Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - ALERT: Hawkeyes' Offensive REVIVAL Begins with Gronowski - Is Gronowski the ANSWER to Iowa's Offensive Woes?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Big things are coming to Kinnick Stadium. South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski is set to take the Big Ten by storm, bringing leadership, mobility, arm talent, and a winning pedigree to Iowa City. Watch out, Hawkeye football got a major upgrade. You are locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in.

Starting point is 00:00:35 I'm Trent Condon and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. If you're new to the program, I have been following Iowa athletics for 45 years. Yes, it is my birthday today, officially. And I have been watching and covering the Iowa Hawkeyes for the last two decades on the radio side of things. Now with you on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day and talking Hawkeyes with you each and every day. Coming up on today's program, we are going to talk a little bit about the weekend ahead for Iowa baseball. We'll break things down what the Hawkeye team try to hold on to first place in the Big Ten has in front of them. As Nebraska comes to town, one of the favorites in the Big Ten. We'll also talk with David Eichold from 247sportshawkeyeinsider.com.

Starting point is 00:01:22 We'll get his thoughts as they cover a lot of recruiting. What's happening with the transfer portal for the men's basketball program? What's happening with the portal with the women's basketball program? We'll talk a little football also coming up here with David Eicholt. And our conversation begins here on the quarterback spot and some Iowa football with spring football. About halfway through things as we're a couple of weeks away from our once glimpsed one glimpse that we're going to get at the football team and that is coming up here today. Thanks for being with us each and every day and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every single day. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. New customers right now can get $250 in bonus bets when you win

Starting point is 00:02:06 your first $5 bet. Let's get into it. Let's talk some football as it's been very basketball heavy here over the last couple of weeks with the new coaching staff coming in. Ben McCollum, great to be able to talk with Coach McCollum yesterday. Really enjoyed our conversation and breaking things down, but we'll talk plenty of basketball and with the portal opening back up that will certainly move back to the forefront and we will get into that in tomorrow's program but let's get football here and as

Starting point is 00:02:34 I said at the top Mark Grunowski we knew Iowa was getting a stunt right. You just look at the numbers what he did statistically and you know that Mark Grinowski is going to be a guy that in terms of what he brings to the table. Okay, you got a quarterback that's put up big numbers and you can say, I came at the FCS level. What do we really know? How is it going to equate? Just know that some of the programs that were after him. And you look back at this past season, threw for 2,700 yards, 23 touchdowns against seven interceptions. That was a low watermark over the last couple of years.

Starting point is 00:03:11 Incredibly efficient, big, strong, physical. You go back to the excitement that there was for Kade McNamara, and I think there's a component to it where you look at the talent that was around him in Michigan. J.J. McCarthy obviously unseated him and leading him to exit. That was not going to be the case with Mark Gradowski. There was nobody that was pushing him out the door. But there's a little bit more to it. And hearing Gradowski now for 20 minutes with the Iowa Beat writers today, for 20 minutes with the Iowa Beat writers today. Hearing his conversations about the program, about coming in, really about fit. It seems like his fit is so much better than what we saw with Cade McNamara. Cade McNamara came in right away and after the sledge that we were dealing with at the quarterback spot a couple years

Starting point is 00:04:05 previous, anything would have been like getting a glass of water in the Sahara, right? I mean, that's what we got with Cade McNamara, and it didn't write. And he came in with Gusto, and he came in with Flair, and he told everybody, tell us we're going to have the worst offense in the country. They did again. Does that fit with Iowa football? Not really. It doesn't mean that everybody has to be a choir boy and that you can't show personality because you absolutely can.

Starting point is 00:04:38 Personality's okay. And Mark Gronowski today, he showed personality. He showed that, yeah, this is a guy that can be a leader. And not doing it with false bravado, not doing it by being a Tommy Tough guy, just being a guy that is a football dude. There's a big part of that. The element of guys just following guys on a football

Starting point is 00:05:02 field because they can. Mark Gronowski seems to have that. Seems to have that it factor. And it's not forced, it's not contrived, he just has that kind of personality. Now he's got to win over the locker room. And it's a locker room that he walks into with Iowa football having as deep of a quarterback room as they've had in a number of years. What Tim Lester, the offensive coordinator did in a year's time, completely out with the old and in with the new, even in today's era of the transfer portal, you don't see that happening at this kind of level. You bring in Hank Brown, guy that started a couple of games in the SEC and at Auburn, not at Vanderbilt, not South Carolina, at Auburn. And regardless, yeah, both those teams had good years last year, probably worth the best

Starting point is 00:05:54 examples, but you know what I'm saying. This is a power program. This is a program that has won a national championship recently in Auburn and he started a couple of games there. You have Brendan Sullivan that has proven he can win games in the Big 10 and it's done it at two different schools, both at Iowa and Northwestern. We know he's an athletic dynamo. We know that he can win games for you with his legs and the specialty package they have implemented last year for him.

