Big wins, humble beginnings
to learn from everything that you do.”
In his 27 years at the helm for the Hawkeyes, the longest-tenured active head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Kirk Ferentz, attempted, then attained, the success of his predecessor, Hayden Fry. If reaching Fry’s pedestal was daunting, then entering the stratosphere of legendary Ohio State University coach Woody Hayes appeared impossible when Ferentz arrived on campus in 1999.
Now, Ferentz and Hayes belong in the same sentence, with the Hawkeye head coach a notch ahead in victories. His record-breaking 206th arrived in the University of Iowa’s 47-7 victory over the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Sept. 13.
“You don’t really think about it. It’s never really been a goal of mine,” Ferentz told Big Ten Network after the win. “Being a head coach was never really a goal, so let’s start there. The whole concept was just do the best you can in whatever you’re doing.”
Ferentz doesn’t want his record to disguise the reality of his career. The record-setting prime time win over UMass may appear as a formality now, but back in 1999, a Week 3 home game against a Mid-American Conference opponent under the lights was no guarantee.
That contest occurred Sept. 18, 1999, against Northern Illinois University, with the UI emerging victorious, 24-0. The triumph marked Ferentz’s first win with the Hawkeyes, an important milestone in any coaching career, but for Ferentz, it was not indicative of where he ended up over two decades later in the pantheon of Big Ten coaches.
“That’s the last thing in the world I was thinking about,” Ferentz told Big Ten Network after the UMass game. “That was hardly pretty, but they’re all pretty. But you’ve got to start somewhere. That team dug in, got it done, and things just kept going from there.”
Ferentz speaks of gradual growth, but the progress wasn’t linear. The coach’s next win wouldn’t arrive until the following year.
While today’s Ferentz teams seem destined for the postseason, the coach’s first iteration went 1-10. The follow-up season went 3-9.
After a victory in the Alamo Bowl to close out the 2001 campaign and finish with a 7-5 record, the Hawkeyes posted just two losing seasons since.
Despite the steady climb and view from the mountainto, Ferentz will share stories from the bottom, tales of a team with the talent to win but lacked the execution in close games.
“If you can survive it, then hopefully you are learning,” Ferentz said in a press conference. “You have
For Anthony Herron, a defensive end under Ferentz in 1999 and 2000, wins were elusive in Ferentz’s early seasons, but the head coach and his players laid the groundwork for today. Herron, safety Matt Bowen, and linebacker LeVar Woods headlined the defensive effort while la ek captained the offensive line. Soon-to-be star players like Dallas Clark, onathan abineaux, and Eric Steinbach were still in development or had yet to switch positions.
The story of Ferentz’s legacy at the UI starts on the ground oor.
“There was a foundation that got laid over those first couple of seasons that he respects, appreciates, and goes out of his way to reference over a quarter century later,” Herron told The Daily Iowan. “The level of deference to folks who were here early, who didn’t get to experience the spoils of the program’s success, that all of us really appreciate in a big way.”
“We didn’t realize we were going to be a bad team,” the former Hawkeye defensive end said.
Herron’s words may sound shocking now, but considering the time period, they are somewhat reasonable. While the transfer portal existed back then, there was no immediate eligibility at an athlete’s new school. Departures were limited. Plus, at that point, the Hawkeyes and losing didn’t compute.
When Fry retired after a difficult - season, he left as UI football’s all-time wins leader. His squads qualified for bowl games in three of his last four seasons, winning two and finishing within the ssociated Press Top 25 twice.
“We still thought we were going to be awesome at that point,” Herron said. “We thought we had the little hiccup early in the season, and we thought we would get this thing figured out as soon as we figured out who this Kirk Ferentz guy was.”
The UI dropped its season opener to the University of Nebraska, 42-7, conceding 35 points in the second half. The following week at Iowa State University, the UI faced an early -point deficit before falling, 17-10. Nevertheless, the return home to face an 0-2 NIU looked promising, especially with a pregame ceremony for Fry, who privately fought prostate cancer that year.
