Simply put, Millen loves Iowa, Ferentz

By Marc Morehouse

July 28, 2011

CHICAGO — If Kirk Ferentz and his agent Neil Cornrich ever have a fallout, the Iowa coach might want to look into Matt Millen.

When asked about Ferentz-to-Penn State rumor mill, Millen, a PSU alumnus and ABC/ESPN analyst, said, “If he keeps going the way he’s going, he’ll have his name on the stadium. I think the world of that guy.”

Millen loves Ferentz. He also loves quarterback James Vandenberg.

“[Ricky] Stanzi certainly deserved to play, he was a senior, he did nothing to deserve to play,” Millen said of a conversation he had with Ferentz before a game last year. “I just think Vandenberg will be better. He just needs reps and he’ll be fine.”

Millen, a former all-pro linebacker with the Oakland Raiders, loves Iowa middle linebacker James Morris.

“The Morris kid, he’ll be an all-American before he’s done,” Millen said. “I watched him practice and said something to Kirk, ‘Who is that kid?’ He said, ‘Oh yeah, we like him.’ And then he played him [Morris]. I came back a couple weeks later and said, ‘He’s not getting out of the lineup.’

“That kid’s a good player. He needs some size, but he’s got instinct, he’s got toughness. He reads things like a running back. Those guys are hard to find.”

Millen, former GM for the Detroit Lions, loves Iowa’s offensive tackles Riley Reiff and Markus Zusevics.

“They’ve got two kids on the offensive line I love,” Millen said. “I like Riley Reiff, a good, tough kid. And Zusevics, same thing. Both those guys, good, tough kids. They don’t know it yet. That’s the good part.”

Millen loves Iowa, period.

“I’ve recommended that place a few times, believe me,” he said. “I think that’s as good of a place as there is in the country. I think he [Ferentz] is as good as it gets.”

Millen called the 2009 Ohio State-Iowa game, the one substantial start in Vandenberg’s career. He loved Vandenberg during the telecast and loved him again Thursday.

Oh, and yes, he noticed the camera loved Vandenberg’s mom, Ann.

“I’ll tell you the most memorable thing about that game,” Millen said, “we got more calls about his mom than any other player. It was unbelievable.”

OK, but really, Vandenberg the quarterback stepped in for injured starter Ricky Stanzi with the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line and pushed the Buckeyes before falling, 27-24, in overtime.

“He handles pressure,” Millen said. “That’s something that’s really hard to find. . . . That’s what wins and that’s what loses, the ability to perform under pressure. That kid had it. You don’t walk into Ohio Stadium and not have poise, unless you’re completely oblivious. I don’t know the kid, but I’m guessing he’s not completely oblivious. He handled it well. That’s a trait that’s hard to find.”

St. Michael's Spaeth Hands Hanover Food Shelf Huge Check

St. Michael-Albertville grad and NFL player Matt Spaeth presents a hefty check to Helen Skutley of the Hanover Food Shelf. The Pittsburgh Steelers tight end handed over a sizable sum to the local charity after raising more than $20,000 at his annual golf tournament.

By Mike Schoemer

July 26, 2011

Consider the 2011 Matt Spaeth Charity Golf Tournament a resounding success.

Monday, July 24, Spaeth himself stopped down to the Hanover Food Shelf to present director Helen Skutley with a check for $7,000.

That's about one-third of the more than $20,000 raised by this year's event, held last month.

Spaeth made the presentation the night before he returned to Pittsburgh to re-join the Steelers, said friend and co-host Keith Cornell.

"Matt and the STMA Football Boosters would like to thank everyone," Cornell said.

The tournament also raises money for the St. Michael-Albertville football program and for the high school's student fund.

More than 230 golfers participated in this year's tournament.

Hartline signs with Colts

Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline looks down field during an Oct. 2, 2010, game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. Hartline's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Kentucky thinks he has what it takes to make it in the NFL.

By Chris Beaven

July 26, 2011


It was just after 10 Tuesday morning when Mike Hartline started wondering about his NFL future.

The former GlenOak High School star quarterback started seeing other undrafted free agents signing with NFL teams a day after the lockout ended.

Within three hours — 12:31 p.m. to be exact — Hartline couldn’t believe his good fortune. He was going to sign with the Indianapolis Colts, meaning he has a chance to back up superstar Peyton Manning.

“At first it was pretty shocking,” said Hartline, a starter the past three years at the University of Kentucky. “... To get something like this to be offered to you is pretty crazy. It’s a guy you’ve looked up to most of your whole life.

“I’ve still got to work my tail off, but to have a chance to be mentored by him a little and be able to think how he thinks, it’s overwhelming at first. But right now, I’m trying to come back down to reality.”

For Hartline, the reality is “(today) is a work day.”

Hartline will get his playbook and equipment today at Colts’ training camp, he will go to film sessions and study in a classroom. The business of being a professional football player begins.

“I still have to put in a lot of hard work to get this. It’s not going to be given to me,” he said. “It’s been a hard road, but I don’t want to stop before making the team. I want to make the team.”

The Colts have two returning quarterbacks. Curtis Painter, a 2009 sixth-round pick out of Purdue is the other. They also signed former Ball State quarterback Nate Davis, who has spent two seasons in the NFL.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Hartline left Kentucky ranked fourth in career passing yards (5,680) and fifth in career touchdown passes (38). He threw for 3,178 yards last season with 23 TDs and just nine interceptions in 405 attempts.

Hartline hoped to get drafted, but when he didn’t, he kept working hard. He made two trips to Florida to work out with his older brother, Brian, a receiver with the Dolphins. Mike wanted to be ready once the lockout ended.

Late Tuesday morning was when Hartline started getting anxious. He was back in Lexington, Ky. after spending time back home. It was about noon when he finally texted his agent, Neil Cornrich, for news.

“He’d just got off the phone with the Colts and said he was talking to them about me and trying to get me there. He called me back in half an hour and by this time, the deal was done.

“... It was 12:31. I remember just looking down at my phone.”

Soon he was making the 3 1/2-hour trip to Indianapolis to begin his pro career.

“I’d packed from Ohio like I was going to be gone awhile,” he said, “like something like this would happen.”