Iowa linebacker mixes humor with the hits

The dog's name is “Cash,” as in “Johnny Cash.” Cash is an English bulldog and he's Pat Angerer's best friend.

We got to know Cash, owned by one of Angerer's three brothers, after the Iowa linebacker tore ligaments in his right thumb earlier this season. Cash does just fine without thumbs, so ...

“You don't need thumbs,” he said. “My best friend is my brother's dog. He doesn't have any thumbs and he's doing fine.”

Angerer has made nearly every media opportunity this season an open-mic night, even after Iowa's undefeated season was sank against Northwestern.

We've laughed, we've cried ... OK, the only tears were tears of laughter.

Angerer is one of 17 seniors who will help the No. 15 Hawkeyes (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) try to win their way to a BCS bowl against Minnesota (6-5, 3-4) today in Kinnick Stadium.

Yes, Angerer has been hilarious and we'll get to the hilarity, but let's recognize a fabulous career. After nearly quitting his sophomore season while enduring several nagging injuries, a bout with mononucleosis and being passed by a freshman on the depth chart, Angerer was second-team all-Big Ten last season, with an eye-popping five interceptions from middle linebacker.

This year, he's second in the Big Ten with 119 tackles and is among team leaders with five pass breakups. Against Penn State, Angerer earned the Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week award with a game-high 14 tackles and two key turnovers in Iowa's 21-10 victory. His 38-yard interception return set up an Iowa touchdown.

This week, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz discussed the differences between Angerer and A.J. Edds, a fellow senior linebacker.

“(Edds) is probably going after (Iowa athletics director) Gary Barta's job as soon as he gets out of football,” Ferentz said. “Fortunately, he wants to go into administration, not coaching, or maybe he'll be president of a bank or something like that. That's what he looks like.

“Pat might be after someone else's job, WWA or whatever they call that stuff. So, a little different personality wise.”

Ferentz might've been referring to mixed martial arts or the World Wrestling Entertainment. You can't really be sure with Angerer.

Angerer on how he occupies his time during the day before a night game: “I don't really have enough friends who text me. They're either in the Army or in jail. They can't use their phones.”

Angerer on learning through Facebook of Iowa's first appearance in the BCS rankings: “Go Hawks, No. 6, LOL! Who cares, you know?”

Angerer on stopping a fake field goal against Arizona: “I didn't know what the hell was going on.”

Angerer on his dad, Cliff, and his threats if he would've gone anywhere but Iowa: “I used to tell him I was going to go to Michigan. He threatened to kick me out of the house a bunch of times.”

Angerer on what might've happened to him if he had followed through on thoughts of quitting football after his sophomore year: “I don't know what I'd be doing right now. I'd probably be in jail or something. But I'm glad I'm not, because I don't think I could last in jail.”

Angerer after one of Iowa's close victories this season: “Somebody must've sold their soul to somebody.”

Angerer on how he really passes time before night kickoffs: “Hang out, drink coffee. call my girlfriends.” Wait, you've dated the same woman (Mary Porter) since high school. “She'll kick my ass for that.”

Angerer on the beard trend that kicked in with the Hawkeyes earlier this season: “I'm trying to become more of a man, so I grew out my facial hair and I'm trying to eat hot sauce more.”

After Iowa's victory at Penn State, Angerer was interviewed on Iowa's postgame radio for maybe (probably?) the last time. He was asked what the happy locker room was like. “Yeah it's great, a bunch of naked guys walking around.”

Angerer on where his sense of humor came from: “Probably my brothers and my sister. I've stolen a lot of their jokes. Luckily, they don't have copyrights on that.”

That one probably got a thumbs up from Cash.