NFL teams like former players from Iowa colleges

By Jeff Orvis

In just over two weeks, we will have NFL football again. The Hall of Fame game is set for Sunday night, Aug. 4, with Miami clashing with Dallas.

In anticipation of the pro and college football seasons, it's become a tradition of mine to scan the preseason rosters of the pro teams to see how many players who played their college ball in Iowa are getting a shot at a pro career. This is a time when the rosters are greatly bloated from what they will be when the official start of the regular season comes in September. The dreams of probably hundreds of young men who have to this point devoted 10 or more years to the goal of playing pro ball dissolve when their names appear on the cut list.

But it's still fun to see how much respect the league has for the caliber of college ball being played each Saturday in Iowa. Even though I'm a proud Chicago Bears fan, I'll still be following teams like the Eagles and Vikings, who currently have five players with Iowa ties on their rosters.

So a quick check of the rosters seems to indicate that this is still a Hawkeye state, in a big way. Thirty-five former Hawks are on pro rosters at this point. There are 13 former Iowa State players, six from Northern Iowa and one from Coe College. Of the 32 teams in the league, 25 have at least one player who played in Iowa. Aside from the aforementioned Vikings and Eagles, with five each, Green Bay and Carolina are next in line with four players each.

Eleven of the players are rookies, including five each for Iowa and Iowa State and one for Northern Iowa. But there are also a couple of real veterans. Brad Meester of UNI is a center for Jacksonville with 14 years of experience. And New Orleans quarterback Seneca Wallace, a proud Cyclone grad, has had 10 years in the league.

It seems like the state has produced a good share of quality linemen. There are 29 offensive players and 26 on defense. On offense, 16 are linemen, there are three quarterbacks, two running backs, four tight ends and four wide receivers. On the defensive side, six are tackles, two are ends, eight are linebackers and the remaining 10 play in the secondary.

I've included a rundown of teams who feature players with Iowa ties. So think cool thoughts, It may be 92 degrees as I write this, but football isn't too far away!

BUFFALO BILLS

Player Pos. Exp. School

Scott Chandler TE 7 Iowa

Fred Jackson RB 7 Coe

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Marvin McNutt WR 1 Iowa

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Markus Zusevics OL 2 Iowa

A.J. Edds LB 4 Iowa

Jeff Tarpinian LB 2 Iowa

NEW YORK JETS

Austin Howard OT 4 Northern Iowa

Jake McDonough DT R Iowa State

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Ricky Stanzi QB 3 Iowa

Tony Moeaki TE 4 Iowa

Greg Castillo S R Iowa

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Chad Rinehart G 6 Northern Iowa

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Reggie Stephens C 2 Iowa State

Kelechi Osemele G 2 Iowa State

Marshal Yanda G 7 Iowa

CINCINNATI BENGELS

Shaun Prater DB 2 Iowa

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Keenan Davis WR R Iowa

Ahtyba Rubins DL 6 Iowa State

L.J. Fort LB 2 Northern Iowa

HOUSTON TEXANS

Tim Dobbins LB 8 Iowa State

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Pat Angerer LB 4 Iowa

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Allen Reisner TE 2 Iowa

Brad Meester C 14 Northern Iowa

TENNESSEE TITANS

Shonn Greene RB 5 Iowa

Karl Klug DT 3 Iowa

NEW YORK GIANTS

Brandon Myers TE 5 Iowa

Tyler Sash S 3 Iowa

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Matt Tobin G R Iowa

Julian Vandervelde G 2 Iowa

Jake Knott LB R Iowa State

Bradley Fletcher CB 5 Iowa

David Sims S 2 Iowa State

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Adam Gettis G 2 Iowa

Jordan Morris S 2 Iowa

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

Carter Bykowski OL R Iowa State

CHICAGO BEARS

Josh Lenz WR R Iowa State

DETROIT LIONS

Riley Reiff OT 2 Iowa

Amari Spievey S 4 Iowa

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Terrell Sinkfeld WR R Northern Iowa

