The City: Off Campus: Recent Episodes
The City Off Campus
On “The City: Off-Campus," Sam Sommerfeld and Jack McFarland talk everything Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago sports to create the one-stop-shop for all things Midwest sports. Current topics, expert guests, and a plethora of Hawkeyes on the show make for insightful episodes and endless entertainment that can’t be found elsewhere. Created by the college student, for the college student. The podcast is currently posted on YouTube @thecityoffcampuspodcast and is featured on other podcasting platforms. Follow us on Instagram at @thecityoffcampus and on Twitter @cityoffcampus
On Episode 136, Sam and Jack sit down to give their reactions to the Cubs and White Sox' free agency signings as well as the Carlos Correa situation. They move on to talking Chicago Bears, playing around with scenarios regarding the #2 overall pick, who could trade up for a QB, and which WR the Bears could potentially trade for to enhance Justin Fields. They guys pivot to Iowa basketball losing to EIU as 31.5 point favorites for the largest gambling upset... ever? And Iowa football lost out on 5-star OT Kadyn Proctor? What? Jack wraps the show up with some unexpected news for his New Years plans.
On Episode 135, Sam and Jack catch up and talk about the unexpected comeback of Jack's football career. They dive in to the remaining Iowa football season, how the transfer portal SHOULD GO (including a little prediction) as well as the addition of two new coaches to the Big Ten. They predict each championship game in FBS and then stroke the Hawkeyes bu convincing Jack they will beat Duke.
On episode 134, the guys are joined by Sean Bock to talk everything Iowa Hawkeyes football. Recruiting. expectations, results, bright spots, dull spots. Every stone is overturned this episode. We try our absolute hardest to make sense of this season.
On Episode 132, Sam and Jack prepare their minds and bodies for the Bears to travel to New England and face Bailey Zappe and Bill Belichick's squad on Monday Night Football. They talk about the wide receiver position for the Bears again, looking at NFL Draft prospects given the high-draft position Chicago will have, quick MLB update and discussion on whether or not Fernando Tatis Jr. would have received a ring if the Padres won the WS. The guys wrap the show up with more "talking about my fantasy team" which we all know if our listener's FAVORITE segment.
On Episode 132, Sam and Jack breakdown the state of the Chicago White Sox after a disappointing 2022 season that resulted in Tony LaRussa retiring this past week. Lots of changes will be coming, including Jose Abreu finding a new club, potential trades, potential managerial candidates, etc. The Bears are still trying to find their footing while we reminisce on the memories our parents have as well as debating the magnitude of the NFL Championship vs the Super Bowl.
On Episode 131, Sam and Jack breakdown how their fantasy football season has gone and some of the bets/predictions that have been made through the first 3 weeks. The guys dive into reasoning behind some of their picks, the state of their leagues, regrets, and outlook for the rest of the fantasy season. They get into the Bears WR room after, breakdown the Michigan/Iowa game on Saturday, LiAngelo Ball making his return plus much more.
On Episode 131, Sam and Jack breakdown how their fantasy football season has gone and some of the bets/predictions that have been made through the first 3 weeks. The guys dive into reasoning behind some of their picks, the state of their leagues, regrets, and outlook for the rest of the fantasy season. They get into the Bears WR room after, breakdown the Michigan/Iowa game on Saturday, LiAngelo Ball making his return plus much more.
On the long awaited Episode 130, Sam and Jack come back together to discuss the recent Chicago Bears games through Week 1-2, the Iowa Hawkeyes miserable appearance through Weeks 1-3 and the travesty that is the White Sox finally losing the pennant race (in Jack's eyes). It's not every episode that the guys are pessimistic... or maybe it is. Sad episode all around. Oh and Lonzo Ball is hurt, too. Wonderful.
On Episode 129, Sam and Jack are faced with a time crunch as Zoom inhibits how long the guys were able to record. The short, 15 minute podcast covers many of the pertinent topics that we have missed. From the Chicago Bears going 3-0 in preseason to the White Sox slowly sliding into irrelevance and Tony LaRussa quietly stepping aside, there was plenty to hit on this week. Not to mention that Scott Frost is still coaching.... somehow.
On Episode 129, Sam and Jack are faced with a time crunch as Zoom inhibits how long the guys were able to record. The short, 15 minute podcast covers many of the pertinent topics that we have missed. From the Chicago Bears going 3-0 in preseason to the White Sox slowly sliding into irrelevance and Tony LaRussa quietly stepping aside, there was plenty to hit on this week. Not to mention that Scott Frost is still coaching.... somehow.
On Episode 128, Sam and Jack recap the Field of Dreams disappointment, preview NFL preseason and a plethora of takes and predictions for the upcoming season, and dive into the new NFL Hard Knocks season following the Detroit Lions. Needless to say, the guys are now casual Detroit Lions fans for the year until they play Chicago. Sam breaks down the end of "The Captain" documentary by ESPN and explains how Derek Jeter was a let-down, loser excuse of a General Manager.
On Episode 127, Sam and Jack take a second to sit down and catch up on the fact that the Bears are debating on moving to Arlington Heights or staying in Chicago with their THIRD possible addition to Soldiers Field. This WAS recorded before the MLB Trade Deadline so apologies for emotional takes that actually sound hysterical at this point. We then get into the best and worst fan bases around, from college athletics to baseball and even fans of a certain someone, we all know who our least favorite fans are to interact with or just merely notice. From The Yankees to the Cubs and plenty in-between, someone is bound to have their feelings hurt after this episode.
On Episode 126, Sam and Jack get together to discuss every little detail from this season's MLB Trade Deadline. From teams that didn't make moves, like the Chicago White Sox, to teams that refused to trade away their top players, like the Chicago Cubs, and even those teams that tried to trade for everyone, the New York Yankees, we talk about it all. Not to mention the single largest and most impactful midseason trade of our generation, Juan Soto, and the ramifications that has on the National League going forward. The guys also slip into the Miami Dolphins scandal with their owner Stephen Jones and talk about how ridiculous that man is.
On Episode 125, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Hawkeyes Track and Field All-American Julien Gillum to talk about his career, his sports fandom outside of track and his JUCO journey to reach the University of Iowa. We talk about Julien moving all over the United States as a kid, playing sports like football where he found his speed and transitioned to running track in Texas. From there, going the JUCO route, grinding his way out to earning a role at Iowa and giving himself the foundation to build and grow his own entrepreneurial endeavours.
On Episode 124, Sam and Jack are joined by recurring guest Sean Bock from 247 Sports to get up to speed on everything Iowa football with the season quickly approaching. We dive in to many different topics, from the kicking competition to how the Hawkeye's recruitment shifts with recent five-star commits, how the offense is being "simplified" and whether or not the personnel is there to run what many Hawkeye fans have been clamoring for over these recent seasons. The guys then spiral into random conversation as The British Open wraps up right before Jack's eyes.
On Episode 123, Sam and Jack return from their holiday hiatus to dive in to everything College football realignment, the Chicago Blackhawks funeral and thinktanking what the Chicago Bulls can do to take the next step after last season's first-round exit. The guys also break the news on N'Keal Harry coming to the Bears and our initial reactions to the transaction, general thoughts for the team. They wrap the show up with extensive WNBA talk including Jack finding his new favorite WNBA player.
On Episode 122, Sam and Jack prepare for the hectic NBA offseason by discussing the worst contracts in sports history from various different leagues. From the USFL, to the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB, each league is guilty of offering and signing some garbage contracts. We get into the contracts, dissect some current NBA free agency predictions (though many have already happened, thanks tampering), some "What If?" contracts that were never signed and Jack gets Sam to open up about his Miami Marlins fandom once again.
On Episode 121, Sam and Jack sit down to discuss the world of sports. Jack's experiences while watching the White Sox play the Astros in Houston, Arch Manning becoming a Texas Longhorn football commit, Michael Beasley playing in the Big 3 League and how Jack is still convinced he is undervalued and underappreciated, Keegan Murray getting drafted #4 overall to the Sacramento Kings as the Harrison Barnes replacement, Steve Clifford getting rehired by the Hornets after they fired him years ago and the Blackhawks hiring nice-guy Luke Richardson.
On Episode 120, Sam and Jack sit down to discuss the LIV Tour and all the details you need to know when it comes to understanding the first true financial competitor to the PGA Tour. We talk about pros/cons and some of the golfers included and big picture where the league might go. We dive in to a little White Sox talk and whether or not Jack feels the "fire Tony" chants are valid at this moment. The guys finish the show up with NBA Finals and Stanley Cup discussion
On Episode 119, Sam and Jack recap the first couple weeks of graduated life off-campus. The pros, cons, and little things they get to enjoy now that there's no school. They talk Joc Pederson/Tommy Pham/Mike Trout saga, Charlie Jones transferring out of Iowa unexpectedly and Iowa Baseball getting snubbed to the College World Series. They talk about the NBA Finals, the MLB and more importantly the fact that the White Sox are slowly dying in the 2022 season. Jack talks about his trip to the Indy 500, whether or not you should attend and other stories from his trip. Listen to get a full podcast of Jack's emotions getting the better of him.