“It felt fitting because we all loved him so much,” Herron said of Fry, who died in 2019. “We certainly wanted to show out and show off, knowing he was there watching us.”
Bowen will admit the Hawkeyes didn’t play their best football that day. The I missed a field goal
and coughed up a fumble before limping to halftime with a 3-0 lead. Bowen noticed no panic from his new head coach, who didn’t rewrite the playbook during the break but rather capitalized on his NFL background.
“You look at how he manages games now,” Bowen said. “Field position, winning the turnover battle, setting your team up to win in the fourth quarter. That’s Sunday football because everyone’s good.”
The Hawkeyes scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a blocked field goal returned yards for a touchdown by Woods. Bowen gifted Ferentz the game ball in the locker room. The awkeyes finally won a game, and the sense of relief morphed into eager anticipation of what was next.
“There was a general sense of excitement,” Bowen said. “Like, ‘Look, we can do this.’ To do it with a new staff, to see Kirk, to see how excited he was; it was a special moment for the program moving forward.”
Bowen can’t help but scrutinize. That’s his job with ESPN, where he pores over film as a football analyst. e ecting on that season, he points out potential victories that slipped out of reach. Certainly not against powerhouses Oklahoma State University and Penn State University, but versus Northwestern University, Indiana University, and even No. 17 University of Minnesota in the season finale, the awkeyes lost by single digits.
“You just go through the games in your head,” he said. “I’ll do this the rest of my life. That’s who I am.”
In an age without social media, print newspapers were the main source of outside noise. Easy enough to ignore, but it’s still challenging to find motivation in a trying season. For Bowen, the source of inspiration was internal.
“I never felt that we stopped caring. I never felt that we stopped trying,” he said. “I think the best way to say it was that we tried. We still worked to play Iowastyle football, and for us that year, at times, it wasn’t enough.”
Bowen visited his alma mater the following year and saw the UI top Michigan State University, 21-16, snapping a 13-game losing streak for the Hawkeyes.
“ ust the way they played that day, the emotion of the team afterwards, it just felt like a turning point,” Bowen said. “For someone who’s been in the program, I felt like this is something unique. This is something different, and it’s gonna take off soon.”
For Herron, the win over the Spartans was a sign the Hawkeyes were learning how to win. Yet their teacher developed elevated
expectations.
Despite the lopsided loss to UNL in 1999, Ferentz never got upset postgame, Herron said. He noted his coach’s demeanor changed during the 2000 rematch with the Huskers. UI football trailed, 21-13, heading into halftime in Lincoln, but was blanked, 21-0, over the final minutes of action. The top-ranked Huskers piled on 490 total yards and completed all but three passes and tossed five touchdowns. nother game where the Hawkeyes cost themselves a winnable contest, and Ferentz let his players hear it.
“He’s kicking things, he’s shouting in a way that we didn’t experience at all in 1999,” Herron said. “That moment, to me, indicated that Kirk could tell we were capable of more that year.”
UI football further established the higher standard
with consecutive wins over PSU and then-No. 12-ranked Northwestern.
When 2001 rolled around, the Hawkeyes posted their first winning season since 1997, but Herron and Bowen both left the program before then.
On return visits to Kinnick Stadium, they witness a coach with grayer hair, one who no longer participates in morning jogs with then-assistant Bret Bielema. The man who once looked almost too young to be in charge of a Big Ten team is 70 years old, a steadfast figure on the sidelines who stood through constant change and criticism.
“Somehow, all these years, he’s still able to sustain and still be confident, humble, and hungry for improvement and for work in a way that I seriously doubt I still will be at 70 years old,” Herron said.
Waving from a new perspective
Ninety-three families of cancer patients join the Hawkeye Wave at the UMass game.
Cancer patients, their families, and hospital staff cheered on the Hawkeyes Saturday, coming from Iowa and Illinois to tailgate and attend the football game with the purpose of participating in a beloved University of Iowa tradition: the Hawkeye Wave.
