College Football: Iowa Gets Spring Drills Underway
The Iowa football team will aim to get their offense ironed out this spring, as the Hawkeyes begun spring practices yesterday.
Iowa finished last year 10-4 despite a bottom barrel offense that saw Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla both struggle under center.
Despite the loss of offensive centerpieces Tyler Linderbaum and Tyler Goodson gone to the NFL, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz feels like offensive line and ground game will once again be the strength of the team’s offense.
“I felt like the line took steps and they looked like a winning Big Ten line in the bowl game — not that we won the game, but it was closer to what we wanted to look like” Ferentz said.
Another adjustment the Hawkeyes made to streamline communication is moving Brian Ferentz to quarterbacks coach — along with his offensive coordinator duties.
Ferentz takes over the role filled by Ken O’Keefe.
Padilla, Petras and redshirt freshmen Joey Labas are all expected to be in the mix for opening day snaps.
Iowa opens their season on September 3rd at home, hosting the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.
Prep Track: Drake Relays Schedule Announced
The 112th running of the Drake Relays will begin on April 27th and run through April 30th.
The official schedule was release last night.
Action will begin on Wednesday, April 27th with the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon.
High school field events will begin Thursday night with discus, high jump, shot put and long jump.
High school running events will begin the morning of Friday, April 29th with boys’ and girls’ hurdle prelims.
Men’s College Basketball: UNI Star Noah Carter Announces Transfer
UNI swing man Noah Carter has announced his intentions to transfer.
This is the second time Carter has entered the portal, doing so late March of last year only to renege.
The decision to come back to Cedar Falls was a boon for the Panthers, as the Dubuque native poured in 15 points and 4.1 rebounds per game helping guide UNI to the Missouri Valley Conference title.
Carter will have two years of eligibility remaining when his transfer is complete.
It is unclear where Carter will attend, but buzz around the program has indicated that his transfer is the first domino to fall for star guard A.J. Green departing from the program as well, with Iowa State lining up for his services.
Men’s College Basketball: Otzelberger a Finalist for National COY
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a finalist for the 2022 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.
The award is presented annually to the nation’s top Division I coach.
Otzelberger, who is in his first season leading the Cyclones, has orchestrated one of the nation’s top stories, helping ISU improve from a 2-22 record last season to a 22-12 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance this season..
The 20 win improvement is the second-best in college basketball history.
The Cyclones started the season 12-0, the second-best start in school history and rose to as high as No. 8 in the Associated Press Top-25 Coaches Poll.
Otzelberger and the Cyclones will face Miami on Friday at approximately 8:45 p.m. and you can listen to the scrap on FM 98.5 and AM 1130.