On Episode 118, Sam and Jack wrap up the "On-Campus" life with one final podcast with Iowa Baseball Manager Haley Stessman. We complete the long awaited Casey's breakfast pizza review, catch up on NFL Draft movement for Hawkeyes and readdress the "Record-per-day of the week" with Haley. Haley wraps the show up with proposing an analytical measurement for the NFL Draft that sounds vile, but is genius. She also talks with us about an opportunity she has accepted for this summer and her near future plans.
On Episode 117, Hawkeye Insider Sean Bock from 247Sports comes on to recap the 1st round of the NFL Draft. We recorded this before Rounds 2-7 so you the listener will get a peek into our GM brains and see if we had some gems picked out or not. Hint: pretty sure Jack got a prediction right. Pretty cool. We also get in to Iowa prospects in this years draft as well as recruits for both football and basketball, including ANOTHER prediction/nugget from Mr. Bock.
On Episode 116, Sam and Jack are joined by Barstool Sports' Jake Marsh, contributor to Pardon My Take and co-host of Barstool Bench Mob. The guys ask Jake about his introduction to sports media and what got him hooked on the addicting drug that is sports, where the opportunity to work at Barstool came from, how Jake has stayed consistent to who he is all along and various stories/anecdotes from behind the scenes of one of the most prominent sports media companies. The guys finish it up with grilling Jake on what the internet thinks about his height, net worth and some of his top sports memories of his life.
On Episode 115, Sam and Jack talk about their favorite teams during the spring time, the White Sox and Cubs. Both have similar yet different point of views on their teams but the optimism is high in both camps. After some much-needed banter, the guys transition to ranking the quarterbacks in this year's draft and it gets a tad testy nearing the end of the rankings.
On Episode 114, Sam and Jack are once again joined by the cat-owning Ty Snep. Ty comes on after Iowa had finished up a strong series against the University of Michigan to talk about how the Hawkeyes season has gone so far and some big moments for them so far. The guys get to talking shop, including Albert Pjulos' return, Iowa baseball's lack of pranks, their mustaches, Ty's hitting journal and more.
On Episode 113, Sam and Jack are joined by current Iowa baseball manager, data analyst and operations assistant Haley Stessman. We dive into the intricacies of the position, how you go about securing that opportunity and the blood, sweat and tears required to hack it in the sports industry. Haley then dives in to her new segment on The City: Off-Campus: Haley's Hypothesis where she details a certain question or furthers the sports talk with new analytical data. This week's edition deals with Iowa baseball's performance on certain days of the week as well as Fran McCaffery's "Fran Fade" that Iowa fans live to bring up every season.
On Episode 112, Sam and Jack go through the highs and lows that Iowa basketball has experienced this year and how the ending hurt the most. The guys talk about Coach Fran McCaffery, expectations for Iowa basketball going forward and then talk a little about Cubs/Sox as well as the tailend of the Chicago Bulls season.
On Episode 111, Sam and Jack talk about the return of baseball and how the influx of free agents and the excitement for the return may actually save the sport despite all other factors. They talk about all the big NFL moves up until this moment, including the Khalil Mack to Chargers trade and the QB roller coaster taking place. They wrap the show up with some March Madness discussion ahead of Selection Sunday and how they're feeling about the Iowa Hawkeyes leading into the deeper B1G tournament run and the NCAA tournament.
On Episode 110, Sam and Jack are joined by Sabrina Shaw, a medically retired Iowa soccer player who has started her own merchandise-production company named "Urban Wave Embroidery". We talk with Sabrina about her journey to Iowa and soccer altogether, her recruitment process and her experiences within the Iowa soccer program. We dive in to Urban Wave Embroidery and how the concept came to life, some of the challenges Sabrina faces on a week-to-week basis, her short-term and long-term goals for the business and how Sabrina plans to stay involved with soccer post-graduation
On Episode 109, Sam and Jack catch up on the current state of Iowa basketball as well as the Bulls season and our expectations after a quiet trade deadline. We start with discussing the recent Michigan State/Iowa matchup, how Iowa's guards are coming into their own and whether Iowa will earn a 7 or 9 seed in March Madness. They talk about how bad NBA All-Star weekend has become. Sam dives in to how the Bulls maintaining their core of players should be beneficial in the long run, LeBron's legacy in LA and what Aaron Rodger's legacy will end up being if he leaves Green Bay. Besides, where would Aaron even go? We talk about it.
On Episode 108, Sam and Jack are joined by the first-ever Iowa Women's Wrestling commit and the pound-for-pound top women's wrestling recruit in the country, Kylie Welker. We get a background on Kylie's life and career, what got her introduced to wrestling and why Iowa. We talk about her relationship with Women's Wrestling Coach Chun, training at the Olympic Training facility at 16, her Dad selling her on wrestling opportunities at a young age and the responsibilities that she has as a sister that keep her grounded. We briefly talk about her official visit during the Penn State/Iowa dual weekend and how the Pentacrest hill is not to be messed with.
On Episode 107, Sam and Jack are once again rejoined by Levi to discuss the Rams/Bengals Super Bowl, our favorite bets and some bets that you never see until the Super Bowl rolls around.
On Episode 106, Sam and Jack are joined by a familiar face from Big Ten basketball in former Minnesota Gopher now current Windy City Bulls forward Daniel Oturu. We talk about his decision to stay home and attend Minnesota, what led to that decision and why Big Ten basketball was the best place for his development. We talk about playing for Richard Pitino, playing against Luka Garza and his eventual drafting into the NBA. Talk through being traded 50 times on draft night, what he did first after being drafted, playing GLeague ball with Hawkeye alum Tyler Cook and how his confidence has grown since joining the professional basketball scene.
On Episode 105, Sam and Jack discuss one of the best weekends in NFL playoff history as well as the heartbreaking news that the greatest team sport player ever wasn't retiring on his own terms, Tom Brady. The guys look at Bengals/Rams, discuss how we're watching Joe Burrow turn into a superstar before our eyes, how the Rams and their Madden team are the better team to Jack, and some new coaching hires around the league. They talk briefly about the Bears and their new regime and what expectations they have.
On Epsiode 104, Sam and Jack are joined by fellow Chicagoan and Big Ten Network Host Dave Revsine. The guys start the show by addressing the recent news of Matt Eberflus becoming the Chicago Bears HC and if Dave is as pessimistic as the rest of Bears nation. We dive in to the beginning of his career with ESPN, the transition he made to the Big Ten Network at their inception, how he has seen a difference in content and attachment to his work while at the B1G Network, his favorite college towns to attend as well as breaking down the whole landscape of B1G basketball this season.
On Episode 103, Sam enters the Q as he and Jack breakdown how ridiculous the baseball hall of fame voting went as well as talking about new Bears General Manager Ryan Poles. Talking about names who fell off the baseball HoF ballot, names that may never see the ballot again, and what baseball can do to make the sport more interesting during this pivotal moment. They transition to talking about Ryan Poles, the Bears potential head coach (which is now Matt Eberflus, we recorded this on Wednesday, January 26th) and wrap the show up with one of the best bets you'll ever hear on the show.
On Episode 102, Sam and Jack are joined by now former Iowa place kicker Caleb Shudak to discuss the past season and what his future has in store. We discuss the beginning of the year and how the first kicks compared to his last kicks, him and Tory Taylor taking snaps at each other's respective positions and which skill players could actually launch a ball. We talk about the mindset of winning a special teams-dominant game, beating Nebraska with a gameplan similar to that, kicking balls at light poles and what his future with kicking looks like after Iowa.
On Episode 101, Sam and Jack are joined by Alabama sports reporter Max Cohan to talk about his season covering everything Alabama and Auburn football. We talk about returning to stadiums after last year, Coach Nick Saban press conferences, which fan base is more grateful and realistic and some storylines that he followed throughout the season. We discuss some players leaving the Alabama program, which coaches might leave, why Nick Saban has continued to raise the bar and how he started to really cherish and enjoy the moment during this season, how the Heisman trophy was decided through recency bias and other general highlights and news from one of the greatest college football seasons to date.
