On Iowa with Marc Morehouse

An actual offer . . .

San Diego (Calif.) Scripps Ranch quarterback Tate Forcier has 30 scholarship offers on the table, according to Rivals.com. He has offers from every BCS conference. The Iowa Hawkeyes have also thrown their hat into the derby. (Edgar Cervantes and Ramon Ochoa, are they the last Hawkeyes recruited out of Califorina?)

Tate Forcier has had two brothers go through the process, Jason (Stanford) and Chris (UCLA). His trainer is Marv Marinovich, father of star-crossed Todd Marinovich.

Tate Forcier has a website, Link

The site is still a work in progress, but it has, in my opinion, an admirable theme, "helping upcoming prep stars and help promote local recruits."

The site is filled with QB-oriented links. But it also has a link to what the "official" offers look like.

Here is a link to Iowa's offer: Link

It's about what you'd expect from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. No puffery, just pretty much the straight nuts and bolts.

I'm not sure where Iowa sits with Forcier. The field is deep and Iowa doesn't recruit California much if at all.

Iowa tries to find at least one QB a class. I'm sure that's the plan again this year.

Scheduling column . . .

Today we’re talking a little bit about Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, which is dipped, buffed and painted in stats, stats and more stats. Steele’s pub rates highly among college football fans because of the trends born out of stats. Did you know the Hawkeyes have the 18th best conference record (31-17) since 2002? Hey, that’s something, Iowa people.

His magazine isn’t out yet, but Steele has put out a few stats on PhilSteele.com. One stat focuses on 2008 opponents’ winning percentage.

With Maine (4-7) and Florida International (1-11) coming into Kinnick Stadium this fall, you know where this is going.

Iowa’s 2008 opponents clock in with a .463 winning percentage, putting Iowa 95th in the country on this list.

That’s the lowest among BCS schools.

Meaningless stat? Probably, but probably not totally.

It would ring true if no teams lost any players and the returning players performed the exact same way they did the year before. Still, Iowa could be sweating its streak of 30 consecutive sellouts with Maine (surely using its Kinnick date as a tuneup for its roadie to Monmouth) and Florida International (hey, the Golden Panthers are FBS, which is one better than FCS Maine).

The truth about college football scheduling is it’s more “catch as catch can” as ever.

Iowa athletics executive Mark Abbott works closely with Coach Kirk Ferentz on scheduling. Abbott finds options and hammers out the details when it comes to signing a contract.

The job hasn’t changed, but there are more twists and turns.

“We’ve got to find an extra game every year; sometimes that’s a challenge,” Abbott said. “Sometimes, the dates are difficult. Working with the guarantees that we have to work with, those are the kinds of things.”

In 2006, the NCAA approved a 12-game season. The NCAA also relaxed restrictions on FCS (formerly Division I-AA) teams. Victories over the Maines and Northern Iowas of the world count toward bowl eligibility. FCS teams then became a hot com modity even with rising guarantees (the money they’re paid to sacrifice themselves).

In December, the Big Ten OK’d a bye week. Conference presidents voted to allow the conference teams to play after Thanksgiving. Iowa begins with Maine on Aug. 30 next season and has Oct. 25 off.

Abbott said the open date for 2009 is a “challenge.” It’s Oct. 3, between a road trip to Penn State and homecoming against Michigan. Iowa paid Montana (an FCS) $650,000 for the 2006 opener. Timing will likely have Iowa breaking out the big checkbook again.

[Edit -- BYU is paying Northern Iowa $375,000 for the Panthers' Aug. 30 trip to Provo.]

Beginning in the 2010 season, Iowa will try to keep open the weeks during the Big Ten season as “bye” weeks, Abbott said. That would be Oct. 9 in 2010 and Nov. 12 in ’11.

Abbott said progress has been made on filling the openings, but he isn’t ready to announce anything.

Iowa’s philosophy on scheduling always has been something winnable, Iowa State and another BCS-level opponent. This year, the BCS team is Pittsburgh, up and coming Pittsburgh led by running back LeSean McCoy. In 2011, Pittsburgh visits Iowa City.

With the extra game and open dates in the immediate future (2010 is the immediate future in football scheduling), Iowa will try to stick with that model.

“We’re looking for two BCS-level games and then two others,” Abbott said. “It just depends on what we can find and fit into our schedule. We’re looking for home games. I guess that’s the easi est way to explain what we need.”

