Iowa
EDITORIAL | End the kingmaking in Iowa and N.H.
Opinion editor’s observe: Editorials characterize the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
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Thanks in your service, Iowa and New Hampshire. However it is time to finish the outstanding, influential perch you two small rural states have lengthy loved in winnowing the listing of presidential contenders.
One other state or states ought to get an opportunity to kind by means of candidates and make an early alternative within the nation’s first caucus or main. Officers for each political events ought to acknowledge a swap is overdue after which swiftly provide options — ideally earlier than the top of the 12 months.
That might give the brand new state or group of states sufficient time to plan for this earlier duty. As well as, asserting quickly would give presidential candidates sufficient time to regulate their schedules accordingly.
An influential Democratic Celebration committee is about to think about the difficulty in December. Iowa Democrats’ dismal dealing with of the 2020 caucuses, the place technological glitches delayed outcomes, supplied extra motivation to faucet one other location. Republican Celebration officers didn’t reply to an editorial author’s request for remark.
With out a change, the 2024 presidential election will quickly put the 2 states on the heart of the American political universe as soon as once more. The Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire main have loved first-in-nation honors for many years. In 2020, the Hawkeye State’s caucuses had been held on Feb. 3. In 2012, the caucuses got here barely after New 12 months’s — on Jan. 3.
With these very early dates comes a large media highlight, further political clout for the states’ voters and an unparalleled alternative to see candidates shut up. There’s additionally a small however nonetheless vital financial enhance from internet hosting the touring actuality present of candidates and journalists.
Winter winds might now sweep by means of the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, but it surely’s mere months earlier than summer season political protection options shopworn photographs of presidential hopefuls grilling pork chops or glad-handing livestock exhibitors on the annual agricultural showcase. The identical holds true for White Home wannabes barnstorming New Hampshire’s picturesque small cities and byways.
Sufficient already. It is a custom that has grown stale. Nor does it serve the nation nicely. As a Brookings Establishment white paper notes, the demographics in Iowa and New Hampshire are at odds with the nation’s extra numerous and urbanized inhabitants.
“With a white inhabitants share of 85% and 90%, respectively (in comparison with 60.4% for the nation as a complete), they’re the sixth and fourth ‘whitest’ states. In addition they have considerably older age buildings, decidedly much less urbanized populations, and a a lot greater illustration of white adults with out faculty educations (‘noncollege whites’) than the remainder of the nation,” the report states.
And whereas Iowa and New Hampshire voters have commendably taken their candidate-vetting tasks critically by means of the years, these voters should not have a monopoly on the influential early alternative. Different states’ voters, together with the problems necessary to them, need to share the highlight that Iowa and New Hampshire have loved. That front-row seat may also provoke voters within the new state or states to get entangled — a win for voter participation.
Considerations about which states go first have continued for years. Within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, there was a push by the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State for a system of regional primaries whose sequence would rotate with every election, so nobody area had a everlasting benefit.
It is unlucky that this proposal by no means gained traction. It must be resurrected and debated energetically by each political events.
There can be some trade-offs, as there are with most modifications. For instance, the small geographic footprints of Iowa and New Hampshire, together with their comparatively cheap media markets, can permit a dark-horse candidate missing assets to compete early on.
However that alone is not a robust sufficient argument to remain the course. There are different states that would provide up comparable situations.
One other consideration: If a call is made quickly to permit one other state to go first or early, is there sufficient time for its election officers to prepare and arrange for the sooner contest? In a current interview with an editorial author, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stated states usually are nimble sufficient to rapidly modify their calendars. He added that Minnesota may deal with such a swap.
Iowa and New Hampshire have had an excellent run. It is time for a change.
Editorial Board members are David Banks, Jill Burcum, Scott Gillespie, Denise Johnson, Patricia Lopez, John Rash and D.J. Tice. Star Tribune Opinion workers members Maggie Kelly and Elena Neuzil additionally contribute, and Star Tribune Writer and CEO Michael J. Klingensmith serves as an adviser to the board.
