And this is where stability at the third level, assistant coaches, comes in. I can't help but think that Norm has been involved in putting together the game plan. Even so, several of the assistants have been around long enough to understand how Norm, and Kirk, want the game called. It's a worry, but not a big one, at least not yet.

Another color-"out"? Nothing this team hasn't seen before. Forecast is in the range of upper 90s, but probabaly low 90s or high 80s by game time. No DST here, so the sun will have been down for close to an hour. Also, present forecast looks like low humidity. I think the weather issue is overrated.

I'll be there, with a projected 10,000 or more in about a 55K stadium, all of us wearing black or gold.

The forecasts vary here in Phoenix for 100-104 for a high. Tucson is usually about five degrees cooler. By 7:30 it'll be likely in the upper 80s to low 90s. Hot, but no humidity and the sun long gone. Weather does worry me, but not as much as it does a lot of other people.

I'm sure this team has heard a lot about the trip to Tempe six years ago. There are heat issues, time issues, a longer trip, all that. Bottom line, they have heard about all the adversity. This team, or at least the core of this team, has dealt with and successfully handled adversity as well as or better than any Iowa team I have seen.

What I have seen of Arizona this year is good, but not enough to judge. What I have seen of Mike Stoops' Arizona teams over the years is an occasionally good team, but not a complete team. Foles, to me, is the only real threat, and his is the only position in which Arizona is better than the team we beat pretty convincingly last year. I'm concerned, but I'm not worried. I think we win, by ten or more. And I'll be there to watch it happen, with probably 10,000 or more Iowa fans.

Some traditions have fallen, and will have to, but the Big 10 banks on tradition more than any other conference. At times during the last few years when everybody was down on the Big 10, tradition was probably the lead position for the conference. They need to play in November, whether they are in the same division or not. It's still the showcase game for the conference. If they are in different divisions it could complicate things for a championship game, but I don't see Michigan back there for at least 5 years based upon the RichRod experiment. By then, there will be more members and more changes.

I vented my spleen under my alter ego at BHGP about how the Big 12 sold its soul by abandoning Nebraska-Oklahoma. The situation is different in some ways, but not in the fact that you just don't mess with your marquee game.

The core group of guys bucked the trend quite a bit already, winning all those road games (including the first win as a visitor in a PSU white out) and winning with two freshman backs. If the O-line can simply be solid, this group, for all its wins and success, still has a lot of reasons to be hungry to be better. It looks like they understand that and have motivation and steady leadership, something which may have been lacking in 2005.

11-2 and Cap One win? Usually yes, but not this year. I still have several concerns but with as many talented players as we have at different positions, this team needs to return to a BCS bowl. No Iowa team will be without concerns in some positions, and O-line is the one place you don't want them if you're Iowa, but I somehow believe this group will put it together. Too many starters are part of a group that did what few thought could be done, winning at PSU, MSU and Wisconsin. With Stanzi at Ohio State, who knows? There is something special about the core group that is still here, and they can build on last year to do better, whether that means putting teams away or finally taking care of OSU. We should want more out of this group, and I believe they can do more.

As much as I would like to have Wegher in the mix, with Hampton and Robinson, I'm more concerned about other parts of the team than running back. O-line, corners, and defense depth in general come to mind.

I'll be a little bit of a homer too--and take Bill Snyder.

I don't really know how he's been doing since he came back, except but for the fact of KSU scheduling, I believe, two non-Div. 1 schools, he nearly put them back in a bowl game. Yes, the scheduling is a reason to not give it to him, but as hard as some may say it is to recruit stars to Iowa, it's even harder in Manhattan, KS. Snyder did at least what Hayden did here, if not more.

It's still Ohio State. I'll be in Tucson, and that's my next scariest game, but primarily because it's early in the year, and Ferentz teams are slow starters. I just don't think Rhoads has the personnel yet to give us a serious challenge.

Michigan is the popular pick for a loss, but I'm not sold on it, for the same reason as I'm not sold on the RickRod system there. The later in a season you go, the less likely I think you are to see the best Michigan has. How many hits have the QBs taken by then, which one is standing, and how strong? MSU the week before will be a physical game, and I don't beleive Michigan is set up for a series of physical games.

MSU is probably my number three, because I really like Cousins as their QB. Plus, it will be a rugged game, always is. But Wisky or PSU could take this spot as well.

First what's not on the list--Living in Phoenix, I have been fortunate enough to go to the BCS championship game. As manufactured an event as it is, still special. I was at the '82 Rose Bowl. If they ever get back, I will go again. Taking my Dad to a World Series game would be number one, but I was fortunate, no, spent enough money, actually, to do this. Dad was physically and mentally worn down after my mom's slow decline and passing, so in that summer of loss, the Diamondbacks kept him going. I got field level seats, Randy Johnson pitching. Irreplaceable memory.

In no particular order

The Masters-- CBS and Augusta National go to great lengths to make this look beautiful on television. It works.

The Derby-- On my wife's list, too. Day Coat, mint juleps, has to be the full experience.

Opening round of NCAA tournament, with all games on screen, in Vegas--I could do this and have said I would do this, for years. One of these years, I will.

British Golf Triumvirate--In a three-week span, the Open, the Senior Open, and the Ladies Open, on I believe three different courses. Plus, scotch distilleries with tours and samples nearby

Finally, I may have already lost out on this one, but a heavyweight title fight at Caesar's Palace. I say missed because boxing has declined so much that I don't know if the right fight will ever come again.