JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Another Iowa football Saturday, taking the game in from the sideline.
Of course, I didn’t care for the outcome, but there were some things I was witness to that I thought I’d share.
First, this was the first time I have been able to witness senior day from the field vantage point. It was pretty emotional for a lot of people and I even got choked up on a couple of instances. I am a sucker for families, and seeing parents so proud of their kids…and also seeing the kids realize that they will never walk this path again in their life.
They will walk other paths, other great paths, but never this path. Perhaps that’s what makes a senior day loss all the more depressing.
Before DJK’s name was announced, the students could tell he was up next…they began chanting ‘DJK! DJK! DJK’ and his lip began to quiver…he was clearly, clearly moved by the show of love and respect…perhaps more than any other player I saw on Saturday. For a guy that didn’t speak to the media for most of his career, partly due to his coach’s decision and this year partly due to his own, I think this ovation was important to him and it had an impact.
As he was jogging through the tunnel of letter winners onto the field, he was holding back tears…and seeing that choked me up a bit. Wish the ending was more happy.
Another Iowa football Saturday, taking the game in from the sideline. Of course, I didn’t care for the outcome. But there were some things I was witness to that I thought I’d share with you.
First, this was the first time I have been able to witness senior day from the field vantage point. It was pretty emotional for a lot of people and I even got choked up on a couple of instances. I am a sucker for families, and seeing parents so proud of their kids…and also seeing the kids realize that they will never walk this path again in their life.
They will walk other paths, other great paths, but never this path. Perhaps that’s what makes a senior day loss all the more depressing.
Before DJK’s name was announced, the students could tell he was up next…they began chanting ‘DJK! DJK! DJK’ and his lip began to quiver…he was clearly, clearly moved by the show of love and respect…perhaps more than any other player I saw on Saturday. For a guy that didn’t speak to the media for most of his career, partly due to his coach’s decision and this year partly due to his own, I think this ovation, this outpouring of adulation, was meaningful to him and it had an impact.
As he was jogging through the tunnel of letter winners onto the field, he was holding back tears…and seeing that choked me up a bit.
I focused on him quite a bit during the game. You could tell he was giving it everything he had, perhaps more than I have ever seen from him. He was going at it all day with #1 for Ohio State, a lot of jawing. The catch DJK made after being pushed out of bounds was unreal. It didn’t count, as the call of pass interference was the ruling that was applied…but it was great effort.
Later in the game, Stanzi threw a ball deep to DJK, into double coverage and DJK was hauling! At the last second, he cut in front of one of the DB’s and nearly made an unbelievable catch, with unreal effort. I am not certain, but he might have been injured on that play, laying out so hard and changing direction so much. Later in the game, after Ohio State kicked off following their field goal, DJK returned the ball and you could tell he was hurting, something in his ribs. Not sure if it was a hit to the ribs or a muscle strain. It bothered him the rest of the game but there was no way he was going to leave the field.
I have offered ‘criticisms’ of DJK through the years, along the lines of ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ He was given amazing talent, and he obviously has worked hard honing that talent and putting time in the weight room. Play to play concentration seemed to be the biggest bugaboo in holding him back from being a force earlier in his career.
But to me, he is finishing real well and on Saturday, he showed great effort and heart. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow on the field….
I mentioned the tunnel that was created by former letter winners…I can tell you those people are thrilled that Kirk has started this tradition. I spoke to several former players as they waited for the seniors to come out, and they were honored to be back on the field….
Had a chance to chat with AJ Edds..his rehab is going well and he is eager to get back on the field and begin his NFL career…
Spoke with former basketball players Ryan Luehrsmann and Luke Recker quite a bit during the game. Luey has always been one of the nicest guys I have come across in this line of work. Recker was a part of the 2001-2002 Iowa team that began the season ranked in the Top Ten but ended…well, not so well. He recently returned to Iowa City with his wife and young daughter and told me he was so glad to be back in Iowa.
He’s not ‘from’ here. He’s an Indiana kid, who had a brief stay in Arizona before coming to Iowa. He’s seen a lot, been through a lot during his days and it’s neat to hear him express the same love of Iowa that us Iowa natives feel…
We all saw Adam Robinson lying motionless on the field after a questionable hit. After the game was over, Robinson was being helped off the field by a member of the support staff, holding his arm all the way. Robinson clearly had a ‘far away’ look to him and as Kirk Ferentz mentioned after the game, if he got ‘dinged’ again, which it certainly looked like he did, we wont see him next week….
As the final seconds wound down, I began to reflect on this senior class. They have accomplished a lot and delivered so many great memories. Yes, this season and the 7-4 record is fresh in our minds now, but they have a chance to win two more games and finish 9-4. If they do that, they will have won 29 games over the past three seasons,which would be tied for the second best three-year mark in school history, with the 1985-1987 Iowa teams.
Again, I realize that some folks don’t want to think about that right now and probably won’t until January. That won’t take away the emotions of unmet expectations, which are some of the most powerful emotions we experience. However, I just can’t throw away all they have done and the high-high’s they have delivered. Thanks for the memories, and here’s to making two more….
One more thing; the fly over by the fighter jets was unreal, and thanks to Tom, Patty and Dan Buroker for their hospitality all day and night and in letting me do ‘Soundoff’ from their home near the stadium.
