I am excited to announce that I will be participating in the (formerly CBS Sports, now most likely SB Nation) BlogPoll this year. Brian from MGoBlog runs this thing and tries to get a diverse collection of college football bloggers as the voters. In years past it has been entertaining to follow the BlogPoll and I am thrilled about the opportunity to participate in it this year.
Anyway, part of being in the BlogPoll is soliciting feedback from readers (something that the AP Poll or Coaches Poll could use). So, even though I don't think there is an official vote for a while, I wanted to start getting feedback on who should be number 1.
Archive page 63
By the Numbers: Clayborn Prediction
Adrian Clayborn is getting a lot of publicity this offseason. The next Suh, a Heisman Hopeful, a first round draft pick, best player in the Big Ten, etc, etc... Often these kinds of things become hyperbolic and end up with the player not meeting the impossibly high expectations. With Clayborn, however, I think it'll be different and I think he may even exceed some of these wild expectations.
Clayborn's stat line last year was: 70 tackles, 20 TFL, 11.5 sacks. Those numbers are really good. By comparison, Tyson Alualu, the first DE and 10th overall taken in this year's draft, had 65 tackles, 11.5 TFL, and 7.5 sacks. So, Clayborn is good, but can be even better.
Clayborn's stat line last year was: 70 tackles, 20 TFL, 11.5 sacks. Those numbers are really good. By comparison, Tyson Alualu, the first DE and 10th overall taken in this year's draft, had 65 tackles, 11.5 TFL, and 7.5 sacks. So, Clayborn is good, but can be even better.
Hawkeye Chess
The game of football is often compared to a chess match by TV announcers, sports writers, and the likes. A tactical battle between two armies, a fight going back and forth with every play, a war of positions and precision fought on the battlefield and in the mind... Well, now you have the chance to truly mime the football experience on a chess board with Hawkeye Chess. Command your squad of Iowa Hawkeyes to victory over the evil. (Hey. I'm bored, you're bored...maybe this will help kill some time until football starts.)
Pieces
White: (you)
Black: (the evil computer)
About the game
I modified the P4WN javascript chess script by changing the images for the pieces and the background colors. The "AI" engine is pretty basic so you won't find the computer too difficult to beat if you are an experienced chess player. There is nothing else fancy here...the main rules of chess are supported and you can use the dropdown to select what piece you want if you promote a pawn. Other than that, just click on the piece you want to move, then the square you want to move it. And, have fun!
Pieces
White: (you)
- King - Kirk Ferentz
- Queen - Ricky Stanzi
- Rook - Adrian Clayborn
- Bishop - Derrell Johnson-Koulianos
- Knight - Norm Parker
- Pawn - Ken O'Keefe
Black: (the evil computer)
- King - Tim Brewster
- Queen - Terrelle Pryor
- Rook - John Clay
- Bishop - Tate Forcier
- Knight -Greg Jones
- Pawn - Austen Arnaud
About the game
I modified the P4WN javascript chess script by changing the images for the pieces and the background colors. The "AI" engine is pretty basic so you won't find the computer too difficult to beat if you are an experienced chess player. There is nothing else fancy here...the main rules of chess are supported and you can use the dropdown to select what piece you want if you promote a pawn. Other than that, just click on the piece you want to move, then the square you want to move it. And, have fun!
A Quick Note: The Grass is Dying
A year ago, Iowa replaced its lovely (okay, maybe not exactly lovely) grass field inside Kinnick Stadium with FieldTurf becoming the 7th team in the conference to do so (and it'll be 8 teams next year when Nebraska joins). As a result, the Hawkeyes will only play 2 games this year on grass: at Arizona and at Northwestern.
The lovely (yes, actually lovely) stripes of the new FieldTurf in Kinnick Stadium.
I've always thought football should be played on a grass, but after seeing the FieldTurf in person and walking on it after the Michigan game last year, I can say it's a nice looking and nice feeling surface. So, while I'd prefer grass, there really isn't much to complain about.
The lovely (yes, actually lovely) stripes of the new FieldTurf in Kinnick Stadium.
I've always thought football should be played on a grass, but after seeing the FieldTurf in person and walking on it after the Michigan game last year, I can say it's a nice looking and nice feeling surface. So, while I'd prefer grass, there really isn't much to complain about.
Future Hawkeyes in Iowa Shrine Bowl
The 38th Annual Iowa Shrine Bowl is this weekend on Saturday. The game is played in Jack Trice Stadium at 7:00 PM. If you don't want to travel to Ames and sit inside Jack Trice, which is perfectly understandable, then you can watch a replay of the game on the Mediacom Connections Channel (MC22) on Sunday at 12:00. The game always features some of the best graduating high schoolers in the state and a large number of current Hawkeyes have played in the game. Last year Jordan Cotton made a good impression on me in the game and 2 years ago James Vandenberg dominated. This year should be no different as 5 future Hawkeyes will be on the field.