On Episode 100, Sam and Jack are joined by 247 Sports Hawkeye Insider Sean Bock to talk about Signing Day, any early enrollees and which names we need to continue to keep our eye on as the recruiting season continues to unfold. We start the show with some NFL talk on the Chicago Bears front, figuring out which coach we would like to see and which we have a gut feeling will become the next Bears head coach. We transition to talking about many of the hard commits and prospects that Iowa has had their eye on, including Marco Lainez. We recorded this prior to the Linderbaum news but Jack believes he is the greatest Hawkeye lineman that has played at Iowa.
On Episode 99, Sam and Jack start the show off by discussing the Iowa Hawkeyes loss in the Citrus Bowl to Kentucky, our predictions for the National Championship rematch between Georgia and Alabama (nice predictions, Jack), and fill in the back half of the episode with banter and discussion on who they believe the Bulls should trade for and how realistic each scenario is. From Derrick Rose, to Harrison Barnes, Jerami Grant and Javale McGee, the guys leave no stone left unturned and breakdown a vast number of names.
On Episode 98, Sam and Jack take some time during the lull in sports news to discuss their favorite and least-favorite bowl game names. From the Tobacco Bowl and Salad Bowl to the Fiesta Bowl not being sponsored by Tostitos, the guys hit all the bases on the best and worst of bowl season. They bring up their favorite sports moments of 2021, from Iowa sports related to the professional levels, there is plenty of moments to get nostalgic over. They wrap the show up with some fun banter on which professional teams and organizations they would buy right now and what their vision would be.
On Episode 97, the guys made a compilation of some of their favorite moments and interviews from 2021. From interviewing current and former Iowa Hawkeyes to Super Bowl champs, SportsCenter anchors and CEO's, this episode has a little taste of everything we covered this year. We can't thank each and every one of you enough for the continued support of TCOC and ourselves. None of this is possible without you, the listener. In order: Professional QB, Former Hawkeye Nate Stanley: 00:00 - 06:08 Super Bowl champion, Former Hawkeye Jay Hilgenberg: 06:09 - 11:28 Iowa Basketball's Patrick McCaffery: 11:29 - 18:26 ESPN Senior Writer Seth Wickersham: 18:27 - 22:32 Iowa Hurdler Jamal Britt: 22:33 - 26:18 Neostar NFL Agent Sammy Spina: 26:19 - 32:36 ESPN SportsCenter Anchor Kevin Negandhi: 32:37 - 36:44 NBC Sports Chicago's David Kaplan: 36:45 - 43:43 Front Office Sports CEO Adam White: 43:44 - 48:04 Washed Up Walkons Co-creator, Former Hawkeye Long Snapper Tyler Kluver: 48:05 - end
On Episode 96, Sam and Jack are joined by Levi Lorenz of Levi's Picks to discuss the NY6 matchups and what we think will happen in each. Since all three of us are football experts and played extensively at the next level, our opinions matter and carry weight leading in to the largest bowl games of the season. However, will COVID have the final laugh and cancel all these bowls and be named the CFP champion? We will see. The guys wrap the show up with a little NFL talk and a quick fantasy recap.
On Episode 95, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa alum and current host of Hawkeye Sports Laura VandeBerg. Laura gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she got her start with broadcast journalism, what inspired her to work in this industry and some of her learning experiences at the start of her career. We talk about her very young and early introduction to her career, how Laura gets prepared for a gameday or interview with various coaches or athletes and what her most enjoyable moments of the job are. We wrap the show up by talking about Laura's podcast, "Bleav in Iowa Football" which she co-hosts with her husband and former Hawkeye wide receiver Matt VandeBerg as well as uniqye challenges presented from a new born.
On Episode 94, Sam and Jack cover a lot that they've missed over the last week. They touch on Hawkeyes leaving the football program, how the Hawkeyes match up with the Kentucky Wildcats in the Citrus Bowl and how signing day treated the Hawkeyes. They transition to the Bears and how they're meeting expectations of being a medicore excuse for a team. We hit on their injury report and how unlikely it is that they'll beat the Vikings as well as five players the Chicago Bulls should sign if they have to continue to play with a depleted roster. They wrap the show up with Sam saying his typical non-sense, saying Wilson Contreras could end up better than Buster Posey.
On Episode 93, Sam and Jack are joined by NBC's Sideline Reporter for Sunday Night Football, Michele Tafoya. Michele details how she got into journalism and broadcasting, the sacrifices and commitments she's had to make to excel in the industry as well as some of her positions before NBC. Michele gives us a detailed example of what a typical week of preparation for SNF looks like, what her learning experiences as a sideline reporter included, as well as her most rewarding moments in her career thus far. She talks about getting bye weeks for one of the first times, rewatching herself after every broadcast and the most enjoyable moments of working with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth and why they've been the #1 show on primetime for a decade running.
On Episode 92, Sam and Jack take some time to recap the world of Hawkeye athletics at this point of the year. We start the show a little off topic due to the insane coaching carousel taking place, talking about the ripple effects felt from Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly leaving their respective schools with no notice. With Hawkeye Men's Basketball exceeding expectations, the guys talk about their upcoming game this Friday at #2 Purdue right before Iowa football faces #2 Michigan in the B1G Championship down in Indy. We talk about the Hawkeyes game earlier this week vs. Virginia, Iowa football's fifth-largest comeback ever vs. Nebraska last Friday, what we can be hopeful and optimistic for leading into this tough match up vs. Michigan
On Episode 91, Sam and Jack are joined by one of the hosts of the Washed Up Walkons Podcast as well as an Iowa Football Alum Tyler Kluver. We talk with Tyler about his journey to Iowa and becoming the long snapper, how his perspective on playing college sports changed when he began to long snap and some moments from his playing career. We dive into his experience with playing at the 2015 Big Ten Championship, what the Hawkeyes can expect environment wise inside of Lucas Oil Stadium and why conditions are perfect for Iowa special teams. We dive in to how Washed Up Walkons got thought of and created, where the struggles and joys come from creating content now and how Tyler and the guys knew when to evolve or move a different direction with their content. We wrap the show up with more brief Michigan analysis leading into Saturday's Big Ten Championship.
On Episode 90, Sam and Jack are all the way off campus as they record one last show before Thanksgiving Day and the hopeful firing of Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy after the Bears face the Lions at 11:30 AM. The guys talk about their favorite Thanksgiving food/sides, the Hawkeyes game most recently against Illinois, why Jack doesn't care for turkey, Sam's final experience at Kinnick Stadium as a senior and some hypothetical talk on how the Hawkeyes final couple weeks of their football season could end.
On Episode 89, Sam and Jack get very excited about the Chicago Bulls and their start to the season. They talk about how they feel optimistic about the Iowa Hawkeye men's team and their ability to be versatile and how the Hawkeye football team is still alive and busting former TCOC guest Doug Kezirian's bets. They wrap with some CFP talk as the new rankings came out.
On Episode 88, Sam and Jack go through some of the biggest winners and losers they've seen on their fantasy teams this season. From good gambles in their draft to depth problems and the injury bug depleting their roster, the guys walk you through what's worked and what hasn't as well as some talk of a new mode that could be fun to implement in the near future.
On Episode 87, Sam and Jack recap everything we've missed over the last week and a half pertaining to each Chicago sports team and the Iowa Hawkeye football team. We talk about the Bears getting shafted on MNF, why the Bulls are set up to be the most exciting team in the city, how the Blackhawks will be feisty for the rest of the season and why the Hawkeyes still have an outside shot at playing for the B1G championship game with Alex Padilla at the helm.
On Episode 86, Sam and Jack take a break from traditional sports talk and dive into the sports business world with Front Office Sports' Founder and CEO Adam White. Adam talks about what got him into the industry, how consciously making trade offs he knew would pay off down the road inspired him to continue his determined work-ethic and how not getting a job helped inspire him to take the next step and bet on himself. He goes into fine details on how FOS looks at customer acquistion, when they know to pivot in a new direction with different content, "taking the industry with you", understanding the shifts and changes that define the sports business industry and how to apply these changes to new content or distribution, and much more fascinating information.
On Episode 85, Sam and Jack are joined by #1 ranked Iowa Field Hockey Goalkeeper Grace McGuire. We talk about her introduction to the sport, how she decided to play field hockey instead of other sports, strategy involved during a game, putting gigantic pads on for the first time, how her coaching has helped her go to the next level and how the entire team has shifted their attitude from being the hunters to the hunted. We get in-depth on the team's superstitions and what keeps them level during this historic season ahead of their Senior Day game on Friday, October 28th.
On Episode 84, Sam and Jack are joined by one of the most recognizable and polarizing figures in Chicago sports media: David Kaplan. We talk everything Chicago sports on this episode. Is it a Sox/Cubs city, when will Jeremy Colliton get fired, Matt Nagy is a nice guy who isn't good at his job, hearing about the Justin Fields trade multiple picks in advance at dinner, having Theo Epstein oozing in confidence before Game 7 of the World Series, why Bears fans need to get over this "we need an offensive guru" idea, expectations for the Chicago Bulls and a deeper dive into his career and how he got where he is today.
