No Spring Game This Year

RobHowe

RobHowe

Administrator
From UI

TURF REPLACEMENT ALTERS SPRING FOOTBALL


IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Tuesday that the Hawkeye football program will not hold an open spring practice in 2019 because of necessary turf replacement and review of the field drainage system in Kinnick Stadium.


Because of the turf replacement project, Iowa athletics announced a Meet the Hawkeyes, presented by Coca-Cola, spring autograph session in conjunction with Iowa baseball, and a spring practice Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz, featuring head coach Kirk Ferentz and radio play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin.


The autograph session with select members of the Hawkeye football program will take place April 20, when Iowa baseball hosts Nebraska at 2:05 p.m. (CT).


The Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz will take place at the VUE rooftop at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Iowa City. The VUE rooftop will become the new home for the weekly Hawk Talk radio show this fall.


Additional details for both the Meet the Hawkeyes opportunity and the Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz will be provided in the coming weeks via hawkeyesports.comand official Hawkeye football social media feeds.


The field turf replacement and drainage system review in Kinnick Stadium will occur this spring and summer. Construction crews expect to begin the project as soon as weather allows and a contractor is selected for the review. The project is a result of flooding in and around the stadium last summer.


Spring practice begins with the initial practice on March 27 and concludes with the 15th allowable practice April 26. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 9-4 record in 2018 that concluded with a 27-22 win over No. 18 Mississippi State in the 2019 Outback Bowl. Iowa was ranked 25th in The Associated Press final national rankings.


"While the affected area from last summer was 100 percent repaired and safe for play in 2018, there is a long-term need to replace the turf this summer," said GaryBarta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. "We explored options for a public practice at an alternate venue, but did not have a suitable option."


The current playing surface has been in place for two seasons. The turf replacement project is going through the university process of being submitted as an insurance claim. The field graphics will remain the same as the past two seasons.
 
Why not schedule a Spring Game/Practice in Chicago or St. Louis? Seems like a missed opportunity to market the program.
 
Hawkboys said:
Why not schedule a Spring Game/Practice in Chicago or St. Louis? Seems like a missed opportunity to market the program.
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Does anyone do anything like that? I'm not sure about how something like that could work. I certainly don't see it being at the top of KFs list as I think he prefers to not have 'game' with the fans and all that for it. He'd go without one every year if he could I bet be it a game or situational scrimmage thing.
 
Didn't the NCAA come out a couple of years ago and say no offsite spring practices? I believe it was in response to Michigan's overseas trips during the spring. Now they just take them during the summer.
 
"spring practice Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz, featuring head coach Kirk Ferentz and radio play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin."

Do you think Kirk made Barta include this in the press release?
 
First question. Will they replace the field turf with more turf or natural grass?

Second question. What makes Barta think he can get a claim out of this? The north end zone contstruction almost certainly caused the flooding. That was all gravel back there, still was as of the Wisconsin game. That rain, with nowhere to soak in, cascaded straight into Kinnick.
 
Gary Barta, the guy just cannot seem to find a way not to cost the U more money. The University needs a separate insurance policy for that idiot individually.

Northside Hawk said:
First question. Will they replace the field turf with more turf or natural grass?

Second question. What makes Barta think he can get a claim out of this? The north end zone contstruction almost certainly caused the flooding. That was all gravel back there, still was as of the Wisconsin game. That rain, with nowhere to soak in, cascaded straight into Kinnick.
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No offense Rob but this article gives a little more insight that the U of I failed to include. For instance, Barta was unaware of the numerous lawsuits against the turf company when they continued to contract with them. Ongoing lawsuits but we will still use these guys because we are apparently still under contract?

Of course Barta didn't share pertinent records, contracts and details with The Gazette.

Barta said it was repaired and safe to play on last year, but they are still filing an insurance claim. Why? And why did it take almost one year then to file the claim?
Who is responsible? The turf company? The company that installed the drainage system? Mother Nature? The AD? :eek:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/...pring-game-canceled-20190326?template=amphtml
 
homes said:
"spring practice Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz, featuring head coach Kirk Ferentz and radio play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin."

Do you think Kirk made Barta include this in the press release?
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It wouldn't surprise me if during that whole mess with Dolph, Kirk walked right into Barta's office unannounced and said, "Do what you gotta do for basketball, but Dolph is our play by play guy. Stay in your lane son."
 
skinnykilmer17 said:
No offense Rob but this article gives a little more insight that the U of I failed to include. For instance, Barta was unaware of the numerous lawsuits against the turf company when they continued to contract with them. Ongoing lawsuits but we will still use these guys because we are apparently still under contract?

Of course Barta didn't share pertinent records, contracts and details with The Gazette.

Barta said it was repaired and safe to play on last year, but they are still filing an insurance claim. Why? And why did it take almost one year then to file the claim?
Who is responsible? The turf company? The company that installed the drainage system? Mother Nature? The AD? :eek:

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/...pring-game-canceled-20190326?template=amphtml
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None taken.

Vanessa is a former co-worker and does a great job investigating these things. I'm sure she's filed FOIAs for the documents Iowa is withholding. Makes one wonder why they're being withheld.
 
RobHowe said:
None taken.

Vanessa is a former co-worker and does a great job investigating these things. I'm sure she's filed FOIAs for the documents Iowa is withholding. Makes one wonder why they're being withheld.
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Thanks Rob. Yes, it struck me from her writing that it must have been a little difficult without sufficient information.

Frustrating how secretive this AD, athletic department and university in general can be. I can somewhat understand why this might be their first impulse, but kind of flies in the face of a PUBLIC university's charge.

Is it possible the north end zone reconstruction company is somehow responsible for the flooding and subsequent damage and the U was trying to negotiate some relief and that failed, leading to the insurance claim now?

Also, Barta might not want to keep saying it was 100% repaired at the same time filing a claim for apparently full replacement when only two years old...??
 
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