Revenue was the main idea behind a 12th game, which, for most BCS schools, means a seventh home game.

So, there’s some of the logic behind Maine and Florida International. Timing, money and Iowa’s model factor in.

Sure, you can rip Iowa for not running out and scheduling the bluebloods — USC, Texas and the like — but will you be saying that after the game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 20?

Remember, when Iowa scheduled Syracuse, the Orange wasn’t yet the burnt Orange that it turned out to be the last two seasons.

I will be interested to see if you buy into Maine and Florida International. It’s football, it’s the big show around here, but, yeah, it’s Maine and Florida International.

Will you buy?

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Again, I'm not judging. I totally understand the pull. It's football. If it were my favorite team, yes, I'd buy but more for the event and less for the football.

Like I wrote to an e-mailer today. I go to one Packers game a year. If they played Green Bay Preble High School, I'd go.

And hey, there are only 12 (13 hopefully) a year.

According to the Big Ten Network . . .

This is from the Big Ten Network website:

"The Gophers are scheduled to battle with Iowa for Floyd of Rosedale on Nov. 22 at the Metrodome. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network."

It will be the final Minnesota football game in the Metrodome. TCF Bank Stadium will open Sept. 12, 2009. I'm sure Gopher fans will be all broken up saying goodbye to the Dome. Actually, for the program, it'll be like going from a unibrow to two eyebrows.

Welcome back to college football, Minnesota.

That's three Iowa kickoffs in the books, with the other two being 11 a.m. kicks at home against Northwestern and at Michigan State.

How much ya wanna bet that the Iowa-Iowa State game shows up on the Big Ten Network?

While writing a column on Iowa's football scheduling that didn't make it online (I'll post it here tomorrow) for some reason, I saw on Maine's website that its game at Iowa will be on the Big Ten Network. The BTN didn't say that today, so who knows. But ask yourself this, where else would that game go?

Here's what you need to know about the schedule column: Iowa has five open dates in the immediate future -- one in '09 and two each in '10 and '11. A third open date is listed in '10 and '11, but those will likely stay open for byes.

Mark Abbott, the Iowa AD executive who deals with scheduling, said he isn't ready to announce who'll fill those spots.

The 12th game and a new wild, wild west of scheduling will leave you with a Maine and Florida International (Iowa's first two opponents next season).

Will you buy those tickets, make that trip to IC?

I'm not judging. I totally understand the pull. It's football. If it were my favorite team, yes, I'd buy but more for the event and less for the football.

Just like those fine folks in Ann Arbor did last fall when the Applachian State bus pulled into the lot.

How much you wanna bet Iowa-Iowa State goes on the Big Ten Network?

Iowa's King on Nagurski list . . .

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Football Writers Association of America has announced the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Included on the list is Ohio State senior linebacker James Laurinaitis, the 2006 Nagurski Trophy winner and a 2007 finalist, and South Florida junior defensive end George Selvie, another 2007 finalist.

The FWAA All-America Committee selects the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner from the association's 11-man All-America defensive team in November. The watch list was developed by the FWAA All-America committee with the help of the schools and conferences.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club will hold the 2008 banquet on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. For the eighth straight season, the FWAA will also pick a Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week beginning with games on Aug. 30 and running through the middle of November. And a Bronko Nagurski Legends Award winner will also be selected from the FWAA's 1967 All-America team.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, a former All-America lineman at Minnesota in 1927-29 and a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

