Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Polk Country I-Club's new president Addison Boughton joins the show

Starting point is 00:00:01 It's springtime. That means that the iClub circuit is in full swing. We have Addison Boughton with us here today from the Pauk County iClub. We'll break things down, what the iClub does for Hawkeye athletics, plus talks of football and basketball. All today, Locked on Hawkeyes. You are Locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome in, I'm Trent Condon and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:37 Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts and you can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, make sure you hit the subscribe button. Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKDOWNCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Well, we got a lot of football and basketball to get into today.

Starting point is 00:01:03 Well, we got a lot of football and basketball to get into today. Iowa takes on Illinois in their final Big Ten series of the season and trying to solidify themselves in the Big Ten tournament. We will get into all that, but we kick things off here today as we are joined by Addison Boughton, who joins us as we talk Hawkeyes, the newest president of the Polk County iClub. Addison, appreciate the time. How are you doing today? Doing well, Trent. How are you doing? Doing great, as always. Always a great time to be talking Hawkeye. And this is the time of year where we get to see Kirk Ferentz, Lisa Bluter, Bram McCaffrey, assistant coaches out and about.

Starting point is 00:01:38 A lot of opportunity for people to shake some hands. And right here in Central Iowa, where I broadcast from and where you live we have the Polk County iClub. So before we get into the some of the nuts and bolts coming up on Tuesday May 14th with the event I'll fill everybody in. I'm sure most everybody Hawkeye fans has heard of the iClub. Exactly what is it? The iClub it's basically it starts with with the National iClub. So if you are, it's basically a fundraising branch of the University of Iowa. We do a lot of fundraising events and just fun events to get fans in front of coaches and just do fun things, Hawkeye related. So essentially the Polk County iClub is a branch

Starting point is 00:02:26 of the National iClub. So Joel Schmelke, for a long time, guy that I got to know really well, he's been, was the longtime president. So how long have you been in the role? I took over in October. Okay. So fill us in a little bit on the details. I mean, Joe, he did it for a very long time maybe you had to clean up some of his messes those kind of things uh how's it been here in your uh months on the job no messes to clean up more just big shoes to fill yeah joe um everyone knows joe joe is a great hawkeye fan and he um i think 25 plus years um he was the president of the Polk County iCub. And I don't even know the number, but raised close to over a million dollars, if not more, for Hawkeye athletics.

Starting point is 00:03:18 So Joe is a great ambassador of the Hawkeyes. We hear the iClub. We hear what you guys have done. But it feels like kind of the Hawkeyes. We hear the iClub, we hear what you guys have done, but it feels like kind of the conversation has changed. You put in your donation for the iClub and it helps you with a myriad of different things and ultimately helps Hawkeye Athletics. But we're also in this new era with NIL, with the collectives that are out there, including the Swarm Collective for the University of Iowa. And has that changed things for you guys and just the way that you were viewed or with it, maybe even donations to the iClub?

Starting point is 00:03:49 Yeah, it's still in the infancy stages of the collectives and the Swarm NIL, but we have seen a little downturn in donations just because there's so many different avenues now for people to spend their dollars that they want to donate to Iowa Athletics for sure. We mentioned the big event coming up on Tuesday, May 14th, right around the corner here in Central Iowa. Fill us in a little bit what's happening there. Kirk Ferris will be in town for it. Lisa Bluter, also Matt Gatins from the men's basketball program is going to be there, one of the assistant coaches, and of course a great former Hawkeye player from years ago. Tell us a little bit

Starting point is 00:04:30 more about the event coming up on Tuesday evening. All right, so yeah, like you said, really great to have Coach Ferentz, Coach Bluter, Gary Dolphin will be our emcee, so he will be there um matt gaytons and new athletic director beth gets will will also be in attendance so um our event a little bit of the details it is um next tuesday may 14th um hilton garden in um in west des moines um it's for people in the area, it is right kind of close to Smash Park. Okay. Okay, out there in West Des Moines. We have a social hour where we have a cash bar and do some raffle with some autographed Hawkeye items that will start at 5.30, dinner at 6.30, and we will have a program with the coaches starting at 7.

Starting point is 00:05:29 Includes, yep, the dinner. And so, yeah, so kind of a really good event. We still have some tickets available. So if anyone's interested in attending, tickets can be purchased on our website at polkeiclub.com. Polkeiclub.com, that is the website for it. Coming up again Tuesday, May 14th, so right around the corner, opportunity to hear from Kirk Ferentz, Lisa Bluter, Matt Gatins, and a number of other coaches. One thing that I love about these iClub events, and I've been to a myriad of them

Starting point is 00:06:03 throughout the years, is you get an opportunity. First, as a fan, you can shake Kirk Ferentz's hand. You can shake hands and talk with them a little bit, and they're always mingling around. But when they get up there and they're talking to the people that are in the event, you get some news from time to time. You get some information that comes out, some of the things that us media guys don't always get. So it's more of a looser environment. A lot of times you get a lot of good details from the coaches. Oh, for sure.