Bryan Bulaga OT 4 Iowa

Mike Daniels DE 2 Iowa

Micah Hyde CB R Iowa

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

James Vandenberg QB R Iowa

Seth Olsen G 4 Iowa

Brandon Keith OT 4 Northern Iowa

Christian Ballard DT 3 Iowa

Chad Greenway LB 8 Iowa

ATLANTA FALCONS

Jonathan Babineaux DT 9 Iowa

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Hayworth Hicks G 2 Iowa State

Colin Cole DT 7 Iowa

A.J. Klein LB R Iowa State

Charles Godfrey S 6 Iowa

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Seneca Wallace QB 10 Iowa State

TAMPA BAY BUCS

Adrian Clayborn DE 3 Iowa

Leonard Johnson CB 2 Iowa State

I'm glad I never worked in TV news!

By Jeff Orvis

“This just in to the CNN newsroom: George Zimmerman, recently acquitted of murder, released a statement through his attorney that reads, 'It sure is hot today!' CNN will explore the implications of this statement in a round-table including three prominent attorneys and two prominent meteorologists, three of whom will be blonde and former beauty queen contestants.

“Anderson Cooper and Piers Morgan will each present one-hour specials, sure to be repeated several times over the coming weeks, which will explore the far-reaching consequences of Zimmerman's statement and how it might affect all mankind.

“Stay tune for any additional breaking news on this subject, which we will bring to you live, unless it occurs after 10 p.m.”

I probably just dreamed the preceding scenario as I dozed off during today's coverage of the opening round of the British Open (nice job Zach Johnson!). But I don't think I'm alone in my disgust with the continuing beating of the dead horse that is this case in Sanford, FL. There was a time when you could rely on most of the news networks – well maybe except Fox – for concise, accurate reporting of the news. But 24 hours to fill each day, plus shrinking newsroom budgets, plus increasing competition from several sources more often than not result in the flood of repetition we have been subjected to over the past few months.

I predict the attention of the network folks will soon shift from Florida to Cleveland, where a kidnapping suspect has been charged with nearly 1,000 counts of rape and kidnapping. He is accused of holding and brutalizing three young women for 10 years. Of course he pleaded innocent. Many, if not all of these charges could result in the death penalty.

I wonder if his defense team will attempt to have the suspect tried individually on each of the 512 kidnapping and 446 rape charges? If this was possible, the way our judicial system operates, he could demand a jury trial on each of the charges. How in the world did the prosecution come up with this crazy number of charges? And how are they going to prove his guilt on charge number 307 or 412?

I certainly don't mean to trivialize this incident. By all accounts, the young women went through hell for a decade. But in light of how the national media focused it's attention for so long on the Zimmerman case, it almost seems like somebody at network headquarters had a hand in determining the final number of counts. At this rate, it almost guarantees that several news crews will grow old in Cleveland.

I know it's easy for someone who has never worked professionally in TV journalism to poke fun at his colleagues. But there are currently two other news events that would seem like the easiest, most boring assignments around. At this writing, we are still awaiting the birth of the next member of British royalty. The Today show, along with I suspect dozens of other outlets, have dispatched sweet, young correspondents to sit outside a hospital in London, waiting for the big day. As long as the weather is good and you can stake out a comfortable chair, I guess there are worst ways to make a few thousand dollars each week.

The reporters and crews I really feel sorry for are those who are currently staked out near the Moscow airport, waiting to see if Edward Snowden, alleged spy leaker, will leave the airport grounds. Day after day for several weeks now, there has been little or no news coming from that location. But you don't want to be the producer that has to explain to the executives why you decided to pull your crew the day before something happened!

Given my choice, I'd much rather spend the day along a London street than putting up with Moscow summer weather and dodging snarling Moscow policemen.

Those of us who grew up watching the evening network newscasts at the dinner hour have our favorites. Ever since I can remember, our household was tuned to NBC for the 5:30 national news. I grew up with Huntley and Brinkley, John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw and currently Brian Williams. It's not that CBS and ABC don't do the news as well. But for us, we had a comfort level with NBC.

