Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - MEDIA DAY QUESTIONS: Biggest CONCERNS for Iowa Football in 2026 - Can Kirk Ferentz Come up with the Answers?

Starting point is 00:00:01 Big Ten Media Days marked the beginning of the answers Iowa fans have been waiting for. The spotlight's on quarterback, explosive playmakers, and a team determined they are ready to contend in 2020. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. I'm Trent Condon, and this is a Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes. your first listen every day. Today we have some thoughts on Big Ten Football Media Day.

Starting point is 00:00:40 We got some big questions we're going to get into and some final thoughts as we get ready for year number 27 of Kirk Farrants and where this Iowa football program is heading. We're also going to be joined by Ben McCollum, an interview that we recorded a little over a month ago. Thought this is a good time to replay this as I get ready to embark on a little vacation time. And if you missed it, Ben McCollum from earlier this summer. But we begin today with Big Ten football media days as we are getting closer and closer to Kirk Farrants, getting ready to take the podium. And we'll have some thoughts from that one, though.

Starting point is 00:01:12 Yes, I will be away and on a boat. I will still be able to pump out a couple of podcasts for you on vacation and get you that as we hear from Kirk Farrants. But I have some questions that need to be answered and things that, yes, I would love to be there and have that opportunity to do that. Schedule just didn't work out this year and that's going to happen from time to time. but some thoughts on the three players that are there, I think the biggest question for each of those three guys

Starting point is 00:01:35 that I'm hoping to get answered and for Kurt Ferrence and this Iowa football team. I think we know the position groups that are going to be incredibly important and are going to be talked about a ton. And, you know, a lot of times you will see some of the best things that you get at these media days are not the one that's on Big Ten Network.

Starting point is 00:01:52 That's up there. They're on the podium. You got some of the national guys that are answering, asking questions to the head coaches, regional people that are involved in the Big Ten network. 10, it's on the side. And we have a couple of different opportunities in the past where Kirk would be up there, one of the side podiums for about a half hour, 45 minutes.

Starting point is 00:02:10 I thought really good things. And you could dive a little bit more in depth. Like, you're not going to be talking about the depth of your offensive line or, you'll go real in depth of special teams when you're talking up there. Those are more big picture kind of questions that you're looking for and then you're going to get. So you have to dig in a little bit deeper when you're getting these kind of responses. But certainly the quarterback question is going to be one that is going to be asked.

Starting point is 00:02:31 And we know Kirk Ferrence is not going to go out there. And he's not going to tell us that, yep, we made the decision. And it's going to be Hank Brown. Yep. We know we just talked yesterday. And we decided Jeremy Hecklinsky is going to be the guy. But he will tell you. And he will also tell you and you can find out a little bit more of exactly what they're looking for.

Starting point is 00:02:49 How loose the leash is going to be on these quarterbacks. Because in the past, we know Kirk Ferris at the quarterback position, something that he has struggled to do is make a change. you can say one way or the other, if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but we have seen that continually. Now, we don't know how the backup quarterbacks are looking and how they're practicing and all those things. We also know that practice is incredibly important for Kirk Farrant. And that is something that you have to do at a high level in order to play for him.

Starting point is 00:03:18 That is going to be one that is going to be out there, certainly the quarterback position. I also want to find out from Kirk what the depth is like on the offensive line. As I've stated many times before and every day, as you definitely know this, I love this offensive line. Yes, you'd lose three guys to the NFL along the offensive line. But when you start with two potential preseason All-Americans in Cade Piper and Trevor Loughke, that goes a long ways. What we saw a year ago in the emergence of some of the other guys that at least got some reps that

Starting point is 00:03:47 looked pretty good. Jack Dotsler absolutely is one of those guys that you have to mention and what he was able to do when he was fighting for the left tackle. And I think they're going to be at minimum in good shape with Dotser playing the right tackle was offensive line coach George Barnett mentioned that when they saw Leighton Jones go in there a year ago, they didn't feel like there was a drop off, didn't really even notice that he was out there. And that's a good thing for an offensive line. With Michael Messlinski, we know he can certainly play, and it feels like he's going to be good.

