Out of Towner: Hawkeye Nation Invades Miami

So it's 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning.  I am so wasted I can hardly type.  My only hope is that my editor isn't as loaded as I am [EDITOR'S NOTE: Nope!].  I am in Miami for the Orange Bowl and approximately 40,000 other Iowans have the same agenda as me; have a great time and watch our beloved Hawkeyes beat the shit out of the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. 

All day and night I have met a plethora of die-hard Hawkeye fans and even a small number of Yellowjacket fans.  I can't say enough about how large a following the Iowa Hawkeyes have.  It is truly unbelievable.  Thousands of us out in force.  And from talking to numerous bartenders (I got 3 of their numbers) I have heard nothing but positive things about everyone here representing the Hawkeyes and the state of Iowa.  This is truly a wonderful and momentous thing to be a part of.

But enough of the sappy Iowa-lovin bullshit.  We are here to win a game.  And drunk or not, I know that the Georgia Tech offensive machine just can't match up against a Big Ten defense like we bring to the table.  Of course they will have some big plays.  Teams that good always do.  But by and large our boys will make big plays and shut that rushing machine down.

That leads us to the other side of the ball.  If you haven't been keeping up with my thoughts and opinions about Ricky Stanzi let me catch you up in a hurry.  "I am not a fan."  I've talked mad shit on Stanzi most of the year.  I do realize he is a clutch player and has a winning record you can't argue too much about.  But I just don't feel he is a championship caliber quarterback and he never will be.  That being said, I still think he can lead us to victory tonight.  If the rest of my team has faith in his abilities and his leadership then who am I to argue.  Football is a team sport and the Iowa Hawkeyes epitomize team play. 

I truly believe the Hawkeyes are one of the best 5 teams in the country, with or without a bluechip quarterback.  Iowa's team has been built (by Kirk Ferentz) upon a foundation of unity and hard work.  I think we can all agree that these principles are the keys to a winning program. 

Wow, how did all this alchohol make me such a sap?!  Doesn't matter i guess.  I probably won't remember writing this anyhow.  All I know is that tonight is the biggest game Iowa football has seen in many, many years.  This is the big time baby.  Today the Hawkeye Nation stands united in Florida, Iowa, and everywhere else (and we are everywhere) that Hawkeye pride has spread.  Go fuckin' Hawkeyes!!!

I'd like to give a quick shout out to all of the Hawkeye fans I have met since I got to Miami and to all who I will meet later today.  I colored my mohawk Hawkeye gold so I shouldn't be too hard to pick out from the crowd.  Stop by and say hello and let's talk football.  Rock out with your Hawk out!!

Questions, comments and Hawkeye nation photos can be sent to pixleyjackson@yahoo.com.

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