If You Build It, They Will Come

 Here's the initial list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2023. Some teams made aggressive moves to get more Iowa Connections on their team, including the Jets and the Lions.  Others remain happy in their current state of mediocrity, especially the Commanders who after a disappointing season with zero connections...remain at zero connections.  They are the only team this year without one. This blog is official rooting for a Miami / Tampa Bay Super Bowl.   Overall, 117 connections this year (117 last year by the end).  We will add a few as the season progresses.  

 Collecting Iowa and Iowa State schedules are tough enough, what about a FCS school with not as many NFL players! Well, doesn't mean we can't try.  Here's the start of the Northern Iowa schedules: 2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks David Johnson This card shows David Johnson in his away jersey at an outdoor location.  The scan here is difficult to see, but there are football players in the background that are black and gold.  This is from a game at Iowa.  DJ played two games at Iowa, in 2012 and 2014.  Luckily for us, the jersey changed between those years, and the 2014 version has a large purple patch on the sleeve, so this is from the 2012 game. 2012 at Iowa, September 15th, 16-27 loss Panther FB 2012 Update: 1 / 12 Games Hawkeye FB 2012 Update: 1 / 12 Games

 Now we get to the fun part.  I am a Northern Iowa alum, so I do take some pride in this collection.  Some of my favorite collection are in this group, including Kurt Warner, David Johnson, Dedric Ward and Kenny Shedd.  Kenny Shedd holds a dear spot in my heart.  I remember opening 1993 Classic packs skipping past Bettis, Bledsoe, Hearst and the rest hoping to get the Shedd card, the first card I had ever seen with a Panther in his Panther jersey on a card.   Big gainers this year included Kurt Warner (45 cards), David Johnson (28), Jeff Burris (19) and Bryce Paup (18).  I moved up to 2nd place for Warner, and remain a mere 950 cards behind 1st place (Go Thunder21 !)  Most collections I'm in 1st or 2nd, and the one that are lower are typically Northern Iowa coaches that I started collecting later (Burris, Frost, Klein, Chambers, Bullocks). Trevor Penning and Brandon Lynch are new additions to the checklist.  Penning, Terrell Sinkfield an...

Here's the initial list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2022. Only one team is starting the year at zero, which I assume they are having discussions about in the background.   UPDATE #1: Shaun Huls is the Director of Performance with the Cleveland Browns and is from LeMars This blog is official rooting for a Green Bay / Baltimore Super Bowl.  At the other end of the spectrum, we do not root for bad things to happen to teams, but we do implore the Washington Commanders to consider resigning Ross Piersbacher to address their lack of Iowa Connections. Overall, 101 connections this year (105 last year).  We will add a few as the season progresses.  Kelechi Osemele is meeting with the Bears, Amara Darboh often becomes a filler WR as the injuries pile up, etc.   Of course, blog favorite David Johnson is out there as well.  We'll assuming waiting for the right opportunity.  Note: Coaches in  italics, New in bold Iowa Hawkeyes : 5...