Starting point is 00:06:23 Is that another thing? Sullivan comes in with accolades, and this is a guy that Iowa could have backed away. Now he committed to the previous regime, the old offensive coordinator, but Tim Lester liked what he saw there. There are pieces. There are pieces that they've never had in recent history at the quarterback spot ever had in recent history at the quarterback spot. Further and further down. It's exciting now you have Gronowski and you look back at last season you think of the games that they lost you think the way they went obviously a number one that jumps to mind is what happened after the opening quarter

Starting point is 00:06:59 against Iowa State and you can talk about what happened in the goal line not having Caleb Johnson in there, just the play calls. And that bears mentioning. But the quarterback play by Cade McAmara was just brutal for the final three quarters. He was awful. But Mark Gronowski in there, win that game. Couple other moments.

Starting point is 00:07:23 Now the defense was also atrocious against Michigan State, but you look at that one and some of the opportunities that were left in the field, at least during the first half of the game at Spartan Stadium. That's what you find yourself doing. It's going to be different with Mark Grunowski. I truly believe that. That for the first time in a long time, Iowa has, at minimum minimum a competent quarterback. And I think there's even more. I think there's more upside that you can see. Tim Lester is a smart guy. And we saw a season ago that offense take a step forward. That was mostly with the run game. But now with a quarterback like this, a quarterback throughout the course of his career that's put up some monster numbers, even at the F FCS level but he also did in the best FCS conference in the country. Got this one a couple of national championships.

Starting point is 00:08:12 This is going to equate. This is going to work. I'm excited to see it. I just got a real quarterback. Let's get excited about that. Let's talk with David Eicholt from 247 Sports. Look around the transfer portal. We'll talk women's basketball. We'll talk with David Eichholt from 24 seven sports look around the transfer portal we'll talk women's basketball we'll talk men's basketball football as well we'll do it with David Eichholt we continue this is locked on Hawkeyes. The NBA playoffs are almost here and FanDuel is giving new customers an incredible way to get in on the action right now

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Starting point is 00:09:09 game tips off, you can even combine live prop bets into a same game parlay for a chance to win big. Don't miss out. Head to FanDuel.com to claim your $250 in bonus bets today. That's FanDuel.com. FanDuel.com to claim your $250 in bonus bets today. That's FanDuel.com. FanDuel.com to claim your $250 in bonus bets today. Let's talk a little bit about the portal as it pertains to what we've been talking a ton about the men and the excitement of obviously the new staff and McCullen coming in and you can understand that we'll get there momentarily but I do want to start with you on that front. Work needs to be done. If they're going to continue the momentum from what they've had and what they're going to do, they need some help in the portal. What can you tell us the latest on the women's front of what they're doing and how are they in terms of finances? Are they in good shape because well

Starting point is 00:10:03 the men took some money also this spring on kind of how they're doing financially. Yeah. I mean, I think they're in decent shape. I mean, I do think that there have been a couple of misses on the trail right now or in the portal on the women's side. I do think they're monitoring a bunch of different targets right now, but you also have to remember now there's the recruiting director that needs to be replaced with Raina Harmon going to FDU. Oh yeah. So I do think that's gonna be an important role

Starting point is 00:10:30 to take a look at. You know, if I'm gonna be candid, I'd like, you know, Kathleen Doyle to get a look. She's only 26, but she's been with Virginia Tech for the past year as director of player personnel, and we know how beloved she was as a Hawkeye and a great player in her own right, being Big Ten player of the year.

Starting point is 00:10:46 So maybe she gets a call. I think that'd be a nice way to kind of, you know, again, kind of continue that youth movement in that trail. But, you know, it was interesting though, because when you look at the pre preseason way too early rankings, according to ESPN, I mean, Iowa sitting at number 18, I believe by, by Charlie Kreme of ESPN. Iowa needs to land a point guard. And I do think that they need to land another wing.