It's nice to see in this era where there is so much sad, tragic news to report, that Brian Williams maintains a wonderful sense of humor. You can sometimes see hints of it during his broadcasts, but even more when he makes guest appearances on Letterman or Leno. Last night, before leaving the Letterman show, he did a wonderful spot-on impersonation of Regis Philbin. I thought Letterman was going to fall off his chair from laughter.

I guess Williams and many of his colleagues have learned that unless you have the benefit of a sense of humor, you won't last long in this business. Or else you will be sent to camp out near the Moscow airport!

There is money to be made in the school business

By Jeff Orvis

It's the middle of July and while thoughts of most of us center on how to keep cool during the current heat wave, young people around the country are preparing for their first year in college, or if they have already been in school for a year or two, are probably wondering what to declare as a major.

Many of these students are focused on a career in education. Even in this era of government deficits and layoffs in school districts across the country, some students have been so inspired by one or more of their teachers over their careers that they still want to join the ranks.

I have to admit that if I were that age, facing the educational crossroads of declaring a major and if I was a whole lot smarter than I was at that age, I would seriously consider becoming a teacher or a nurse or doctor. People continue to get sick and children are born each day that eventually will need to be educated.

There's that old saying that you will never get rich being a teacher. But a recent newspaper report indicated that there's still money to made in education, if you are willing to take the right path. The Muscatine School board recently hired a new superintendent at a starting annual salary of $192,000, plus 11 paid holidays, 25 days of vacation, up to 25 sick days and various paid health and life insurances. The new hire is coming to Eastern Iowa from a non-profit education position in Omaha and the board also included up to $35,000 for moving expenses.

While I didn't ascertain what the salary for a beginning teacher is in the Muscatine district, I'd be willing to bet that you could hire at least five first year teachers for what the superintendent will be making. And while I also hope this is not true in Muscatine, I do know that there are districts all across this country where teachers feel compelled to spend their own money to help pay for supplies for their classrooms.

Being the superintendent of a school district of any size is a tough job. They have to wear many hats, sometimes several in one day. They have to be experts in school finance, curriculum, human resources and public relations. They have to be diplomatic in their dealings with legislators as they fight for every dollar they can get for their schools. They also often have to be well-versed in school construction and upkeep. While many districts have other employees to initially take care of many of these areas, the superintendent must still know enough to make a final decision or an informed recommendation to his board.

During my years working in weekly news media, one of my favorite beats was covering the local schools. I've spent countless hours sitting in school board meetings and have seen various administrative styles of superintendents.

If I stopped to try and count the number of superintendents I have known over the years, it would make my head hurt. A vast majority of the men and women I've seen in that position started out as classroom teachers. Some of the best also had coaching backgrounds. I don't say this just because I'm a sports nut. But good coaches have to know how to inspire their athletes, work through tough times and develop winning game plans. Sounds like a typical day in the superintendent's office to me.

Unfortunately, I've also been acquainted with a few school leaders who seemed to take more pleasure in being the boss from their office than being directly involved with the education process. Those were the ones who evoked more fear than admiration from the staff and students.

Superintendents should be not only heard, but seen in their schools. The last superintendent I covered hit all of these points really well. When Belle Plaine decided to share a superintendent with the neighboring HLV district, there were doubts among residents of both districts on if this would work. But they picked the right guy to start this grand experiment. Bill Lynch, already a veteran school leader, is a financial wizard. He restored the school budget to good health and found a way to spearhead building projects in both of the districts he represents.

But he also realizes that he works in education and can often be found visiting the schools in each district. Every year he's found a way to attend commencements in both school districts, even though they are often held on the same day, within two hours of each other. He is a great supporter of extracurricular activities at both schools, sports, concerts, plays, etc.

I realize that recruiting good superintendents is a tough, expensive business. But I'm concerned that there might be a growing disconnect between our school leaders and the teachers and other staff they lead. If you are going to pay a leader upwards of $200,000 or more, you want to see that your money is being well spent. How will a leader making that kind of annual salary be able to successfully relate to the young teacher struggling to live a comfortable, simple life while repaying student loans and scrounging for pens and copy paper for their classroom?