The Hawkeye Wave is a longstanding tradition at the UI, with football players, spirit squads, coaches, and thousands of fans — rooting for either team playing that day — waving to the many children inside the UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
According to the Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics website, the tradition began in 2017 and occurs at the end of the first uarter.
The timing for the families’ visit at Kinnick Stadium coincides with Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, a month to advocate for research and support families affected by childhood cancer. This is the second year the families have celebrated a day away from treatment in the children’s hospital.
Ashley Hall, mother of James Hall, the Kid Captain for the Sept. 6 game against the Iowa State yclones, started the nonprofit “Why We Wave Foundation.”
The foundation helps families navigate the costs associated with pediatric cancer, Hall said, including expenses outside of treatment because often one parent has to quit their job.
“In my case, I haven’t had a full-time job in three years because my son has been in and out of treatment since he was one, and he’s five now. ith my free time, I try to help other families navigate it because it’s a lot—it’s
expensive,” Hall said. Families of cancer patients have to put money for entertainment— or funds for entertainment, aside because they usually cannot afford a ticket to go to football games or other activities, Hall said.
Hall said the patients in attendance were all at different stages of their cancer diagnosis, with many currently in treatment or remission, as well as family members who lost their child to cancer.
About 10 tailgates volunteered to host families, including one at the Courtyard Marriott, so the families wouldn’t have to pack food for the day.
“They just got to come to Iowa City and enjoy being a part of Kinnick Stadium,” Hall said.
Another organization, Tater Tough, was started by a family who lost their son to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, a brain stem tumor with no current cure. The organization covered the cost of a shuttle bus, which drove families from the commuter lot to Kinnick before, during, and after the game.
Hall explained the help mitigated the stress of families having to navigate traffic around Kinnick as many haven’t experienced that before.
“We just try to make the day as easy as possible so all they have to do is come, have some lunch, enjoy the game, and feel that piece of victory of being on the other side for the day,” Hall said.
Patients, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were all invited to watch the game from the south end zone.
“However many tickets you need, we’ll do our best to cover all of it,’”Hall said.
In addition to the patients and their families, oncology staff members were in attendance
with their families. Among the attendees were the Director of Oncology at UI Health Care
David Dickens, music therapist Maddie Smith, and pharmacist Jason Cleppe.
“It shows how much they care about their patients when they’re willing to give up their day off to spend it with their patients as well,” Hall said.
Around 60 percent of the kids who came to the football game last year had never been to a game in Kinnick before, Hall said.
“These kids have looked at the stadium for all of their cancer treatment, so it’s a neat experience for them,” Hall said. “There are some parents who look out the window and never know if they’re going to leave. It’s a little victory in your child’s fight to be able to be on the other side and give that opportunity to them.”
For some of the families in attendance, their children had passed away between this year’s
game and the one last year. Becca Ozegovic, whose son was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in January 2024, never thought the family would be waving from inside Kinnick Stadium. The University of Massachussetts game was Ozegovic and her family’s second wave, and she said they are grateful to be doing it as a family.
“The game, like other events organized by cancer families, is also great for our older children to be around siblings who know exactly what it’s like to be in a warrior family,” Ozegovic said.
Hall said it gives her a sense of peace and purpose to spend her time helping others because people have been generous while helping her and her family in the last four years.
“We just want to reciprocate,” Hall said.
Tiera Degeest, who attended the game Saturday, said events like these are important.
Degeest lost her son Bentley to cancer in September 2021. He had a rare form of childhood cancer called embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in his inner ear and brain. Bentley fought through four months of active treatment—300 pokes, three major brain surgeries, and several ife-threatening infections.
Bentley’s family now looks forward to events like these, where they can reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and honor the kids who are no longer with them.
“They bring hope to our community, remind families that we are not alone, and highlight the urgent need for funding – not only for childhood cancer research but also for the families who carry this weight every single day,” Degeest said. “Being in a space where we feel seen, appreciated, valued, and safe with people who just get it means everything.”
