What a Weekend to be a Hawk!
By Gary Barta
Hawkeye teams are building momentum and isn't it fun to watch?
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend was a great one for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Black
Friday was a Black and Gold Friday thanks to the superb work of our football team in
a challenging environment…Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of
Nebraska.
THE FIRST PAGE…
Kirk Ferentz's team played with the poise and confidence in the 2013 Hy-Vee
Heroes Game that comes as a result of commitment, hard work, and success. It's well
documented but worth repeating: The Hawkeyes' eight wins in 2013 doubled that of
a year ago and made Iowa eligible for a postseason bowl game for the 12th time in 13
seasons.
That win total includes five victories against Big Ten Conference opponents. I know
there were many across the country who didn't predict that type of success at the
beginning of the year.
Now, Hawkeye Nation waits to learn where the Hawkeyes will play their season finale.
Our team's performance and our great fans make for an easy sell to the selection
committees. If you're thinking of joining the team at the bowl site, please consider
purchasing your game tickets through the UI Athletics Ticket Office. We will be
accepting orders online HERE as soon as our destination is announced this Sunday
evening.
The holiday weekend also included strong performances by our women's and men's
basketball teams, and Tom Brands' wrestling crew. A short bench hasn't derailed Lisa
Bluder's squad. The 8-1 Hawkeyes rolled to three straight wins in the Cancun Challenge
and is nationally ranked heading into tonight's Big Ten/ACC Challenge game against
Syracuse on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Fran McCaffery's Hawkeyes shook off an overtime loss to Villanova in the Battle 4
Atlantis in the Bahamas on Tuesday night with a thrilling 98-93 victory over Notre
Dame before a sellout crowd in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in their Big Ten/ACC Challenge
date for 2013. As Fran noted afterward, the Fighting Irish are a superb men's basketball
program, one that walks onto the playing floor each night expecting to win.
The overtime victory against Xavier in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis and the
win over Notre Dame could prove to be very important on Selection Sunday in March.
Lastly, the Iowa wrestling team put the Hawkeyes back in the lead in the annual Iowa
Corn Cy-Hawk Series with a dominant win at Iowa State last Sunday. It should come as
no surprise to fans of the Hawkeyes that coach Brands left Ames wanting more.
I'm so proud of our student-athletes and coaches for what they do every day. Like most
Hawkeye fans, I was especially proud of their work this past weekend.
I want to wish a blessed holiday season to all…Go Hawks!
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