Iowa's Ferentz earns honor from Connecticut

March 30, 2009

University of Iowa Sports Infomation

University of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz has been selected to receive the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut.

Ferentz received a B.A. in English Education from the Neag School in 1978. He is being recognized for his outstanding contributions to the University of Iowa. He took the Hawkeyes to six straight bowl games, the second longest streak in school history. He is a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and led his team to two Big Ten titles in four years.

Ferentz began his career as a student assistant at the University of Connecticut in 1977 where he was a football captain and an academic all-Yankee Conference linebacker.

He continued his career at Worcester Academy, the University of Pittsburgh and Iowa (1981-89). In 1990 he was named head coach of the Maine Bears. He was named Iowa’s 25th head coach in 1998.

His 2002 team was the most decorated in Iowa history, leading to Ferentz being named the AP and Walter Camp Football Foundation’s Coach of the Year in college football. His home games have sold out for the last five years (36 of 37 games) with an average attendance of 70,585 fans.

Stephen Neal Rules

From Jon Wertheim's Sports Illustrated article "Rattling the Cage", March 24, 2009

…Lesnar-Mir could well be the most profitable fight in mixed-martial-arts history, generating more than a million pay-per-view buys. True to himself, however, Lesnar is preparing for the event at his Alexandria training gym, a converted warehouse with no official name, much less a sign out front. The interior is occupied mostly by free weights, treadmills and a wrestling room. Sparring partners drive back and forth from Fargo, about 90 miles away, and the Twin Cities, about 110 miles distant. When the weather is bad, which is often, Lesnar provides them accommodations near the home he shares with his wife, Rena.

UFC image-making types have gently floated the idea that Lesnar relocate to somewhere a bit more accessible, but in this, as in his fights, the 6' 3", 265-pound Lesnar can't be pushed around. "Up here people let you lead your life," he says. "Even if you're the Britney Spears of Alexandria, it means you might have to sign one autograph on your way to go ice fishing."

Lesnar grew up two hours away in Webster, S.D., on a struggling family dairy farm. He was put to work early; he proudly notes that by age five he'd suffered two hernias lifting bales of hay. With his spiky blond hair and penchant for mischief, he reminded some people of Bart Simpson, but with a more active pituitary gland: When he graduated from high school in 1996 he could deadlift 600 pounds. That's a lot of hay.

Blessed with an alloy of strength, quickness and agility, Lesnar wrestled at Minnesota and won the 2000 NCAA heavyweight title in his senior year. (As a junior he lost in the final to Stephen Neal, now a New England Patriots lineman.) He was on only a partial scholarship, though, and he says that by the time he left, he owed $40,000 in student loans -- no small sum for the son of farmers living under constant threat of foreclosure. When World Wrestling Entertainment offered him a six-figure guarantee in a multiyear promotional contract, the decision was no decision at all. "I didn't have this in my pocket," he says, opening an empty hand. "I got into the business for business reasons. Make your money and get out."

Hartline impressive at NFL Combine, OSU Pro Day

From Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback, "Ten Things I Think I Think," March 16, 2009:

I think, after the Ohio State Pro Day Friday, I've got one name for you to remember for the end of round two or the guts of round three: Brian Hartline. Receiver. Played in the shadow of Ted Ginn Jr., then Brian Robiskie, in Columbus. Caught just 21 balls last fall while Ohio State struggled adjusting to Terrelle Pryor running the offense.

Hartline had a great combine, can play the slot and outside, and impressed with his hands and route-running on Friday; his 4.50 40- time is OK, but not special. (Teammate Robiskie ran a 4.47.) Two months ago, Hartline was a fifth-round pick. Now he just might go in the top 64.