brands brothers, which, in my book, is Chuck Norris times ten.)

9) Wisconsin Waters and Woods (I've limited myself to one fishing show and this is it. It's a crazy Wisconsin guy who yells at the top of his lungs for much of the show.)

10) Coaches shows (Not really a favorite, but more of a professional hazard. Outside of the stories that Jerry Palmer does for Kirk Ferentz's show, I think that's the hardest one to watch. It's no one's fault, it just could be so much more than it is.