On Episode 83, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Baseball's JUCO transfers Ben Tallman and Sam Hojnar to talk about their journey through high school baseball through JUCO and eventually to Iowa. We go into details on each of their journeys, what inspired them to keep grinding and how their eventual opportunities came at the Univesity of Iowa. We break down switch hitting, 40-year olds playing in summer league baseball, walk-up songs, why JUCO baseball would have an unreal "Last Chance U" series and expectations for their young team this season.
On Episode 82, Sam and Jack start the pod with a very emotional discussion for this years White Sox team, how the playoff series vs. Houston went, how they can bounceback for the near future and what type of moves need to be made (if any) going into next season. The guys transition to this week's Bears/Packers matchup in Soldiers Field, how the Bears might find some success against Aaron Rodgers this week and how this team is exceeding all of our expectations up to this point. They finish up the episode with talking briefly about the Blackhawks and then wrapping up with Iowa/Penn State talk, including discussing the ongoing debate for Penn State purposely acting injured on the field and how Iowa's chances to make the CFP have reached a fever pitch.
On Episode 81, Sam and Jack discuss the largest game in Iowa City since 1985 when #1 Iowa faced #2 Michigan with #4 Penn State coming to town this weekend. We talk about the pre-game show situation, the aura of Kinnick during a sunset game and how this game is lined up for an Iowa win. We also get very ahead of ourselves and talk post-regular season matchups. Not a whole lot to describe here for all of you, listen and get pumped up for tomorrow.
On Episode 80, Sam and Jack are joined by fellow Bears fan and 247 Sports Hawkeye Insider Sean Bock to discuss the current state of the Bears as well as the upcoming Trap Week for the Hawkeyes in Maryland. We breakdown the inabilities of Matt Nagy to put the Bears into a winning situation, whether or not this upcoming game with the Lions will be the final straw for Nagy's job, who we anticipate being the quarterback next week and the weeks after and how the Bears are actually losing fans. We transition to Iowa's matchup this week with 4-0 Maryland on Friday night, how the Hawkeyes matchup vs. their first test since the Iowa State game and what the team needs to build off of to make sure this trap doesn't take place.
On Episode 79, Sam and Jack are joined by a media personality that we have all been consuming since we were born, ESPN's Kevin Negandhi. Kevin details his journey in the sports media world, the sacrifices he made and the chances he took to make the career he wanted. We talk about his challenges as an Indian-American getting his break in sports media, getting his first call to come to ESPN and what goes in to setting up and producing the 6PM hour of SportsCenter. We talk about how SportsCenter has changed, one of Kevin's "holy fuck" moments and we give our opinions on where we feel the Iowa Hawkeyes are at during this fantastic start to their season.
On Episode 78, Sam and Jack are joined by current Iowa Dance Team Member and Miss Iowa USA Katie Wadman. We start by talking about Katie's introduction to dancing, how it led to her wanting to come to the University of Iowa all her life and the dream of being apart of the Dance Team here. We breakdown differences in preparing for Game Day versus Nationals competition, what the process is like to tryout and to make the team, and some of her favorite moments on Game Days. We then get into Katie's unexpected pageant career which has quickly turned in to her winning Miss Iowa USA 2021, eventually going to NYC to compete for Miss USA and then possibly even Israel for Miss Universe. We get an inside look at what type of questions are asked, how the competition is setup and how much time and commitment Katie has given since winning Miss Iowa USA.
On Episode 77, Samand Jack are joined by ESPN's Sports Betting Analyst and Host of Daily Wager Doug Kezirian. Doug breaks down how he got his start into journalism and covering sports, what brought him out to Las Vegas and how living there in Nevada helped change the path of his career. From doing midnight radio to covering sports gambling as a passion, Doug got his break and was hired by ESPN to be an anchor and on-air personality which quickly got parlayed into working in their gambling sector. Doug details how ESPN evolved to talk and cover sports gambling and how that change felt within Las Vegas. Doug wraps the show up by talking about some of his most rewarding interviews and moments of his career, including interviewing Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, meeting Chris Berman and Stuart Scott for the first time or covering Guantanamo Bay.
On Episode 76, Sam and Jack are joined by current Iowa kicker Caleb Shudak to talk about the season thus far and his unique ties to the CyHawk rivalry. We jump right in with talking about the recent CyHawk matchup that Iowa left victorious, how the team has maintained composure during these huge first two weeks and what went through Caleb's mind when he saw the high snap in the 1st quarter at ISU. We discuss Caleb's relationship with former TCOC Guest Keith Duncan, what his playlist consists of on gamedays, if defensive players give him gruff on the field during kick off and whether or not kicks through the upright on kickoffs should count for points. We wrap it up with some Iowa City-centric questions and remind everyone who's State it is for the next 360 days or so.
On Episode 75, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa MBB Recruiting Coordinator and Dir. Player Development to talk about his playing career and introduction to the coaching side and coming to Iowa. We start with talking about Courtney's career at UNC-Greensboro, memories/highlights from his time there with a younger Fran McCaffery to transitioning to his professional career overseas and various stories and experiences from that. Courtney breaks down how he got his break into coaching and what inspired him to take that leap from playing to behind-the-scenes, details how his role has changed within the Iowa program and where he has seen the development process work in recent years. Courtney breaks down how he see's Iowa basketball playing this year along with breaking down individual players and what to expect from them for this 2021-2022 season.
On Episode 74, Sam and Jack are joined by fellow Hawkeye and 247 Sports Insider Sean Bock to break down the IU/Iowa matchup one last time before their matchup on Saturday, giving us some Hawkeyes he expects to step up in a big way to kick off their 2021 campaign. The guys pick Sean's brain on the state of recruiting in Iowa, where some of the top athletes and recruits are located and where Sean enjoys Friday Night Lights in Gods country. Sean talks at length about tons of recruits including some that will be visiting the IU game, why this could be a bigger recruiting day for basketball than it is football and the guys wrap up with some score predictions.
On Episode 73, Sam and Jack are joined by one of their first ever guests on The City from the beginning of Season 1, Jordan Loperena. Jordan gives the guys a quick recap on some important life news and the guys quickly dive into news on "The Alliance", new NIL rules and some examples of these new rules being implemented and some candid conversation on how confusing the Alliance actually is. The guys go into great detail on each position group for the 2021 Hawkeyes and what to expect from each unit after finishing the year strong last season.
On Episode 72, Sam and Jack take this episode to look back on this whirlwind of a year that this podcast has taken them on. Beginning with how this podcast was started, why we started it, and what our intentions for content were and how they've pivoted but stayed true to our desires. We also give a sneak peak to a new piece of content coming this fall as well as a look into our summers and internship experiences and what both of us took away from both. Less formal episode with insight into what goes on behind the scenes of the show.
On Episode 71, Sam and Jack put the current news and interviews aside to draft the best Sports Movies and TV Shows. There was no drafting of non-fiction Sports TV Shows, otherwise we would've been picking 30 for 30's until the sun set. Both have suprising picks, both put their heart and opinions on the line. Who will come out victorious and be given the title of "Best Knowledge of Sports Culture in America"?! Vote on social media NOW.
On Episode 70, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Volleyball's Kyndra Hansen to talk about her journey to Iowa, what she is studying and to learn more about the game of volleyball. We start by talking about her introduction to volleyball and the differences in playing with her school and with her select club team. We talk about being recruited at a very young age, what it's like to make a decision that early and what sold her on attending Iowa. We touch on Kyndra's passions, such as giving women's athletics the recognition they deserve, reading hard-hitting, inspirational books and her lovely cat, Nala. We wrap the episode up with Kyndra being wrapped in to trying to help Sam and Jack become true volleyball stars in their own right.
On Episode 69 (niceee), Sam and Jack continue their talk from last episode on the current state of sports as well as the revolving door that has been Chicago sports teams this summer, the two continue to banter and talk like there is no tomorrow. Sam asserts that Joe Wieskamp will be the next great San Antonio Spur, Jack finds out that Singapore give their athletes $730k more than American athletes for Olympic gold medals, and the realization that Frank Garza is the best follow for any Hawkeye fan on Twittere (outside of your two favorite hosts).
On Episode 68, Sam and Jack talk about the mass exodus the Chicago Cubs went through the last week, the bolstering of the Chicago White Sox and the reinvigeration of the Chicago Blackhawks. Sam takes the show away this episode, talking about every aspect of the Chicago Cubs trade deadline. From reminising on the good times to wanting to forget how everything has unfolded, Sam takes listeners down an emotional rabbit hole to give everyone a first-hand look at what fan depression looks and sounds like. Jack briefly touches on how the White Sox legitimacy will be tested in the coming weeks as the lineup gets healthy, but feels no concern or doubt.