Starting point is 00:04:13 Can he be healthy? Lucas Allgaier is a young guy that they've been talking about. But what about a guy like Trent Wilson, who comes in from James Madison? What kind of is he going to be a guy that's going to be part of the rotation right away? He was battling some injuries back in the spring. And is he a guy that can step up there and be a rotational piece? Some of the other younger pieces that are there, this huge group of true freshman that come in. We don't anticipate any of those guys are going to be a regular part of the normal group out there,

Starting point is 00:04:39 but still how their development is. Offensive line, Kurt Ferenst loves to talk about it. Want to find a little bit more, though, about the depth and what they're doing there. And also the transition for Cade Piper and how that's going at the center position, an important piece of that offensive line. More questions, defensive tackle. Look, you've heard it. All right, I'm going to move on.

Starting point is 00:04:57 Defense and tackle. Kirk Farras got to get some answers on that one. Maybe some young players or some new players that have been able to help out. But maybe the biggest one that I'm wondering about for Kirk Farrant and I want to hear more about is special teams. It's been such a huge piece. And it's not just that you're losing a great kicker and Drew Stevens that had a monster leg and changed the way that Kirk Farrants was willing to go out there and kick field goals.

Starting point is 00:05:22 You go back and one that was blocked against Penn State. he wouldn't have done that in the past. Even with guys that had strong legs, he wouldn't do that in the past. And that was the trust that was Bill and Drew Stevens, a guy that was struggling mightily early in his career and lost his job. And you get the opportunity to even kick against Nebraska for the game winner a few years back. That's what they had there. Obviously, Reese Dakin, they did not anticipate was going to leave after a sophomore year

Starting point is 00:05:46 and go up to Michigan State. That was a surprise and they had to do some work. Going back to Australia to get Boston Everett, going into the portal and getting a guy that was, playing D3 football. And I saw Tanner Philpott at the high school level. I think he's got a chance to be at minimum okay and maybe better than that. The specialist after the loss of Caden Weechin and also just the importance overall of special teams and closing the gap for Iowa football and winning those little things that they do throughout the course of a game.

Starting point is 00:06:15 And special teams, what a big part of that. I want to find out more from Kirk Farrants about the special teams. For the three players individually, for Zach Lutmer, the one question that I would have for him is, What is his preference in the defensive backfield? Now, he's not going to come out and say, well, I want to play cash, but Coach Parker's not going to let me, right? We're not going to get that kind of response from him. But I wouldn't like to see in the Iowa defense and because he's played all over the place in the defensive backfield, exactly what is his favorite spot?

Starting point is 00:06:42 And maybe taking it a step further, where does he think he can be most impactful for this Iowa defense? Another guy, Jane Montgomery, who was the middle linebacker in the back half of last season, now moving outside, just questions about that transition and not giving up, but having that middle linebacker spot taken over by Cam Buffington and getting his thoughts on that and what he sees out of Buffington. There are so many young linebackers also. That's always a great thing that I love to talk to. The players about that are there at Big Ten Media Days is finding out

Starting point is 00:07:12 some of the young guys, some of the names that they're definitely excited about. And then finally Addison Estringa coming off the Achilles' injury, how explosive he feels he is at this point in time. It's one thing to feel like you're back and be medically cleared, but it's another also trusting yourself on that level. So some answers on that front on the injury. Speaking of young guys, that tight end room absolutely loaded up what he sees from not just DJ Vonami and what we expect out of him, Thomas Meyer, and the rest of that group, plus a couple of young guys that are really, really intriguing that had just arrived on campus. So some questions for Big Ten Football Media Day.

Starting point is 00:07:48 Again, we'll have you covered and responses and thoughts and things that come out of that. from Chicago. Coming back on the other side, again, this is from earlier in the summer, but had an opportunity to talk with Ben McCollum, have that coming up for you as we continue on conversation with the coach. It's next year, Locked-on Hawkeyes, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Support for today's episode comes from Wayfair. Your home should feel like your home, and sometimes it doesn't take a complete renovation to make that happen. It just takes finding the right piece at the right price. Whether you're refreshing one room or updating your entire space. Wayfair helps make creating a home you love feel more attainable. Wayfair makes it easy

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Starting point is 00:09:26 Wayfair, every style, every home. Welcome into a special edition of Lockdown Hawkeyes. I'm Trent Condon, joined today by the head coach of Iowa men's basketball, Ben McCollum, who joins us here today as we talk all things, Hawkeyes. Coach, good to see you once again. We had this conversation in the same spot about a year ago, and things feel, I'm sure, a little bit different than you getting your feet wet last season leading into year number one.

Starting point is 00:09:54 How's everything this summer? It's been great. You know, it's nice to not move. So that's been good. And to have a full roster at the specific school that you're at this time of year has been really nice and fairly refreshing. So, you know, hopefully that refreshing feeling will lead to some more wins next year. Absolutely. Well, a successful season culminating in the elite eight appearance, I was able to make my way down to Houston for that one.

