About

I am a college football enthusiast. There is no other sport and no other fan base in the world like it. I've been writing via one format or another for over 20 years and am excited to be a Featured Columnist and part of the Weekend Coverage Team for Bleacher Report!
I also co-host two podcasts covering college football and the Big Ten Conference. My wife says she's a football widow every September to January. I haven't the slightest idea what she's talking about and I wasn't paying much attention because there was a game on. I guess I'll figure it out in February.
I'm a husband, father of a 14-year-old free safety and veteran of the war in Iraq. My philosophy is: "nothing is ever as good as it seems, as bad as it seems, as clear as it seems or as complicated as it seems. Wisdom comes from stepping outside of the situation and seeing it without the confines of emotion or preset ideology. Happiness comes from accepting things as they are and living life without preconceived expectations."

Short List

  • Favorite Athletes

    Dallas Clark, Kurt Warner, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    Iowa Hawkeyes

  • Favorite Coaches

    Kirk Ferentz, Norm Parker

  • All Time Sports Moment

    1985 Iowa vs. Michigan - Rob Houghtlin's final kick

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    Iowa vs. Indiana basketball, watching Bob Knight fight NOT to throw a chair

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    They're all breakable

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Ruth, but very close

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Unitas

  • Jordan or Russell?

    who cares? Just kidding, Jordan, of course

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Hmmm...tough call

  • Pele or Maradona?

    don't care

  • Federer or Sampras?

    still don't care

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    really don't care

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

    Petty, though Earnhardt had the 'tude that NASCAR misses today

  • Schumacher or Senna?

    who's that??

  • ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC?

    Big Ten!!

Bulletin Board

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  • Delores Smith-Johnson posted 52 days ago

    Delores Smith-Johnson

    You're welcome, Stix! However, much credit is to be given to your work which makes my job really easy. Keep up the great work!

  • Delores Smith-Johnson posted 181 days ago

    Delores Smith-Johnson

    You're welcome, Stix!

  • Jeff E posted 183 days ago

    Jeff E

    While 7-5 is not what any hawk fan wants the losses to ISU and Minnesota arent that shocking, a young Iowa team in a hugely emotional away game is a trap for any program. I think the offense needs an overhaul in the spring not just trying to implement a new plan during the season like we attempted this year with a hurry up style. Can we do that with O'Keefe leading that side of the ball or is a new OC our only hope?

  • Mike D posted 188 days ago

    Mike D

    Man, I was gonna chastise you for letting me take all the heat on your Floyd / Luck piece, but noticing that you "took the heat" for myself during the Iraq War, I guess we'll call it even...

  • T.J. Mcaloon posted 189 days ago

    T.J. Mcaloon

    Way to kill it on the Trent Richardson Heisman piece.

  • Ben Rosenthal posted 202 days ago

    Ben Rosenthal

    Thanks a lot, Stix!

  • Curious Yellow posted 203 days ago

    Curious Yellow

    Hey Stix... This was a great article. Thanks for writing it. It was thoughtful. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/937794-tcu-vs-boise-state-does-upset-loss-affect-kellen-moores-legacy-heisman-hopes

  • Ben Rosenthal posted 209 days ago

    Ben Rosenthal

    No problem!

  • Mosang Miles posted 241 days ago

    Mosang Miles

    My pleasure Stix!

  • Marco Patitucci posted 244 days ago

    Marco Patitucci

    You're welcome.

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