By Rob Gray

Gazette correspondent

AMES — Courtney Messingham’s playbook is simpler, but no less demanding for Iowa State’s football players.

Messingham, who replaced former Cyclone offensive coordinator Tom Herman (now of Ohio State) after last season’s Pinstripe Bowl, has preached quality over quantity in terms of schemes.

Players have taken to his approach — on paper and in person.

“He’s very outgoing,” said quarterback Jared Barnett, whose duel with Steele Jantz for the starting spot is expected to spill into fall camp. “He doesn’t really yell a lot. He always has a way of getting his point across without yelling.”

Messingham didn’t holler to reporters Friday night, either. A likely rain-soaked spring game (really the 15th practice, in scrimmage form) kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. See video of Messingham, below.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Was this the last hockey game this season at The Stable?

“No,” Davey Middleton said quickly and emphatically.

Of course, that’s what the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders winger and the rest of his teammates are supposed to say, even though the odds are considerably stacked against them getting back here and hosting a USHL playoff game.

A two-goal third period allowed them to skirt past Muskegon, 2-1, Friday night. They’ve got their regular-season finale at Waterloo Saturday night, then will hit the road for what they hope is a full week.

Their entire best-of-3 first-round playoff series is at Youngstown beginning Monday because of the 11-hour distance between the cities and because the Phantoms are seeded higher. They somehow survive and it’s straight to either Indiana or more likely Green Bay to play the first two games of a best-of-5 second-round series.

“We’re certainly going to do our best to get back here,” RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson said.

You could tell this game’s insignificance by the way the Riders (27-20-12, 66 points) played most of it. That’s not to say they didn’t care or didn’t want to win, but the first two periods were not exactly played sharply or with optimal energy.

“It’s human nature, and I don’t usually say things like this, but the guys know they are staring at the possibility of five games in six nights,” Carlson said. ”Their compete (level) wasn’t where it should have been, but you’ve got to be realistic. They found a way to get it done.”

Perhaps the best thing to happen was a disallowed goal in the final 25 seconds of the second period. Nick Saracino stripped a Muskegon defender in the Lumberjacks slot and fired a wrister that appeared to go in and out of the top of the net.

But the goal light never came on and referee Brady Johnson immediately signaled no goal. That appeared to fire up Coach Carlson – who appeared to lay into Johnson as they left the ice after the second period – and the RoughRiders, who got a game-tying goal from Middleton at 4:03 of the third and a Riley Bourbonnais power-play goal 2:32 later.

“That was a tough call,” Middleton said. “We were struggling there the first two periods. We weren’t moving our feet, were a little slow. But we worked through it, battled, came back and got the victory.”

“The guys kept working, and the third period was obviously our best,” Carlson said.

The RoughRiders drew 87,168 fans for their 30 regular-season home games, an average of 2,906. That’s slightly down from last season’s average of 2,979 but still considerably ahead of 2009-10’s average of 2,616.

By Douglas Miles, The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS — Part of baseball’s charm lies within its superstitions.

Hall of Famer Wade Boggs ate fried chicken and fielded exactly 150 ground balls before every game. Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell, another Hall of Famer, refused to use a bat with his own name on it. Former Chicago Cub pitcher Turk Wendell, the crown prince of baseball superstitions, ate licorice on the mound and brushed his teeth between innings.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels staged their own Friday the 13th “Superstition Night” night, but could not drum up enough ninth-inning luck in falling to the Quad Cities River Bandits, 6-5, before 803 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. It was the first back-to-back losses for Cedar Rapids this season.

“I thought our energy level was kind of a little down tonight,” said Kernels Manager Jamie Burke. “But they picked it up a little bit towards the end of the game, so that’s what you’re looking for. What you do at the finish of a game.”

Trailing 6-3 to start the bottom of the ninth, the Kernels strung together four consecutive one-out singles, the last by Kaleb Cowart, driving in two runs to pull within one. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Frazier Hall was intentionally walked to load the bases. Needing a base hit to potentially win the game, Ryan Jones struck out swinging and Abel Baker bounced out to first to end the comeback attempt.

Kernels starter Ryan Crowley (0-1), a lefty from the Chicago suburb of Berwyn, was touched for seven hits and four runs in five innings, including two solo home runs off the bat of Quad Cities catcher Juan Castillo. In all, Cedar Rapids pitchers gave up 13 hits on, yes, Friday the 13th.

“I’ve got to give credit to their hitters also, they swung the bats well tonight”, Burke said. “They’re a good hitting team.”

