Ah, football. What is it about this sport? It’s more than the hot chocolate warming our hands through our mittens, the bass drum catching hold of the chilly air, or the outsized energy of the players. For me, after all the touchdowns are tallied and all the drinks are drained, the greatest thing about this...

There is a man in my life who is 15 years younger than me. He is my brother—and he is a kid who was raised in youth sports. From an early age, Patrick’s care and tutelage was entrusted to coaches. Adult men worked with him one-on-one to develop his skills and grow his potential, taking...

Hey Ricky, You so Fine No denying, he’s got the numbers. Ricky Stanzi is a better QB than he was last year. With just four interceptions (vs. 15 last year) and a higher completion percentage, Ricky’s made marked improvements that are worthy of respect. In his final bowl game, his senior year, he’s our man....

It’s not particularly hip to be a fan. Not that I’ve noticed, anyway. I’ve personally suffered many an eye-roll from less fanatic friends and I’ve seen fellow fans dressed in their Hawkeye garb just barely get a drink served to them in certain elite Northside establishments. I’ve felt a pang of embarrassment hearing a nearby...