Hlas: Those who blast Jake Rudock are full of hot gas

What is wrong with some people?

It's been out there for weeks now that Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock was probably leaving Iowa to play his senior season elsewhere - quite possibly the University of Michigan.

Since he's on track to graduate Iowa in May, senior-to-be Rudock would be able to transfer elsewhere and be immediately eligible to play in the coming season, like quarterback Russell Wilson did at Wisconsin, basketball players DeAndre Kane and Bryce Dejean-Jones did at Iowa State, et al.

It's a good NCAA rule. If a college athlete graduates in four years and still has athletic eligibility left, he or she darn well ought to have the freedom to finish their college experience wherever they want.

But I digress. What is wrong with some people?

When FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that Rudock was transferring from Iowa with a visit planned for Michigan, a lot of people chimed in about it. The Gazette's Facebook page linked the story about it on our site. Some of the responses seemed reasonable. Others, as seems to be the case with any story, were just the opposite. Such as:

See ya!

Goodbye, good luck, and good riddance!

he wont (sic) start wherever hes (sic) going.

Bout time rudocky! But not only reason Iowa sucked.

Is he being a big cry baby cuz Sunshine started in the bowl game??

('Sunshine,” aka C.J. Beathard, did not start ahead of Rudock for Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl. He was, however, named the Hawkeyes' first-team quarterback a couple weeks later.)

See ya cry baby!!!!!!

Michigan can have our sloppy seconds.

I didn't attach the names of the commenters. You can find them easily enough if you're so inclined. Nor did I dive into any such comments on Internet message boards, because most of those comments come under the cloak of anonymity. Those who share their identities generally are more on the rational side.

It's safe to say none of the insults were hurled by anyone who would ever say anything remotely similar to Rudock's face.

But why the insults in the first place? Rudock was the opposite of a 'cry baby.” The only time in his Iowa career when he didn't face reporters after a game was at that TaxSlayer Bowl, and Beathard didn't, either. Whether that was their choice or not, I don't know.

Other than that dismal day for the entire Hawkeyes team in Jacksonville, Rudock always answered question after question after defeats without pointing a finger at anyone other than himself. And if you think you or anyone else was more disappointed in any Iowa loss than the quarterback, you're hopelessly wrong.

This is a serious man, someone who juggled a rigorous academic schedule with the extreme rigors of quarterbacking a major-college football team. If your daughter or sister told you she was going to marry him, you'd be a fool not to be delighted to have him in your family. Whatever he chooses for a vocation - and it's believed he'll go into medicine - he'll be dedicated and capable.

Did Iowa win as many games as its fans, coaches and players would have liked or expected last season? Nope. Is that a reason to get on a public forum and say 'Good riddance” about Rudock's decision to leave the program? Of course not.

Are people who say things like that on public forums just trolling the rest of us, or are they really that ridiculous?

Rudock did have some pretty terrific moments in his two seasons as Iowa's starting quarterback. And after he did, you never heard him bragging.

Here's what a thinking Hawkeye fan might say to him: 'Thanks for playing your heart out for us and all the best to you next season and the rest of your life.” I believe many would do just that if they got the chance.

But for those of you who feel compelled to insult Rudock on his way out, there's someone who is way more deserving of scorn. Just check your nearest mirror.

Comments: mike.hlas@thegazette.com

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