Starting point is 00:06:29 It's a great opportunity to see that you see Coach Ferentz, Coach Bluter on TV all the time at game when you're watching games. And it's good to be able to shake their hand and just talk to them and realize that they're just normal people. And that's one thing that I feel very fortunate about with the University of Iowa is like they're all great. They're great to talk to and they're just really, really nice to the fans. Great people and great people that are representatives of the university and of course the athletic department. And that is coming up Tuesday, May 14th. Well, Addison, a lot going on in the world of Hawkeye athletics. It's a time as we get through the spring season,

Starting point is 00:07:18 baseball's coming to an end, softball season has concluded as they didn't qualify for the Big 10s. Spring season's coming down and we get into the quiet time but it's also the build-up into football season uh want to talk a little football and basketball with you as we continue here in a moment but uh one final time also if tuesday night doesn't work for people i'm not able to make it or if they can but there's also another big event right around the corner for you guys. Also, I have your golf tournament coming up over at Wakanda Club. That is correct. Monday, this will be our 27th annual celebrity golf outing that we, as the Polk County I-Club, have put on. Yep, it is Monday, June 17th at Wakanda Club. If anyone with that, we don't have online registration for that.

Starting point is 00:08:05 As of yesterday, we do have a couple of foursomes still available. If you are interested, you can contact me. Just the best way would be through email at polkcountyiclub at gmail.com. Easy enough there and you can get a hold of Addison that way. We do have a lot of whole sponsorship opportunities still available for that outing as well. And if I can jump in real quick too, I just wanted to, coming up next week as well with the Iowa baseball team playing here in Des Moines at Principal Park. There is going to be a big university and we're kind of helping out with that. They're doing a big pregame party at the game on Friday night, the 17th.

Starting point is 00:09:02 You do to get into the pregame party. 17th. You do, to get into the pregame party, everyone does need a ticket to the game, but we will be in kind of the Hy-Vee mezzanine section that there will be some Hawkeye stuff going on. That's awesome. Great stuff there. And again, all the information you can find at pokeiclub.com, the website, and get a hold of Addison if you're looking to set things up. Golf, baseball, and of course the big event coming up with the Pauk County Eye Club coming up on Tuesday evening. So a busy time for you here, Addison. We'll keep you busy and we'll continue with our conversation. Going to get Addison's thoughts on the football and basketball program as we continue.

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Starting point is 00:10:44 L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-C-O-L-L-E-G-E. LockedOn College for $20 off. Download game time today. Last minute tickets. Lowest price guaranteed. Trencata back with you once again on the LockedOn Hawkeyes podcast. Joined by Addison Boughton. All right. So, Addison Boughton. All right, so Addison, let's get into this football team a little bit as we get ready for the summer.

Starting point is 00:11:11 Brendan Sullivan comes in, a transfer backup quarterback, or maybe a guy to compete with Cade McNamara. It's hard though with this season after what we saw a year ago and what we hope to see out of Tim Lester in the offense. It's hard not to be excited right now, at least for me. How are you as you look forward to the football season? Oh, for sure. I think everyone was excited. We kept watching all the reports on the quarterbacks visiting, and I think everyone was really hoping that we would get someone, like you said,

Starting point is 00:11:40 to not necessarily come in as the backup, but yeah, compete for the starting job, obviously with Cade's injury history. I think all of his fans really wanted to see someone else. The nice thing I really like about Sullivan is his two years of eligibility. Yeah, an opportunity maybe to be that starter in 2025 and pushing Cade. I think that's going to be a big storyline. Schedule looks different this year. The Big Ten West is no longer. You have to go to Ohio State this year.

Starting point is 00:12:16 Washington comes to town in October. I think that should be a really, really fun game and an interesting one for a team that played for the national championship a year ago. Plus, we still get many of the regional teams Nebraska Minnesota on the schedule Wisconsin Northwestern so schedule that sets up pretty well overall I think for Hawkeye athletics and a chance again to make a pretty big run this year I believe oh I totally agree and I think we're all expecting an elite defense again this year so I mean that mean, that's going to kind of what Kirk does

Starting point is 00:12:48 and just keeps you in every game. So where are you with the offense? Where are you with the Tim Lester hire? I am in the – and I'll admit I am an optimistic Hawkeye fan kind of regardless. But, but yeah, everything that we've seen so far and everything that he said, he said the right things. And I think, I think we're all probably still in a we'll believe it when we see it mode.