‘The Golden Voice’ bids farewell
Lou Crist, the longtime voice of the Hawkeye Marching Band, retired after 44 years.
to do a job he loved for so long.
Lou Crist has been more than just the announcer for the Hawkeye Marching Band. For 44 years, he has been its heart.
“The Golden Voice” of the award-winning band has been an integral part of Iowa football. Now, after more than four decades of service, he has put down the microphone.
rist announced his final game for the band on Aug. 30 during the Hawkeyes’ season opener against the University of Albany, where he was honored for his contributions during the band’s halftime performance.
Attending the University of Iowa in the late 1950s, Crist played baritone in the marching band and started developing a background in broadcasting
before making his way to the announcer’s booth.
Crist began his career as the marching band announcer in 1981. That March, Crist had his leg amputated after doctors found a cancerous tumor above his knee.
Worried it would impact his job, he called then-marching band
director Morgan Jones to ask if he needed to be replaced.
Crist recalled Jones’ reply, “Did it hurt your voice?”
“That was the best response he could’ve given me because it gave me the impetus to say, ‘We’re going to do this and I’ve got the disability, but the band’s willing to try it, so I am, too,’” Crist said.
Crist said being a part of the Hawkeye Marching Band helped him greatly as he navigated his job with a disability.
“Everybody was just so helpful,” he said. “I didn’t want there to become a point where they had to spend so much time trying to tend to me. I would like to emphasize how helpful, in general, people have been
through my career.”
Crist said one of his favorite moments during his career of announcing was during a 2022 halftime show where the UI and Ohio State university marching bands did a performance together as a salute to Elton John.
“What a unique situation to have two collegiate bands doing halftime together,” he said. “And to be able to do a show that was actually both bands doing one drill was ust terrific.”
Current Marching Band
Director Eric Bush, who began working with Crist in 2018 when he joined the program, noted Crist’s resilience. He pointed to
a moment during the COVID-19 pandemic when Crist announced from a booth in Iowa during the Citrus Bowl.
“In 44 years, I believe he only ever missed one game,” Bush said.
“He was incredibly consistent, including that Bowl game where he announced from over 3,000 miles away.”
With Crist stepping down, a new announcer will be hired at the end of the football season.
Six different finalists will announce each home game for the remainder of the season.
Now that Crist has announced his final game, he said he has no regrets and appreciates being able
“It’s always exciting to be a part of Hawkeye football, especially home games because the band does a pregame performance and halftime performance and then plays in the stands,” he said. “I was always in the press box, but just to be a part of the whole thing has been a thrill.”
Crist said he looks forward to life outside of Kinnick. He said he won’t attend games during his retirement, but he plans to continue watching Hawkeye football with other fans at his retirement home.
“People gather to watch the games, and it’s a great time,” he said. “But on the other hand, I won’t be able to hear what the band sounds like because halftime shows for college games are not on television.”
Crist said he plans to spend his retirement reading a lot of mystery novels, meeting with groups in his residence to get coffee, and seeing old friends.
UI ranked poorly for free speech
Student surveys on self-censorship, political tolerance leave UI speech protections with a low rating.
The University of Iowa was given a D- grade by the Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, on free speech protections in its 2026 report.
The university’s score has remained steady, improving by less than two percent in the most recent rankings. The UI was given a 60 out of 100 in the April 2025 report, and a 61.6 this year.
I is a nonprofit, civil liberties group founded to protect the freedom of speech on college campuses.
In the 2026 report released on Sept. 8, categories such as “self-censorship” and “political tolerance” got lower grades than years prior, now both receiving an F.
The UI ranked in the top 25 for “administrative support,” but still received a D- grade in the section.
Brett Johnson, associate professor at the UI and licensed attorney, said freedom of speech, a right guaranteed in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, applies to all government spaces and has a unique place at public universities.
“You have a lot of young, impressionable minds that often can be very motivated to get behind a cause,” Johnson said.
