Iowa: Home of football diversity

Imagine if Iowa were a faraway land where things are totally different.

Like Wisconsin. Or Minnesota. Or Missouri. Or, yes, Nebraska.

OK, they aren't that far away and they have plenty of similarities with Iowa. But Saturday is when we are again struck with the vivid reminder that we have two FBS, state university football teams that divide the loyalties of the state's population, while the aforementioned others have one each.

Tuesday, I asked Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz to let his mind really wander (yes, I used those words), and talk about what it would be like were there just one big college team in the state.

'I haven't given it too much thought because it's not the reality of our situation,” Ferentz said. 'There are some advantages to that. I can answer that. For sure there are some advantages to that, especially when it comes to recruiting.

'I think we're unique, and I have said this publicly a lot, maybe not in the media, but I do think about it. Two major college programs, and UNI has done such a great job for so long, so there are three teams recruiting a state of 3 million-plus people and sustaining. It's pretty impressive.”

But what if there were just one? Let's say there was no Iowa or Iowa State (Northern Iowa gets to stay), and just one big, all-encompassing major-college football school.

Forget about the academic ramifications. Despite what some people who love Iowa say about Iowa State and vice versa, they're both institutions that have done an incredible amount of good for Iowa and the world. Anyone with working brain cells knows that.

If there were just one major-college sports school, though, can you imagine what that would be like here? Whatever the school's colors would be, those would be the state's colors. If you weren't a fan of the Big Iowa University Cy-Hawks, you would be a heretic who wouldn't be welcome here.

The occasional prized football recruits in the state would alienate the entire state if they decided to attend college elsewhere than dear old BIU.

How big would the stadium have to be to accommodate everyone who wanted to go to the games? How high could they jack ticket prices? Last week, a total of 119,010 fans attended the home games of Iowa and Iowa State.

Would you Iowans really want to be like Nebraska in the one-team regard, where they live with Big Red and nothing else, ever? I'm talking football here. Creighton basketball has made Omaha smile.

Football-wise, if BIU didn't have an in-state school from another conference to play every year, the Cy-Hawks could be like the Cornhuskers today and play a marquee nonconference game at ... Fresno State?

Sure, dividing the state has its drawbacks for ISU and Iowa football. But at least we know there will be one winner from Iowa today after the two teams have played each other.

Meanwhile, if the Huskers do the unthinkable and get upset at Fresno? The entire, vast state of Nebraska will become one Big Red face.

l Comments: (319) 368-8840; mike.hlas@sourcemedia.net