The 2007 Nagurski Trophy winner, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, was selected No. 5 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft. The two other 2007 Nagurski finalists also fared well in the NFL Draft: Virginia end Chris Long went No. 2 overall to the St. Louis Rams and Kansas defensive back Aqib Talib was the No. 20 overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2008 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia Malcom Jenkins, DB, Ohio State Antonio Baker, DB, Louisiana Tech Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss Darry Beckwith, MLB, LSU Rashad Johnson, DB, Alabama Ted Bentler,DL, Army Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee Jan Jorgensen, DL, BYU Dirayl Briggs, DE, Bowling Green Frantz Joseph, LB, Florida Atlantic Everette Brown,DL, Florida State Mitch King, DT, Iowa David Bruton, FS Notre Dame James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State Joe Burnett, DB, UCF Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnati Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn Ian Campbell, DE, Kansas State Rey Maualuga, LB, USC Reggie Carter, LB UCLA Taylor Mays, S, USC Jamar Chaney, LB Mississippi State Albert McClellan, DE, Marshall Patrick Chung, DB, Oregon Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh Barry Church, S, Toledo Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss Antonio Coleman, DE Auburn Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati Emanuel Cook, SS, South Carolina Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana Maurice Crum, LB, Notre Dame Fili Moala, DT, USC Jermaine Cunningham, DL, Florida William Moore, S, Missouri Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt Brian Cushing, LB, USC Joe Mortensen, LB, Kansas Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State Clayton Mullins, LB, Miami (Ohio) Vontae Davis, DB, Illinois Captain Munnerlyn, DB, South Carolina Wil Dunbar, FS, UAB Andre Neblett, DT, Temple Solomin Elimimian, LB, Hawaii Troy Nolan, DB, Arizona State Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia Eric Norwood, DE, South Carolina Kevin Ellison, DB, USC Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke Auston English, DE, Oklahoma Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois Derek Pegues, DB, Mississippi State Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State Dave Philistin, LB, Maryland Zack Follett, LB, California Nick Reed, DE, Oregon Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State Myron Rolle, DB, Florida State Londen Fryar, DB, Western Michigan George Selvie, DE, South Florida John Gill, DT, Northwestern Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin DeMarcus Granger, DT, Oklahoma Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers Alphonso Smith, DB, Wake Forest Michael Hamlin, DB, Clemson D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi Clinton Snyder, LB, Stanford Nic Harris, DB, Oklahoma Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida Victor Harris, DB, Virginia Tech Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan Daniel Holtzclaw, LB, Eastern Michigan Brian Toal, LB, Boston College Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri George Hypolite, DT, Colorado Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU DeAndre Wright, DB, New Mexico

West Des Moines Valley OL picks Hawkeyes

Iowa's O-line will be old in 2009, with five potential starters in that senior class (Rafael Eubanks, Dan Doering, Andy Kuempel, Travis Meade and Kyle Calloway). He didn't say "old," but you get the point. The opportunity to play early will be there for offensive linemen in the 2009 recruiting class.

That was one of the reasons Barrent, a West Des Moines Valley all-stater, picked Iowa.

Iowa has as many as six offers out to O-linemen for 2009. It's an obvious recruiting need. So is wide receiver. Iowa might be able to boost receiver with instate prospects Keenan Davis (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Mt. Pleasant's Jordan Cotton.

I don't know what I like better, Barrent's height and weight or his GPA and ACT. Either way, it makes for a great get.

It's just a start, though, as you guys all know.

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If everything goes as planned, you'll know David Barrent because of his ability to tear things down. As a University of Iowa offensive lineman, that'll be his job.

But one of the big reasons Barrent committed to play for the Hawkeyes on Saturday is a future of building things up. The West Des Moines Valley junior wants to major in engineering and someday be a mechanical engineer.

"I'm good at math and I love science," said Barrent, who carries a 3.77 GPA and recently scored a 30 on the ACT, "so engineering seems like a good fit."

Barrent called Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz on Friday and told him that Iowa was the winner over Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa State and Nebraska. Illinois offered first back in February and finished second for Barrent with Michigan State in third.

The Barrent family made all their visits this spring, including a handful to Iowa City, and David felt Iowa was the best fit.

"It was the best mix of what I wanted for academics and for football," Barrent said. "I see everything I needed to see and decided to make the choice now."

Barrent, a 6-foot-8, 290-pound tackle, said the opportunity to play early is there for him. He played left offensive tackle last season for Valley, which went 11-1 and made it to the Class 4A state semifinals.

Iowa will have five seniors in the preliminary two-deep for the 2009 season.

"You look at the depth chart and the numbers, there's a chance to play early," Barrent said. "Hopefully, with a year under (Iowa strength and conditioning coach) Chris Doyle, it can happen."

Rivals.com gives Barrent four stars on a scale of five. Rivals also ranked him among the top 250 players in the nation.

Barrent is the second commitment for the Hawkeyes' 2009 recruiting class. He joins Toledo, Ohio, running back Brad Rogers who committed earlier this week.

Shonn Greene update (sort of)

He left school last summer and has been attending classes at Kirkwood CC ever since. I've made a big deal out of the fact that Greene hasn't carried a football in 18 games. But the bigger deal, probably, is that he hasn't worked out at Iowa since last June. He won't be in playing shape when he returns to Iowa this fall. (I don't think he'll be done at Kirkwood in time for summer workouts, so I'm not sure that will be an option.)

