Don't call me "Opie"!!!

While en route to praise Iowa QB James Vandenberg for his toughness, Kirk Ferentz made a stop in Opie-ville, comparing the fresh-faced Iowa QB to Opie Taylor, Andy Taylor’s son on “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Of course, Opie grew up to be Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days” and then the real guy, Ron Howard, went on to be a big-time Hollywood director, making, among others, “Apollo 13.” (One of my all-time faves. Also, I want to thank Ron Howard for his involvement in “Arrested Development,” the most intricately hilarious and short-lived sitcom of our lifetime.

Vandenberg clearly does not enjoy the Opie references. (But I think he’d like Arrested Development.)

QB James Vandenberg

CB Micah Hyde (says he’s definitely coming back for his senior year)

C James Ferentz (he said something kind of funny near the end, but I can’t remember exactly what it was)

CB Shaun Prater (good interview)

DT Mike Daniels (talks about Norm)