As that high-paid superintendent struggles to justify his or her salary, more and more of his or her time is spent crunching numbers in the office. Those days of standing in front of a classroom or coaching a team become ever-decreasing memories.

Don't bypass that class reunion!

By Jeff Orvis

Hello faithful blog followers! I know it's been awhile since we last communicated and in a way that's the topic today.

I recently was a guest at the 40^th class reunion of the Pleasant Valley High School Class of 1973. My sister was visiting and since she was flying solo on this trip, since she knew I know a lot of those in her class and since she didn't want to go alone, I tagged along.

This is the season for class reunions around the country. While many folks look forward to the chance to catch up with friends they may not have seen for many years, secretly, I'll bet many of us face the night with a bit of trepidation. Will anyone notice how much weight I've gained? What if I'm the oldest-looking person in the room? What if my old girlfriend (boyfriend) is there (heart beginning to race)? Will he (she) recognize me? Will we have anything to talk about after all these years?

A person can go a bit crazy just in the preparation for the big night. Many spend hours picking out just the right thing to wear and general sprucing up, even if the reunion is not being held in a five-diamond restaurant but in a remodeled roadside bar.

Quite often, all those fears seem silly the minute you step into the room. That was the case on Saturday night. As soon as we opened the door, it was easy to follow the sound to the deck where the event was being held. The amount and level of conversation was quite high, indicating that a lot of us still had plenty to talk about.

It was a warm night and most of us were dressed for the occasion – no high heels for the women, no ties on the men. It seemed like more than half of us were soon drinking long-neck beers, domestic wine of soft drinks – no pretentious fancy drinks in sight.

There's always a fear that these events will be a chance for some people to brag about what they've done. There was a lot of good-natured bragging, but it had more to do with the number of children and grandchildren we have rather than how successful we had been in our professional lives.

I know there have been more than a few success stories coming out of this class. One friend, an engineer, talked about how he had overcome corporate downsizing several times to settle in various parts of the country before finally landing back in Eastern Iowa. Another very successful member of this class was missing and that's probably the only sad part of the evening for me. But the girl I considered my best friend during the final couple of years of my high school career couldn't make it this year. She may not even be in the country right now. She has combined a very successful medical practice in San Diego with the service of treating those in need in various parts of the world. Lynn if you are reading this, it is still my goal to someday have a chance to sit down with you so you can tell me just how you have been able to to accomplish everything you have in your life. But I will tell you now I'm certainly not surprised!

I guess that also sums up my feeling about this gathering. I really wasn't surprised that I immediately felt welcome and at home with these folks. While it's been 40 years since we saw each other every day, in some ways the years melted away for a couple of hours on a Saturday night. The Spartans of our era are a friendly, non-judgemental group who seemed genuinely glad to see each other. The grand and glorious class of '71 may get together in three years and I expect the same great evening.

There's a special place in Heaven for the members of the class who spent countless hours organizing this reunion. They know that while we all went our separate ways after graduation, we still share a common bond that can't and shouldn't be broken.

Not on my bucket list

By Jeff Orvis

In the past few years, making a bucket list has become popular. I don't know if it's a new term, but it was popularized by a movie where the characters decided to do things that they hadn't done. They wrote down these things and called it a “bucket list.” At least that's what I gather from hearing descriptions of the movie. I haven't seen it yet, but hope to.

This past weekend, I watched the Belmont Stakes horse race. It was the third jewel in the Triple Crown and will probably be the last time I watch a horse race until the 2014 Kentucky Derby. I know there are a lot of folks in this country who could probably tell you more about horses and horse racing in 30 seconds than I've ever known. The Derby, Preakness and Belmont draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year. Each of these races take less than five minutes, but the build-up lasts for days.

That got me thinking about some experiences I haven't had yet, but some I have no desire to accomplish. I've never ridden a horse. I never hope to ride one. Horses can be beautiful animals. Top-notch race horses are real athletes, as are their jockeys. There may be no more exciting five minutes in sport than a major stakes horse race, unless a horse goes down during the race. I've seen that happen once or twice over the years and even though I really don't understand what's involved in preparation for these races, I don't mind saying that when I saw that, I cried just a bit.