I heard a number on his weight Monday night that was about what I thought it'd be.

"We've got to be smart on how we bring him along," Kirk Ferentz said Monday night. "It's been a long time. If we run him to death early, he won't see October. . . . We just have to be sure we're smart about it when he gets back here."

Matt Marshall update

This is the same route that Derrell Johnson-Koulianos took to Iowa City. Iowa signed him to an LOI sometime in the summer, if I remember correctly.

Offers from Arkansas, North Carolina, state indoor hurdles champ in New Jersey, that's a pretty good find this late. I think the fact that he had to wait on an SAT score will open his eyes to the academic rigor that college brings.

Ferentz at Linn County I-Club

These questions were asked away from the speaker's podium. I imagine if he made the same remarks to the crowd that it would've been well received, it being the Linn County I-Club and all.

CEDAR RAPIDS — When Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz finishes sorting through his offensive line this August, don’t be surprised if the top five includes a pair of former Cedar Rapids metro preps.

Senior Rob Bruggeman, a Cedar Rapids Washington grad, entered spring practice listed as the co-starter at center. He did nothing to hurt that status. Bruggeman was headed toward serious playing time last season before suffering a torn ACL last spring. He returned before the season was over and earned playing time in the Hawkeyes’ season finale.

“He’s a senior, there’s a lot to be said for that,” Ferentz said Monday at the Linn County I-Club’s spring banquet. “If had not been hurt a year ago, the competition would’ve been very interesting. He was really coming on until he got injured. He was right there making things interesting.”

This spring, it was junior Andy Kuempel’s turn to make things interesting. The former Linn-Mar prep just might’ve done that.

With sophomore Bryan Bulaga out because of a shoulder injury, Kuempel plugged in at left tackle. Ferentz liked what he saw.

“Andy is really in the thick of it,” Ferentz said. “Andy can play guard. I don’t think there’s any concern about that. I think he probably played tackle better than I anticipated this spring. That’s a bonus. I know he can play inside.

“I thought he was one of the guys who really improved this spring. He made good strides. He’s very much in the thick of it, from my standpoint.”

They’re not head-to-head, but Kuempel could be in competition with junior Kyle Calloway at right tackle this fall. Calloway struggled in the spring game, losing at least a couple one-on-one battles with redshirt freshman defensive end Broderick Binns and getting whistled for a couple false starts. He was eventually replaced by senior Wes Aeschliman.

Ferentz cautioned against any knee-jerk reactions to one spring practice.

“I think it’s really important to remember, everybody got a chance to see the 15th workout,” Ferentz said. “We see all 15, so we do evaluate the body of work. But it’s a point well-taken. Certainly some of the mistakes he made that day were mistakes he made last year, so we’re moving beyond that.”

Seven or eight players are in competition for a starting spot on the O-line. The starting tackles will likely come out of senior Seth Olsen, Bulaga, Calloway, Kuempel and Aeschliman.

“Andy had a good spring at tackle. He performed much better than he did during the fall,” Ferentz said. “I had doubts going into the spring. I thought that was a real positive for him.”

Ferentz is still very much undecided at kicker. Junior Austin Signor and sophomore Daniel Murray failed to claim the job this spring.

“To me, the most disappointing thing is I’m not sure we’re any farther along with our placekicking than we were at the beginning,” Ferentz said. “That’s clearly cloudy still. I was hoping that someone would differentiate themselves a little bit. I don’t think we’ve made a lot of headway there.”

The door is open for incoming freshman Trent Mossbrucker, the Mooresville, Ind., prep who signed with the Hawkeyes in February.

“We definitely have an open mind, probably there as much as anywhere,” Ferentz said. “I think Austin and Daniel are capable of doing good things. We’ve seen them do good things. It’s a matter of consistency.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Ferentz interview if the quarterback position wasn’t brought up in some way, shape or form.

Sophomore Ricky Stanzi picked up the pace this spring and has at least kept Ferentz from anointing junior Jake Christensen, the incumbent, as the No. 1. The two alternated snaps with the first team during the open practice April 19 at Kinnick Stadium. Christensen did take the first snap with the first group.

