It seems that every summer there’s some little piece of news that appears to put the Iowa State-Iowa football series in jeopardy. This year, the Big 10’s decision to move to a nine-game conference schedule has once again opened speculation that the Hawkeyes are harmed more than hurt by their rivalry with the Cyclones. After all, Iowa only gets three non-conference games now, how could they possibly waste one on a meaningless contest that only Iowa State takes seriously? Its the Cyclones’ “Super Bowl”, not the Hawkeyes’, remember? That’s the Hawkeye fan perspective, anyway. I’ll give the Cedar Rapids Gazette credit for taking an even-handed approach to this article (http://thegazette.com/2013/05/14/b1g-meetings-iowa-faces-narrow-parameters-for-non-conference-schedule/) pointing out the challenges of scheduling for the Hawks and for pointing out, based on quotes from Iowa AD Gary Barta that the ISU-Iowa series isn’t likely to end even when the “B1G” (that’s so stupid) goes to a nine-game slate. ESPN, however, sees things a bit differently, I guess. This blog post would have you believe the biggest reason Iowa’s scheduling will be a challenge is the ISU series. Just look at the headline: “Iowa scheduling hamstrung by ISU series”. (http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/76806/iowa-scheduling-hamstrung-by-isu-series) Yeah, that’s it. ISU is the reason Iowa is “hamstrung”. Not the nine-game Big 10 schedule (that doesn’t kick in until 2016, by the way), not the conference’s dictate that teams no longer schedule FCS opponents, like Northern Iowa. Iowa State is the problem, you see. Good to know that when the Iowa media decides not to carry Iowa’s water for them, ESPN is there to pick up the slack. Here’s the deal: The ISU-Iowa series is good for both programs. The game sells out in both stadiums, generates big-time revenue and buzz among fans on both sides, and generally is televised nationally. I don’t think anyone is truly worried about this series going by the wayside. It seems about as likely as the Big 10 adding a team from New Jersey to the conference! Oh wait…
Dave Sprau
A little bit about me....
I've been Sports Director at News/Talk 1430 KASI since December 2005. I graduated from Iowa State just a few months before that. My career has also taken me to such exotic locals as Estherville, and Storm Lake, Iowa, Owatonna, Minnesota, and Silver City, New Mexico (long story-don't ask). I've also had the pleasure of working part-time at WOI Radio in Ames and WHO Radio in Des Moines while I was a student.
I've been Sports Director at News/Talk 1430 KASI since December 2005. I graduated from Iowa State just a few months before that. My career has also taken me to such exotic locals as Estherville, and Storm Lake, Iowa, Owatonna, Minnesota, and Silver City, New Mexico (long story-don't ask). I've also had the pleasure of working part-time at WOI Radio in Ames and WHO Radio in Des Moines while I was a student.
I'm a native of Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. It was there that I was inflicted with the curse of being a Minnesota Vikings fan. There is still no known cure, though many times I wish there was. I'm also an avid follower of the Minnesota Twins and of course, the Iowa State Cyclones.