So riding a horse is definitely not on my bucket list. I can be old and gray and infirm without ever experiencing climbing on top of a horse. Not on my bucket list.

Those of you who have become devoted victims of reading my columns in the past probably already know what's next. As I've railed on before, I have no tattoos. I realize that I am fast becoming a member of the minority. But I have no intention of drawing attention to my outward appearance by inking up. I hope I can make a positive impression on people I meet by my mind, heart and attitude. The same goes for piercings. I've got enough holes in my head already. So tattoos and piercings are not on my bucket list.

I have never attended a mixed martial arts (MMA) show. There was a time when I had a passing interest in pro boxing, back when Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard were at their peak. I never had the urge to put the gloves on, but I understood that jabbing and dancing is a real art form. I also was once a fan of pro wrestling. In fact, I had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest stars of the show in their prime, including the future governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura. While I realized their moves in the ring were well rehearsed, I respected their athletic ability.

But this MMA thing is beyond my comprehension. Either punch the guy until he falls down or put a wrestling hold on him that will make him give up. But to punch a guy, then when he falls jump on top of him and punch him some more is ridiculous. MMA not on my bucket list.

Finally, at least for this time, I've never ridden on a motorcycle. I respect the folks who enjoy riding. I try to give riders wide berth when I see them on the road. I admire some of the big, classy, chrome-laden bikes I've seen. But the idea of racing down the road at highway speed with nothing between you and the pavement than a pair of jeans or leathers is not my idea of a good time. If I'm ever out on one of Iowa's rural roads at night and come up on a deer on the roadway, I know my chances are much better in my Buick or van than on two wheels. Motorcycle riding not on my bucket list.

That's it for this time. I don't spend a lot of time wondering what to put on a bucket list. It's easy to fall in the habit of regretting what you haven't done rather than being thankful for what you have done. It's good to have goals, but it's also good not to dwell on the past.

Armed forces, hockey and softball

By Jeff Orvis

In my last blog, I indicated that this country must do much more for our service men and women returning from war. I indicated that a good start would be to cut the red tape and long delays in getting medical care and assistance to those who have been wounded.

We have several private foundations that do a good job at raising money for the wounded veterans. Unfortunately, we also have a few who claim to have the best interest of the veteran in mind, but return only a small percentage of the dollars raised to those it was intended for.

It might make us feel good to give a few dollars to some of these causes. We might think it is a way to thank those who have served. But really, isn't it the job of the employer (the federal government) to take care of those injured while in its employ?

One way, as I've already mentioned, would be to streamline the time it takes from when the soldier is injured to when treatment and rehabilitation begins. But we should do more. If we really view these women and men as heroes, they should be rewarded. Thousands have returned as amputees or suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. If they will never be able to return to the active lifestyle they experienced before they served, then they should be compensated. Permanent disability should mean a $100,000 annual pension. Make it tax-free. That would be start, along with lifetime medical care.

There are undoubtedly economists in the Pentagon who wrestle with the cost of equipping our soldiers and sailors. When they are projecting how much a war will cost, those projections should include the cost of caring for our wounded heroes.

On a lighter note, I'm not much of a hockey fan most of the season, but since the Blackhawks are still in the playoffs, I've started paying more attention to their games. I'm amazed that more players aren't hurt because of the brutal body checks into the boards surrounding the rink. Maybe the players should demand that the league install something like the safe barriers being used at many NASCAR race tracks. It might cut down the number of concussions, etc.

I've also been watching the NCAA Women's Softball postseason tournament. I am friends with Alabama's veteran coach, Patrick Murphy, who once coached the Independence baseball team. When the defending Crimson Tide was knocked out of a return bid to the World Series, I decided to find another team to follow.

Since I have a couple of friends from Oklahoma, since the Sooners were beaten in last year's finals by Alabama and since that state has faced plenty of recent tragedy because of the tornadoes, I decided to root for the Sooners. They didn't disappoint last night, as they came from behind, including tying the game with two outs and two strikes on the hitter, to beat Tennessee in 12 innings. That's the first of a best two-out-of-three series.

