Iowa
Franken says ‘truth hurts’ of his comments on rural Iowa
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken speaks throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Lloyd Holecek of Marion, Iowa, places a John Deere ball cap on the pinnacle of Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Holecek gave the cap to Franken and really useful that carrying the cap would possibly broaden Franken’s enchantment with voters. Franken is often seen carrying a Navy ball cap. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken speaks throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken salutes as he greets voters who turned out to listen to him throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken shakes arms with Elwood Garlock of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken takes {a photograph} with Betty Rover throughout a marketing campaign cease at Tic Toc, 600 seventeenth St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, September 2, 2022. Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is difficult Chuck Grassley. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Born and raised in Lebanon, Iowa — a small farming neighborhood of fewer than 50 individuals in far northwest Iowa, not removed from the South Dakota border — Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken says he’s seen firsthand the decline of rural Iowa.
“We see the cities we got here from. My city was 48 individuals and I believe there’s 12 there now. And the vitality of that city is just predicated on the church, and that’s usually it,” Franken stated. “That’s the state of affairs in rural Iowa. I’ve acquired concepts on easy methods to re-scope issues — easy methods to re-craft issues,” by seizing on and investing extra strategically in Iowa’s renewable power capabilities with wind, photo voltaic and ethanol as a possibility to carry extra individuals, jobs and business to the state.
“I see Iowa having the most cost effective electrical grid — essentially the most redundant, most sustainable — and a net-negative carbon footprint earlier than I die,” Franken instructed a crowd of greater than 90 voters and supporters gathered Friday on the Tic Toc restaurant in Cedar Rapids. “This may change the way forward for Iowa.”
The retired Navy admiral — carrying costume pants, a costume shirt, a tie and a ball cap with “NAVY” scrawled throughout it — is working to unseat longtime Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley within the Nov. 8 election.
Grassley, a Republican looking for his eighth time period within the Senate, launched his first advert of the final election this week, criticizing feedback Franken has made about rural Iowa.
“And I’m sorry that the reality hurts a lot,” Franken stated Friday, responding to the advert. “However, it’s important to determine the issue earlier than you proceed to an answer.”
Franken on Friday additionally stated Iowa voters have to reject partisan politics and collect round a unifying message that places “nation over occasion” and “individuals over politics.”
He talked about President Joe Biden’s fiery prime-time deal with Thursday decrying the “excessive ideology” of former President Donald Trump and his adherents “threatens the very basis of our republic.”
“We have to deal with individuals with respect,” Franken stated. “We should be forthright. We have to converse the reality. … And I believe what you noticed with the president’s speech final evening is he’s had it. He’s completely had it. And I believe plenty of Republicans within the state — and each doggone Democrat as effectively — we’ve had it. Cease this. We can not have the divisions. … Cease the synthetic dividing.”
Grassley marketing campaign spokesperson Michaela Sundermann stated in a press release that Franken’s agenda “would remodel Iowa to be extra liberal than California and keep in lock step with President Joe Biden’s failed insurance policies.”
“Beneath President Biden, now we have entered a recession and seen the price of dwelling skyrocket,” Sundermann stated. “Iowans do not want one other liberal rubber-stamp of the Biden agenda in Washington, D.C. We’d like somebody who’s combating towards the failed Biden-Franken agenda and combating for Iowa. Iowans wish to get America and our financial system again heading in the right direction. We now have a confirmed chief in Senator Chuck Grassley.”
Franken, talking to reporters after the marketing campaign occasion in Cedar Rapids, stated he applauds Biden for signing the Inflation Discount Act final month.
“It’s a good-news invoice, in contrast to earlier payments which were handed, or handouts which were given to largely company entities or these industries which can be hazard by dangerous commerce coverage within the earlier administration,” Franken stated, including the brand new legislation will modestly reduce the federal funds deficit.
Franken, too, applauded the passage and signing of the bipartisan infrastructure invoice — which Grassley supported — stating Iowa, together with rural areas, will “reap big advantages” from the funding to improve the state’s ailing bridges, roads, locks and dams and develop high-speed broadband web service that help business and the move of products and companies.
The most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Ballot printed in July confirmed Grassley main Franken by 8 proportion factors amongst possible Iowa voters, making it essentially the most aggressive election Grassley has confronted since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1980.