On Episode 67, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa baseball's Ty Snep to discuss how his offseason has gone as well as some other topics. We get started with talking about the new Space Jam movie and why LeBron James is the worst role model in history. We move on to talking about the NBA Finals and Giannis stealing the entire show during Game 6. We move on to Ty's offseason after some back complications last season, talk about the pitch clock/pace of play as well as robot umpires and how they increase or decrease the quality of play on the field.
On Episode 66, Sam and Jack are joined by Partner and NFL Agent at Neostar Football Sammy Spina. Sammy goes into great detail on his unconventional journey to becoming an agent, life experiences that shaped who he is and the decisions he made as well as why a typical day is always the furthest thing from typical. We talk about working with clients, how he works with 20-some year olds and helps turn them into professional men, and what keeps Sammy going day in and day out. We go into specific stories of how Sammy got his first "in" at Neostar, one of his most fond memories of working in sports and being able to experience the 100 Greatest Players in NFL History celebration at the Super Bowl. We wrap up with brief NIL talk and finish the show giving some love to Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa and Sammy's stomping grounds of Pittsburgh.
On Episode 65, Sam and Jack come together to discuss the first of many trades the Chicago Cubs will be making over the next couple weeks. We breakdown Joc Pederson's trade to the Atlanta Braves, Duncan Keith's trade to the Edmonton Oilers and what both mean for their respective organizations and their directions. We discuss the Suns/Bucks series at length, figuring out why the Suns need to play more Frank Kaminsky and the Bucks need more PJ Tucker on offense. We wrap the show up with discussing how the release of Space Jam 2 will be a disaster and how LeBron James continues to make everything about him.
On Episode 64, Sam and Jack predict the 2021 Homerun Derby along with the various storylines that make up this exciting event. They go into deep detail on why the derby is flawed in some ways, why the Cubs are hosting a garage sale at this years' Trade Deadline, where some of the wheels started to fall off this Cubs organization and how Sam feels about all of this. The guys wrap up the episode with some good and horribly bad news about the Blackhawks that will surely carry throughout the entirety of the offseason.
On Episode 63, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Tennis alum and All-time wins leader Kareem Allaf to catch up with where he is in his career and to breakdown the game of tennis. We begin with how Kareem was introduced to tennis and made the decision to stick with it over swimming. He talks about his father's role in his tennis development, watching some of the greats and taking notes on their styles. Little did Kareem know he'd have the opportunity to play and practice with some of those, like Nadal and Djokovic, and really put his skills to the test. We talk about what college tennis matches are like, Kareems perspective on how Iowa Tennis was cut this past year by the university and what his career and coming years should look like on the professional circuit.
On Episode 62, Sam and Jack come together to talk some sports like the good ole days. They open with talking about the new NIL legislation that passed and how it has essentially turned into the "Wild West". We discuss the potential draft positions and locations for Joe Wieskamp and Luka Garza, discussing both of their NBA Combine numbers as well as their official meaurables. The 2021-2022 Iowa Hawkeye Men's Basketball team comes up as both Sam and Jack agree that this will be a new brand of Iowa basketball this season. The guys wrap the pod up with Cubs/Sox talk and come to the realization that the Cubs will only continue to hurt their fans' hearts as players get traded away with the Sox worrying about staying healthy, like they have been all season.
On Episode 61, Sam and Jack are joined by Jamal Britt while he's attending this year's US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials. We talk about Jamal's introductin to track and field and specifically hurdles, why he made the transition from football to track and how his journey from high school to junior college and eventually Iowa went, speaking to how each expereince Jamal has had has helped shape who he is as an athlete and man today. We get into the intricate details of hurdles like counting your steps, finding the benefit in training with others and how all of this has accumulated into Iowa being known as #HurdleU. We talk abouot Jamal's US Olympic Team trials and how his final season at Iowa will go with leader Jaylon McConico graduating.
On Episode 60, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa receiver and returner Charlie Jones to talk about this upcoming season, how he ended up at Iowa and breaking down the intricacies of the return game. We start with Charlie's high school career and how being a wide receiver in the triple option wasn't the best for his personal recruitment, how he views kick and punt returning differently and what he wants to work on this season as a wide receiver at Iowa. We talk about the "Swarm", who is the best dancer in the wide receiver room and if Charlie has ever been laid out by Tory Taylor in practice. We wrap the show up with some fun, light-hearted questions and Charlie gets deep on his favorite breakfast places in the Chicagoland area.
On Episode 59, Sam and Jack are joined by newly graduated Hawkeye Alex Schaake to go through his illustrious Hawkeye career as well as detailing where he plans on going in his professional career. We talk through Alex's COVID-Senior season, becoming eligible for the PGA Tour University and becoming the first Hawkeye to be voted B1G Golfer of the Year twice. We discuss how Alex decided between going all-fade or all-draw, some of the worst golf etiquitte he's ever seen and some tips to get Jack to shoot under 100. We wrap the pod up by discussing some current golf topics as well as combat sports, including the Paul/Mayweather fight.
On Episode 58, Sam and Jack are joined once again by Iowa baseball's Ty Snep to get a recap to how the Hawkeye baseball season has ended and Ty teaches us how NCAA postseason baseball works. We get in heated debates on who has the best walk up song on the team, some songs Ty is too afraid to use and some that Sam and Jack would use to get the crowd riled up. We start talking about the differences we notice in comparing NCAA to MLB baseball, why Ty preferred college baseball growing up and then this episode takes a turn off the rails in typical fashion.
Guest 1: Iowa alum, former NBA/NFL executive Steve Lacroix Guest 2: Founder & CEO of Social Victories, NFL marketing agent Whitney Holtzman Guest 3: Iowa alum, documentarian and journalist Brooke Bierhaus Guest 4: Director of Sport Rec. Mgmt. at Iowa, former MLB executive Dan Matheson Guest 5: NHL Executive VP, Chief Content Officer Steve Mayer Guest 6: Iowa alum, current Minnesota Viking quarterback Nate Stanley Guest 7: Iowa alum, former collegiate and professional basketball player Cyrus Tate Guest 8: ESPN NBA front office insider, former NBA executive Bobby Marks Guest 9: ESPN producer, “Get Up” Paul Hembedikes
On Episode 56, Sam and Jack give their reactions to one of the best NFL Drafts the Chicago Bears have ever had, trading up for a franchise player in quarterback Justin Fields and cornerstone tackle Teven Jenkins. They talk about how Matt Nagy will handle the situation, when we might see Fields finally get the starting role and our rough expectations for this season. We naturally transition to talking about the White Sox and Cubs, finding that it's much easier to say nice things about the White Sox than it is for the Cubs. We discuss Iowa spring football, next years projected starting five for Iowa basketball and how much Mediacom is holding this podcast back.
On Episode 55, Sam and Jack are joined by former University of North Dakota forward Filip Rebraca to get to know Filip and get an understanding to how his transfer process went and eventually ended with Iowa. We start by talking with Filip about his journey to North Dakota with UND being the only school to take a chance on the foreign player, talking through his growth as a player and how his team grew during his time at North Dakota. We talk about some of the things he liked and didn't like as much about North Dakota (hint: the weather), some difficulties in transitioning to American culture and ways of living and more. We wrap the show up with Filip discussing what his role might be for the Hawkeyes this season as well as talking about the shoes he's been brought in to fill at the center position.
On Episode 54, Sam and Jack sit down and go through their respective NFL Mock Drafts for the 2021 NFL Draft. They only go through the picks leading up to the inevitable Chicago Bears pick at #20. They talk about which QBs will go where, why drafting this many offensive tackles could be costly for some teams, which teams are in the hunt to trade into the top 10 for a QB and which teams are in the hunt to trade back out of their pick. A bulk of the discussion revolves around picks 7 through 10 where there have been numerous rumors of teams like New England, Washington and Chicago wanting to trade up for the QB of their future.
On Episode 53, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Baseball's Ty Snep to get a brief recap of the Hawkeye's season up to this point, Ty's own personal accomplishments and how this season is different than most years. We talk briefly about Ty's minor setback, why Peyton Williams demolishes baseball's into the atmosphere and how Iowa baseball is auditioning for the basketball team with their home run celebrations. We discuss the transfer portal and how those decisions affect athletes and fans alike & finish the pod up with Jack digging himself the deepest hole he has ever been in.
