Wednesday Reading Room - Georgia Tech blog gets the lowdown on Iowa ... from Minnesota and Iowa State!

Ah, the things you find on the Web.

Google has given the Hlog precious little to work with on Georgia Tech's football team. After the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it's pretty much zippo.

But then I found fromtherumbleseat.com. It is an unofficial Georgia Tech blog. The rumble seat is part of the Ramblin' Wreck, a 1930 Ford Model A.

GTBird of Rumble Seat subscribes to the theory that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So he solicited "information" on Iowa from SB Nation bloggers from Minnesota and  Iowa State.

Here's what someone from the Daily Gopher told GTBird:

First of all there is nothing else in Iowa (nothing). All they have is Hawkeye football and wrestling (yeah, wrestling). So they are VERY hyper-sensitive about their team. For instance, if you were to suggest that Paul Johnson is a really good coach and his system may present problems for the Hawkeyes. They'll hear that you are saying Kirk Ferentz is the worst coach in DI and is allegedly a child molester. They cheer for the Cubs, Vikings, Twins, etc. But those teams are not THEIR teams like the Hawkeyes are.

GTBird's note after that:

Wow, I think we've dealt with that directly on this blog whenever we mentioned the Hawkeye offense's struggles. Hypersensitive is a good way to put it.

Mark Kieffer of  Clone Chronicles had these tidbits (I didn't edit them) to offer the Rumble Seaters:

If you are an ISU fan after enduring years of being mediocre at best, there isn't much that's going to disappoint you or push you away from the program.

For Iowa, they just roll with whatever. Kirk Ferentz is the genius of all geniuses, but when they just missed on a bowl game a few years ago, he needed to be gone. One year, they're backup QB is the next Heisman Candidate. The next year, when he becomes the starter, they boo him off the field. If the team starts losing, the fans go back to rooting for Notre Dame or USC, or whatever. When they start winning, they get decked out in Black and Gold, and head to the Orange Bowl. I guess it's easy for most Hawk fans, as all they have to do is tow their home down to Miami. Saves on the hotel costs, if you can bring your double-wide to South Beach!

Honestly, you can find many "big time" Iowa fans who can't really name the players, or know much of really anything about the team. Moreso than Cyclone fans... But that's what happens when you're able to capitalize on those skipping on child support but going to Hawkeye games.

I'm just the messenger here, folks. I mean, seriously, no one's going to take their double-wide to South Beach. Although, the image of someone trying that in the land of the tragically hip is a beautiful thing. Oh, the hilarity that would ensue.

Nearly as funny is some of the sparring in the comments section of the Rumble Seat Iowa State post. Some Hawkeyes give it to Kieffer, Kieffer fires back, and Oops Pow Surprise of SB Nation and the ever-amazing Black Heart Gold Pants gets out the heavy artillery in an address to the Rumble Seat.

You brought in a mouth-breathing troglodyte of a blogger to spit blanket, baseless opinions for the sole purpose of riling people up and pageviews. Here, facts are casually tossed aside for ignorant ravings and substance-free, casual insults.

Here's where the Hlog does its magic. It urges everyone to strive for peace on earth and good will toward men, women, and well-behaved children.

Let us proceed.

The Big Ten went 1-6 in bowls last season. Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune sees things getting better this year. He picks Iowa to beat Georgia Tech, Northwestern to upset Auburn . . . and that's it.

So, it's a 2-5 forecast for the conference. Teddy has Iowa State downing Minnesota. So that's one happy correspondent for fromtherumbleseat.com, and one that's not so happy.

Our pal Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com has a slew of Big Ten football recruiting nuggets here.

John Niyo, an Ames native who covers the Detroit Lions for the Detroit News, has more from ESPN's Todd McShay on Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan. McShay says:

"I've had him at the No. 1 defensive end spot for awhile now. I'll be surprised if that changes, assuming he leaves early. He's 6-4, 265 pounds -- somewhere in that range -- and he'll probably run in the 4.6s, which is outstanding for his size. He can anchor versus the run, he can get after you as a pass rusher, both with speed and power moves. And I think his best football is still ahead of him. I think Morgan, of all the defensive ends in this class, is the biggest difference-maker."

Finally, Tuesday is a prep basketball night in Iowa. Tuesday is also the day of the week on which the Orange Bowl will be played. Uh oh.

Well, at least a few Iowa high schools have already decided to postpone their scheduled games for a night so people can stay home and watch the Orange Bowl guilt-free.

As this Quad City Times item tells us, Burlington, Bettendorf, North Scott and Davenport Assumption's teams will have the night of Jan. 5 off. But Pleasant Valley? No such luck.

"We have nothing in the works right now," Pleasant Valley AD Randy Teymer said. "I wish it would have worked out better.

"Maybe we'll see the second half."