Time to honor Zabel?

I

iahawk20

Well-Known Member
Jon, i would be curious to your thoughts here as you know Z quite well. It seems to me something needs to be done to honor his committment to Iowa football for the last 60+ years. Probably every single Hawkeye fan over the age of 20 knows that Zabel..the guy did play by play from 1949 to 1996. He knows more about Hawkeye football than all of us on here combined...he is not getting any younger and it is time the U of I does something special for this man.

Thoughts?
 
Jim Zabel absolutely should be honored at the throw back game.

AND WHAT THE HECK, WHY NOT LET HIM DO THE PLAY-B-Y-PLAY DURING THAT GAME -- IT WOULD BE SIMPLY AWESOME AND MEAN THE WORLD TO HIM!!! OR LET HIM DO THE TV PLAY BY PLAY???
 
iahawk20 said:
Jon, i would be curious to your thoughts here as you know Z quite well. It seems to me something needs to be done to honor his committment to Iowa football for the last 60+ years. Probably every single Hawkeye fan over the age of 20 knows that Zabel..the guy did play by play from 1949 to 1996. He knows more about Hawkeye football than all of us on here combined...he is not getting any younger and it is time the U of I does something special for this man.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I know he has his name enshrined on the press box wall...they certainly have honored him as much as any media member that has covered the Hawks, IMO. Everytime there is an event, they invite him to come to take part, such as FryFest last year, but Jim's trips back to Iowa are probably a thing of the past.

he sold his house in Beaverdale last fall...the year before, he got sick when he came back to Iowa in the fall...the air here is tough on him
 
My idea is a bad one - I forgot about his health situation.

He was a great play-by-play broadcaster, and I have heard most of the great ones.
 
I've been honoring him since 1983. I love Z.
But yeah, something official and high-profile would be terrific.
 
ChosenChildren said:
My idea is a bad one - I forgot about his health situation.

He was a great play-by-play broadcaster, and I have heard most of the great ones.
Click to expand...

I think to put him in a play by play position now would do him a disservice...that's not an easy job, and even the best in their primes can have a bad day.

Folks should pick up his CD we have for sale at WHO...it has classic Zabel call's and moments...and its the Z in his prime...and the money goes to Iowa, which is another Z classic.

WHOAM: Home

jimzabel_lg.jpg
 
JonDMiller said:
I think to put him in a play by play position now would do him a disservice...that's not an easy job, and even the best in their primes can have a bad day.

Folks should pick up his CD we have for sale at WHO...it has classic Zabel call's and moments...and its the Z in his prime...and the money goes to Iowa, which is another Z classic.

WHOAM: Home

jimzabel_lg.jpg
Click to expand...

AWESOME! I am going to get one for myself and one for my dad...he will love this. Thanks Jon!

I know it might not be possible but i would love to see him be the honorary captain for a game this season.
 
The best way to honor Zabel would be either a Rose Bowl victory or a National Championship!!

I love it, I love it, I love it!!!!!!!
 
If I live to be a 1000 years old Jim will be my favorite broadcaster ever. Anyone else who tries sounds like a pile of puke compared to him. I'll always hug and kiss my radio thinking of him.
 
Everybody over a certain age grew up listening to Zabel for all Iowa football and bb games,when the Hawks were rarely on TV. It will always remain an age of innocence for many of us, as our imaginations,only fueled by the excitement in Jim's voice, painted a picture of the action. I love watching the Hawks live or on tv,but as a kid, football saturdays were special out on the farm, lugging around a little transitor radio wherever you were going,including to the field, or hunting pheasants...whatever. A bygone era that the youngsters would probably never understood,but for us old folks, it sticks in our memory banks...I still remember standing in the ditch,blocking for some hunters working a cornfield,listening to Zabel describe Eddie Podolaks wonderful 250+ yard day in that 68-34 win over NW....long time ago, but it sticks,and Zabel is a big part of it.
 
I mean this with all of the love and respect Z deserves...but the thing I remember most about Jim, was how he could get you on your feet, all jacked up thinking something HUGE just happened...I'll try to give an example, using current players...this is not an official replay...

"Hawks' ball, first and 10 at their own 33 yard line...Stanzi under center, Koulianos wide left, Moeaki in motion...the ball is snapped, Stanzi hands it to Wegher! HE SHAKES A TACKLE! HE SPINS, HE MAKES ANOTHER MAN MISS! STILL ON HIS FEET! HE CUTS LEFT! HE CUTS RIGHT! and he's FINALLY brought down by the strong safety!!!

That'll bring up 2nd and 8 from the 35..."

LOVE Z!!!
 
JHHawk said:
Everybody over a certain age grew up listening to Zabel for all Iowa football and bb games,when the Hawks were rarely on TV. It will always remain an age of innocence for many of us, as our imaginations,only fueled by the excitement in Jim's voice, painted a picture of the action. I love watching the Hawks live or on tv,but as a kid, football saturdays were special out on the farm, lugging around a little transitor radio wherever you were going,including to the field, or hunting pheasants...whatever. A bygone era that the youngsters would probably never understood,but for us old folks, it sticks in our memory banks...I still remember standing in the ditch,blocking for some hunters working a cornfield,listening to Zabel describe Eddie Podolaks wonderful 250+ yard day in that 68-34 win over NW....long time ago, but it sticks,and Zabel is a big part of it.
Click to expand...

Great post!! I started listening to Zable around 77. I remember working weekends, hunting and sometimes just hanging outside mowing washing the car or whatever and listening. Those are some of the most vivid memories of my lifetime.
 
ooops! Anyway I tried the link and can't tell if it is even available to order. There is no price listed etc. Most of the information screens come up blank. Do you have a different link?
 
JonDMiller said:
I know he has his name enshrined on the press box wall...they certainly have honored him as much as any media member that has covered the Hawks, IMO. Everytime there is an event, they invite him to come to take part, such as FryFest last year, but Jim's trips back to Iowa are probably a thing of the past.

he sold his house in Beaverdale last fall...the year before, he got sick when he came back to Iowa in the fall...the air here is tough on him
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I'm assuming he lives somewhere with dryer air, yes? Say, southwest America somewhere? Maybe we could honor him at the Arizona game, because that game will be literally Kinnick West.
 
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