On Episode 52, Sam and Jack start the episode by reviewing burritos from Estela's Fresh Mex in Iowa City, filling their stomachs to the brim. They transition to talking about Kevin James playing Sean Payton in an upcoming movie, whether or not Space Jam 2 will be good or not and that Alex Rodriguez is an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Holy crazy. They continue the sports talk with Sam reminiscing on how close the Miami Marlins were to winning a championship, reminiscing on how close the Cubs were to being a dynasty and whether or not Cubs fans believe in Jed Hoyer. We wrap the pod up with predicting some of the NFL Draft along with forecasting some Draft Day trades.
On Episode 51, Sam and Jack are joined by sophomore women's golfer Morgan Goldstein to catch-up on how the team's season has gone, how her play has been and what the team has in store for the near future. We talk about her journey to Iowa from Las Vegas, her Drive-Chip-Putt Record at Augusta National, and how she obtained such a competitive nature from training with her father. We talk about the Hawkeye Golf team's next couple weeks and finish up the episode with some tips on how to putt like a pro.
On Episode 50, Sam and Jack are joined by Brandon Wimbush to talk about his journey to the University of Notre Dame, transferring to the University of Central Florida, his playing career/different obstacles he faced while playing quarterback and how he's found an opportunity for growth in the Name, Image and Likeness side of college athletics today. Brandon takes the time to explain what MOGL is, what his vision for the next couple months or years is and how MOGL differentiates from every other company. He pulls from his life experiences and how each has had a positive impact on his growth into who he is today.
On Episode 49, Sam and Jack are joined by one of our personal favorite writer's, Seth Wickersham. Seth joins the podcast to talk about his journey from Alaska to the University of Missouri and ESPN, how he got his first "break" and where he took chances when others may not have. Seth goes into detail on various stories he has written, from the feature story written on the late Y.A. Tittle to detailed accounts of what really went behind closed doors for the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and New Englad Patriots and even a story about Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones attempting to block NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from receiving an extension. We ask Seth about his book being released in October 2021 titled "It's Better To Be Feared: The New England Patriot Dynasty" which gives an in-depth look at what it took to create one of the greatest sport dynasties we may ever see. Seth describes how he allows his sources to feel comfortable through a series of networking and understanding what he's looking for and closes the podcast with some valuable advice for any graduating college student.
On Episode 48, Sam and Jack discuss the overrated Final Four (before the Final Four games), preview the seasons for their respective MLB teams and Jack describes the ongoing beef between the podcast and Mediacom. Jack asks Sam for his opinions on the Rizzo extension news that has been leaked, the state of the Cubs and how they compare to their innercity counterparts. At the end, Sam gets Jack rolling about his closet Cyclone fandom and the podcast goes off the rails from then on.
On Episode 47, Sam and Jack are joined by Patrick McCaffery to talk about everything March Madness, the Hawkeye basketball season and how Patrick's expectations for not only himself but the team have shifted going into next season. We talk about the Oregon game at length, why Gonzaga is Patrick's favorite to win the tournament and more. Patrick talks about how much he enjoyed playing in front of fans at the B1G Tournament and NCAA Tournament, how having a full season under his belt allows him to better prepare and work in the offseason.
On Episode 46, Sam and Jack broke down their brackets region by region before March Madness had begun and detailed the upsets that never happened and why the best teams (which many have lost) will make it deep. After they finished with the bracket, Jack breaks some terrible news about the Bears that completely shifts our focus.
On Episode 45, Sam and Jack are joined again by Patrick McCaffery to recap the B1G tournament and preview March Madness as 2-seed Iowa gets ready to face 15-seed Grand Canyon. Patrick talks about the current lodging and food situation at the hotel during their mandatory quarantine & celebrating his 21st birthday in the bubble. We discuss the news of Coach Fran McCaffery getting an extension through 2028, how Patrick see's this benefitting the program and prospective recruits, speaking to the standard of development and understanding a recruit's character during the recruiting process for Fran and other Iowa coaches. We finish the episode up with Patrick discussing why the Wisconsin game prompted him to take to Twitter and he gives some great closing words for all Hawkeye fans that are going to watch this tournament.
On Episode 44, Sam and Jack take a step back and recap some of our previous guests seasons thus far and highlight their accomplishments and "The City Effect" in all of this. We start rambling on wrestling and football and Sam begins to interview Jack, which takes Jack on an enormous trip down memory lane. Sam gets Jack reminiscing on high school football and dissecting the fdifferences in coaching from high school all the way to the NFL.
On Episode 43, Sam and Jack are joined by 247 Sports Beat Writer David Eickholt to discuss everything Iowa basketball leading into the B1G Tournament and the Big Dance. David talks about how the "February Fran Fade" is a thing of the past after Iowa rolled through February and came out ranked top-5 in March, his opinion on how good Keegan Murray has become and when we might see the Murray brothers in action together. He touches on Iowa's matchups versus the top teams this year and how the Hawkeyes are peaking at the right time, how Joe Wieskamp and CJ Fredrick have elevated their games, and details his opinion on why Fran plays Jordan Bohannon more than Joe Toussaint. We wrap the interview up with talk about Fran McCaffery, who he is and his recruiting tendencies, David's experience with Nebraska fans and his "Art of the Interview".
On Episode 42, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa basketball players and roommates Patrick McCaffery and Joe Toussaint to breakdown the recent victory on the road vs. #4 Ohio State and their feelings/thoughts going into the final stretch of B1G play. The guys discuss the loss of Jack Nunge and how players like Keegan Murray, Patrick and Joe needed to pick it up on the defensive end. We deep dive into Joe's introduction to basketball and how he and Patrick became friends during thier recruiting journey as well as why and when Joe began to take basketball seriously. We get an understanding to which professional players each guy looked up to & wrap up the pod with our NBA All-Star draft comparisons and Survivor questions.
On Episode 41, Sam and Jack sit down and draft their own NBA All-Star teams after the rosters were recently released, give their expert analysis and predictions on the NFL's free agency class and specific trade scenarios, give their takes on Russell Wilson/JJ Watt situations as well as the recent news of Tiger Woods' car accident. Laid back episode to kick start your week!
On Episode 40, Sam and Jack are once again joined by Patrick McCaffery to talk about the recent games against Michigan State and the upcoming matchups with Michigan and rematch with Ohio State. We talk about differences in the arena without fans, whether or not shooting free throws or jump shots with no fans is easier and hearing Fran's rants from the comfort of our homes now. We dive into some fan questions and figure out why Austin Ash would be the first person voted off on "Survivor", but would also be the favorite to win the whole thing.
On Episode 39, Sam and Jack are rejoined by Iowa basketball forward Patrick McCaffery to catch up after a couple B1G games and have a casual conversation about everything basketball. We start off with Gus Johnson's unreal voice and nicknames for various Hawkeye players, playing against international NBA Academies and how the years of camaraderie has helped this Iowa team find a consistent competition level within the team. We talk about his friendship with Duke forward Matthew Hurt & how they've helped each other stay focused during this season, why Patrick has been throwing down lately and the remaining B1G schedule for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
On Episode 38, Sam and Jack are joined by former NFL veteran, Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee and '85 Bear Jay Hilgenberg. We start the conversation with Jay's introduction to the University of Iowa and Coach Hayden Fry, how he was destined to be a Hawkeye from the get-go being familiar with the football and wrestling programs. After signing as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 1981, Jay describes how the team dynamic shifted with the introduction to Mike Ditka and his drive to win at all costs within the organization. He describes the last years of Papa Bear George Halas and some stories he shared with the team. Afteer being signed to the Bears, Hilgenberg describes his relationship with locker buddy Walter Payton, quarterback Jim McMahon and his offensive line coach Dick Stanfel. Jay touches on Super Bowl XX, how it was the easiest game he has played in, and how he did NOT want the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl. Jay also makes a modern-day comparison to Walter Payton that'll have Bears fans begging for next season.
On Episode 37, Sam and Jack are joined by Women's soccer team defender Sam Cary to talk about her journey to Iowa from the St. Louis area, including what St. Louis pizza actually is. We talk about her development in soccer from a young age and how her involvement with reffing has helped her diversify her skill set and preception of soccer. She describes how being a left-footed defender is unorthodox but effective, how soccer playstyles vary by region and gender and how she needed to workout in a cemetary during quarantine. She tells the story of how the derecho affected her ability to hear that their season was cancelled. She explains why she is more than just an athlete and what she plans on doing post-soccer.
On Episode 36, Sam and Jack preview the Super Bowl, predict the final score, and highlight some of their favorite prop bets for the night as well as their favorite Super Bowl memories & favorite games. They talk about the recent rumors and rumblings in the NFL including the recent Los Angelos Rams trade for Matt Stafford and whether or not the Bears will screw up this offseason. We talk about the relocation trend in the NFL and whether it's worth moving and building a new stadium now or not.