Starting point is 00:11:09 But I also think you look at this, like you have five for Addie Deal coming in. Look at Leila Hayes, the six-four post. I think if Hannah Stolke can develop a jump shot, that's going to be beyond key for that team next year. Because if you can play Hannah Stolke and Ava Hyden together at the four and five, that's going to be one of the best duos in the Big Ten. I mean, I'm a serious believer in Ava Hyden and what she can do. But Iowa needs to land a point guard with Aliyah Guyton's departure, obviously now with Lucy Olsen graduating. There's kind of a hole right there,

Starting point is 00:11:42 I think. So I think that's going to be the priority number one at this point for the women. Help me out with UCLA. Are you following the UCLA women's story? Apparently the whole team is gone. Did you see that? I've been seeing stuff like this. They've been popping up a little bit. I hate to tell you, man, I don't want to read it over, read into anything because the amount

Starting point is 00:12:03 of players that are in the portal right now is absurd Yeah, right. I mean we're approaching 1400. I think for the women and It's gotten out of control again. Quite frankly. It's unsustainable. I mean you could say the same thing for usc, right? Like avery howell is going to Washington uh, they have another former five-star that was just a freshman this past year enter the portal as well Which iowa has made contact with at the same time. So I don't want to over read into it. I mean, they're getting Lauren Betts back for another year. They're getting her sister Sienna Betts

Starting point is 00:12:34 who by the way is a six, five post and a five-star in her own right was Vogue, the MVP of the McDonald's all American game. So they're not going anywhere. I hate that. I hate to be just so bland because you know me I'm the guy who likes a sprinkle hot take down everything I'm not gonna over it into it man. I just can't with the with what we've seen I think what's more strange than anything else that is even stranger than the UCLA saga Was the fact that no Iowa players hit the portal last year once Lisa Bluter left. We know how valuable Jan Jensen is. We know the relationship she has.

Starting point is 00:13:09 We know how important that she's been to Iowa. But you just don't see that anymore. It says a lot, it really does. And yeah, I'm looking here. Yeah, the whole freshman clash from a year ago, that was number four class in the country, all entering the portal for UCLA. It's a different era. I'll let you up from the women to the men and get into what we have set up for this

Starting point is 00:13:30 weekend, going to be some visitors. I anticipate we're going to hear of a commitment tomorrow. So give us the latest of the land and how things are set in Ben McCollum. Dead period will end what midnight tonight and more activity happening in Iowa City campus this weekend. No, you're exactly right. And I know people are a little bit tense right now because the only players they've really gotten are Cooper Cotchback and the Drake guys.

Starting point is 00:13:54 I hate to take a page out of Aaron Rodgers playbook, but relax, relax. Everybody is looking for players at this point. Keep in mind, I know I'm going to relate to the women's side for a second, but Lucy Olsen did not enter the NCAA transfer portal until two days ago, a year ago. She did not commit until April 17th. Like this is again, this is the reality of the new norm. Everybody's trying to rebuild their roster right now. I do think that we're going to hear a decision from Chattanooga guard Honor Huff.

Starting point is 00:14:24 And by the way, what an NIL name in it. So are you kidding me? You think about that you think about on the football side, Iowa gets Hudson parliament next year and then they could get defensive lineman named King Ligon. This is spectacular. I mean all name right? I do think that we could see a decision from honor huff tomorrow I think Iowa's going to know later today if they're gonna get him or not. Iowa Adventure, Iowa is among the top contenders. I think West Virginia is probably in that same category.

Starting point is 00:14:55 So I could not envision the amount of times we've seen Iowa and West Virginia linked up more than we have the past six weeks. I mean, it's kind of been ridiculous how many different storylines of players have gone after and coaches. But I think honor Huck's we got to keep an eye on. And then I look at grand Canyon, big man Duke Brennan. He's supposed to visit next week, but he is having a couple other visits beforehand. And that's the guy who I think would absolutely thrive in Ben McCollum system averaged about 10 and

Starting point is 00:15:22 nine a year ago, not a huge rim protector, but he can alter shots. And again, he can kind of hold down the post. You don't have to run a lot of offense for him. But those are the two guys I'm keeping an eye on right now. Then a division two point guard West Ennis. I think I was looking at potentially getting him on campus and guys, I mean, I hate to tell you this again, there's countless others that we probably don't even know about that nobody knows about. They are active in the portal right now. I would pay closer attention to if Iowa has a zoom with the prospect, and then if they get them on campus, that there's actually going to be traction there. But again,

Starting point is 00:15:58 I think we should know if honor Huff is going to become a Hawkeye sometime tomorrow. Great name. That's that's for certain. Do you get a sense as to how Ben McCollum is going over amongst the the Hawkeye fans? Obviously, it's hard to tell. Right. I know that there's they they had a an opportunity to put down a deposit on season tickets on men's season tickets. I don't remember that being the case last year. It might have been, but it appeared on my radar, which I guess is a good thing that, uh, that somebody was talking about that. Obviously, maybe the message