Starting point is 00:13:16 But I think from just what we've seen in spring ball, that everyone's excited about maybe seeing something that's not drastically different, but not drastically different, but a little different. Maybe just a little different scheme and maybe even just a different scheme in the run game. If they can just be okay, average, it's going to be a big step off

Starting point is 00:13:36 after what we saw here the last couple of seasons. Let's jump to basketball before we let you go, Addison. And let's start on the women's program. Another incredible year playing for the national championship for the second consecutive season Caitlin moves on now to the WNBA along with Kate Martin I saw Gabby Marshall last night as she was in attendance for uh Caitlin's preseason game with the fever but uh what a run it was and Lisa Bluter doing work in the transfer portal bringing in Lucy Olson and still working in there it feels like this is not just going to be a blip, that this program really has an opportunity to sustain itself and be

Starting point is 00:14:10 one of the powers of women's college basketball. Yeah, I think this is a great, great opportunity that, and obviously Iowa, Lisa had this program in a really good shape even before Caitlin, and Caitlin just kind of pushed it pushed it over over the top and yeah I'm really excited I think we're all even more excited about this coming incoming year with with the commitment or the transfer of Lucy coming in and maybe not obviously there's going to be a drop-off from Caitlin I mean no one was going to come in and replace her. And there was a good core. I like the core coming back for us from last year, underclassmen with Sydney and Hannah and all the others. I think we'll see probably. I know a lot of people at times last year where

Starting point is 00:15:01 I wanted to see more Taylor McCabe. And so I'm sure she's going to see a lot more playing time this year. I mean, she's, she is a sharp, sharp shooter. She absolutely is. McCabe was one of my favorites and there were plenty of times during the course of the season.

Starting point is 00:15:17 I thought maybe need to get her out there a little bit more. And I think we're going to see the full fledged McCabe coming up this year. Should be a really fun season. Again, are they going to be contending for a number one seed? I don't think that, but I certainly think that they have an opportunity to contend maybe for a top four seed and hosting the first and second rounds again in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Finally, last thing for you, Addison, and that is over to the men's program.

Starting point is 00:15:40 Just short of the NCAA tournament this season, but Brandon made six consecutive tournaments coming into this year. A big component is going to be exactly what's going to happen, obviously, with Sanford and his decision with the NBA, I think is really going to shape this season. But really excited what we're going to see, especially out of that freshman class. They just had so many good moments,

Starting point is 00:16:00 including, obviously, what we saw from Owen Freeman. Oh, for sure. No, I like the pieces, the obviously what we saw from Owen Freeman. Oh, for sure. No, I, I like, I like, I like the pieces, the pieces that we have, but yes. Yeah. Looking see what transfer portal here. And obviously the, the shape of this team would change drastically if Peyton decides to, to, to go to the NBA. So, but no, I think I like the, I like the core that they have. Um, be interesting to see with Josh Dix and, um, uh,

Starting point is 00:16:33 um, blanking and blanking on point guard. Uh, Brock Harding. Brock. Yeah. Yeah. And they bring in Thelwell as well out of the portal. And I think he's going to be a big help there. And I think the backcourt looks to at least be in very good shape. Just to get Sanford back, that's what we're looking for. Yeah, with Freeman, I know there was a lot of talk. People were like, well, why doesn't he look at transferring? But he's from the area, and him and a lot of – like the chemistry we saw between him and Brock

Starting point is 00:17:04 playing all those years together. Addison Boughton, Boughton, excuse me, Boughton. Yes, got it. Boughton joining us here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast, the newest president of the Polk County iClub event coming up on Tuesday evening in West Des Moines. All the details, Polk iClub dot com golf tournament. We got the baseball team coming to town to take on Florida and an international next weekend. Busy time for you, Addison. Again, easiest place, pokeiclub.com. Pokeiclub.com. If you want to contact me, pokecountyiclub at gmail.com.

Starting point is 00:17:39 Awesome stuff. Thanks for your time today, Addison. Thanks, Trent. Appreciate it. That's Addison Boughton joining us here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast as we talk a little Hawkeyes with Addison and get a breakdown of everything going on in the world of Hawkeye athletics and breaking down some football and basketball. We continue here in a moment, and let's get into the Iowa baseball team. They prepare for their finale of the Big Ten.