On Episode 35, Sam and Jack are joined by RS Freshman forward Patrick McCaffery to discuss the current season for the #8 Iowa Hawkeyes, his unique recruitment to Iowa, and everything in between. We start with Fran's shoe game and how his culture has evolved from his beginning years at Iowa to now, with Patrick citing the Texas Tech and Tennessee games from 2019 as catalysts to the contender status they have. We discuss Patrick's relationship with his older brother and teammate, Connor McCaffery, and how that dynamic has shifted from playing HS basktball together at Iowa City West HS to playing at Iowa together. We talk how the State of Iowa and the AAU circuit is underrated and stories Patrick has during his AAU traveling days. Patrick explains why he deleted Twitter after the Christmas Day game vs. Minnesota and tells Sam that he can be an honorary bench member.
On Episode 34, Sam and Jack are joined by redshirt freshman catcher Tyler Snep. We discuss his career in backwards order, starting with the pandemic shutdown in March 2020 affecting his initial college season to not being able to play long toss at home without getting the cops called. We talk about his high school experience at Lake Zurich, travel ball experiences, and Tyler explains why he never went to Cooperstown as a kid. Tyler breaks down what made Coach Heller and this program so enticing that he felt at home right away and some of his expectations for himself and the team this season.
On Episode 33, Sam and Jack discuss their favorites for the NFL Championship Weekend. Will Rodgers beat Brady, will Mahomes get another concussion vs. Josh Allen and the Bills? We'll see. We touch on the retirement of Phillip Rivers and debate at length if he is a Hall of Fame quarterback or not. We move into ragging on Jed Hoyer and the Cubs for their inability to run a sound organization, and close up with our trivia that probably stumped you too.
On Episode 32, Sam and Jack are joined by former Iowa QB and current Minnesota Vikings QB Nate Stanley to talk about his Iowa career, some highlights from that career, and how he even got to Iowa being from Wisconsin. We talk about his goals coming in to Iowa, what it's like to play in the Cy-Hawk game & the significance that comes with it, as well as detailing his preparation from a collegiate level to the pro level. We talk about his pregame routine including "Lose Yourself" by Eminem (every football players pregame song), how Iowa takes pride in being #QBSneakU, some stories from the Outback Bowl vs. Mississippi St. and Manning Camp, why he never wore sleeves and why he wore a visor. Keep your eyes peeled for Nate doing "The Griddy" in the next preseason.
On Episode 31, Sam and Jack are joined by former Execuitive VP and Chief Marketing Officer with the Minnesota Vikings and Iowa alumni Steve LaCroix to talk about his career in the sports business field. We start with talking about his beginning with the Indiana Pacers ticketing department, attacking a career in sports business, ending up with the Minnesota Vikings for 20 years. Steve assisted in the redesigning of the jerseys, the building of U.S. Bank Stadium, hosting Super Bowl 52, and transitioning to all digital ticketing. Each of these accomplishments are discussed and more in this very in-depth podcast that takes a deeper dive at what responsibilities Steve had during his time and what he experienced during his time.
On Episode 30, Sam and Jack are joined by senior gymnast Erin Castle to discuss her journey to becoming an Iowa Hawkeye gymnast. We talk about her introduction to sports as a Cyclone fan (like Jack), storming the field for the Oklahoma St./Iowa St. game in 2011 and sitting on the hills at Jack Trice Stadium. We talk about how Erin established a dedicated and routine work ethic that has helped reach each opportunity she has had, as well as how this work ethic affected her early social life in high school. We touch on her personal accomplishments and shortcomings as an athlete and what her expectation and hope for this team & this season are.
On Episode 29, Sam and Jack meet for an impromptu pod to discuss the Bears playoff loss to the Saints as well as their outlook for the coming months for the organization. Jack starts off the pod on an absolute tangent that leads into Sam thinking either Pace or Nagy should be fired. All in all, this pod is for the Chicago Bears fan that needs to mourn a little longer and look forward to the coming future.
On Episode 28, Sam and Jack are joined by Founder & CEO of Social Victories and NFL Marketing Agent Whitney Holtzman. Whitney details her time at the University of Florida, experiencing athletic success from the likes of fellow Gators Tim Tebow and Joakim Noah to earning an internship position with ESPN after her time with the Tampa Bay Rays and Turner Sports. She touches on her introduction to ESPN and espnW, how critical starting your brand as an athlete nowadays is and what it means to be "high EQ", something Gary Vaynerchuk taught her during her time at VaynerMedia. She talks about her time assisting each AAF team and thier players establish their brands and what difficulties she found with a new, unestablished league. Lastly, Whitney talks about her book, "You Are The First You" and what inspired her to take that jump in her career.
This episode consists of the best clips and guests we had throughout our short existence in 2020. Buckle up for 2021, it's going to be a lot better than this. EP.1: 0:00 - 1:09, QB Ricky Stanzi: 1:10-14:40, Iowa golfer Lea Zeitler: 14:41-15:50, ESPN's NBA insider Bobby Marks: 15:51-20:14, Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly: 20:15-22:33, NHL EVP and Chief Content Officer Steve Mayer: 22:34-25:00, NFL TE Jeff Heuerman: 25:01-27:45, Fmr. Iowa basketball Ryan Kriener: 27:46-30:37, Fmr. Dir. Baseball Ops @Yankees Dan Matheson: 30:38-33:57, All-American K Keith Duncan: 33:58-35:05, EP.26: 35:06-end.
On Episode 26, Sam and Jack catch up what's gone on during their brief hiatus from finals and their holiday break. Jack rants about Iowa football losing their bowl game, Sam rants about Fran McCaffery's coaching mistake vs. Minnesota, and they both find a common ground of happiness in the ascending Chicago Bears. They discuss how the Bulls look with new rookie Patrick Williams and breifly hit on how bad the drafting was before this new front office. They finish up with some autograph/celebrity stories and a new trivia segment called "Get School'd".
On Episode 25, Sam and Jack are joined by ESPN Producer for "Get Up", Paul Hembedikes. We discuss how Hembo finds his statistics and analytics for his graphics and support of on-air personalities, including his trivia battles with professional athletes. We dive into his introduction to ESPN, his start at "Mike&Mike" and how those experiences have impacted his work today. We get Hembo's opinion on the current Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears quarterback situations, how his numbers and statistics are "weapons", and he shares some entertaining 1880's baseball player names that you wouldn't imagine are real.
On Episode 24, Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa softball commit Madelyn Rouse to introduce her to Hawkeye Nation and better understand what kind of competitor and person she is. She talks about her infectious optimism, her love for the pressure on the mound and how her opinion and views on softball have changed over the years. We touch on the IHSA's inability to give a clear plan for current high school athletes, what she's doing to prepare for her senior season/freshman college season and her expectations for both seasons as well as her collegiate career.
On Episode 23, Sam and Jack are joined by EVP and CCO of the NHL Steve Mayer to discuss this past summer's Stanley Cup Playoff Bubble as well as his role in the grand scheme of the NHL. We take a deep dive into the bubble and what worked for the league including things fans may not have realized or thought about, different broadcast strategies that presented themselves with no fans present, and how to keep those at-home fans engaged through the broadcasts. We talk about how Steve see's content transitioning in this pandemic-era and how he has seen change already through players increased involvement. We touch on how critical it was to reengage the fans at home after the pandemic lull and how the league has grown and transitioned to better cater to an exclusively at-home audience. We lastly touch on other events Steve has had the honor of producing and take a deeper look at how producing a marathon is one of the most difficult and amazing processes in television production.
On Ep. 22, Sam and Jack are joined by one of the smartest and knowledgable guests so far in Dan Matheson. Dan details the beginnings of his journey to professional sports, talking about his internship with the Chicago Cubs and how he was invited to work at the New York Yankees Spring Training. After being hired full-time, Dan talks about the difficulties in ascending the ranks of a professional organization, who George Steinbrenner was as a man and as an owner and what seperated the Yankees from the other organizations. He touches on what kept him engaged with baseball, what led to his departure from the sport to work at the NCAA and how he carried skills over. Serving as NCAA Associate Director for Enforcement, Dan was faced with many unique challenges during his tenure that he parlayed into working and instructing at the University of Iowa today.
On Episode 21, Sam and Jack talk with former Iowa basketball player Ryan Kriener and breakdown Kriener's career, his memories and what the expectations were for last year's shortened season. We talk through Ryan's recruitment including the familiarity with teammates that committed with him, what makes Coach Fran McCaffery such a great leader and what the expectations were for his shortened senior season last year. We discuss his relationship with Luka Garza, his favorite Big Ten memories and who some of his favorite matchups were. We also touch on the growing beef between Illinois and Iowa and where Ryan see's this tension arising from.