Of course, I didn’t care for the outcome, but there were some things I was witness to that I thought I’d share.
First, this was the first time I have been able to witness senior day from the field vantage point. It was pretty emotional for a lot of people and I even got choked up on a couple of instances. I am a sucker for families, and seeing parents so proud of their kids…and also seeing the kids realize that they will never walk this path again in their life.
They will walk other paths, other great paths, but never this path. Perhaps that’s what makes a senior day loss all the more depressing.
Before DJK’s name was announced, the students could tell he was up next…they began chanting ‘DJK! DJK! DJK’ and his lip began to quiver…he was clearly, clearly moved by the show of love and respect…perhaps more than any other player I saw on Saturday. For a guy that didn’t speak to the media for most of his career, partly due to his coach’s decision and this year partly due to his own, I think this ovation was important to him and it had an impact.
As he was jogging through the tunnel of letter winners onto the field, he was holding back tears…and seeing that choked me up a bit. Wish the ending was more happy.
Another Iowa football Saturday, taking the game in from the sideline. Of course, I didn’t care for the outcome. But there were some things I was witness to that I thought I’d share with you.
First, this was the first time I have been able to witness senior day from the field vantage point. It was pretty emotional for a lot of people and I even got choked up on a couple of instances. I am a sucker for families, and seeing parents so proud of their kids…and also seeing the kids realize that they will never walk this path again in their life.
They will walk other paths, other great paths, but never this path. Perhaps that’s what makes a senior day loss all the more depressing.
Before DJK’s name was announced, the students could tell he was up next…they began chanting ‘DJK! DJK! DJK’ and his lip began to quiver…he was clearly, clearly moved by the show of love and respect…perhaps more than any other player I saw on Saturday. For a guy that didn’t speak to the media for most of his career, partly due to his coach’s decision and this year partly due to his own, I think this ovation, this outpouring of adulation, was meaningful to him and it had an impact.
As he was jogging through the tunnel of letter winners onto the field, he was holding back tears…and seeing that choked me up a bit.
I focused on him quite a bit during the game. You could tell he was giving it everything he had, perhaps more than I have ever seen from him. He was going at it all day with #1 for Ohio State, a lot of jawing. The catch DJK made after being pushed out of bounds was unreal. It didn’t count, as the call of pass interference was the ruling that was applied…but it was great effort.
Later in the game, Stanzi threw a ball deep to DJK, into double coverage and DJK was hauling! At the last second, he cut in front of one of the DB’s and nearly made an unbelievable catch, with unreal effort. I am not certain, but he might have been injured on that play, laying out so hard and changing direction so much. Later in the game, after Ohio State kicked off following their field goal, DJK returned the ball and you could tell he was hurting, something in his ribs. Not sure if it was a hit to the ribs or a muscle strain. It bothered him the rest of the game but there was no way he was going to leave the field.
I have offered ‘criticisms’ of DJK through the years, along the lines of ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’ He was given amazing talent, and he obviously has worked hard honing that talent and putting time in the weight room. Play to play concentration seemed to be the biggest bugaboo in holding him back from being a force earlier in his career.
But to me, he is finishing real well and on Saturday, he showed great effort and heart. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow on the field….
I mentioned the tunnel that was created by former letter winners…I can tell you those people are thrilled that Kirk has started this tradition. I spoke to several former players as they waited for the seniors to come out, and they were honored to be back on the field….
Had a chance to chat with AJ Edds..his rehab is going well and he is eager to get back on the field and begin his NFL career…
Spoke with former basketball players Ryan Luehrsmann and Luke Recker quite a bit during the game. Luey has always been one of the nicest guys I have come across in this line of work. Recker was a part of the 2001-2002 Iowa team that began the season ranked in the Top Ten but ended…well, not so well. He recently returned to Iowa City with his wife and young daughter and told me he was so glad to be back in Iowa.
He’s not ‘from’ here. He’s an Indiana kid, who had a brief stay in Arizona before coming to Iowa. He’s seen a lot, been through a lot during his days and it’s neat to hear him express the same love of Iowa that us Iowa natives feel…
We all saw Adam Robinson lying motionless on the field after a questionable hit. After the game was over, Robinson was being helped off the field by a member of the support staff, holding his arm all the way. Robinson clearly had a ‘far away’ look to him and as Kirk Ferentz mentioned after the game, if he got ‘dinged’ again, which it certainly looked like he did, we wont see him next week….
As the final seconds wound down, I began to reflect on this senior class. They have accomplished a lot and delivered so many great memories. Yes, this season and the 7-4 record is fresh in our minds now, but they have a chance to win two more games and finish 9-4. If they do that, they will have won 29 games over the past three seasons,which would be tied for the second best three-year mark in school history, with the 1985-1987 Iowa teams.
Again, I realize that some folks don’t want to think about that right now and probably won’t until January. That won’t take away the emotions of unmet expectations, which are some of the most powerful emotions we experience. However, I just can’t throw away all they have done and the high-high’s they have delivered. Thanks for the memories, and here’s to making two more….
One more thing; the fly over by the fighter jets was unreal, and thanks to Tom, Patty and Dan Buroker for their hospitality all day and night and in letting me do ‘Soundoff’ from their home near the stadium.
