 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
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Camp Courageous visits the Hawkeyes
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz signs autographs for Camp Courageous campers during the annual Hawkeye Day for Camp Courageous at Kinnick Stadium on Friday. (Marc Morehouse)
IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz was asked to win it all.
No, it wasn’t a hyper-charged face-painter. A Camp Courageous camper asked the Iowa football coach to “beat all the teams.”
“That’s a good idea,” Ferentz said. “I’m going to repeat that to all the players.”
The annual Hawkeye Day for Camp Courageous had to move inside of Kinnick Stadium because of Friday’s thunderstorms, but campers lined up for autographs from Iowa seniors, toured the opponent’s pink lockerrooms and, when the weather finally cooperated, spent some time playing catch with Hawkeyes on the Kinnick turf.
One camper motioned pointed to his ankle and asked quarterback Ricky Stanzi if he was OK. Last fall, about 60 yards from this spot, Stanzi suffered a high-ankle sprain that needed surgery.
“Ow,” camper Brian said.
“Yeah, that hurt,” Stanzi said with a smile. “But I’m OK now!”
Camp Courageous is a a year-round recreational and respite care facility for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, brain injuries, hearing and visual impairments, autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and special needs.
And they’re big Hawkeye fans.
“This is one of those experiences that will never be forgotten by the campers who attend,” said Charlie Becker, executive director of Camp Courageous. “We have campers who have a hard time falling asleep the night before.”
Brian wore a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls basketball jersey and a Hawkeye hat out on the Kinnick field. Stanzi said, yes, Michael Jordan is No. 1.
Brian immediately pointed to his Hawkeye hat and said the Hawkeyes are No. 1.
“Anytime us players and get out here and show these guys the lockerroom, spend some time with them and get to know them, they’re all great kids,” Stanzi said. “They have such great hearts. They’re fun to be around, they really are. I’ve had a blast meeting the people and their families.
“The biggest thing is seeing how important Hawkeye football is to them. We get caught up in the game, you don’t get a chance to take a step back and realize how much impact it has on the fans, these young kids.”
Campers arrived to Kinnick at noon, just in time for thunderstorms to hit. No biggie. They enjoyed a lunch in the concourse under the south stands.
Soon after, it was downstairs for autographs, everything from Orange Bowl posters to T-shirts to min-footballs.
The Hawkeyes’ penmanship was tested on them all.
“It’s fun to be out here with these guys and see the smiles on their faces, get away from the workouts (strength and conditioning) coach (Chris) Doyle has been killing us with and help out the community,” defensive end Adrian Clayborn said. “I think I’m having more fun than these guys.”
You should know that these are very astute Hawkeye fans. The running theme from campers Friday was “beat Ohio State.”
“We’ve had a lot of those today,” Ferentz said. “That’s a popular request.”
Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi talks about Iowa’s outreach to Camp Courageous and talks to camper Brian, who was still concerned about Stanzi’s ankle. Iowa made a lot of fans Friday.
Here, Camp Courageous camper Courtny asks Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz to “beat all the teams.” Ferentz said the Hawkeyes will give it a shot.
Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn talks about what it means to spend some time with campers from Camp Courageous, a year-round recreational and respite care facility for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, brain injuries, hearing and visual impairments, autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and special needs.
Iowa football seniors sign autographs for Camp Courageous campers at Kinnick Stadium on Friday, June 18.
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Ricky Stanzi has amazed me yet again. He is truely America's quarterback. I don't know if I have ever seen someone so good in interviews (including the Orange Bowl interview question that should never have been asked, yet making the answer part of Stanzi legend), non disrespectful, had so much fun with the kids from Camp Courageous, and on top of that, he made every Hawkeye fan adore him, come 4th quarter, where he went 10-0 in games he started and finished last season. If you can find a Quarterback, or for that matter, a player that has a better resumè than that, I would be impressed because if this video of him gets spread around, I think, come football season, Stanzi will have more than just Iowa fans following him.
Good thoughts!
BTW, you're ripping me on the other thread. And that's OK. I'm not holding those comments back. For whatever reason, they're not showing up.
My work is open to comment and criticism. Please don't take this as me being sensitive. Have your say. That's why this is here.
I, of course, disagree. That particular interview starting "fading" and I wasn't about to ask Stanzi, a player who'll be in an NFL camp next season, what he thought about Iowa playing Nebraska in 2011. He'll be gone. I don't care what he thinks on that topic. Vandenberg? I'm asking.
Hope that helps. I refuse to be a stiff out there.
Again, you're a great commenter and you're always welcome here. Seriously. Not offended. Hope that's clear.
hmm.. which thread is that? I don't remember.. if I did rip you, my apologies!
Stanzi/American post.
Not a big deal. This is the place for it. No biggie.
I enjoy the feedback, good and bad.
Um, just dawned on me that you might have been writing about Myers.
If so, my bad. Sorry for misunderstanding.
As you can see, I probably need some time off.
Apologies once again.
Oh! I see! Yes, I was talking about Myers hahaha. No I love your interviews. You ask great questions and get people thinking. Myers, on the other hand, just confused everybody. Except Stanzi, who handled it perfectly. So no hard feelings! Great reporting! The first three places I check on the internet when I get on are Adam Rittenberg's blog on ESPN, BHGP, and your blog…. in no specific order
Appreciate that! You're always welcomed here.
Marc;
Thanks again for your great coverage! The video's you posted give a new look to the interviews you do and write about, brought a tear to my eye. The Camp Couragous kids/adults must have had a ball and you had a front row view. Warms the heart.
Only questions; Were only seniors there and the leadership council? Or were jr, soph, and freshman there that are in IC for the summer?
Thanks!
It was just seniors, but there was one senior I didn't see. I'll let you figure that one out. Probably had another commitment.
I'll add my voice to the chorus… Beat all teams, especially Ohio State!
Nice story Marc. I like Camp Courageous and it's nice to see the relationship they have developed with the Hawks.
I try to be objective. It was hard yesterday.
I need to pick a cause and support it as much as I possibly can. That was one of Joe Ehrmann's thoughts for centering your mind. I clearly need it.
No need for objectivity with this outing. Very cool event for those kids.
Yes, very cool.
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