Starting point is 00:10:22 And 12-2 felt like here we go, eight minutes to play. you're eight minutes away from a final four. As you reflect back to that way the season ended, so many great moments, obviously the wins against Clemson, Florida, Nebraska, in the NCAA tournament. But when you look back at that Illinois game, have you popped in the tape, have you gone through it again and looked and thought outside of maybe

Starting point is 00:10:43 adding a little bit more size that you guys have done, what else could have been different those final eight minutes? Yeah, you know, I probably haven't watched it enough at this point. Sometimes it just need a little time to do that. I've watched other games, and I did watch the game passively, but not to an evaluation standpoint quite yet, but will before we started our gym workouts. You know, my guess is, is, you know, when I watch it passively, a lot of the offensive rebounds that we gave up were not from their size.

Starting point is 00:11:13 It was from their guards. You know, I thought our game plan was actually pretty good, you know, I think just how we defended them. We forced low percentages, et cetera, but then they were just able to. to get offensive rebounds a little bit too easy, specifically from their guard spots. And then we weren't able to score enough, you know, down the stretch. So, you know, I think we've addressed some of that. And, you know, hopefully, hopefully we can get one step further next season. Let's talk a little bit about when you look back at year number one, highs, lows, definitely,

Starting point is 00:11:46 some disappointing L's in there and some great highs that you guys had throughout the course of the season. How would you say year number one went overall for the program? Yeah, I mean, I think when you're building, I think you really have to, just from an internal perspective, you really have to stay process focused. And that's what we try to do. You try not to get high and low. I know, you know, you lose a game. You shouldn't lose. And it's the end of the world, you know, from a fan's perspective and not from an internal perspective necessarily, because that's sometimes a part of the process, unfortunately. And if you allow that roller coaster to impact your moods and the way you coach.

Starting point is 00:12:24 I think so often you can't see that good trajectory because the trajectory doesn't just go nice and smooth straight up. It's still up and down, but it continues to trend the right direction. And I thought this year we did trend the right direction in a lot of ways, specifically just getting people more involved in the program, creating a place for people to be proud of, you know, proud of the kids that we have.

Starting point is 00:12:52 And then obviously I think we got a lot of kids returning that gave a lot of effort and understand the program now. You look back upon the season and, of course, it's still about building. You're losing Bennett Sturts who will be a first rounder coming up here in just a few weeks in the NBA draft. Tavion Banks still waiting a decision, but it doesn't seem likely, I guess, at this point that he's going to be back for an extra season of eligibility. You went into the portal, though. And one thing that definitely jumped out to me is, you know, I started to dig into synergy a little bit. and I don't know it nearly as well as you guys do over there, but just seeing both McKeever and his ability,

Starting point is 00:13:27 not just as a rebounder, but him in the pick and roll game. And you guys don't ask a whole lot out of your centers. You know, traditionally you have a 7 foot three guy now. Are you going to be traditionally posting him up a little bit more, or is it playing to the strength that he has? And that was definitely in the pick and roll game. Yeah, I think so often people assume because he's tall, you just post him up.

Starting point is 00:13:46 I think you, the reason you would post up is to get layups right underneath the rim not necessarily to back somebody down per se usually you back people down with you know a six seven six eight guy um you know where it's a little bit more agile physical that kind of thing with with andrew he's he's really good uh passer like elite passer elite screener obviously really good offensive rebounder and it you know from a statistic standpoint i think his postups were um points per possession were like 0.6 or 0.7 somewhere in that range, but his finishes on rolls was around 1.4 or somewhere around there. I guess I'd probably have to see it to be sure.

Starting point is 00:14:29 But it was pretty high. And then on top of that, his ability to pass out of those situations is high level. And so just using some of those things the right way is something that we've really looked to. And then defensively being able to guard, you know, just being able to guard defensively from whether it's being in a show in ball screen coverage or being in some type of drop, whatever that may be.

Starting point is 00:14:56 You know, I think it could be really impactful for us. Tyreek on the other side, Tyreek Coleman comes in from the NBC. Obviously, you knew the Missouri Valley after you're at Drake and a guy that, you know, I heard somebody kind of relay it this way, that, you know, if we go back five years ago, 10 years ago, he would have been a Big Ten kid coming out of high school. He might have been at Michigan State or something like that. But the way recruiting has changed, the transfer portal has changed. He had to start out in the NBC.

