Good Timey Radio: Hate Week edition

We're all taught that we're not supposed to hate. This is true. But let's pretend hate - at least in sports - is just a synonym for rivalry. Minnesota's students chant 'Who Hates Iowa, We Hate Iowa.” I'm sure (OK, hope) they don't hate Iowa. It's all in fun, right? We all like the Mall of America.

OK, Hate away.

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It took Iowa broadcaster Gary Dolphin four minutes to bring up Minnesota's 51-14 demolition of Iowa last year at Minneapolis. It was a combination of the Gophers playing at a high level and a snowball effect on the Hawkeyes. Iowa had three one-play possessions in the second quarter, and Minnesota led 35-7 at halftime. No matter your perspective, it was a massacre.

'It's perhaps their longest-standing and most bitter rival,” Dolph said about the Gophers. No doubt. This is the 109th meeting between the border foes. They play for the most iconic traveling trophy in sports, Floyd of Rosedale. There's been some serious bad blood in the past. Not really now, though.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz heaped tons of praise on former Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill, who retired two weeks ago because of health concerns. Wednesday, Minnesota removed the interim tag from Tracy Claeys, who was given a three-year contract.

'Tracy Claeys is a quality individual,” Dolph said. 'I think that's the right move. That defense has been good all season long. They've struggled on offense.”

Dolph also talks retro-designer uniforms, as he calls what Iowa will wear against Minnesota. 'It should like mighty, mighty, mighty attractive Saturday night,” he said.

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John in Mason City gives a shout out to the veterans. Absolutely. They deserve our appreciation every day, not just today. I have a great friend from Burlington, Damian Hofmann, who's retiring after 20 years in the Army in the next month or so. He was deployed overseas six different times. He'll drink for free a few times when he makes it back.

John wants a few rules changes like pass interference and something special teams related. Dolph (and I, too) struggle to follow the special teams part of it, but Dolph pipes up that 'There are too many reviews and they take way too long. ... Too many automatic reviews, too many called by the guy upstairs.

'I just think there's a way to speed the game up and make the game more entertaining for the fans watching and listening on the radio.”

Adam in Bloomfield. He kind of sits on the phone and forces Dolph to fight off an uncomfortable pregnant pause. Adam then said, 'Wanted to congratulate Kirk on the season so far.” Dolph then talks about the polls for a few minutes. 'I can promise you the night of Dec. 5 ... the top four or top five teams that you see will be radically different.”

Craig in Sioux City talks about the cold and rain and 50 m.p.h. wind gusts. Asks about running back Jordan Canzeri's status and Dolph confirms he'll play.

Craig asks a few basketball questions about why the NCAA selection committee has never picked Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Big problem is with men's tournament is adequate hotel space nearby, Dolph confirms.

Jerry in Waukee: 'I'm looking forward to the big game Saturday.” Says Henry Krieger Coble and George Kittle are doing a great job at tight end.

'He's been a real, real find given the injury to Tay-von Smith,” Dolph said, talking about Krieger Coble.

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Dolph has the veterans stand up at Carlos O'Kelly's when Coach Kirk Ferentz walks in. Everybody claps. Me too.

Kirk Ferentz gave the players a few more hours to enjoy the 35-27 win against Indiana.

'We encouraged the guys to enjoy that victory,” Kirk said. 'It was hard-fought. ... They showed up Monday ready to go.”

JJ in North Liberty asks about Jerminic Smith's mistake and then talks about the uniforms. 'I don't care if they come out in black long johns.”

That gets a laugh. Ferentz said the team will wear 'Pure black uniforms. If it makes them play better, I'm all for it.”

Ferentz then brings up Fred Becker, Iowa's first All-American in any sport. Becker was from Waterloo and he volunteered for World War I and was killed in combat in 1918. He was transferred to the Marines and took out a German machine gun nest and saved several lives but lost his home. Becker earned several medals for his valor. Ferentz shared the story with his team today, Veterans Day.