Starting point is 00:16:31 boards would be maybe as good as an indicators we have right now is how Hawkeye Nation is buying into the new men's coach. How sad is that, by the way, for relying on message boards? Well, I agree. By the way, I love everybody at hawkeyeinsight.com. I'm just putting a big picture spin on it. No, but it's accurate though, right? I mean, where else are we going to know just, uh, you know, kind of get a feel of, uh,

Starting point is 00:16:54 if they're buying in to what he's selling or not? Cause I think they are. I think they are. I think it's kind of irresponsible not to because I think something that people are not talking enough about Ken is how self-aware Ben McCollum is about to say the program and how much he knows the history. I know you look at the interview he did with Chad Leistico when he talked about trying to get Josh Dix and Price Bamford back and he said one of the biggest challenges was probably the attendance number over the past couple of years and those sort of things.

Starting point is 00:17:27 That's not something you hear a coach talk about frequently. I think he has a gauge about what needs to happen. He's been a huge priority amongst getting himself back out in the community. I know he was on your show yesterday, great interview by the way. I'm sure you can tune into that on the new and improved iHeartRadio app. Look at that! I don't like that! But you know, he's making himself available to the public. He wants to engage it. And I think the constant message that Ben McCollum has said is we want to build it alongside everybody. And I think that's such a unique approach. But I also think that's exactly what IO fans need to hear. I think the only little bit of a turnoff right now is they have, again, it goes back to Transfer Portal. They haven't landed that big name sort of portal guy to kind of keep the momentum going,

Starting point is 00:18:12 keep the juices flowing. But I'll tell you, man, once one of them drops, they're going to drop. It's going to have a domino effect. I would anticipate that the majority of Iowa's roster here is going to be dying the next 10 days to two weeks. Like I outside maybe one or two spots. Like I don't see this lingering and I can tell you with 100% certainty. The staff is not in panic mode. They're not even on red alert right now.

Starting point is 00:18:38 They're relaxing. They're working their tails off, but they feel good about where they're at right now. And the one thing I'll say, and I think I've I told you guys this maybe I can't remember if it was on or off the record I know a lot of people are talking about it being a rebuilding year right that's the phrase that's thrown around one I think that's a four-letter word to Ben McCollum if you get you know obviously you guys have talked in and number two don't tell Bennett Sturtz that's a rebuilding not come to Iowa to rebuild.

Starting point is 00:19:05 Yeah. I said the exact same thing earlier today in the show. I the exact same thing. You have a at minimum second team, all big 10 point guard. You're not thinking rebuilding your number one. You are trying to hit the ground running. You know, just to back up what you said, David, about what McCollum told Lysakow on that pod, how tough it was to convince Dix and Sanford, you know, because they had such a bad experience.

Starting point is 00:19:30 I mean, you go back to the game at East in Moline, you know, and my biggest takeaway was AII will beat Washington state, but listening to the players, David, and you covered it after the game. And, and, and their biggest takeaway was how much the fans were into it. Um, and, and that was missing throughout the season when they played their home games. I mean, I'll tell everybody that's going to go to Harbor. I mean, uh, you know, Carver Hawkeye Ryan next year, that energy is not going to fly with this team. And again, they, they know they have to earn the wins.

Starting point is 00:20:02 They know they have to earn the fan support and keep that kind of momentum going. But Ben McCollum did not come to Iowa to coach in front of certain crowds that they were at last year. Because if your best environment is a neutral environment, I think that kind of says it all. I don't think there's much more I can add right there, right? No doubt about it.

Starting point is 00:20:23 Couple other notes for you. Let's jump into a little football before we run out of time spring football a couple weeks away from our little glimpse that we'll get You guys got a glimpse You've been talking to some assistance and the like as we go through Left tackle obviously is the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the football What's the biggest question mark defensively for you a lot of new faces on that defense next year? What's the biggest question mark defensively for you? A lot of new faces on that defense next year. You know, I'm gonna say defensive tackle and it's only because I know they addressed it in the portal They got Jonah Pace. They got Bryce Hoffman. I'm like they they did a good job in the portal

Starting point is 00:20:55 So i'm not throwing shade at that But I need to see some proven production because if you look at the edge rushers guys Like i'm not concerned at all about the edge rushers. think max blue well and going to be a big 10 star this year I think this is his going to be his big breakout season I think that you know Kenneth Merriweather has been either heard some really good things about him as Well, and they're gonna get some pieces back Brian Allen is of course missing spring, but he's gonna be back But quarterback I still think maybe it's a little bit of a big question mark But I also think we know what you're getting out of the