The notoriously unlucky date got off to an ominous start when the Kernels learned they would be without two of their regulars. Infielder Trevor Hairgrove was nursing a jammed thumb he suffered in Thursday’s game, while outfielder Gary Mitchel is battling a case of strep throat. Both should return Saturday.

The Kernels will try their luck again Saturday at 5.

I’m compiling a list of Eastern Iowa farmers markets and I need your help to keep up with the growing number.

If you are a market manager or know of an existing or new farmers market, send information on the market’s location; operating times; day(s) of the week; contact information and start and end dates (for example, opening date of May 1; ending date of Oct. 30) in an email to: Cindy.Hadish@sourcemedia.net

Please write “farmers market” in the subject line and submit before April 20.

To have your market included in The Gazette’s daily calendar, as well, it’s also important to post that information at www.TheGazette.com/calendar

 

 

IOWA CITY — A Coralville bank has filed a lawsuit against a former University of Iowa Hawkeye football player, accusing him of failing to pay off a $226,100 business loan.

According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Johnson County District Court, Coralville-based Liberty Bank F.S.B. loaned Tim Dwight more than $226,000 on March 26, 2010, evidenced by a business loan agreement.

The loan agreement matured on Sept. 5, 2011, according to the lawsuit, and the entire amount of the loan and all accrued interest became fully due on that date.

Dwight, according to the lawsuit, “is in default on the loan agreement by failing to make payments when due.” Pursuant the default provisions of the loan agreement, Liberty Bank can accrue interest at a rate of 18 percent, the lawsuit states.

The bank on Feb. 2 demanded Dwight make a full and immediate payment of all amounts due under the loan agreement, according to the lawsuit.

“Despite demand, the defendant failed to pay,” the lawsuit states.

As of April 4, according to the lawsuit, Dwight owed the bank $216,820 in principal, $12,900 in accrued, unpaid interest and interest after that date of $108.41 a day. The bank is asking a judge to order Dwight to pay those amounts plus the cost of the legal action, attorneys fees and other associated costs.

The Gazette was unable to reach Dwight for comment Friday. An attorney for the bank did not comment about the reason for the loan or about the difficulties in getting Dwight to pay it off. An attorney representing Dwight in some of his business ventures also did not comment on the lawsuit.

Dwight, an Iowa City native and Hawkeye football star who went on to play professional football for five different teams, including the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers, now is a businessman and entrepreneur.

Dwight has a stake in numerous businesses and real estate ventures both in and outside Iowa. He owns iPower, a California solar energy company, as well as a yoga studio in Iowa City.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, Dwight is the president of 6 Corp, which owns the building on Dubuque Street that houses Hill Mopeds & Scooters.

He also founded the Tim Dwight Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps children and young people and has donated to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.

Dwight in May 2011 contributed $50,000 toward the purchase of a new state-of-the-art mobile scoreboard for the UI’s track and field facilities, according to the UI Foundation.

Linn County Master Gardener, Lisa Slattery, provides information on what could be a great weekend project, if the weather holds.

One of the positives to this weirdly warm Spring is that many perennial plants are way ahead of schedule so you can get an early start on dividing perennials.  If your perennials are declining, don’t bloom as often, deteriorating in the center, or taking over the flower bed, it’s time to divide.  Division rejuvenates plants, controls size and increases air circulation which helps fight against disease and pests.  Besides, what gardener doesn’t want more plants?

The ideal way to divide a perennial is to dig up the entire plant using the drip line of the plant for guidance – most plant root will reach all the way to the drip line.  Look at root health and only keep those that look nice and healthy.  Use vigorous sections of plants first.  The size of the division depends on the species.  Hosta, iris and daylily grow pretty quickly after being divided.  Other plants like peony grow better if the divisions are bigger.  The smaller the division the smaller the root system and the longer you’ll wait for new blooms (which typically is 1 to 2 years).

Always add organic matter back into the area where you are working.  General rule of thumb is if you take out a wheelbarrow full of perennials make sure you add a wheelbarrow full of compost back into your garden bed.  If you don’t add back organic material the bed will settle and there will be less oxygen and nutrients for the plants and they won’t flourish.

It’s ideal to replant divisions right away but if you’re stuck with a “holding” period for plants make sure you keep the roots cool and moist.  If time gets away from you and divisions dry out soak the roots in a bucket of water for about an hour before replanting.

Plant the new divisions at the same depth as the original plant.  Make sure you spread out the roots and place them in a hole that’s at least as wide as its roots.  Don’t turn root tips up or curl them around the root ball when replanting or you’ll disrupt root growth and it won’t grow vigorously.

