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Former Iowa offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde … is Batman
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- Julian Vandervelde
Julian Vandervelde, as most who were around him during his football playing career at Iowa, is more than your assembly-line jock, if there is an assembly line for such things.
Vandervelde is a singer, a scholar, and he seems pretty comfortable in front of a camera.
Here, we see the soon-to-be second-year Philadelphia Eagle offensive lineman bursting onto the news set of the WQAD-TV (Quad Cities) in one of the larger Batman costumes you’ll ever see, keeping a straight face as he delivers some jokes.
It’s not the first time Vandervelde has done work for the station, as the second video attests when he interviewed 2012 Iowa offensive line recruit Mitchell Keppy in February.
But first … Batman!
Rules of Engagement
Former Iowa offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde … is Batman
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That’s awesome, what a funny dude. He’s as interesting as Pat Angerer, just with noticeably less swearing.
Mike, would you put him in your Top 10 favorite interviewees? Who would be your Top 3 Hawkeye Football players to interview? I’m guessing Riley Reiff doesn’t make that list
Julian’s right up there, John. I’d have to think long and hard about forming a final list, but off the top of my head …
Bobby Diaco, who is now Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. He could irritate Hayden Fry for being a little too talkative with the media, but I never thought he said anything that was out of line.
Matt Whitaker, now a Des Moines attorney
Nate Kaeding. Smart and articulate.
Fred Barr. He’s near the top of the list. He spoke without a filter, which a sportswriter obviously loves, and he was funny.
Lots of others. Aaron Kampman, Merton Hanks, Brian Ferentz, A.J. Edds, Kevin Kasper, Anthony Herron, Edgar Cervantes, Broderick Binns.
If I really gave this some time, the list would be a lot longer. I know I’m forgetting a bunch. I could also give you list of the not-so-great interview subjects, but not gonna do it.
Obviously, Angerer was quotable. Tim Dwight, too. Chad Greenway was good.
Quarterbacks are usually a little too well-polished, which is understandable.
I never minded players who showed irritation with me sometimes. It was an honest response, which I like. Drew Tate often didn’t care for my questions. Adrian Clayborn, once for sure, after the loss at Northwestern in 2010.
You got me going there, John.
Thanks for the great list there. During my time at Iowa I payed rent and got my beer money by working at Scheels and met a few of those guys. I was most impressed with Nate Kaeding. I helped him and his son while he was home one weekend after the NFL season ended, very nice guy; Moeaki was cool too.
I think the “not-so-great” list would be a real fun read, but might not win you over anyone for future interviews by naming names, sure would be fun though! I can only imagine the death glares being sent you way from Tate, that was one fiery Texan.