Category Archives: Sports

Nov 16

7 of 12 state football finalists are private schools

For the second year in a row, the 1A final will be all-private (Fort Dodge St. Edmond vs. Iowa City Regina), and the 4A final will follow suit (Dowling vs. Xavier). The other private-school finalists are Don Bosco in 8-player, … Continue reading

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Nov 16

The forecast

Just mentally swap “today” for “tonight”. May also apply to Sunday’s basketball game.

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Nov 11

(sigh) It’s Oklahoma week

(credit: ThatCuteSite) For the third year in a row, the Sooners will get to take their frustrations of a high-profile loss out on the Cyclones. Hide the kids and pets. After Vanderbilt’s first victory since 1988 against Florida (and first since 1945 … Continue reading

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Nov 10

Iowa State finally cracks the USA Today Misery Index

That’s right, we weren’t miserable enough until now. On the other hand, the writer’s measurement of misery is arbitrary, since there are four teams with winning records on this week’s list, all of which lost Saturday. Rather than copy and … Continue reading

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Nov 08

Finally, ISU hosts a Texas team in November

ISU’s Saturday game against TCU is the first time in Big 12 play that a team from Texas has played in Ames in the month of November. Whether that has happened by accident or design is unknown. Granted, the distinction goes … Continue reading

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Nov 06

Art Briles was interested in coaching at ISU

if only because it was in the Big 12. Iowa State chose Gene Chizik. That’s one little nugget in a much larger, emotional profile of the Baylor head coach on ESPN’s website. It’s worth the read. Briles’ Baylor team is … Continue reading

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Oct 26

North Tama out of playoffs for first time since 2005

The worst football season in North Tama history and the worst in Traer in half a century ended Friday with a 38-0 shutout by Belle Plaine. With a record of 1-8 (1-5), it’s the first time since 2005 that the Redhawks … Continue reading

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Oct 25

The Lansing Lugnuts were the Waterloo Diamonds

I wondered what had ever happened to the Waterloo Diamonds, after a cup with their logo had faded to near oblivion. From this excerpt from a 1999 book about female entrepreneurs, I found that the Diamonds became the Lansing Lugnuts, … Continue reading

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Oct 21

Historic school team nicknames

July 21, 2012 As covered on the Murph and Andy radio show Friday (go to the 25:30 mark) Bud Legg of the IHSAA has compiled a list (PDF) of Iowa high school team nicknames in the first half of the 20th … Continue reading

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Oct 17

From the Big House

October 5, 2013: Michigan vs. Minnesota in Ann Arbor. I had a pretty good seat. The game was one stop along a 3800(!)-mile road trip.

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