It was a late night for me and a friend. We called it a night around 2 a.m., after a telephone call conversation we had. She is a fellow Miller-Meeks supporter and we had a long discussion on the upcoming election and the state of our community.
I began my Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids at home. I woke up and got ready for a business appointment in Marion, before heading to the Iowa-Wisconsin game.
It was my first time meeting a lovely family from Nebraska, who already lived in Cedar Rapids. We talked a little about Omaha and the Cornhuskers, since we had a little in common there. The wife had attended the same school as my wife, but at different times.
My wife Carole, is a native Omahan and my grandfather was a native Nebraskan. I lived nearly six years in Omaha going to Creighton and working in public accounting. The future customers are from North Omaha. Carole and I were married in North Omaha over 23 years ago now.
It was a great visit. I look forward to having them as a customer in the near future.
Late Friday, I learned from a friend that my wife wasn't wanting to head to Kinnick for the game, due to the rain in the forecast. Carole likely had thoughts of the Ball State we attended earlier in the season. So, my friend Brian was up for the Iowa-Wisconsin game. Like myself, Brian has is own local business and Carole had passed on her thoughts, which opened the door for Brian to attend.
Talked to Brian before my appointment in Marion and like myself, he wanted to get a little work done before heading to Iowa City and the Game!
After my appointment, I needed to get the tickets, since I had left them at home. So, I called Brian and he wasn't ready to go, so when I got home, I made several business calls related to another project at work I am working on.
Finally, time to pick up Brian and get down to Iowa City.
Actually, Brian asked me to help on a quick business stop. We stopped at the bank, picked up a snack (I needed something) and couple beverages for pregame.
Driving down to Kinnick was great. Traffic was perfect. We didn't have any rain, but we did talk a little about the possible weather in the forecast. Otherwise, it was conversation on business, politics and all things good ...
Brian suggested the spot to tailgate. And, there was a little business tied in, since the location was a customers. We ended up at the Old Gold Apartments to park and tailgate. Brian was happily with my pregame selection.
It was nice meeting Brian's customer. He was showing off his hospitality and his Man Cave!
We ran into a Iowa grad from Texas, who was up for the game, since his son is a communications major at Iowa. We talked about Iowa and Texas, since Brian had lived there for a decade. Nice conversation at the Old Gold on Saturday. Iowa State was up at the half at Austin 14-3. I attended the '05 ISU game in Austin.
Time to head over to Melrose ...
We enjoyed the walk over to Melrose talking, laughing and enjoying our friendship, as two married guys should. Brian was telling me about a great episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm he had just seen this past week.
The little things in life. Watching the humanity associated with College Football Saturday in a small Midwestern Big Ten community.
We got to Melrose and looked around and talked with some people as we walked. We ended up stopping and having a great conversation with Marshall Cotton and his brother in-law from North Dakota. His brother in-law is an ISU alum, so we enjoyed the good news developing in Austin.
We met up with some good Badger fans. The Badger fan told me I was the only Hawkeye fan that answered his question the following way: You were rooting for the Badgers last Saturday night right? I said "no" because I wanted Ohio State #1 and undefeated heading into Kinnick.
It was great running into some new people on Melrose. Great conversation and rivalry.
Headed over to Kinnick Stadium and we ran into a student who mentioned something to Brian about Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi or "Manzi" and Brian and I smiled a little. The point came up latter outside Kinnick with a couple of young coeds.
We ran into a couple of coeds as we walked to Kinnick and Brian commented about Stanzi to them. As a Hawkeye fan, it was interesting to hear one of them talk about Stanzi. She wasn't a Stanzi fan. I asked. Are you from Keokuk? Nope, I am from the Iowa City area. I had to admit my thoughts that I never thought Iowa would win last year in Columbus, if Stanzi was at QB. Though, I never expected the game James Vandenberg turned in at Ohio State either.
There was one moment on Saturday I wondered how Vandenberg could run the offense? Of course, at the same time, teams at Kinnick were running with no backs and 5 receivers spread across the field.
It was a good game on Saturday. As a good friend has talked about for many years. If you are in a position to win a game, the game is competitive at the finish, you can't be disappointed about it. Good football is about going down the wire.
Wisconsin is a top 3 team in the Big Ten, after all.
Iowa found every way to shoot themselves in the foot, especially on special teams. Stanzi had a great game statistically, but his experience didn't lead him to pulling out the game. Iowa's receivers made some mistakes too. Our tackling has been suspect at times this season. I was happy to see true freshman James Morris enter the game at MLB. It was something I noticed after Iowa took the lead in the fourth quarter.
Keys the game (loss, if you want to look at it that way):
- After the interception, Wisconsin holding Iowa to a FG, which made the game 30-24
- The most critical play was Iowa's failure to not call a "safe punt defense" as the Hawkeye fan, who I had never met asked me ... you mean the defense vs. PSU in '09
- Wisconsin's successful fake punt on the final drive for the Badgers that lead to the final go ahead TD
- Clock management by Iowa players and coaching staff
- Failure on special points did lead to four points not on the scoreboard for Iowa
In the end, it was a great game. The rain didn't damper the day. Though, my wife was right, it did rain. The fans in our section were great. The game was electric at times.
Iowa never played at the level many believe they are capable of. Our coaching staff needs to work on some things. We are young at spots this season.
After the game, we had a good walk back to our vehicle. It was nice visiting with some Hawkeye fans as the quiet crowd walked to their cars. Inside Kinnick, Badgers were likely enjoying the 5Th quarter tradition, there way on the road.
We got down to the Ped Mall and walked around. Brian and I were not in agreement for where we wanted to eat, but we had a nice chat and we finally went complete circle and settled on a couple of places for some food and continued conversation.
The lightning was noticeable as we ate. As we walked back to our vehicle, the rain was just about to start. We made it back and the rain began. It was a great day together building on our friendship and enjoying life ...
It wasn't a perfect Saturday, but it was nice to learn Iowa State and UNI won, as it was Homecoming for the Panthers. Brian and I had a great day spending time together. Friendship is more important than a single football game.
It was a long day, after a long week. After the long drive back to Cedar Rapids, with extremely heavy traffic with rain, I dropped off Brian and headed for home.
It was nice to see Carole, when I arrived home. She enjoyed a quiet day, since everyone else was gone. Our daughters at UNI were enjoying the Panther Homecoming weekend. Our youngest was working with a friend.
I picked up our youngest and called it a day by 10 p.m., which was a first for a very long time ...
It's Sunday, October 24Th,
and, there is plenty of work and more ahead ...
- Watched a little Sunday television ...
- Busy work week ahead for both Tommy Tucker Realty Co. and Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Busy work on the Campaign Trail as we head into Election Day
- Prep Football Playoffs kick off mostly Wednesday night: Cedar Rapids Washington (6-3) at Dubuque Hempstead (7-2) - ironically, that is our friend Brian's old high school
- The Hawkeyes face the top Big Ten team next Saturday at Kinnick, when Michigan State comes to town ...
As my tweet this morning suggests:
Life is Good: promote Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness with your
friends, neighbors and all you encounter in the path of life ... - Robin Tucker
Please support Miller-Meeks for Congress in the Second District of Iowa now and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2Nd ...
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