“I think the competition has heated up,” Ferentz said. “I would re-emphasize, I’m not displeased with either of them. I think all the quarterbacks improved. I’ll also say, we’re not there yet. I don’t think any of us are there yet. That’s the challenge.”

Ferentz has said more than once that Iowa needs more production from the quarterback position next fall.

“Pass efficiency is important, but there are times where we’ve got to move the ball,” Ferentz said. “That’s what we’ve got to get if we’re going to have the kind of season we want to have.”

Recruit No. 1 or 3, depending on how you look at it . . .

Iowa’s newest football recruit is from Toledo, Ohio. His high school uniform is scarlett and gray with striping that looks similar to a certain Big Ten team from Ohio. And let’s face it, there is precedent for Ohio State swooping in and stealing a Hawkeye recruit.

It happened just last February, when the Buckeyes nabbed a fullback prospect who committed to Iowa.

Brad Rogers has listened to Ohio State’s pitch. The Buckeyes want him as a fullback. The Hawkeyes want the 5-foot-10, 230-pounder as a running back.

Rogers sounded resolute in his decision Monday. He even knew what he wanted to say if Ohio State calls again.

“I’ll tell them I’m an Iowa Hawkeye,” Rogers said. “Ohio State told me they wanted me for fullback. I really don’t want to play fullback.”

As a junior at Central Catholic High School, Rogers rushed for 634 yards and 12 touchdowns. His season as a running back ended in week 6, when he suffered a sprained ankle. He still started at weakside linebacker.

Ohio State, Kansas, Toledo, Bowling Green and Northwestern showed interest in Rogers, but he was set on committing early and took the first and only offer that came his way. He committed Monday, his dad’s (Bryant) birthday.

Rogers calls himself a downhill back, in the mold of Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill. Iowa’s pro-style I formation offense was an attraction, Rogers said.

“What Iowa runs fits my running style,” Rogers said. “They run a lot of I formation, which I like. I can run out of the spread, but I prefer the power I and pro-sets.

“I’m pretty much a downhill runner. If anyone gets in the way, I’m pretty much running them over.”

Rogers, who claims a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, is Iowa’s third commitment for 2009. Iowa has gray-shirt commitments in Jake Reisen and Adam Robinson. Their scholarships will begin in January 2009, thus making them a part of the 2009 recruiting class.

Last week, Iowa picked up a late signee to the 2008 class.

New Jersey wide receiever Matt Marshall was expected to sign a letter of intent with the Hawkeyes last week, the South New Jersey Courier Post reported.

Marshall picked the Hawkeyes over Arkansas and North Carolina, according to the paper. Arkansas offered him a scholarship for football, while UNC wanted him for track. Marshall is the indoor state champion in the 55-meter hurdles and was an All-South Jersey selection this past winter.

The Courier Post reported that Marshall and Iowa were waiting for an SAT score that Marshall eventually received. Camden football coach Tom Hanson told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Marshall, 6-2, 204 pounds, has run the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Marshall had six TD receptions last fall.

Linebackers coach Darrell Wilson led the recruiting for Marshall. Wilson has strong ties to South Jersey. He served as head coach at Woodrow Wilson in Camden from 1988-95.

Ferentz on "Jim and Jim" last night . . .

He didn't say if they would be out for Saturday's open practice.

Sharks, bears, lasers and Iowa running backs

-- When/if Greene, the 5-foot-11, 227-pounder, returns to Iowa City next fall, he'll be a 23-year-old with two years of eligibility remaining. Remember, he originally signed with Iowa in 2004, but a missed test score sent him to prep school (Milford Academy) for a year.

-- Greene left Iowa last June because of academics and has been taking classes at Kirkwood Community College. Coach Kirk Ferentz said last week Greene still has work to complete before he is accepted. Sounds as though they're still sweating it.

-- Greene was a productive back in his two seasons as a backup, gaining 378 yards with two TDs during 2005-06. But that's getting to be a "four score and blah, blah, blah." His last carry was against Indiana in 2006, a span of 18 games going into next season's opener.

"The nice thing about Shonn is at least we've seen him play against Big Ten competition, so that's reassuring," Ferentz said last week. "Now the key is where is he going to be at physically in making up that time."

Iowa's running back position has become a high-wire act with no net and hanging over a pool of sharks with bears carrying light sabers, in both paws, on their backs.

