Sweeter music for Hawkeyes comes from Cade McNamara, not Nashville and its bowl

The TransPerfect Music City Bowl, huh? OK, that’s nice.

Iowa and Kentucky opened 2022 by playing each other and will end it the same way. Their Citrus Bowl meeting last New Year’s was so compelling that TransPerfect said gimmee, gimmee.

Anyway, the Hawkeyes’ biggest news of the last few days had zero to do with their bowl destination. It was, of course, Cade McNamara’s decision to transfer from Michigan to Iowa to play quarterback.

Iowa welcomes a ready-made player who will be 23 when next season begins, is 13-3 as a starter, and who has quarterbacked a Big Ten championship game victory (against Iowa) and a game in the College Football Playoff.

What slid under the giddiness of so many in these parts is the little item he sent out in mid-November on Instagram as he sat in a hospital wheelchair.

“Turns out I have been dealing with a serious injury since the middle of last season. Then after suffering another serious knee injury this season, my goal was to get back on the field as soon as possible. Sadly I was unable to heal properly but thanks to Dr. ElAttrache he was able help me determine exactly what I needed to do to come back the best version of myself. What lies ahead is a lot of work and rehab but I will come back better than ever!”

His rehabbed knee makes it even more imperative that Iowa’s offensive line protects McNamara next season, and allowing three sacks per game is a number it will want to significantly reduce.

Anyway, how about that TransPerfect Bowl? But first, more McNamara.

Excitement over his arrival is fully warranted. It’s one thing to get someone with big-stage winning experience. When former teammates and coaches shower that player with praise and thanks when he transfers, it’s an especially good sign.

“Tremendous player,” Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh described him on ESPN Sunday.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz wasn’t allowed by NCAA rules to discuss a prospect, but said McNamara’s play against the Hawkeyes and in general last year “impressed the hell out of me.”

A winner, Michigan people call McNamara. A vital part of Michigan’s becoming a national-title contender, they insist.

It will be fascinating to hear what sold McNamara on Iowa. He must have reason to believe the Hawkeyes would give him people to catch his passes and provide him protection. Or maybe he has his own pipeline to some.

OK, about that TransPerfect Bowl …

Iowa fans can drive to Nashville if they’re so inclined, and many will be. They can do what they prefer to do at bowl sites, which is gather with each other rather than with strangers who don’t necessarily sport Tigerhawk logos on the D train to the south Bronx.

They can enjoy bar after bar on Nashville’s Broadway Street, with hot chicken and live music. Thankfully, the music isn’t 100 percent country. But don’t be surprised if there’s a guitar-picker playing in your hotel lobby, hoping you’ll give him a buck or two and maybe a recording contract.

The game itself? Spencer Petras won’t play and the Hawkeyes will employ a quarterback who has never thrown a college pass. How that quarterback feels about immediately taking a backseat to McNamara as the calendar flips to 2023 remains to be seen.

Kentucky has the same quarterback (Will Levis) and tough running back (Chris Rodriguez) as it had in last year’s Outback Bowl. Levis passed for 233 yards, Rodriguez rushed for 107, and the Wildcats won, 20-17.

But receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was the star of that game with 170 receiving yards. He is in the NFL. And, Levis is entering the 2023 NFL draft and hasn’t announced if he’ll play in the bowl.

Last year’s Kentucky team went 5-3 and averaged 27.4 points in the SEC. This year’s Wildcats were 3-5 and averaged 17.5 points in the league. They’re playing an Iowa team that averaged 17.4 points in all games.

The two are bowl-eligible because they scheduled Louisiana-Monroe and South Dakota State and Chattanooga and Nevada and New Mexico State.

Iowa lost to Iowa State and Nebraska teams that were a combined 4-14 in conference play. Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt.

Destination, not deep meaning. The music Hawkeye fans are awaiting will come from McNamara’s Band, not Nashville.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com