He said universities can only “tinker around the edges” with their speech codes because they are subject to the First Amendment.
FIRE works to defend the free speech rights of college students releasing extensive rankings and reporting about free speech on campuses nationwide. Sean Stevens, chief research adviser at FIRE, described their mission as: “if it is protected, we will defend it.”
Stevens explained the methodology behind their analysis and ranking system. He said the rankings, primarily determined by student survey results, are representative of the overall environment on college campuses.
“We’re trying to measure the climate for people who feel comfortable expressing their views, even if they know what they’re saying might be unpopular, controversial, or a minority view — they feel comfortable doing it,” Stevens said.
The survey, distributed by College Pulse, asked over 68,500 students at 257 schools across the country how they felt about expressing themselves on campus. This included how frequently students felt the need to self-censor, how comfortable they have felt expressing themselves truthfully, and perceived level of political tolerance on campus.
When asked “How clear is it to you that your college administration protects free speech on campus?” 91 percent of respondents responded “somewhat clear,” “very clear,” or “extremely clear.”
Johnson said if FIRE’s concerns revolve around tolerance for speech among the student body, that is
statement said. Lehman said the policies are being constantly reviewed “to ensure cross-institutional consistency and compliance with the law, while identifying areas for improvement” by the board’s Free Speech and Student ffairs ommittee.
“All of these are really good investments in showing the university cares about the First Amendment, and what has that led to? Getting a rating of 30? That makes me question: What does 100 look like? Is it anarchy? Is it anything goes?” Johnson said.
Stevens said though those factors, including required First Amendment training and relevant courses, are not a direct component of the rankings, and they should be re ected in the distributed surveys.
“There’s a good amount of academic research indicating students who have course experience and knowledge tend to be more tolerant,” Stevens said. “If you buy that research, it should in theory show up in some of the different survey components.”
Claremont McKenna College tops the free speech rankings in the 2026 report but was only given a grade of B-.
of the upreme ourt’s definition of sexual harassment, provided in the 1999 decision Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education. The 5-to4 vote said schools may be liable if they act with deliberate indifference if harassment takes place preventing a student from having equal access to the institution’s opportunities.
The definition re uired behavior to be “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive,” nsloan said in the statement. e added the I’s definition
The alternative would be performing a legal analysis of university administrations informed by previous court decisions dictating what schools can and cannot restrict regarding free speech on campus.
Johnson questioned FIRE’s reporting methods, specifically the analysis on the overall tolerance climate of differing viewpoints on campus, as opposed to using legal ualifications about what is and is not permissible under the First Amendment.
Stevens added FIRE has members of its research team, campus advocacy team, and attorneys analyze individual events on campuses — interpreted by news reports, posts, videos, or any other publicly available information — which could positively or negatively affect a school’s ranking. FIRE utilizes policy advocacy and litigation to advance its mission of expanding free speech on college campuses in the U.S.
something that should not be the university’s job to manage.
He said FIRE should be considering the annual free speech training, mandated by Iowa law and taken annually by faculty, staff, and students, into the rankings. He also referenced one of his own courses, Freedom of Expression — which looks explicitly at First Amendment principles and cases — as another missed factor.
Josh Lehman, senior communications director for the Iowa Board of Regents, said the UI follows free speech policy directed by the board.
The lengthy policy statement details the regents’ goals of ensuring diversity of thoughts and opinions, and encouraging students to engage in meaningful debate on campus.
“The universities must strive to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression allowed under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” the
Stevens said having a school get a perfect score would be impossible because the scores are so heavily reliant on student perceptions, and student responses will vary.
Stevens said a policy reform team separately analyzes schools’ individual speech codes, in which schools are given a green, yellow, or red light rating. Of the analyzed policies, the UI currently has one receiving a yellow rating — a community policy broadly defining sexual harassment, analy ed in a report released April 2025.
Stevens said schools receiving a yellow ranking can be the worst because speech codes are so ambiguous they are not evenly enforced.
