Confirmed worst nightmare, JEWELL HAMPTON(Iowa) out for season

Fishhead · 09-02-09, 08:33 AM

By the way, if Byron Buloga returns for his senior season next year(top 3 OL in the country as a junior this season) and the Hawkeyes do not suffer any major injuries to no more than one individual on the projected starting line-up for 2010, this IOWA club should be very, very good next season...........and should enter the season ranked in the top 10 with the potential to play for all the marbles come the postseason.

Yes, I know, I'm dreaming............but it's fun to dream.

HotStreak · 09-02-09, 08:38 AM

Bad news Fish.

I'm from CT, and Ferentz always seemed to land one or two of the few players that came out of my little state years back. So Iowa was always on my watch list.

Who do you feel will emerge as the feature back this season?

Paki?

onthewhat · 09-02-09, 08:39 AM

Wow!!!

We cant wait for your Iowa leans this year

Fishhead · 09-02-09, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by HotStreak

Bad news Fish.

I'm from CT, and Ferentz always seemed to land one or two of the few players that came out of my little state years back. So Iowa was always on my watch list.

Who do you feel will emerge as the feature back this season?

Paki?

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- While much will undoubtedly be made of who won't be in the offensive backfield when the University of Iowa opens the season Saturday against Northern Iowa, Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz is more curious to see how the two-headed, three-headed or four-headed `running game by committee' fares against a brawny in-state opponent.
On Tuesday Ferentz revealed that sophomore Jewel Hampton, the team's leading returning rusher, will miss the entire season because of a knee injury. He will redshirt. In his place, the leading back candidates are junior Paki O'Meara (21-62-2), redshirt freshmen Jeff Brinson and Adam Robinson and freshman Brandon Wegher. Only O'Meara has played in an actual game and the majority of his experience has come on special teams.

"Paki has played well for a couple years now," Ferentz said at a press conference inside the Hayden Fry Football Complex. "We had our last big scrimmage a week ago Friday night and I thought that was his best performance as a Hawkeye, so we were happy to see that. Adam is a guy that caught our eye last year at this time during camp and he very quietly has emerged and done a nice job. At this point, that's our one-two tandem and then we'll see what happens after that. I don't know if it's going to be a two-man, three-man, four-man, but we'll do whatever it takes to be effective out there. I am comfortable. I think the guys have practiced well and I'm optimistic they'll do some good things as we move forward."
When Iowa and Northern Iowa meet Saturday for the 15th time since 1898 (Iowa holds a 13-1 edge in the all-time series), the Hawkeyes will have 213 coaching victories at Kinnick Stadium. Ferentz will be on the sideline with 70 wins for the UI (including an 8-2 mark in season-openers). Also in attendance will be Hayden Fry, who coached the Hawkeyes to 143 victories from 1979-98. Fry will be recognized on Fryday, Sept. 4, as part of Fry fest, which will include the unveiling of Hayden Fry Way in Coralville. "We're excited about the game, too, but for coach Fry to be back in town and be recognized in such a nice way and a well-deserved way," Ferentz said, "I think all of us are extremely excited about that. I don't think I have to talk about the impact that coach Fry has had on our football program, the University and the state overall."

HotStreak · 09-02-09, 08:51 AM

Best of luck to your Hawkeyes this year Fish.

Looks like we have a rebuilding year here in CT. Lost a lot. Not easy for our little program to replace a few early round NFL players.

Fishhead · 09-02-09, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by HotStreak

Best of luck to your Hawkeyes this year Fish.

Looks like we have a rebuilding year here in CT. Lost a lot. Not easy for our little program to replace a few early round NFL players.

FYI, in Phil Steele's POWER SWEEP newsletter this week, he has OHIO vs. your Huskies as his UNDERDOG PLAY OF THE WEEK.........a play that has a tremendous track record in this newsletter............you agree with the pick?

HotStreak · 09-02-09, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Fishhead

FYI, in Phil Steele's POWER SWEEP newsletter this week, he has OHIO vs. your Huskies as his UNDERDOG PLAY OF THE WEEK.........a play that has a tremendous track record in this newsletter............you agree with the pick?

It would not be a national headline if they lost.

UCONN is not the type of program to recover from a massive loss of talent. They do not "reload" like the powerhouses. They run in a cycle. When a team has been together for 3 years, very senior laden, with a couple of NFL level talents, good things happen. Sorta like Northwestern in the Big Ten, or what Notre Dame is this year.

This is not one of those special years for my Huskies. They will be well coached with a better than average Defense. I just do not expect much from them this season.

Based on that, who am I to argue with Phil Steele.

Chi_archie · 09-02-09, 10:03 AM

That is a major blow, but I think they'll recover

Fishhead · 09-02-09, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by HotStreak

It would not be a national headline if they lost.

UCONN is not the type of program to recover from a massive loss of talent. They do not "reload" like the powerhouses. They run in a cycle. When a team has been together for 3 years, very senior laden, with a couple of NFL level talents, good things happen. Sorta like Northwestern in the Big Ten, or what Notre Dame is this year.

This is not one of those special years for my Huskies. They will be well coached with a better than average Defense. I just do not expect much from them this season.

Based on that, who am I to argue with Phil Steele.

I look forward to your analysis of UCONN football this year.

Thanks,
FH

Fishhead · 11-10-09, 09:47 PM

Originally posted by Fishhead

Jewell set an Iowa freshman RB record for yards last season(playing second fiddle to Shonn Greene) and was the heir apparrent to replacing Shonn. It was confirmed yesterday that he will undergo surgery immediately to repair a damaged knee and will be red-shirted.

The Hawkeyes also will be without Jeff Brinson, 2nd on the depth chart behind Jewell, for the opener against UNI.

If that wasn't enough, the Hawkeyes have also lost the services of a very talented conerback in Bernsteen for the season with an ankle injury and will have to go with a freshmen, HYDE, as his replacement...........and the Hawks also have a starting OL out for the their opener.

The loss of Hampton and Bernsteen for this club is very damaging, but hopefully they can overcome these injuries and still produce at least an 8 win season and the potential to finish in the top 20 once again this year if they can win at least one of their tough road games(@PENN ST, @ OHIO ST, @MICH ST, and @ WISCONSIN). That's IF they can defeat Iowa State on the road, Arizona at home, and Michigan at home.

Right now, Iowa will have to play a solid game to defeat Northern Iowa, a team that very well could be the very best in the FCS this year. This Northern Iowa team is loaded with talent, with a few players that will be playing on Sunday in the next couple years in the NFL..........they have a very good QB and tandom of recieivers.

IOWA has exceeded my expectations..........

GREAT YEAR FOR THE HAWKEYES!!!