On Episode 20, Sam and Jack continue their talk with Jeff and talk about the ending of his senior season with the B1G Championship vs. Wisconsin, how the team found out and why Coach Meyer is so against individuality. He touches on the pre-draft process, getting drafted by John Elway and the Broncos, and what an NFL Rookie Minicamp is like with undrafted players playing for their life. He talks about going to the Super Bowl, the perks of being a part of the Super Bowl experience, and how he enjoyed himself during the Halftime show. He finsihes up with a Peyton Manning story and leaves it open to becoming our first recurring guest.
On Episode 19, Sam and Jack sit down with Jeff Heuerman and talk about his football career from not playing football at all in Florida to being recruited to play at Ohio State University. Jeff talks about transitioning from Jim Tressel to Urban Meyer, how unsure he was about staying there or going elsewhere, and how he found his place. We touch on Jeff's role as a leader during his time at OSU, the role Coach Meyer had in sculpting his leadership skills and how he applied them on the field. We cover the 2015 National Championship season, the story of why Jeff wore #5 and the story behind the three different quarterbacks that led them to the inevitable championship. Part 2 of this interview will be out later this week.
On Episode 18, Sam and Jack are joined by the record holder for most games played by a Chicago Bear, Patrick Mannelly. We talk about his introduction to the position during his time at Duke and when he realized he could make a career out of it. We also touch on the coaching changes he went through while in Chicago, the Super Bowl team in 2006, as well as some great stories with teammates like Charles Tillman, Robbie Gould, Devin Hester, and many others. Mannelly talks at length about the importance Coach Dave Toub brought to the Special Teams unit including the fake punt return by Johnny Knox and Devin Hester in 2011 that Toub set up. We finish with talk about the current state of the Bears with Mannelly giving his offseason approach as well as his expectation for the team for the remainder of the season.
On Epsidoe 17, Sam and Jack are joined by former Iowa distance runner and current Award-winning documentarian and video journalist Brooke Bierhaus to discuss her athletic career, how she got introduced to journalsim, and where she finds her passion and inspiration for her work. She discusses her early journalism experiences including being a videographer for the Smithsonian National Zoo's YouTube, and what drove her to tell the type of stories she does today. We speak at length about Brooke's most recent documentary, The Connected Cup, where Brooke traveled to nine different countries, spoke in nine different langauges, and proved that a unviersal langauge that is applicable to each of these locaitons is coffee/tea. Now Available to Watch on Amazon Prime & Vimeo OnDemand www.theconnectedcup.com
On Part 2 of our interview with Bobby Marks, we talk about the early 2000's Nets teams that were flirting with excellence including the 2003 Finals run, what it takes to keep consistent success, and how it all disbanded after that season. We also began to discuss his transition from basketball operations to media with opportunities at Yahoo, ESPN, and one he found through Twitter and how he took skills from the front office to compliment his media opportunities. We finish with some honest talking about Bobby's Twitter bio, Naples talk, and advice for any aspiring sports media member.
On Episode 15, Sam and Jack are joined by ESPN NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks to discuss how he got his start in professional basketball operations and how he transitioned into media. We discuss the beginnings of Bobby's career with Rod Thorn, John Calipari, and his introduction to the Nets organization. Bobby talks about how he mastered the CBA, the inner workings of contracts and offer sheets, and he details trades that he was a part of or trades that never took place while working in the front office. This episode is half of our interview, Episode 16 will contain the remainder,
In Episode 14, Sam and Jack talk with current Iowa golfer Lea Zeitler about her golf career and how she ended up at the University of Iowa. She touches on her career with the Austrian National team, compares her experiences competing internationally and collegiately, and talks through her favorite courses and how she attacks them. She finishes up by talking about how the quarentine affected her training habits, how she found time to golf in her apartment, and what being a female in golf means to her going forward.
On Episode 13, Sam and Jack talk with former Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi on his playing career and what he's up to today. They start with talking about Ricky's introduction to Iowa football and Coach Kirk Ferentz and what it took to be a quarterback for the Hawkeyes. After highlighting some specific college games and moments in Ricky's career, they touch on the 2010 Orange Bowl victory versus Georgia Tech, the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and the draft process. Then, Ricky talks honestly about some of the QB rooms he was apart of, the organizations he experienced during his NFL time, football up north in Canada, and how he began to transition from on-field participation to behind the scenes, injury-prevention participation, including talking through Saquan Barkley's and Nick Bosa's ACL tears.
On Episode 12, Sam and Jack preview the matchup between the Colts and Bears with Tamar. Then, Sam and Jack give the most incorrect takes on the White Sox and Cubs to date after both teams dropped the ball this week. And finally, Jack and Tamar describe the vibe on their respective campuses amid this COVID-19 pandemic and what the feeling is on campus with Big Ten football returning.
On Episode 11 of The City: Off-Campus, Sam and Jack talk with former Hawkeye captain and current entrepreneur and businessman Keith Hunter about his decorated career as the "Whacker" in the Big Ten. Keith discusses the role he had in turning the Iowa program around after 21 consecutive losing seasons, the impact Coach Hayden Fry had on him and the program, and explains why his love for coaching can be tied back to the game of chess. Keith finishes with discussing his TedxTalk and how he got into public speaking and other business interests. You can find Keith Hunter's businesses at kghenterprises.com
Episode 10 of The City: Off Campus features Iowa legend, 1985 Heisman runner-up and former NFL first round pick Chuck Long. Long talks about his road to Iowa and Coach Hayden Fry's impact on himself and the rest of the program as well as the blueprint that helped Fry turn Iowa's program around. He also touches on the coaches he attributes his success too, including Bill Snyder, Bob Stoops, Barry Alvarez, and Kirk Ferentz. He talks about his experiences with the Heisman Trophy, the NFL Draft, and what it's like to play the defending champion '86 Bears.
On Episode 9 of The City: Off-Campus we bring on Iowa alum Cyrus Tate to discuss his difficult journey to Iowa by way of Illinois, some of his most profound Iowa memories, crazy international stories including The Malice at the Palace Mexico Edition, and Cyrus shares his thoughts on the current state of Iowa basketball including Luka Garza analysis.
On Episode 8 Sam and Jack take some time for themselves to vent on what they watched Sunday as well as the futures of Mitch Trubisky, Allen Robinson, Nick Foles, and the rest of the Bears. They also dive into their respective fantasy teams and recap the Cubs and White Sox recent success.
On Episode 7, Sam and Jack talk with Hawkeye kicker and captain Keith Duncan about the breaking news of the Big Ten returning, how the team has handled this awkward pause in action, and his expectations going forward for this season. We also talk about his kicking strategies, his mental approach towards the game, and a never before heard point of view to the Nebraska walk-off kick. At the end, Keith discusses more in depth what it means to be a Hawkeye and what he's taken away so far from his experience in Iowa City.
On Episode 6 of, "The City: Off-Campus," Sam and Jack are joined by Iowa Softball Commit, Devyn Greer, a pitcher from Huntington Beach, California. She comes on as our first "Fresh Faced Hawk!" On this episode, she shares her recruiting journey, what her first visit to Iowa City was like, shares the stories of her career no-hitters, and shares how excited she is to become a Hawkeye and what her expectations and goals are once she begins her career as pitcher for Iowa Softball.
On Episode 5 of The City: Off-Campus Sam and Jack are joined by CBS Sports Radio National Sports Writer and Sirius XM NBA producer David Shepard and discuss some of the hottest topics in the NBA. David gives his bubble surprises and disappointments as well as some candidates for coaching vacancies in the NBA, including your beloved Chicago Bulls.
Episode 4 of The City: Off-Campus features Hawkeye alum Jordan Loperena, former BTN associate producer and content associate at ESPN. Jordan discusses the derecho that came through Iowa, his background and memories with the University of Iowa, and various Chicago sports topics. Jordan also reveals his true Chicago baseball loyalty while discussing the two hottest teams in baseball.
Episode 3 of The City: Off-Campus starts off with Sam and Jack sharing their thoughts and condolences for Iowa football & what they think will happen next with fall sports. They also discuss the Cleveland Indians COVID hooplah, the Chicago Blackhawks Cinderella run, and the beginning of a new era for Chicago Bulls basketball. Listen until the end for 100% correct NBA playoff predictions & a tiny spoiler for next episode.
On the inaugural episode of The City: Off-Campus, Sam and Jack finally catch up after a long hiatus from sports. The guys discuss the return of Luka Garza, North American professional sports leagues navigating through the pandemic, Cubs/White Sox, Jay Cutler's chickens, and much more.
On the second episode of The City: Off-Campus, Sam and Jack share their knee-jerk reactions about the Blackhawks and Jay Cutler's Instagram mysteriously disappearing. They also discuss MLB and Big Ten COVID protocol updates, predict the Iowa football schedule, and things get weird during the Meme of the Week.