How often and when to divide?  This depends on the plant.  Fast growing daylilies, hosta and bee balm can be divided regularly or every 3 to 5 years.  Yet, some plants don’t want or need to be divided.  General rule of thumb for timing is to divide summer and fall blooming perennials in early spring as new growth appears.  Divide spring blooming perennials in late summer or early fall so they can establish root systems before winter. Never divide a perennial when it’s blooming, but if you absolutely have to, make sure to give it extra attention with frequent waterings and provide some shade from very hot sun until it becomes established.

Visit ISU Extension at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG319.pdf for good general division guidelines for many popular plants.

 

UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a 49-year-old man tried to rob a central New York bank armed with a toilet plunger.

 

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

 

I have a few things to take care of before moving on after 25 years at the Gazette. One of them is to make one last pitch about the merits of a worthwhile summer writing program we do with Quota International of Cedar Rapids Inc. — the Neighborhood Beat Program.

I am writing about the program in my Sunday, April 15, column in the newspaper and also am to speak that day during the announcement time at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 512 Sixth St. SE, in a bid to reach youngsters or at least their families who will gather there. I was invited to speak and appreciate that.

The Gazette and Quota International have been partners in this program the past two years. The Cedar Rapids Police Department also has helped, especially in the first year when we met with kids at the department’s Community Connections Center, 1501 First Avenue SE. We moved out of that facility last year to The Gazette building so that we could be in a newspaper setting.

The program was created to reach eighth-graders interested in writing and journalism but who may not get breaks other kids get when chasing a dream. Those breaks can range from backgrounds when growing up to lucky access to professionals who can help the youths develop some skills.

For eight Wednesday afternoons, June 13-Aug. 8 with a week off for July 4 this year, Gazette reporters and editors will work with students on interviewing, storytelling and writing skills. The youngsters develop stories and present them. I have found these sessions to be enjoyable.

We’ve shown these stories in print and online. Last year we posted everything the kids wrote at this site.

I also have blogged about this program before, in 2010.

The Neighborhood Beat Program has four goals:

• Give youths a better understanding of professional journalism.
• Expand students’ thinking and research skills.
• Expand students’ reading and writing skills.
• Help build students’ confidence.

 

The best way to get your kid involved? The first thing to know is that this only is for students at Cedar Rapids middle schools. We can do only so much. Applications are at the schools.

We have asked teachers at those schools to identify students who may be interested in the program and Ramona Baldyga, a local Quota International catalyst behind this project, is arranging meetings with teachers and kids. The Gazette’s Patrick Hogan, who covers education, is planning on meeting with kids, too.

Why do this? Because journalism is a noble profession with skills you can use regardless of what you eventually do in life because of the critical thinking, research, personal contact, storytelling and writing skills you use.

 

This is the time of year in college football when there are more questions than answers. This spring with the Iowa Hawkeyes, there seems to be as many questions as blades of plastic grass in the Kinnick Stadium turf.

In the four months since Iowa’s 31-14 defeat to Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl, head coach Kirk Ferentz has hired two new coordinators, two Generation Y position coaches and has moved his offensive line coach of nine years to defensive line coach.

The quarterback is veteran, but the passing game will be new under first-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis. Iowa has a new defensive line, but it will line up in the old 4-3 defense, with a few twists, under first-year defensive coordinator Phil Parker, who is the old defensive backs coach.

Everyone is on a learning curve. Don’t expect anything definitive to be unveiled Saturday.

1. Check out the coaches — Maybe the best part of the spring scrimmage is seeing the coaches coach. This is hands-on stuff that’s different from the game day environment. You might be close enough to hear what the coaches are yelling, if the Kinnick Stadium music is at a human volume.

Expect Davis to spend most of his time with quarterback James Vandenberg. Playbook is one thing for Vandenberg next season, but communication with the offensive coordinator is up there, especially with the coordinator in the press box for the first time in at least 13 seasons.

Where will Parker spend most of his time? He said he likes to roam. Will he spend a lot of time with the defensive line, Iowa’s most inexperienced position group with first-year D-line coach Reese Morgan, who moved over from O-line in February?

Kirk Ferentz knows what to expect because he hired them (maybe not technically in the case of his son), but LeVar Woods and Brian Ferentz aren’t that far removed from playing the game. They are acutely aware how chain of command works, but this will be their first public appearance in Iowa gear and it will be interesting to see them in that role.

1.1 — During his interview last week, Morgan seemed downright giddy about the challenge that Kirk Ferentz put out there for him. You know Ferentz isn’t a man who acts on hunches. It’s an unorthodox move, and Morgan is totally into it. The raw material is, well, raw, so Morgan has work to do.