Starting point is 00:21:26 quarterback, right? Like John Nester obviously entered the NCAA transfer portal, but the guys they are turned, I think we can have reasonable expectations for them. The linebackers probably know a story like this is probably as many big question marks as I've had on the defense. I'm also not one to question Seth Wallace. I'm not one to question Phil Parker. But again, I think that defensive tackle, I think they have a couple pieces, but they need some big time space eaters. And I think the guys that they've had over the last couple of years have done a really nice job. But there'll give you some guys

Starting point is 00:21:57 that really need to accept for this year. I'm looking at Jeremiah Pittman. Obviously they get Aaron Graves back and I think he's going to be a big time player as well. But yeah, I'm really, really circling the interior of the defensive line. David Eichold, Hawkeyeinsider.com, hawkeyeinsider.com for David. We appreciate you coming on as we always do, David Eichold. Thanks for doing this, brother. We'll see you in the building and we will talk to you down the road. See you, pal. Yeah, I appreciate you guys. Thanks. Yeah, good to talk to you, David Eichholz.

Starting point is 00:22:26 We check in on Iowa basketball. Thank you very much to David Eichholz joining us here and getting a little insight into that transfer port of the world and of course, spring football, as we heard from Mark Gradowski earlier today. We continue on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast, your team every day as we get into some Iowa baseball. Big series coming up this weekend. They're all big when you're in first

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Starting point is 00:24:35 about another upset win last weekend by the Iowa women's softball team and what they were able to do and we look over on the other diamond the baseball diamond boy it's been going well for this Iowa baseball team came into the season after last year's disappointment you remember a year ago Iowa baseball preseason top twenty team expectations with that big three in the rotation led by Brody Breck he also had Marcus Morgan back for another season

Starting point is 00:25:02 of that Obermuller in the number three spot and that looked like not just a team that was going to be an NCAA tournament a season ago. So coming off that disappointment, moving on, Morgan moving on, Brody Breck doing his thing already in the Rockies organization. He had a great performance earlier in the week. You brought back Obermüller, some pieces that out of that bullpen, they got a lot better as the season went on, but it was such a disaster a season ago. But you didn't think this was going to be a team that was going to be in contention to be an NCAA tournament team and to win a regular season title. That's the wildest part. In this new era of Big Ten baseball, because after Iowa right now in the standings as the Hawkeyes sit at 12 and 3 Big Ten record behind them is UCLA, Oregon, and Washington. That's right

Starting point is 00:26:15 three of the four West Coast schools are behind them and then in the next spot is USC who's tied with Penn State and Indiana all at 9 and 6. That's what I was done to this point. Now their RPI is 82 and that is going to be a problem. They just have one victory right now against Quad 1. The good news is they're going to have plenty of opportunities going forward. They're going to have chances to be able to get this done. This weekend against Nebraska is not going to be anything that is going to drastically change their computer resume. Getting a series win, obviously important to start right there, trying to take two or three out of the Huskers. Nebraska is one of the favorites coming into the year and they've gotten off to a slow start but Nebraska is also starting to play a little bit better. The Huskers are starting to figure it out. Another team that absolutely can can mash got a number one at the top of the rotation that is incredibly good but- they got. A sweep- week ago against- excuse me but a month ago

Starting point is 00:27:14 against Wichita State- they also got series wins against Pepperdine. Lost two out of three against USC but a bounce back since then they won the series last weekend against Rutgers and then got a win against a ranked Kansas team this week on their midweek showdown against the Jayhawks. So that's the way things have played out for the Hawkeyes excuse me for the Huskers here recently and I was going to be ready to go and you can't just

Starting point is 00:27:41 look at the the records at this point and go that direction and I wouldn't worry about that but great to see this team and the way that they've been able to do it. Reese Moore's having an outstanding season. Look up and down that lineup. It's been deep. A lot of local kids, a lot of Iowa kids have been involved. Fun team to root for and don't get their opportunity against the Huskers coming up this week. We will have you covered on that one after it goes final as we will take a look back at it on our weekend review next week on Monday but we are with you each and every day that's what we do here on the lockdown network talking a lot of Hawkeyes we talk football basketball baseball softball whatever else comes up plenty of wrestling during that season another portal window that we haven't talked a ton about I need to probably jump back into that one as well. Always something going on in the world of the Hawkeyes and we got you covered each and every day here on Locked On Hawkeyes. Make sure you hit

Starting point is 00:28:31 that subscribe button if you're watching us on YouTube. If you're listening on the podcast side, five star reviews really helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks!

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - ALERT: Hawkeyes' Offensive REVIVAL Begins with Gronowski - Is Gronowski the ANSWER to Iowa's Offensive Woes?

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