Iowa
Keys to Victory: Nebraska at Iowa
Nebraska heads to Iowa City on Friday for the annual Black Friday matchup against the Hawkeyes. At 6-5, the Huskers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. Iowa comes into the game at 7-4, having won three out of their last four. Of the two teams’ mutual opponents, Iowa lost to Ohio State 35-7, beat Wisconsin 42-10, and lost to UCLA 20-17.
On behalf of the Common Fan podcast, here are three keys to victory for the Huskers, and two keys to victory for all the fellow Common Fans.
NEBRASKA’S KEYS TO VICTORY
Stop (or Slow Down) Kaleb Johnson. After having an atrocious offense last season, Iowa is back to being respectable on the offensive side of the ball, especially when it comes to the run game. The Hawkeyes boast the #13 rushing offense in the nation. Starter Kaleb Johnson has rushed for 1,492 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He is legitimately one of the best backs in the country. What’s more, Iowa is on their fourth starting quarterback of the season. While there have been some rumblings this week that Cade McNamara and/or Brendan Sullivan–both of whom have started games under center this year–would play on Friday, it sounds like Jackson Stratton will be the guy. Stratton attempted a total of 14 passes last weekend against Maryland, completing 10 for 76 yards. Considering the strength of Nebraska’s defense has been stopping the run all season long, this matchup should favor the Huskers. But it’s Iowa, so who knows. If the Big Red can contain Iowa’s run game, I like their chances to win the game.
More of That Offense, Please. Iowa teams of recent years have been known for great defense. Not just great defense – they have had some elite defensive units. This year’s Hawkeye defense is perhaps not quite as dominant as what we’ve seen in recent years, but they’re still very good. They come into the game ranked #17 nationally in total defense, #12 in scoring defense, and #26 in rushing defense. They have been susceptible to giving up the big play, and currently rank #41 in opponent yards per play, after finishing the 2023 season at #1 in that category.
What will we see out of Nebraska’s offensive unit this week? Are we going to see the squad that had its way with Wisconsin? Or will we see the unit that struggled to move the ball for most of the year? If new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen can sprinkle a little more magic on the Nebraska offense, perhaps they can get out to a lead and take Iowa out of their comfort zone.
Make Special Teams Special. Another defining characteristic of Iowa teams in recent years has been outstanding special teams play. On the other side of the equation, all Common Fans know that Nebraska’s special teams play has struggled for most of this season. That said, against Wisconsin, Jacorey Barney had a 45 yard kickoff return to set up Nebraska’s first scoring drive, and place kicker John Hohl was 3-for-3 on field goals. Progress.
Can someone make a game changing play against the Hawkeyes? Can the Huskers at least make sure special teams doesn’t hurt them on Friday?
COMMON FAN KEYS
Soak It In. This is painful to say, but it’s the first time in eight years that Nebraska will be playing Iowa with bowl eligibility already secured. Husker fans don’t have to hold our breath, stressing that the team’s postseason fate rides on this game. I’d love nothing more than to see the Big Red pick up where they left off against Wisconsin, come out and pummel the Hawkeyes. But whatever happens, this isn’t the end of the road for the Huskers.
At least for me, the Iowa game has emerged as a great Thanksgiving weekend tradition. Iowa is the closest thing we have to a rival since joining the Big Ten. Embrace it. Enjoy it. We’re going bowling this year, no matter what happens against Iowa. So load up with some leftover turkey and mashed potatoes, maybe an extra piece of pie, and enjoy the ride, Husker fans.
Going to Kinnick? Common Fan Podcast co-host Matty O was in the house for the Wisconsin game, and after the win, pulled the trigger on tickets for the Black Friday battle against Iowa. He and his son will be making the trek to Iowa City on Friday. That’s the impact of beating the Badgers, getting to bowl eligibility, and starting to believe in this program again.
Are any other Common Fans out there going to be in the house? Hats off to anyone representing the Big Red in enemy territory. And, if you are going to be there on Friday, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email to commonfangbr@gmail.com or hit us up on social media (@commonfangbr on X) to share your experience. Send pictures, stories, smart remarks…whatever you’ve got! Let’s go 1-0 this week and beat those Hawkeyes!
As always, GBR for LIFE.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Iowa
Urquhart Sets Iowa’s Single-Season Aces Record at UCLA
LOS ANGELES – Senior Michelle Urquhart set Iowa’s single-season service aces record in the Hawkeyes’ 3-1 loss to UCLA on Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. Iowa drops to 10-21 overall and 4-15 in the Big Ten.
