This Week's Iowa-Iowa State Game [Temporarily] Halts Talk Of Powder-Puff Non-Conference Scheduling

Native Iowan and longtime Hawkeye football booster Al Schallau has seen enough of teams such as Maine and Florida International on Iowa's schedules.

In an e-mail titled, "Iowa Hawkeyes Scheduling Powder-Puff Opponents," Schallau writes:

Ron,

"My No. 1 gripe about the Iowa Hawkeye football program is their scheduling powder-puff non-conference opponents.

"In 2008, Iowa played Maine and Florida International at home; and in 2009, Iowa opens the season against Northern Iowa at home. Meanwhile Ohio State scheduled home-and-home games against the USC Trojans in 2008 and 2009.

"According to the future Hawkeye schedules posted on the internet, Iowa presently needs an opponent for Saturday, October 3, 2009. Boise State also has a present opening on its schedule the same date.

"For 2010, Iowa presently needs an opponent for its opener on Sept. 4; and on Sept. 25; and on October 9, 2010. Boise State also has present openings on its schedule on Sept. 4, 2010 and on October 9, 2010.

"ESPN would jump at the chance to televise an Iowa vs. Boise State game from Kinnick
Stadium.

"Will Iowa schedule Boise State for any of those dates? NOT A CHANCE.

"Best,"

Al Schallau

[RON MALY'S COMMENTS: Here's an update, Al. The Hawkeyes will play Arkansas State on Oct. 3, 2009 at Kinnick Stadium. It will be the first-ever game between the schools. That game probably doesn't trip your trigger, either. I wish Iowa would've had a more difficult opponent than either Maine or Florida International, too, but scheduling like that has become the norm in conferences such as the Big Ten and Big 12. Northern Iowa probably doesn't like it that you call it a powder-puff team, but the Panthers -- like a lot of other schools -- are constantly looking for a big-money game or two each season. And universities like Iowa are always willing to oblige. UNI hss improved its program greatly, but lost to Brigham Young, 41-17, Aug. 30 in a mismatch. I think the so-called powder-puff scheduling is a disappointment to season ticketholders of Division I-Ae schools, but they continue showing up in droves to stadiums across America. By the way, Iowa received four votes in this week's coaches' poll, despite playing a couple of patsies early in the season. The Hawkeyes didn't get a vote in the sportswriters' Associated Press poll. And another thing...I doubt anyone will be knocking the schedules of either Iowa or Iowa State this week as they await Saturday's game against each other in the battle for the fantastic [at least to the team that wins it] Cy-Hawk Trophy at Kinnick Stadium].

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Good luck to Ken Fuson and Jerry Perkins now that they've left the Register's newsroom. Obviously,the paper needed them more than they needed the paper.

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My good friend Don Lund, the journalist who is an Iowa graduate and Iowa fan [the late Al Grady, of course, proved it's possible to be both], reflected in print on the booing of Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen:

"The fans who booed him not only showed no class, but what will some of the future Iowa recruits think? He got beat up enough last year by the opposition; he doesn’t need to hear it from the Iowa fans."

[RON MALY'S COMMENTS: Don, you've seen the good and the not-so-good in your years in and around Iowa City. Keep telling it the way it is. I enjoyed visiting with you before last Saturday's game, and I'll look forward to seeing you this week at Kinnick Stadium].

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Retired Iowa sports information director George Wine, perhaps recalling other times when the Hawkeyes failed after being favored:

"I just checked the Las Vegas sports books and learned that Iowa is a 13 1/2-point favorite Saturday over Iowa State. Here we go again."