If Greene doesn't make it, the depth chart (at least considering scholarship backs) will be juco Nate Guillory (a 5-9 stocky type) and true freshmen Jeff Brinson (put up otherworldly stats in legit Florida prep football) and Jewel Hampton (who made the most -- 2,095 yards and 27 TDs -- out of his only season as a starter at Warren Central in Indy).

There's certainly room for a great story here, someone doing something way unexpected. But if you go by resumes and realism, Iowa running back looks piecemeal at best.

Kelly Clarkson, we hardly knew ye

I always thought it was an odd idea. I mean, isn't college football enough? Doesn't college football sell itself? College football doesn't need rock concerts, the AF2 needs rock concerts.

From Iowa sports info:

GRIDIRON BASH CANCELLED

IOWA CITY – MSL Sports and Entertainment has announced the postponement of all 16 2008 Gridiron Bash events – including the April 18th event slated to be held in Kinnick Stadium – due to an interpretation by a member conference of NCAA rules regarding current student-athlete participation in the activity and the specific plans for the event at institutions other than the UI.

Individuals who purchased tickets to the event by credit card will see a full refund on their next statement. Those who purchased by personal check will receive a refund check from the UI in the next week to 14 days.

Fans of the Hawkeyes, who had voted in the “Bash For Cash” competition, will not be billed by the cellular telephone provider.

The first-ever Gridiron Bash at Kinnick Stadium, to date, was to include a concert by two-time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson, appearances by the UI Marching Band, cheerleaders, pom pon squads and the UI Golden Girl, a performance by the current Miss Iowa, Diana Reed, and video highlights of University of Iowa football and other UI teams broadcast on HawkVision.

Kyle "Bonecrusher" Williams gets 10 more years

He came to Iowa, redshirted and eventually left because of academics. His story since then has taken tragic turns.

Today, Williams Link was sentenced to 10 years for attacking an Illinois woman. This is on top of the 37 years he's already serving for attacking two female students at Purdue, where he transferred after leaving Iowa in 2004.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz had this to say about Williams last summer at the Big Ten media days in Chicago: ""Obviously, there's something amiss there. The description of what took place, I don't think anybody would do that without something being amiss."

Links . . .

The caveman is learning.

Hot links . . .

Here are some interesting things I've read in the last few weeks.

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I thought Ivan Maisel's story on UM coach Rich Rodriguez's first spring at Michigan was a very good read. I guess we'll see about the strength coach, who nudges his way into the heart of the story. One thing about football in the Big Ten, you find out about the strength coaches, one way or another.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=3293269

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Here's a little diddy on Wisconsin's new D-coordinator Dave Doeren, who apparently is a Bret Bielema clone. That's worked out really well for Iowa so far.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3289156

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I don't know which one of you guys out there did this, but I've got to applaud the effort. Very, very funny. CBI, we hardly knew ye. At some point, a sense of humor has to be a coping mechanism here, right fellas?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UmTkKkmxrUI

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Here's something from the wonderful college football website "The Wizard of Odds."

It's a link to Map Game Day, which does visual representations of college football recruiting maps:

http://thewizardofodds.blogspot.com/2008/02/map-game-days-fantastic-recruiting-maps.html

Da Wiz uses Iowa as an example. Iowa snared players from 14 states; the farthest from 1,253 miles and the nearest from one mile. The average distance of the 24 incoming players is 544 miles:

http://www.mapgameday.com/recruit/school/Iowa/

Iowa State made the list of teams traveling the furthest for per recruit. You can also break it down by state.

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Whither integrity, Michigan? Excellent work by the folks at the Ann Arbor News. It might not register a blip with the face-painting crowd, but this is still COLLEGE football, not age-group football or the equivalent of the minor leagues.

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/academics/

Mary Sue Coleman, were the big bucks worth it? She doesn't look bad here, but why not grant a face-to-face? Here's some lively debate on that topic.

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/03/e-mail-intervie.html

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If this guy lives up to the hype, I'm buying Greg a sixer of Anchor Steam and a dozen Northern Iowa golf balls.

If I'm a college football coach at any of the schools Terrelle Pryor is considering, my cost/benefit analysis has gone into the negative numbers. I'm pretty sure Ohio State and Michigan will still manage to field squads.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/highschool/03/15/pryor.ap/index.html

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Now, some distressing news. Abandon ship!!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16245024