Urquhart needed two aces to surpass the single-season rally scoring era record set by Becky Walters in 2010. With the third set tied at 10-10, Urquhart dropped in a soft serve to secure her 42nd ace on the season.
The senior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, also recorded a double-double, registering 13 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Dominique Phills and sophomore Hannah Whittingstall were in double-figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Phills was a spark off the bench, drilling five kills in the opening set.
Senior libero Joy Galles notched a career high in digs, finishing with 24. She neared a double-double, tallying eight assists.
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (UCLA, 25-23)
After trading points early on, the Hawkeyes strung together three consecutive points to take a 5-3 lead, courtesy of a kill and ace from Urquhart. UCLA answered with a run, pushing ahead 13-8. Phills was a spark off the bench, helping Iowa pull within two on several occasions. The Hawkeyes rallied all the way back in the opener, tying the set at 23-23 before the Bruins capitalized on back-to-back kills to win the set. UCLA had only one attacking error in the first set, while Iowa had seven.
SET TWO (UCLA, 25-11)
Despite gaining momentum at the end of the first set, Iowa fell behind 9-1 to begin the second. A timeout slowed the Bruins’ progress, but they gained early control of the set. Iowa chipped away in the middle of the set on terminations from Phills and UCLA errors. UCLA ended the set on a 5-0 run.
SET THREE (IOWA, 25-23)
Iowa quickly regrouped for a competitive set in the third. A kill from Whittingstall and ace from freshman Jenna Meitzler kept the pressure on UCLA early. Urquhart notched her record-setting ace, breaking a 10-10 tie in the third set. The teams headed into the media timeout with UCLA leading, 15-14. It wasn’t until late in the set before Iowa pulled away, using a 3-0 run to go up by two at 20-18, courtesy of kills from freshman Malu Garcia and Phills. After a UCLA timeout fueled back-to-back points for the Bruins, Iowa sealed the set with a kill from Whittingstall and error from UCLA.
Mickey’s record-setting ace! 💛#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/PlUu17YR2R
— Iowa Volleyball (@IowaVolleyball) November 28, 2024
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗲𝘀 👑
With Michelle’s second ace tonight, she has set the program record for service aces in a season during the rally scoring era (42).#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/fimM7XstTc
— Iowa Volleyball (@IowaVolleyball) November 28, 2024
SET FOUR (UCLA, 25-15)
UCLA recovered and regained momentum, leading 6-2 to begin set four. A pair of kills from Urquhart and a termination from Garcia brought Iowa back within one at 7-6. The Hawkeyes stayed within striking distance but could not take the lead in the set. The Bruins used a run in the middle of the set to take control. A block from senior Anna Davis and Garcia stopped the run at 19-13. UCLA finished the set on a 5-1 run to win the match.
UP NEXT: Iowa heads across town for its season finale, battling No. 20 USC on Friday evening. First serve is set for 9 p.m. (CT) from the Galen Center. The match will be broadcast on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
Iowa
Iowa Legend Sends Strong Message In Midst of Brutal Season
Former Iowa Hawkeyes star George Kittle is in the midst of what has to be the most trying season of his NFL career.
Kittle’s San Francisco 49ers—who were Super Bowl contenders heading into 2024—fell to just 5-6 with their loss to the Green Bay Packer this past Sunday, further hindering their playoff chances.
However, the tight end is not giving up hope in the midst of severe adversity.
“My optimism is not broken by any means,” Kittle told reporters. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back. And I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays, and I got no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind, and going to see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.”
You have to love Kittle’s fighting spirit, but it seems hard to imagine the 49ers righting the ship in their current predicament.
San Francisco is dealing with a plethora of injury issues up and down the roster, which includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who missed the Packers game with a shoulder problem.
Kittle himself had a strong performance in Week 12, logging six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He has also been his usual impressive self overall this season, totaling 49 receptions for 642 yards and eight scores in nine appearances.
But not even Kittle can save the Niners from all of their current troubles.
The 49ers will face the Buffalo Bills in a matchup that could ultimately decide their playoff fate this Sunday.
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