UNI's Rennie plays after death of his brother

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

AMES - Northern Iowa quarterback Tirrell Rennie played last night with a heavy heart.

One of his brothers, Chase, died about three weeks ago in Atlanta, and law enforcement has not been able to offer many details regarding the tragedy, Rennie's oldest brother, Desmond Walsh said outside Jack Trice Stadium.

“We just buried him (last) Saturday, actually,” Desmond said. “That's why we're really up here - to try to kind of give him that support.”

Walsh, his 16-month-old son, Nico, and stepdad Al left Atlanta around midnight in order to attend the game.

Walsh, 30, said Tirrell's always been mentally tough as well as athletically gifted. He recalled a pickup football game with friends in Florida inches Rennie held his own - despite being about a decade younger than the others.

We're proud of him, man,” said Walsh, a former wrestler for Division III Olivet (Mich.) College. “Proud of him.”

Facing a bunch of wrestlers also toughened up Rennie.

“All my brothers, I wrestled around with them; was real rough with them,” Walsh said. “Even my little boy (Nico) now, he's rough. That's how I've raised him - to be kind of tough.”

Just like Rennie, who attended Chase's funeral before returning this week to prepare for the ISU game.

“He's handling it well, you know?” Desmond said. “The football's helping him out a lot.”

What's in a name

Steele Jantz's name has prompted bloggers to pronounce it one of college football's coolest.

But to Jantz, it's normal.

“I'm in the middle of two brothers and my family has kind of started a tradition of unusual names,” Jantz said. “My dad's name is Foxx. He has two brothers - one named Wolfe and one named Stig. My older brother's name is Truk and my younger brother's Brogan, so when I'm around them it's not so weird.”

Banged up

Cyclone defensive lineman Roosevelt Maggitt left the game with an injury in the first half and did not return.

Hall call

Former Cyclone basketball coach Tim Floyd was among those honored at halftime as new Hall of Famers.

Others were Tom Randall (football); Steph McCannon (volleyball); Kelly Ward (wrestling); Deac Wolters (football).