Iowa Hawkeyes football will get a boost when they play the Missouri Tigers in the Insight Bowl in Tempe on December 28. After missing much of the season due to health issues, Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker will be back on the sideline for the bowl game only without one of his feet.
Parker was forced to have his right foot amputated in September due to complications from diabetes. After spending months in rehab, Parker was able to attend the Hawkeyes game against Michigan State but wasn't working. Now he's anxious to get back at it.
"I've seen these pictures of guys on artificial legs snow skiing," Parker told reporters. "If they can do that, why can't I coach? There are actually days when I have to look down to figure out when I have this prosthetic on which one is the real leg and which one is the artificial leg. ... You get out of bed, you don't have the artificial leg on, it's a long fall to the ground. You start to get out of bed, you say, 'Oh, [expletive], I only got one leg on, I better get the other leg on.'
So people, when you are getting ready for work and putting on your socks just remember to be thankful that you don't also have to put on your foot as part of your morning routine.
Other Insight Bowl News
In other Insight Bowl news, the Missouri Tigers had a little in-house scuffle this week that ended up breaking the middle finger of defensive end Brad Madison. I guess you have to be careful when showing your middle finger to other big tough football players.
The Hawkeyes are arriving in sunny Arizona at 4:30 today.There first Arizona practice will be Tuesday at Corona del Sol High School. They are staying at the Wild Horse Pass Sheraton according to this report.
There continue to be mixed reports about ticket sales for the game. Reports from the Insight Bowl committee suggest that the game will break attendance records and the Missouri side seems pleased with their sales so far. Iowa fans however, don't seem quite as anxious to see their team play in the lowly Insight Bowl after having higher hopes for their season.
Missouri Tiger links
PowerMizzou.com - Weekend practice report
The Missouri Tigers wrapped up bowl practice number five on Saturday morning. PowerMizzou.com has a full report.
Monday Insight Bowl Reading Room: Tigers fight with selves as some of their fans prepare to bus to Arizona | TheGazette
Missouri defensive end Brad Madison suffered a broken middle finger on his right hand Friday because of a practice flare-up with third-team defensive tackle Brad Coslet. They traded punches on two occasions in the practice, in fact. Madison jammed his finger in the skirmish.
MU’s Brad Madison suffers broken finger in practice scuffle but should play in bowl game - KansasCity.com
Missouri sacks leader Brad Madison broke the middle finger on his right hand in a practice scuffle but coach Gary Pinkel indicated the sophomore defensive end should be ready to play in the Tigers’ Dec. 28 Insight Bowl game against Iowa.
Mizzou beat back adversity; now it is Iowa’s turn - KansasCity.com
And just as the Tigers overcame adversity, the general consensus among Mizzou players Friday was that the Hawkeyes will gather themselves in time to put up a real fight against Mizzou in the Dec. 28 Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. "Three days before the first game we had our starting tailback removed from the team," MU sophomore receiver T.J. Moe said. "A lot of times, distractions make you more focused. We started out 7-0 and had all those distractions."
azcentral.com blogs - Jeff Metcalfe - jeffmetcalfe - BCS title game is hot ticket; Insight Bowl could set attendance record
Lehe said that the Insight Bowl could set an attendance record for its matchup between No. 12 Missouri and Iowa, Dec. 28 in Tempe. The Insight Bowl record is 49,385 for Arizona vs. New Mexico in 1997 when the game was played in Tucson.
MU Insight Bowl ticket packages selling faster than expected - Columbia Missourian
MU athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said 7,000 of 11,000 seats available to MU fans have been claimed.
MU football notes | Mizzou nears 5,000 tickets sold for Insight Bowl - KansasCity.com
As of Wednesday morning, Missouri’s sale of tickets to the Insight Bowl against Iowa was approaching 5,000. That’s not quite to the halfway point of the school’s 11,000 ticket allotment, but it is close. MU also is still running a ticket donation program, where someone who cannot attend the Dec. 28 game with Iowa in Tempe, Ariz., can still provide tickets for a Phoenix-area charity or members of the U.S. military.
Iowa Hawkeye links
Hawkeye Sports - University of Iowa Official Athletic Site
Because of finals, a slow week practice-wise kicked into high gear Friday as the Hawkeyes put the final touches on their preparation in the state of Iowa. Ferentz said hard-hitting linebacker Jeff Tarpinian "has a shot to play" in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 against Missouri. In seven games, Tarpinian compiled 44 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Hawks' Parker: 'This is really where I want to be'
Iowa's 68-year-old defensive coordinator had spent more than a month in the hospital battling diabetes. He'd had his right foot amputated. He had been separated from the coaches and players he loves. After six weeks away, he finally got to attend a game, if only as a spectator, when the Hawkeyes hosted Michigan State.
Engy's: The Move to Tempe
On Monday the football team will arrive close to 4:30 into Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport where they will be greeted by members of the Insight Bowl staff. The Hawkeye's first Arizona practice will be Tuesday at Corona del Sol High School.
Iowa replenishing its backfield depth on recruiting trail | National Football Post
fans should be excited for the arrival of Rodney Coe in 2011. The 6-3, 230-pounder, who recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranks as the top prospect in the state of Illinois' senior class, made a verbal commitment to the Hawkeyes on Sunday. He chose Iowa over Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas and Illinois.
Hawkeye Sports - University of Iowa Official Athletic Site
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz met with the Iowa media Friday, as did Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker and Offensive Coordinator Ken O'Keefe. The Hawkeyes were set to resume practice Friday evening (at the conclusion of finals week) and will depart for Tempe, Ariz. Monday to continue preparing for the Dec. 28 Insight Bowl vs. Missouri.
The Hawk and the Snowman: Iowa player found to be made entirely of cocaine - Black Heart Gold Pants
In a shocking development, University of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz revealed today that one of the team’s players is composed entirely of cocaine.
Hawkeye Nerd's Things to do in Tempe Arizona
With Iowa football fans beginning their bowl traveling preparations, it made sense to help in the planing efforts by compiling a fairly comprehensive list of information pertaining to the Queen of Urban Sprawl herself, Phoenix.
On the spot: Insight Bowl - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
The offensive line. Suspensions and transfers have Iowa playing without its leading receiver and its two best running backs, but the Hawkeyes have a defense capable of shutting down Missouri's offense. Specifically, it can do it on the defensive line.