It's a tradition unlike any other: Iowa Football Media Day, the day where we finally break through the months of silence surrounding the program and learn...well, not much more than we already knew. There will probably be depth charts. We can look at depth charts. It's so exciting that the Des Moines Register has its top Iowa guy tweeting about auto racing.
We'll be here, monitoring the airwaves and bringing you anything of note from today. All the tweets and news that's fit to print will be added below as the day moves on. In the meantime, the thread is open. Today's question: Is Iowa a legitimate Big Ten title contender?
This is technically from yesterday, but Duke Slater is finally getting a well-deserved section of Kinnick Stadium.
Duke Slater relief enhances Kinnick North End Zone renovations #FightForIowa #Hawkeyes | https://t.co/cQOcNTOcPN pic.twitter.com/alVc9MrsKb
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) August 8, 2019
Slater was a unanimous All-Big Ten selection in 1919, 1920 AND 1921, led Iowa to an undefeated season in 1921, and became the first African-American All-American at Iowa in 1921. Some wanted to name Iowa Stadium after Slater instead of Kinnick; instead, they gave him a dormitory.
The best part of the wall relief: Slater doesn't have the ball in that picture. He's the guy blocking three Notre Dame defenders to spring Gordon Locke.
Media Day starts with a tour of the newly-renovated north end zone.
"You want me on that wall. YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL." -- Hayden Fry
#qctimes Good morning from Kinnick Stadium. It is Iowa football press day, beginning with a tour of the new north end zone grandstand. pic.twitter.com/3qAugkZUy9
— Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) August 9, 2019
The scoreboard hasn't been updated in 259 days:
Would ya look at that score? pic.twitter.com/pFyGn3AEBa
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 9, 2019
The new turf is installed and properly Tiger Hawked. Message board conspiracy theorists can stand down.
#qctimes With a drainage project complete, a new turf has been installed at Kinnick Stadium. pic.twitter.com/mlEaJOnJou
— Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) August 9, 2019
Its glowing. pic.twitter.com/D7COvTyNGn
— Sean Bock (@SBock247) August 9, 2019
Brommelkamp provides us with the best visual representation of Gary Barta's 13-year tenure today:
A reminder things are still - literally - under wraps here until Aug. 31. #hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/QeyBB7g5rE
— Todd Brommelkamp (@ToddBrommelkamp) August 9, 2019
Ferentz took the podium at about 2:15, and the news was fast and furious. The highlights:
Coach Ferentz on fall camp: "Camp is very unique. It's one of my favorite times of the year. It's the one time during the calendar year the team is together throughout the day. The chemistry of the team continues to be developed and built." #Hawkeyes
— IowaFBLive (@IowaFBLive) August 9, 2019
The first question was Epenesa, of course. The second was...placekickers?
Second question about kickers!!! Ferentz says Duncan and Shudak still competing for field goal duties. Also says punter Ryan Gersonde is out for the year with a knee injury.
— MarkEmmert (@MarkEmmert) August 9, 2019
Punter Ryan Gersonde (knee surgery) is out for the year, per Kirk Ferentz.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) August 9, 2019
It's Sleep-Dalton at punter or we're just going for it on every fourth down.
And the first news that Ferentz "commits" (H/T former AP statehouse guy Mike Glover) is about the backup punter. This is already a classic Hawkeyes season and its 9 minutes old
— LukeMeredith (@LukeMeredithAP) August 9, 2019
Here's an odd development: Oliver Martin's waiver application was only submitted a couple of weeks ago.
Re: Oliver Martin. Ferentz says that's in hands of compliance officials here, but the request has been forwarded to NCAA. Has no news on that front. "I'd like to be optimistic, but I don't have any grounds for that."
— MarkEmmert (@MarkEmmert) August 9, 2019
WR Oliver Martin is ... still waiting. NCAA has it. KF said no way to predict. No one has any information. Forms went in the last two weeks.
— Marc Morehouse (@marcmorehouse) August 9, 2019
More on the Martin delay from the DMR/ICPC.
Iowa has finally recognized that most teams play three wideouts on most downs.
Ferentz says that having a whole offseason to install a 4-2-5 has been a smooth transition, cites the change due to more teams having 3-4 receivers in the game at any given time.
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 9, 2019
Twitter response of the day:
Getting beat on a pass thrown by Alex Hornibrook will make you reconsider a lot of things.
— Brandon Morris (@BrandonJMorris) August 9, 2019
We have some general love for the receivers and tight ends, and it certainly looks like everything but the guard spots are filled on the offensive line.
Kirk says that Tyler Linderbaum has done a great job at center as a redshirt freshman.
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 9, 2019
We might not know who the most popular player on the team is until August 21.
Ferentz says battle at backup quarterback will likely go through Aug. 21. It's pretty even right now
— MarkEmmert (@MarkEmmert) August 9, 2019
And running back is a logjam waiting for the inevitable (and overdue) return of AIRBHG:
Ferentz says the running back group is really good, says Kelly-Martin is fully healthy and that Young and Sargent took big steps forward in the offseason.
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 9, 2019
THE TRICKERATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES.
Ferentz says if his staff has enough evidence on film, the wacky special teams plays will continue
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) August 9, 2019
