Hawk Auction Item No. 55 -- 'Love it or leave it,' the poster

It's not an act. It's not a gag. Yes, Ricky Stanzi did pull one of the all-time funnies when thrown an indecipherable question from Fox's Chris Myers in the postgame of the Hawkeyes' Orange Bowl victory last January.

“Of course, there's nothing better than being American,” the Iowa quarterback said to Fox Sports reporter Chris Myers after Iowa's 24-14 victory over Georgia Tech. “. . . If you don't love it, leave it. USA, No. 1.”

That was funny, but the sentiment behind it is genuine. Stanzi says this isn't some extension of Will Ferrell's “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”

“There's definitely something real. It's definitely real,” said Stanzi, one of 26 Hawkeye seniors who'll play their final game in Kinnick today. “People always talk about it being from “Ricky Bobby.” It wasn't. It wasn't a joke. We're dead serious. That's literally how we feel.

“It's not something from Ricky Bobby or trying to be funny on national television. It was something that we talk about a ton. It was the first thing that popped into my mind, because it's how we feel.”

Stanzi's dad, Joe, was in the Army. His uncle, John Stanzi, fought in the Vietnam war. His grandfather also was in the service, he said. “There's probably one person in every family,” he said.

“There was alway an American flag hanging up in the house,” he said. “There was always one hanging up outside. There was a lot of patriotic talk and having a lot of pride in your country and the freedom and not taking things for granted and working hard. You just kind of adopt those things.”

There is some “moto” to Stanzi, sure. His moped sports an American flag and is covered in USA stickers. He yells out in the Iowa weightroom when Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the USA” comes on or when the “Rocky” theme kicks in.

“That's just the way he is,” Tarpinian said. “It was the way he was raised, it's the way his family is. He really respects our country and he's proud to be an American. Yeah, on the stage at the Orange Bowl, that was him being kind of goofy, but he does love America. There's no doubt about that.”

Even Stanzi admits this thing has taken a life of its own. There's even a UI licensed “Love it or leave it” T-shirt. The senior class poster is all Americana, “It's a Hawkeye Football Nation: Love it or Leave it.” Stanzi is holding the American flag in it, by the way.

“Everybody I live with is just like I am,” Stanzi said. “We're always talking about it and it tends to take off from there. It turns into a quote and the next thing you know there are T-shirts."

Bidding starts at at $10. It will end noon Monday.

This is open bidding here on this blog. I'll give each item 24 hours from the time it's posted. I'll post when that is so everyone knows when to jump in with their last-minute flurry bids.

Send the money to my PayPal account (mwmorehouse@hotmail.com). Once I get the money, I'll mail your item.

The proceeds will go to Camp Courageous, a year-round respite care and recreational facility for individuals of all ages with disabilities located southeast of Monticello.

Thanks!

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OK, this is it. Last item. I'll do the math and the mailing and let you know what we came up with. Thank you so much for your contributions. This blog has the best readers, I've always said that.

I hope to have everything mailed on Monday.

Thanks again!

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