Starting point is 00:15:20 Another guy, though, that seems to work really well in the pick and roll game. Yeah, I mean, he's a good player. You know, I think he's got good length. You know, I think I always say, like, sometimes you got to get one step ahead of the kid that everybody wanted. Like, so, for instance, if he spends another year at Illinois State, does his market become almost impossible to get him? You know, does he then go average 20? Or are you one step ahead, one year ahead of exactly, you know, where he should be?

Starting point is 00:15:53 And now he's able to develop in your own program, develop those relationships and continue to grow and get better. And, you know, we're hopeful that it was the second part of that. That's how we evaluated him, even throughout this season. Just the way we play in our style, sometimes it's a different kind of fit for a kid like him. Do you see him and Kail being able to play together that they complement each other in the back court? We see both those guys on the floor together a bunch? I mean, you just, I don't know until the season starts who's going to be on the floor. So we, you know, we kind of, you know, I, you hope that all 13 guys or 14 guys can play.

Starting point is 00:16:33 You know, I mean, it's one of those deals. So I don't really think too much into that. I do know that we've played, over the years, we've played two point guards together pretty consistently, and we're not afraid of that. So it can be that or can you go super big and play, you know, play somebody else at the point. Do you have to play a true point? You know, can you be more NBA style and play a wing that brings the ball up and play through splits? Like you can do a variety of different things.

Starting point is 00:17:04 I don't think we necessarily need to be exactly what we were last year. We're going to, you know, we're going to change and adjust some things and hopefully for the better. Well, you're not moving at this time as you were a year ago, but you're still traveling a bunch with AAU terms. tournaments happening across the country. And point guard recruiting has definitely been a big one. I know you can't speak individually about any players or anything like that. But just overall, how you feel it's going and kind of looking at that class of 2027 and trying to find a point guard.

Starting point is 00:17:31 Yeah, I mean, we're identifying those and, you know, really any position that can play at this level is kind of our thing. But obviously, we've really put an emphasis on a point guard and then obviously put an emphasis on a few big guys or even just, you know, or big wings, if you will, and just play a little bit different. So, you know, we think we're, we feel pretty good about where we're at with quite a few,

Starting point is 00:17:58 but it remains to be seen. And it'll tell us more once our team gets here in June just to see exactly what we have. And that'll help with the recruiting process as well. Well, as you learned a year ago when we first spoke, you know that I'm a huge scheduling nerd. I absolutely love that stuff. And I asked you,

Starting point is 00:18:15 when I saw you over in West Des Moines a couple of weeks ago about it on conference scheduling and how that's going. I know we got the Creighton game in the books. Of course, Iowa State. A few of the buy games that are there also. There's been a lot of rumblings about you potentially maybe locking up a either home and home or even neutral court affair with an SEC program. Can you break some news for us today, coach? No, no, I can't break news. We've got a good schedule.

Starting point is 00:18:40 We've got, I think we're pretty close to finishing our, you know, we'll probably. I have around five or six power fives and then the rest will be by games. And I think we've done a really good job of trying to identify what we need from an NCAA tournament perspective, but also try to excite the whole state of Iowa. You know, sometimes it's difficult to get home and homes. The neutral floors sometimes are a little bit better. But if you go play an MTE and a neutral floor in California, your fans can't come watch you. So, you know, obviously we played a neutral floor.

Starting point is 00:19:18 We're playing a neutral floor in Des Moines versus Creighton. You know, I think that allows the fans to see us. It allows a good Power 5, you know, competition. Obviously, I think Creighton will be, you know, a top 25 team. They generally are. And so, you know, that's a good deal for the state of Iowa. And so we've tried to place an emphasis on that with our neutral floors. And then still try to get a home at home.

Starting point is 00:19:42 It's still try to consistently get those. but those are few and far between. When it comes to scheduling the buy games, we know the net system in the way that I don't think manipulate maybe is the correct terminology for it, but you can definitely game it a little bit, go out there, beat a bottom rung team and beat them by 40. That's going to help you out in the net rankings. When you're looking at that,

Starting point is 00:20:02 is it a specific number that you're looking for for those by games? Hey, we're going to take on a team that's probably going to be ranked in the 320s as opposed to maybe somebody in the 150s. Yeah, I don't know that there's really an exact science to it. I probably thought there was more of an exact science going into last year. And I think my opinion's probably going to change every season for the next 10 seasons until it's like just this clean little process of how to make the NCAA tournament. But as we learn, okay, what factored into last years, why did that work?