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Anthony in Des Moines asks what the team does in the day time of a night game (watch a movie Friday and have meetings on Saturday morning instead). He also asks in which bowl Iowa could end up.

'I have no idea,” Ferentz said. 'We've got the Floyd of Rosedale Bowl right now. That's the only one we're worried about.”

Dolph was definitive: 'Win out, and they'd be in the College Football Playoff final four. I can assure you of that.” Those bowls are the Orange and Cotton this year.

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Rick from Lanesboro, wanted to tell Kirk he's been a Hawk fan for 55 years (gets applause). 'I love you guys, go Hawks,” he said. He was calling on a track phone. That's interesting. Kirk doesn't know what one is.

Hank in Forest City asks about the progress of defensive linemen Brant Gressel and Terrence Harris. Ferentz likes both, says Gressel works on the scout team and special teams. Harris was hurt about a month ago, Ferentz said. It didn't require surgery but it's taken a month to heal. Harris might shift inside eventually.

A.J. wants Floyd back. Dolph said he saw a picture of Floyd on Minnesota's website. 'He looks real thin,” said Dolph, who adds he must be living on big-city tofu. If he stays in Iowa City, 'there will be plenty of corn for Floyd to dine on.”

Jim from Muscatine asks about Jake Duzey's status. Ferentz said, 'He had a really good day today” and calls Duzey's torn patella tendon 'significant” and said his return has been an 'ongoing process.”

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Dolph mentions that Iowa has won both trophy games this year and has possession of the Cy-Hawk and Heartland in the practice facility. Floyd of Rosedale is the third trophy this year.

With Claeys taking over for Jerry Kill, Ferentz offered his own congratulations on the radio show. He touted Kill building a staff saying, 'Those guys have stayed together and that tells you a lot about Jerry. ... He did a great job everywhere he's been.”

Ferentz said Kill was on his radar at Southern Illinois and he was 'hoping Minnesota wouldn't hire him, and they did.”

As for hiring Claeys, Ferentz said, 'It's a smart thing to let that staff do what they're doing. They've done a great job and to me this makes a lot of sense.”

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Mike in Dubuque says a garbage can was flying up the street about five feet off the ground. Mike asks about the blown call at the end of the Michigan State-Nebraska game.

Dolph calls it 'a judgment call.” Ferentz, who is more worried about his upcoming game than other games, said 'I haven't seen the play, but I've heard a lot about it.” Kirk then praises the officials and says 'it's amazing how accurate they are.”

Ferentz is concerned about targeting and officials. 'If you're not careful, you make their job really hard.” The intention is great ... I'm all for player safety. I think it puts undue pressure on the officials.”

Mandy in Newell is on her way to the Dome for Newell-Fonda football. She thanks Ferentz 'as a parent for the way you teach your guys to not be flashy on the field. Kids see that and that reflects on how they play on the field.” Ferentz recalls his time as a parent and how much fun it was going to the Dome to see his sons at Iowa City High play there.

Ferentz recalled bringing in former Chicago Bears great running back Gale Sayers 16 years ago. Sayers was in an old team meeting room and 'just talked about the value of education, just having respect for the game. That was impressive. Every player in the room was just riveted.”

Returning to Mandy's comments, Ferentz said. 'We have been described as boring. The bigger reaching thing is how you're doing things.”

Jim in Pocahontas, wants Floyd to have some Iowa corn and dislikes the announcers he listened to on Saturday and likes Gary Dolphin the best. Dolph appreciated the comment.

Despite Indiana's winless Big Ten record, Ferentz said the Hoosiers are 'a team that can beat anybody in our conference, in either division.”

As for Minnesota, Ferentz described its defense as 'very good, very aggressive, fast, (with) linear guys who are speed-oriented.” Ferentz likes quarterback Mitch Leidner, who he said 'looks like he's 260.”

'The bottom line is the guy's a winner,” Kirk said.

The key to victory starts with 'turnovers and takeaways are big along with the kicking game. It starts there and somehow, some way we hope to contain their attack,” Ferentz said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com