Cedar Rapids resident Randy Jacobson stated he has beforehand voted for Grassley however can be voting for Franken within the November election.
Jacobson stated he was a longtime unbiased voter who switched to the Democratic Get together through the 2008 presidential election.
He stated he’s been turned off by Grassley’s help of Trump and for spreading “false rumors about issues, attempting to scare individuals.” Jacobson referred to remarks Grassley made final month on “Fox & Buddies” speculating whether or not the IRS would use elevated funding from the Inflation Discount Act to ship armed items of brokers into small Iowa companies.
As soon as seen as a sober conservative voice in Congress prepared to work throughout occasion strains, Jacobson stated he feels Grassley has grow to be more and more partisan, targeted extra on robbing Democrats of legislative victories in Congress than advancing Iowans’ pursuits.
Voters can begin requesting absentee ballots and can get an opportunity to see Grassley and Franken debate on Iowa PBS on Oct. 6.
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team finished two rounds of play at the Fighting Irish Classic on Sunday. The Hawkeyes currently sit in sixth place out of 15 teams.
Sophomore Noah Kent and junior Gage Messingham are both leading the Hawkeyes, tied for 8th place overall. Kent shot 1-over (71) in the first round and 1-under (69) in the second round, finishing with a total score of 140. Messingham join Kent as the only other Hawkeye to go under-par today in a round.
Sophomore Max Tjoa is tied for 37th place, shooting rounds of 74 and 72, with a total score of 146. Senior Chance Rinkol posted scores of 71 and 77 in the first and second rounds, respectively, and sits tied for 51st place with a score of 148. Senior Josh Lundmark recorded rounds of 79 and 71, finishing tied for 64th place with a total score of 150.
HAWKEYE SCORECARD
| 6/15 | Team | +5 | +3 | 148 |
| T8 | Gage Messingham | -1 | +1 | 140 |
| T8 | Noah Kent | +1 | -1 | 140 |
| T37 | Max Tjoa | +4 | +2 | 146 |
| T51 | Chance Rinkol | +1 | +7 | 148 |
| T64 | Josh Lundmark | +9 | +1 | 150 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“Today was a very strong team performance with Noah and Gage leading the way. We showed a lot of grit all day but especially down the stretch. We’re in a great position heading into the final round.”
UP NEXT
The final round of the Fighting Irish Classic is set to tee off on Monday morning.
Nebraska volleyball entered October a perfect 38-0 against Iowa all-time. That number is now 39-0.
The No. 2 Huskers (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten) swept the Hawkeyes (8-8, 2-2 Big Ten), 25-17, 25-11, 25-13. This is the eighth-straight sweep for Nebraska over Iowa and 11th-straight win since falling at SMU.
Nebraska’s offense hit a blistering .404, led by 10 kills on .400 hitting from Merritt Beason.
The story of the day was the middles, though. With Andi Jackson out again, Leyla Blackwell earned the start alongside Rebekah Allick. The pair notched nine kills each, with Blackwell hitting .692 and Allick hitting .583. They also combined for five blocks.
Bergen Reilly dished out 35 assists.
Iowa managed to hit just .155, but did have the player with a match-high for kills: Michel Urquahart at 11.
Nebraska is back in action Friday, hosting No. 10 Purdue.
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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.
Video: Jay Higgins on Iowa’s defensive performance in loss to Ohio State
Jay Higgins discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz made his view of the quarterback position pretty clear after Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Ohio State.
No, the Hawkeyes are not headed for a change at quarterback, Ferentz said.
“We’re not ready, I think, to have a controversy at that position,” the longtime head coach said.
The loss to Ohio State again illustrated the gap between Iowa and national powerhouses. The Hawkeyes haven’t beaten one of the three giants of the Big Ten — Penn State, Michigan or Ohio State — since a 2021 win over the Nittany Lions. Against ranked opponents last season, Iowa was beaten a combined 92-0.
Perhaps you could point to the fact that Iowa at least scored on Saturday as progress. But in reality, Saturday’s margin was similar to those three games last season.
More: Leistikow: Rating concern levels for Iowa football at quarterback, offensive line, defense
The quarterback position wasn’t good enough on Saturday. Cade McNamara finished the game 14-of-20 passing for 98 yards and three turnovers — two fumbles and one interception. Just like the game itself, the quarterback play fit an old, tired narrative.