Women's softball is fun to watch. The cameras can get much better close-ups of the players and their reactions. Some of the best teams have the best cheerleaders on the bench. I've decided you truly have to lose your inhibitions to be a successful collegiate softball player.

It's a lot of fun. Game two is tonight and game three, if necessary, is tomorrow. Go Sooners!

Time for a national priority check

By Jeff Orvis

Two recent events in the news prompted today's soap box edition.

We recently commemorated Memorial Day. The thoughts of many of us centered on the sacrifices made by our men and women in the armed forces who defended this country throughout its history. The annual concert in Washington was especially moving this year, as we heard the story of two brothers. One was seriously wounded in combat and the other ultimately couldn't cope with his injuries and committed suicide.

Stories like this are repeated hundreds of times each day as we slowly begin drawing down our combat commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for the many soldiers and sailors who return home and are able to pick up their lives, there are others who will spend months or years rehabilitating injuries that are apparent and others who wrestle with the trauma of what they have experienced.

Unfortunately, it is apparent that our government became much more efficient in sending troops off to war than they have been in taking care of them when they return. Unlike the Vietnam War, when many of the returning troops were viewed as second-class citizens by a lot of people who were against our involvement over there, many of us, regardless of how we feel about our longest war that is still underway, welcome the returning troops as heroes.

It's a little strange, since many who fought in Vietnam had no choice. There was a draft at that time and unless you had a physical problem or a student deferment, you were more than likely headed across the ocean. In our current situation, those who are fighting are volunteers. They didn't have to sign on the dotted line.

While our government may have done a poor job convincing a lot of us that we should be fighting in the Middle East, perhaps our view of the returning troops is partially based on our shame on how the troops were treated when they came back from Vietnam.

Even though they volunteered, I have no problem viewing the returning men and women as heroes. They had a job to do and they did it, sometimes time after time. They are trained and are willing to defend those of us who are far less able to do it ourselves.

The other recent event was the news that two bridges in this country collapsed. One was struck by a truck, another by a train. But both were older structures and it's still not clear whether the collisions would have caused the same damage if the bridges were in better condition in the first place.

It will take millions of dollars to repair or replace both of these bridges. And these incidents again brought to light the deteriorating condition of this nation's infrastructure. That includes bridges and roadways, but it also includes such things as water and sewer systems, some not upgraded for decades. Just ask some of the folks in a Davenport neighborhood who are still scooping mud and sludge from their basements after an inadequate sewer system, coupled by heavy rain, caused sewer back-up. When you sift through some of the understandable blue language, you will get a hint on what needs to be done, where the priorities for future funding should be.

That's the point. The time has come for this country to take a hard look at its present and future priorities. If we are viewing our returning troops as our protectors, our heroes, it's time we treat them like that. There's no reason why veterans should wait months for treatment. There's no reason why the veterans' support staff – spouses and children – should live in poverty and uncertainty while the soldier serves.

We have 535 men and women who must determine how our tax dollars are spent. Each member of Congress has to make the tough decisions on how those dollars are spent. I hope that most of them do so by taking into consideration the good of the people, not just in their own district or state, but across the nation. But unfortunately, with the rising cost of political campaigns, influence in the form of lobbyists flows through the halls of the Capitol like some of that sludge in the Davenport neighborhood.

Sometimes I wonder if we could suddenly pick three citizens, totally at random and have them determine how our tax money is spent if they might not do a better job. We've all had the “if I ruled the world” thoughts. Maybe they would decide we really don't need military bases in several European countries. The military show plane divisions, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels, put on spectacular shows around the country and elsewhere. Their operations have been suspended during our current budget crisis. But when they resume, stop and think how many thousands of dollars are spent on jet fuel and personnel each afternoon and how many hours of rehabilitation for our wounded warriors those dollars could buy.

Maybe the best way to honor the service of our armed forces or to help our friends and neighbors recover from natural disasters is to ask the congressional candidates the tough questions on where their priorities truly lie.