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Exciting Mouth news – Now more Mouth
We have heard the shouting, the yelling, the screaming. You want more Marty and McDermott.
Well we’re happy to oblige. Starting today Mouth of the Midwest will be on your radio and your computer starting a 3pm. That’s right Mouth of the Midwest is expanding to 3 hours, 3-6pm. More Marty, more McDermott…about the same amount of Steffes.
Tune in today for 3 hours of the best sports talk in the State.
Jason Parkin
You liked Jason on KCCI, you’ll love him on Mouth of the Midwest. Want more background on Jason, we’ve got it…
Jason Parkin is a native of LeMars, Iowa and a graduate of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, where he received a degree in meteorology. He was a meteorologist for WHO-TV for 2 years and KCCI-TV for 10 years and is the recipient of the American Meteorological Society’s “Certified Broadcast Meteorologist” designation as well as the National Weather Association’s Seal of Approval. He lives in Urbandale with his wife, twin boys and beagle. In his spare time, Jason enjoys biking and just being outside in general.
Jason will be chiming in throughout the week with weather and more. Welcome Aboard Jason.
Basketball disappointing; McDermott staying
Today Jamie Pollard sent an email out to Cyclone fans. You have to wonder if this email was typed and sitting in a drawer ready to be sent out Thursday after the Cyclones exit the Big 12 tourney?
Dear Cyclone fans,
Nearly four years ago, we implemented several strategic decisions to elevate our athletics program within the Big 12 Conference. Our initiatives were to grow funding, enhance facilities and improve academic and competitive performance.
I am pleased to share with you that we have made significant progress:
1. We have increased annual funding for our athletics program from $28 million to $42 million. More importantly, we have achieved that level of funding while reducing our annual reliance on State support from 12% to less than 5%.
2. We have invested more than $50 million in critical facility upgrades and new construction, including the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, the Sukup Basketball Complex, the Jack Trice Club and a golf indoor practice facility.
3. Last fall, our student-athletes recorded the highest graduation rate (79%) in Iowa State University history. That rate led the Big 12 and was 14% higher than ISU undergraduates.
4. We are in the midst of, potentially, the best competitive season in school history. Our Directors’ Cup finish for the fall (22nd nationally) is the best in ISU history and we are currently fifth in Big 12 all-sports rankings (on the heels of finishing last in seven of the prior eight years).
Unfortunately, one of the key elements in that competitive success – men’s basketball – has not experienced the same level of on-court success as many of our other programs. The competitive performance of our men’s basketball program has been both disappointing and frustrating.
Some fans have suggested that we make a change in the leadership of our men’s basketball program. It is important to understand that many factors are considered when deciding who gets the privilege and honor to be an Iowa State head coach. Certainly, competitive success is an important measure. However, so are the personal character and integrity of our coaches and the performance of our student-athletes in the classroom and in public.
Although we have not yet won games at the level we all desire, Coach McDermott and his staff have exhibited exemplary character and integrity and our men’s basketball student-athletes have performed admirably in many areas. As a result, I remain fully committed and supportive of Coach McDermott and his staff. Our department will continue to provide the necessary resources for our men’s basketball program to be competitive in this league and nationally so that we can achieve the goals we have outlined for our department.
As investors in our athletics program – through season ticket purchases and/or donations to the Cyclone Club – we felt it was important to communicate directly to you about our men’s basketball program.
Thank you for continuing to support us. As true Cyclones, we know that we can count upon your help as we try to reach our goals.
Go Cyclones!Sincerely,
Jamie Pollard
Director of Athletics
Weekend wrap
Taking tickets for the UNI bandwagon.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UNI
UNI dominated the Missouri Valley Tournament this past weekend in St. Louis. We’ll have some video from the post game up later today.
During the tourney, UNI’s defense didn’t just slow teams down, it smothered them and had begging for air, or at least a glimpse at the basket. If their defense continues to play like this they are going to be a nightmare for teams in the first two rounds. Mo Valley teams that faced the Panthers twice this year didn’t have an answer for them this weekend. That doesn’t bode well for a team having to face them 4 or 5 days after hearing their name.
As we’ve said all year, UNI is the best TEAM in the State. Coach Jake is pulling all the right strings including getting some bench players some quality time and having them respond. How about little Koch’s brother this weekend – 21 minutes, 5-7 FGs, 13 points? Not a bad line at all for the red shirt freshman.
And talk about your second half adjustments – look at these second half scoring totals for Drake, Bradley and Wichita State 16, 21, and 21 respectively. Jake’s best coaching might be in the locker room at halftime.
This team is going to be fun to watch in the tourney. So now the water cooler topic – what seed? 5, 6?
IOWA STATE
Huge win for the Clones Saturday. Season saving no. Job saving yes. I am not sure Greg McDermott’s job was exactly on the line, but a road win over a Top 5 team certainly doesn’t hurt and help pour some water on the hot seat.
Late in Saturday’s game it appeared Iowa State was headed for another great 35 minute ball game followed by another tough loss. They had out played the Wildcats, but it looked as though another heart wrenching finish was in the books. But give Coach Mac and the team credit, the played through the adversity and mistakes and pulled out the win. Not sure the Clones can make any noise in the Big 12 tourney, but Texas as a first round match up is nice.
A side note – it seems the Iowa State Marketing Department continues to try to capture magic in a bottle. The Paul Rhoads post game speech after the Nebraska win was pretty cool, and made a splash around the country. The McDermott post game at Kansas State, meh? If your going to post video from the locker room, let’s do it every game.
IOWA
Also, Iowa scored 20 points in the first half yesterday in Minnesota. First time they have broke 20 in four games. Really not much to write. It was a blow out, it was disgusting. Men against boys. This is some of the worst basketball I have ever seen a D1 team play not only in this state, but ever. Let’s hope the Michigan goes fast and we can bury this season.
COLLEGE WRESTLING – Brands vs. Sanderson
We don’t cover it much, but as expected the Hawks won the Big Ten Title Sunday, but definitely didn’t finish the way they hoped to finish. The Hawks sent 6 wrestlers into the finals and left with only 2 Big Ten Champs. Most shocking was Brent Metcalf’s lost to Ohio State’s Lance Palmer.
Also, in case you missed it, just because Cael Sanderson move to Pennsylvania, doesn’t mean Tom Brands has grown more fond of him. Check out the video starting at around 7:25. The Penn State wrestler doesn’t hear the whistle and dives after Dan Erekson. Brands jumps up to back his wrestler and he and Cael say hello.
NASCAR
I still can’t watch a whole NASCAR race start to finish, but if Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards are positioned near each other I am watching. Seems there is a little bad blood between these two and Carl decided to extract a little pay back yesterday. Was the wreck intentional? Here is Carl’s Facebook entry:
My options: Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyones safety or hard work, should I: A-Keep letting him wreck me? B-Confront him after the race? C-Wait til bristol and collect other cars? or D-Take care of it now? I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine.
Doesn’t sound like it was a “mistake”…
Marty popping in on Lou from KGGO
UNI – Bradley – 1:35pm Fox Sports MW
Gary Rima and Coach Jake pregame