1.2 — Is there a “yeller” on staff? Does there need to be one?

1.3 — One-liner contest, Greg Davis vs. Norm Parker. Who wins?

2. Passing game and pace — They’ve said the passing game will change. Davis and Vandenberg have said it. Wide receivers coach Erik Campbell said it. It’s changing, yes, but will you be able to pick those changes out of a line up?

Senior wide receiver Keenan Davis is out Saturday, but if he ran a different route on a given down and distance, would we know that it was different from last season? Probably not, but maybe. Will routes shorten? That would be noticeable.

Davis talked some about a no-huddle attack. That’s more likely an arrow in the quiver than the rule of the day, but also remember that Iowa coaches want to play to strengths. You could argue the no-huddle, shotgun is Vandenberg’s strength.

Player profiles certainly will change along with this. You’ve already heard Davis hype up tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz. He also talked about sophomore wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley’s role in the slot, a role he called “important.”

2.1 — The pecking order at tight end might be interesting. Senior Zach Derby will have to fight off talented underclassmen Ray Hamilton, Henry Krieger-Coble and Jake Duzey.

2.2 — Davis should return for Iowa’s final three spring practices (there’s more after Saturday’s scrimmage). After Davis and Martin-Manley, how does Iowa wide receiver go?

3. Simply put, running back — Sophomore Jordan Canzeri is out with a torn ACL, so the opportunity falls to sophomores Damon Bullock and De’Andre Johnson.

As you know, opportunity is a slippery proposition for Iowa running back. Canzeri will begin rehabilitation. Freshmen Greg Garmon and Barkley Hill remain incoming freshmen.

The immutable fact is Canzeri was ahead of both Bullock and Johnson. They all had the opportunity to start the Insight Bowl, and Canzeri ran with it. That said, players can improve. The light goes on at different times for everyone. It’s Iowa running back, opportunity is perpetual.

3.1 — Davis made it sound as though there is a plan for fullback and it might be as the lone running back in a four-WR set. Junior Brad Rogers should be a completely different player after missing all of the 2011 offseason with heart concerns. Davis also said Rogers knows fullback and running back. Hmmm.

4. Punter, let’s just get it out there — Of all things to consider, here we are at punter. It’s decidedly unsexy, that is until zero hang time, returnable punts and shanks haunt your special teams.

This spring, it looks as though senior John Wienke has held off sophomore Jonny Mullings. Wienke’s journey is somewhat circuitous. He came here to play quarterback. He kind of wedged his way into backup punter last fall. Now, he’s the No. 1. Running backs and co-special teams coach Lester Erb did remind reporters this spring that Wienke was an all-conference punter during his days at Tuscola (Ill.) High School. He punted 14 times as a senior.

Incoming freshman Connor Kornbrath will be here in August. He’s a true freshman. He’s been told he has the opportunity to win the job, but he’s going to have to do just that. Win it.

4.1 — We won’t see kickoffs Saturday. And remember there, kickoffs are from the 35 this season with touchbacks coming out to the 25. Another caveat, we all will track field goals Saturday, but we need to keep in mind that this is 1/15th of what they’ve done this spring. Don’t run too far with Saturday’s conclusions.

5. Popping the cushion — Parker said Iowa will play more press coverage (or man) this season in order to deploy more defenders in run support. He also threw about a dozen caveats in front of that statement, with third down and the opponent ultimately steering that call.

Iowa has the cornerbacks to fight this fight. Senior Micah Hyde will be a three-year starter. Junior B.J. Lowery played nickel last season and made, arguably, the stop of the year to complete a goal-line stand in the Hawkeyes’ victory over Michigan. Beyond them, senior Greg Castillo has experience and sophomore Jordan Lomax has impressed.

This might have been a better show Saturday with a healthy Keenan Davis, but it’ll put sophomore strong safety Nico Law in the spotlight. He might have some freedom to pursue and punish at the line of scrimmage.

5.1 — This will be redshirt freshman tackle Darian Cooper’s first appearance in front of a crowd since he made a splash in shorts and shoulder pads last August. He’s listed as a starter and he should hold.

5.2 — We won’t see him Saturday because he’s rehabbing a knee that was operated on in January, but sophomore defensive tackle Carl Davis‘ progress has a lot of eyes on it. If the 6-5, 310-pounder is healthy and engaged, Iowa’s D-line might be able to rumble. Does it matter how a player is coached? Pending that knee, we might find out with Davis. He was coached hard by former DL coach Rick Kaczenski. Morgan might be a gentler voice. If Davis responds with meaningful contributions, we might have an answer.