Starting point is 00:20:38 and how can we try to accomplish what some of those other teams did, as we learn that stuff, we'll adjust our schedule based on those things. And so, you know, I do think there's a good mix of Power 5 competition. I don't necessarily think, you know, last year I probably would have been complete Quad 4. I don't necessarily think I'm totally there right now in regards to that.

Starting point is 00:21:06 I do think you have to make sure you're careful not to schedule somebody that's, you know, a 75 in the net. You know, those are dangerous games because they're good enough to beat you, but it's also a game that you have to win. And so, but it's also a game that maybe you guys aren't quite excited about. So, like, there are some things that you're thinking about there, but, you know, we've dove into the analytics of it. So, you know, a lot of our scheduling will reflect that.

Starting point is 00:21:38 we're trying our best right now, but part of that too is you have to convince guys to play you. So it's not like you can just go schedule exactly like Duke can schedule. Like they get a pick who they schedule every single season. But, you know, I think we've been able to schedule a little bit better this time around. I think more people are excited to play us, which is helpful. You know, and I think our schedule should be as good as it can be. I want to ask you about a couple other guys going into next season, including a couple of guys that played as freshmen. Start with Tate Sage, a guy that, you know, you just heard

Starting point is 00:22:13 his name a couple of times. I know during the summer last year, and he kept popping up. He was the last guy that made the flip over from Drake. And we're just kind of waiting. All right, we'll see. Maybe this is a developmental guy. Boy, his growth throughout the course of the season, the link that he has. And first time I saw him go up, go baseline and dunk, I said, ooh, there's a little juice to that guy. Tate Sage now going forward. What kind of players he going to be? Yeah, hopefully a good one. No, he's uh obviously he he really came on down the stretch um you know he came to came came came in big games in particular i think the i think there's a few things going into next next year that'll be interesting to see um you know i think guys that saw a lot of minutes you know particularly

Starting point is 00:22:55 tate sage or whoever it may be um there's there's also a transition of we need you to get better because it it could be a slightly different role um or it could be the same depending upon how you improve or what happens with the rest of our personnel. And then there's guys that probably didn't play at all. Or, you know, we had a couple kids redshirt, had a couple freshmen coming in. How are those guys going to acclimate and how quickly that'll happen? So every year is a new year and every year's unique in how we're going to play. And so, you know, with Tate or just anybody else, it's, okay, so how much better can you get?

Starting point is 00:23:33 What are some things from your game that you can eliminate that? might have hurt you. And then, you know, what else can we improve on? And I have to ask you about Treveen, Newrock, got to know the family, live in the West Boyan District and call a lot of high school basketball here. You told me back a couple of weeks ago that Trevis was looking different. What can you expect out of him? He just has such a unique offensive skill set for a big guy.

Starting point is 00:23:57 I mean, he's been excellent, particularly offensively. He's been really good in this postseason, really shooting it at a high level from three. He obviously has a really good ability to pass. He's a quick processor, all those different things. Now just trying to figure out from a defensive perspective, can we get him as good defensively as he is offensively is our biggest thing now? And he's put a lot of work into it. You know, he's been in the weight room. He's been conditioning. He's completely changed his diet. His body is changing. He's pretty motivated. So I'm excited to see what. happens with him. And finally one more, Trey Thompson. After the redshirt season this year,

Starting point is 00:24:40 a lot of questions about, you know, how he acclimated in year number one, not being able to play, had the illness that took him down for a while. And a guy that he let it slip, I know, during the NCAA tournament that he was shooting over 43% during practice from three. So that excited some people with his size, his skill set, and now going into his redshirt freshman campaign where you are with Trey Thompson. Yeah. I mean, Tray's ball goes in, meaning, you know, when he shoots it, it goes in a lot. And that's a big deal at our level. Obviously, very bouncy.

Starting point is 00:25:11 Again, same concept. With any really good offensive player, can we defensively get him to where he's that good? And he's shown a lot of flashes and a lot of signs of that throughout the, throughout last season, into the postseason and whatnot. And, you know, obviously we were excited when we signed him and we're really excited right now about him coming into next season. and just gives us a different kind of look,

Starting point is 00:25:36 a different kind of weapon. And, you know, we're hopeful that he has a great summer as well. Final thing for you, Coach. We're the same age. We've talked about this before. We grew up, huge Hawkeye basketball fans, what have meant in the state, and to deliver what you guys did in year number one,

