Hannas team up to help Hawks

CEDAR RAPIDS - "Big Boy" and "Little Man" are no longer just a father and son team.Tim and Jace Hanna own new roles as assistant coach and player for the Cedar Rapids Prairie football team.The elder Hanna will guide the Hawks offensive line, which will help protect the younger Hanna during his senior campaign at quarterback. Both will attempt Prairie improve its 2-7 record last season as head coach Mike Morrissey begins his second season leading the program.Jace Hanna was apprehensive to start."At first when I heard about that I wasn't so sure about it," said Jace Hanna, who spoke about playing for his father with Morrissey, whose dad coached him at Pleasant Valley. "Having your dad at practice, I don't think many kids would like that so far it's been going well."Morrissey said the position opened up when former Prairie assistant Matt Trosky took a full-time faculty member and coach position at Clear Creek Amana. Tim Hanna had expressed desire to coach, so Morrissey and Prairie Athletics Director Rocky Bennett approached him. He wasted little time getting his coaching authorization. The chance to share in his son's final prep season played a factor."I can't coach the position he's in so I thought to help out I'd do anything I could," Tim Hanna said, "and get on the field with him to coach the offensive line."Tim Hanna certainly has the resume for the job. He was a two-time letterwinner for the University of Iowa in 1982 and 1983. He played guard and tackle for the Hawkeyes under head coach Hayden Fry and then offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz, earning honorable mention Big Ten honors. Hanna was a member of Fry's first recruiting class at Iowa.Jace Hanna, who was coached in youth football, basketball and soccer, has seen the jerseys, pictures of the Hawkeye locker room and the ring from Iowa's appearance in the 1981 Rose Bowl. He respected his dad's accomplishments."It was pretty cool," Jace Hanna said. "Just to think. my dad played for the Hawkeyes, which I always liked."Morrissey recalled watching an old Iowa vs. Michigan game on BTN, noticing his new assistant coach was one of the Hawkeye linemen. Immediately, he texted players to watch Tim Hanna in action."It was neat," said Morrissey, praising his summer work with the linemen. "I think they really respect him and look up to him for what he accomplished as an athlete."That experience could benefit the line that protects his son, who threw for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns last season."He learned a lot of good things," Jace Hanna said. "I think that's helping our offensive linemen this year."The first person Tim Hanna called was Ferentz, asking about difference in the game. Ferentz offered general advice and Hanna was ready."The terminology has changed a little bit," Tim Hanna said. "It's the same blocks just different words. I was a little worried when I started."The roles bleed into one another as the two go over plays at home. Jace Hanna said he has been more help to his dad, acclimating him to the plays and players, but admitted his dad's explanation has helped him understand blocking schemes. They also like to rib one another, evident in referring to one another as "Big Boy" and "Little Man" and jabbing each other in their new relationship in practice."We joke about it," Tim Hanna said. "Being an ex-offensive lineman, I tell the linemen we're giving him two-and-a-half to three seconds. If that quarterback can't get rid of it in time and gets smacked in the face it's his fault."Morrissey the two work well together in practice. Despite the good-natured ribbing, Jace Hanna has responded well. Their respective strengths complement each other in regards to the Hawks offense."Jace understands while they're at practice he gives Coach Hanna the respect he deserves as a coach," Morrissey said. "They will go back and forth every now and then about things."Tim Hanna has adjusted to his new role at the moment, but that could be different when the Hawks open the season against Cedar Rapids Jefferson. he might have more butterflies to corral than his son or the linemen he directs."I'm probably more nervous than they are," Tim Hanna said. "I'm responsible for the line to help protect him. Hopefully, I've taught them the right things and things will work out. You won't know until the first game."The first game should mark the start of a special season for the Hanna family. Jace Hanna will attend Upper Iowa University next year to play basketball. He didn't seem to rule out possibly playing football in the future, but it appears Jace will have a special final season with his dad on the sidelines instead of in the bleachers."I get to share my last season with my dad," Jace Hanna said. "It's pretty nice."