When, if ever, will Iowa’s quarterback woes finally be solved?
To be clear, quarterback production was not the only deficient area on Saturday. The Hawkeyes were beaten in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — and outgained 203-116 on the ground. Iowa’s defense also gave up four touchdowns through the air.
After Iowa trailed just 7-0 at the break, it got ugly in the second half. Ohio State is a legitimate national championship threat, and the Hawkeyes didn’t do much in the third and fourth quarters to show they could compete at that level.
“The bottom line is, you’ve got to play clean football against a team like this,” Ferentz said. “We weren’t able to do that. They get some credit on that, too.”
Kirk Ferentz on Cade McNamara after loss to Ohio State: ‘Cade will be fine’
Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
Since the 2019 departure of Nate Stanley, Iowa’s quarterback struggles have been no secret. Whether it be Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla or Deacon Hill, Iowa hasn’t gotten necessary production from that position. There was optimism that McNamara, once a prized transfer from Michigan, would be the solution.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career, McNamara has fallen short of that.
The lowest bar for McNamara to clear as Iowa’s quarterback — taking care of the ball — is something he was unable to do on Saturday.
McNamara’s turnovers came on three consecutive possessions to open the second half, all but erasing any first-half hope that Iowa had managed to build.
Because Iowa lives in such thin margins, avoiding turnovers is paramount, even more so against a team like Ohio State. The lack of ball security was a reason the quarterback position was such a disaster at Iowa last season. Hill finished the season with a ratio of eight interceptions to five passing touchdowns.
McNamara’s touchdown pass-to-interception ratio this season is now 3-to-3. He was without a turnover against Illinois State, Troy and Minnesota, but coughing up the ball proved costly against Iowa State and Ohio State. An early second-half turnover against Iowa State this season gave the Cyclones life. Three against Ohio State on Saturday shut the door on a possible upset.
“We evaluate every position week to week,” Ferentz said about quarterback. “But we’re comfortable. I think Cade’s improving. I really do. It sounds funny with the turnovers today, I think he seems more comfortable. His timing seems better. And he was getting the ball out really well in the first half. We have to improve as a collective offense.”
It might go against popular opinion but to Ferentz’s point, McNamara started Saturday’s contest well, completing 10 of his first 12 passes. There is, however, a gaping hole in that argument.
Completion efficiency is not McNamara’s biggest issue. In fact, in the last two games — against Minnesota and Ohio State — he was a combined 25-of-39, marking major improvement from a putrid 13-of-29 outing against Iowa State.
But that extremely efficient stretch against Ohio State matters less if it amounts to zero points and also means turning the ball over three times later on.
In his Iowa career, McNamara has not yet thrown a touchdown against a power conference opponent (granted, a redzone package with backup Brendan Sullivan was implemented earlier this season, making it more difficult for McNamara to do so). But more troubling than the lack of touchdowns are the fact that all three of his interceptions this season have come against power conference opponents (one was a last ditch heave against Iowa State). You can also add the two fumbles against Ohio State to that turnover tally.
Iowa didn’t get McNamara just to beat up on lower level programs. When the competition level rises, he needs to do so with it.
“We just can’t turn the ball over,” McNamara said Saturday. “We had three drives in a row with turnovers. That just can’t happen. They just came out in the second half and they played well. They’re are a good defense and they’re a good team.”
You can argue ad nauseam against Ferentz’s assertion that McNamara is improving. But bottom line is, the fact that this is even a discussion is a problem. It was reasonable to think that McNamara would’ve been better than this through five games.
Iowa doesn’t need its quarterback to be prolific. Running back Kaleb Johnson solves a lot for the offense with the way he’s been playing. Iowa just needs McNamara to take care of the ball and make defenses pay on occasion when the chance presents itself.
In critical moments, that hasn’t been the case.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson reacts to 35-7 loss at Ohio State
The Hawkeyes junior wound up rushing 15 times for 86 yards, but most of those came after the game was decided.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career — split between 2023 and 2024 due to injury — McNamara hasn’t done much to validate the excitement that once surrounded him. Ferentz has preached patience for someone who has been out for an extended period — on multiple occasions. That faith in him could still bear results.
But time is becoming of the essence for McNamara to change the narrative.
Said Ferentz: “Cade will be fine.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
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