Our team's really excited about this opportunity.
The hospitality we've been shown here is fantastic.
We're looking forward to playing a great opponent
Were the preceding statements made by an Iowa football coach, a Texas football coach, or every coach who ever took a team to a bowl game? If you chose "every coach," you are more than qualified to write my Alamo Bowl column for Sunday's Gazette. Please keep it under 800 words, have it done by 9:30 Saturday night, and don't end any sentences with prepositions.
But seriously, folks, just once I'd like to hear a coach somewhere preface his press conference remarks at a bowl by saying "We're not too thrilled about being here. We had higher hopes, so this is kind of a drag. Everyone knows our opponent isn't worthy of being on the same field with us. Plus, the people here are mean and dirty, and the lobster bisque at our hotel was subpar." I guess when bowls offer seven-figure payouts, you're going to feel happy and welcomed.
Wednesday morning, the acting defensive coordinator and five defensive players from Texas met the press, followed by four offensive players and the offensive coordinator from Iiowa. They're happy to be here, looking forward to the game, have great respect for their opponents, and the hospitality bestowed upon them has been tremendous. Thursday, offensive personnel from Texas and defensive personnel from Iowa will say the same things. It'll be pretty dull, as always.
However, we tend to rip people when they do speak candidly -- not that anyone here has any reason to say unkind things about San Antonio or the Alamo Bowl. The Papajohns.com Bowl of last weekend was another matter. Though sponsored by a pizza chain, it didn't have pizza for sale at its concession stands. If you're going to go to Birmingham to see East Carolina play South Florida, you should at least get pizza. And maybe a Tylenol.
As for speaking freely, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate apparently has taken a bit of guff from the folks back in the Tall Corn State for comments he made to reporters here Tuesday. Asked about criticism he’s received in Iowa this fall, Tate replied “That’s just the way the state is. There’s nothing really going on there, no pro teams or anything like that.
“The big news in the media is how the corn stock is doing, or something like that.
“When there’s no teams except for Iowa football,” he said, “then everyone gets involved, thinks they have the right to judge somebody or something like that.
“That’s just the way life is.”
Some Iowans have taken offense. Others have probably laughed it off. But the fact that people are talking about it, and that I’m writing about it, proves one thing: Tate was right.
But that “corn stock’’ stuff, what in the name of John Deere is he talking about? Did he mean “corn stalk?” Is the Iowa media’s biggest news really about corn stock? What's Michael Gartner's role in this corn stock controversy? Has Tate borrowed John Kerry’s joke-writer?
If Tate leads Iowa to an upset win over Texas, he’ll go out as Drew Tate, warrior. If he throws ill-advised passes for interceptions and has yet another temper tantrum or two during the game, he’ll go out as Drew Tate, whiner. Either way, he’s correct when he says he’ll be judged. He's the quarterback for Iowa's football team, so that’s just the way life is.
Remember, no sentences should end with prepositions.