Starting point is 00:18:02 It is Illinois. The Illini have been playing some great baseball throughout the course of the season. We will get into that. Breaking down the weekend ahead in Hawkeye Athletics. Stay right there. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. All right, game off. We got to pause here to talk more about Monopoly Go. I know what you're saying. Flag on the play. Condon, you've already talked about that, but there's just so much good stuff in this game.

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Starting point is 00:19:21 Google Play, or the App Store. Game on. Trent Conant back with you one final time on the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. As always, thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. So as we go through and we get ready for the end of the regular season for Iowa baseball, has it been a frustrating year? I don't think there's any doubt about it. I don't think you can consider this anything more, anything other than a disappointment. This is a team considered top 20 nationally, a team chance to maybe host a regional for the first time,

Starting point is 00:19:55 certainly in recent program history. I know they made a college world series way back in the 1970s, but it is a long way. So Iowa currently sits at number 98 in the RPI. That is not a resume that's going to make them a tournament team. There's a ton of work to do, but they're in good shape for the Big Ten tournament. After sweeping Northwestern last weekend, including the 13-inning walk-off win against the Wildcats in the Sunday finale, now it is Illinois. Illinois comes into this one, good RPI. They're at number 56 in the country. Opportunity to get some quality wins. One thing to keep an eye on is what they're going to do with the staff, knowing what they have with the Florida International Series coming up.

Starting point is 00:20:35 Brody Beck, they moved around a little bit throughout the course of this emergence that they've had over the last couple of weeks. Of course, was the Friday night starter, then moved, and they've been bouncing him around a little bit. What they're going to do and kind of the way they're going to set themselves up come Big Ten tournament and the importance of getting that win in the first game, having him ready to go if we're going to see him a little bit earlier, maybe in the series coming up this weekend. Hawkeyes currently sit at 13-8. That is in fifth place, alone in fifth place in the Big Ten. They're a game and a half out of first place where Illinois sits at 13-5.

Starting point is 00:21:11 So that's where the Hawkeyes are at this point. 4-7 in Quad 1, part of their resume there. Again, it's about winning the Big Ten tournament. So above them, just a half game above them in the standings right now are three teams. Purdue, Nebraska, and Indiana. Those three teams sit in front of them. Just a half game above them in the standings right now are three teams, Purdue, Nebraska, and Indiana. Those three teams sit in front of them. Of course, Iowa played Purdue in Nebraska earlier this season. That one against Purdue, the Boilermakers took two out of three. So they have the series tiebreaker if it comes down to that. But Purdue, they go to Michigan this week, pretty good Michigan team. And then they wrap up with Illinois in their finale.

Starting point is 00:21:45 So they still got six games left of the conference. In fact, all these teams do. Nebraska, they wrap things up as they'll be taking on Indiana this weekend, and then they go to Michigan State in the final week of the year. Michigan State currently sitting in seventh place, Michigan in sixth, Michigan in seventh in that one. And then Indiana, the Hoosiers, of course, the most recent team to make the College World Series out of the Big Ten. They finish things up in their final two series of the year, as mentioned, at Nebraska coming up this weekend. And then they get Michigan

Starting point is 00:22:15 at the end. Iowa, with a couple of victories here, I think definitely solidifies themselves, at least in the top half of the bracket, and maybe can jump up as high. I know there there's paths and there's tiebreakers there's things that could go Iowa's way to even get up towards the top spot it's going to be difficult go out there play win play well at least get a win if you get two you're going to be in really good shape going in to the Big Ten tournament before that finale against Florida International again that will not be in Iowa City if you missed it as we talked about earlier with Addison. That'll be right here in Des Moines at Principal Park. Pretty cool spot here and a chance for us in Central Iowa

Starting point is 00:22:50 to see this Hawkeye baseball team, and I'm definitely looking forward to that. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We greatly appreciate each and every one of you. And hey, if you've been watching FS1, ESPN all day on your TV, do you have to turn down the volume with all that shouting? Well, it's time for you to make the switch to Locked On Sports Today. It's a free 24-7 sports streaming channel

Starting point is 00:23:13 programmed for you every day to bring you the biggest stories without all that screaming. Locked On Sports Today brings you can't-miss analysis, opinions, and news streaming 24-7 on YouTube or for free on the Amazon Fire TV channels app. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Thanks for being with us here this week. Always appreciate each and every one of you. More football talk. What's more in the portal? That's going to be a big conversation. What happens this weekend

Starting point is 00:23:42 for Iowa baseball? What's the portal doing in basketball. Can we get a couple of names for the men's basketball program? We're still searching for that. As always, thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again on Monday. Go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Polk Country I-Club's new president Addison Boughton joins the show

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