Starting point is 00:25:50 getting the Sweet 16 for the first time since 99, getting to the elite eight for the first time since 87, those memories that I don't live with both of us, and seeing the fan base the way that they jump back in and getting into it. I look back to the Nebraska. game and just that environment that you had a carver for that night and that great victory that you had, you know, being an Iowa and having that kind of success and doing things that haven't been done

Starting point is 00:26:12 for men's basketball, what does that mean for you personally? I mean, it's, it's cool to hear some of the stories of where people were watching those games. You know, I think the whole goal of being a college basketball coach is to, to have a platform to try to change people's lives. If it's even just give them two hours of joy where they're not thinking about all the random stuff that goes on in our society. You know, if it's just that, then it's awesome. If it's bigger than that, like, hey, these are how my kids act, my players act, this is how the world should act, that kind of thing, then that's great too. Or if it's just me simply going out in the community and shaking people's hands and trying to make their days.

Starting point is 00:26:55 you know, that's, all those things are a big deal. And to hear some of those stories of, you know, hey, this was one of the better years of just college basketball because we were able to see this. That's a pretty cool deal. And those are memories that those people will have for the rest of their life. And we're excited to be able to provide as many as we can. Coach, you've had a lot of success in those one and done tournaments throughout the years,

Starting point is 00:27:18 a D2, Drake winning a game. And, of course, this year to the elite eight. What is it about the program and the program that you build year after year? that you guys have had that success come NCAA tournament time and the quick turnaround time that comes along with it. Yeah, I think we're able to scout really quickly. We're able to turn scouts around really quickly because we don't change our defense a ton. We'll just adjust little nuances. And then from an offensive perspective, same things. We just complicate a few things and we're able to perform. But I think most importantly, we have a level of fight. And it's winner go home.

Starting point is 00:27:53 And when that happens, you've got to have fighters out there that are able to compete and be able to take these games home. Ben McCollum, head coach of the Iowa men's basketball team, getting ready for year number two. Coach, appreciate the time as always good catching up and we'll try it again here before the season begins. Yes, sir. Thanks a lot. That's Ben McCollum joining us here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us. As always, I'm making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. We'll talk to you again tomorrow.

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Starting point is 00:29:55 Trent got to back with you one final time. Lockdown Hawkeyes here, as mentioned. It is vacation time, though we got Big 10 football media days as we talked about at the I'm going to have you covered there. We'll do a couple of podcasts and get you covered on that front of everything going on and the answers that we are looking for as we get ready for another school year to begin and the excitement that goes. Final thoughts for you here today.

Starting point is 00:30:18 And it is the time of year now. This is considered dead meat. And for somebody like me that follows high school athletics and calls and broadcasts a lot of games, my kids becoming more and more involved in athletics, it is a perfect time. And this is something that though we got football getting ready to ramp up and media days are happening and on and on and on. It's just a great time to recharge, reset, and get ready for what is in front of us. When we think of the University of Iowa and what we have in front of us, we have a fall that has a football team with big expectations, a lot of excitement, and a team that seems like they are once again trending in a very positive direction. The basketball teams both with great momentum.

Starting point is 00:30:57 and for the men's team after talking with Ben McCullum and talking about the success of year number one and what that can be. Obviously, the women's basketball program, the successes that they've had the last two years under Jan Jensen. And on and on and on from there, from Rick Heller and what he does with the baseball program, the hope that they can take that step and get back to the NCAA tournament and selling out a game at the Field of Dreams, an exhibition game in October, just how incredible it is. It reminds us and it reminds me of how great it is to be a Hawkeye fan, something that I just grew up with and something, though, my parents were not big sports fans.

Starting point is 00:31:33 It was my grandpas that really passed on my love of sports to me. There's something special about that. And I'm excited about this season. I'm excited about the opportunity to talk with you guys each and every day about it, something that I absolutely love and love talking about and conversing about. Make sure you hit me up, send those questions in, anything that's jumping around to your mind when I get back, make sure to do a mailbag question because I know there's a lot of things lingering in the minds of what this looks like.

Starting point is 00:32:00 As college athletics evolves and changes and it looks different than it once did, it's still great and it's still great to root on the Hawkeyes and excited to be able to talk about it with you each and every day. That'll do it for today. We'll be back with you tomorrow. Recapping what we heard at Big Ten Football Media Day is with Kirk Farrants on the podium, on the side, and a whole lot more along with the three players that are there was Zach Lutmer, jaden Montgomery and addison astringo we got you covered on your daily iowa hawkeye podcast locked on

Starting point is 00:32:26 hawkies thanks for being with us talk to you again tomorrow until then go hawks

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