Senior Policy Counsel Ryans Ansloan, a member of FIRE’s policy reform team, described why the UI received a lesser rating in a statement to The Daily Iowan
He said university policy falls short
included none of those components, and the provided list of examples on prohibited behavior are broad and vague, and “could include anything from an off-color oke to awkward efforts to ask a classmate on a date.”
“Such broad language is ripe for administrative abuse, which is another reason the policy earns a yellow light rating,” Ansloan said. Johnson continued to disagree with FIRE’s rating of UI policy and said having a more rigid definition could lead to more inappropriate behavior falling through the cracks.
“If you really follow the logic, what they’re saying is, ‘Oh, I’m a misogynist who wants to say something incredibly sexist, because that is my political message, but I’m worried that this will be considered harassment, so therefore, poor me, I’m going to selfcensor,’” Johnson said.
Despite subpar rankings, UI officials emphasized the importance of free speech and varying student perspectives on campus.
Steve Schmadeke, UI publc relations manager, said on behalf of the university in a statement to the DI that freedom of expression is “essential to the educational mission of the university.” He provided statistics from free speech surveys, most recently distributed by the Iowa Board of Regents in 2024. The survey showed an improving attitude toward free speech on campus. Lehman said in a statement to the DI that ensuring free speech on campus is paramount
“The universities encourage students and staff to hear diverse points of view from speakers and programs sponsored by the university or recognized student, faculty, or staff organizations,” Lehman said in the statement. “The universities have policies to protect free speech that are viewpoint-neutral. Our campuses must continue to provide a safe environment, while allowing for the free and open expression of ideas.”
OPINIONS
Iowa City needs sobriety centers
Sobriety centers will save taxpayers money and reduce repeat o enses.
Forty-three people were arrested in August for public intoxication in Iowa City, according to the Iowa City police blotter. An additional 19 people were arrested for operating while intoxicated, each arrest costing the city time, money, and effort.
I’ve been working nights downtown for the past year, currently at Summit, and the walks home are always the most memorable part of my shift. Intoxicated people spill out of the bars and into the Pedestrian Mall, waiting in long lines for food they’ll only remember when their heads are hanging over the toilet the next morning. I’ve seen people beaten in the open, people berated all the way home by their furious partners, and vomit — vomit everywhere.
Law enforcement is often stationed at various strategic points to keep the crowds in line, generally looking about as excited to be serving the community as the people they drag to the drunk tank. I can’t imagine arresting volatile, drunk people is their favorite idea of serving the community.
Not to mention, there are never enough officers compared to the number of intoxicated people out. There never could be, and there never should be.
A sobriety center in Iowa City wouldn’t completely solve this problem, but it would provide relief.
Sobriety centers serve the community as a place where people can be voluntarily or involuntarily brought for public intoxication. The centers are generally staffed with medical professionals who help people sober up in a safe environment, and are equipped to handle alcohol-related medical emergencies.
Additionally, those checked into a sobriety center aren’t charged with public intoxication. epeat offenders and there are many in Iowa City — can be referred to outpatient services around the community.
While some people holding onto the old stance that “fear stops crime” might call this a slap on the wrist, I’d argue that a kick in the groin with jail time is often even less effective. specially for those struggling with addiction, the threat just isn’t enough. What they need is help, not another thrashing.
I spoke with a local poet downtown, Ralph Tunstell, who goes by BC, who said he has had friends arrested for cases of public intoxication.
“It’s a revolving door that never gets closed,” he said, referring to the
repeat offenses that often happen to those suffering from alcoholism or experiencing homelessness.
For the more resource oriented, it’s useful to remember booking costs money — often more than you’d think. After a sobriety center opened in Austin, Texas,
The Austin American-Statesman reported it cost taxpayers $102 for a publicly intoxicated person to stay the night at the center, while booking them in jail cost roughly double. The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association also reported an estimated annual savings of just over four million dollars to Austin. obering centers are a cost-effective alternative for providing care to the heavily intoxicated, and they offer resources to help those struggling with addiction long
term. For the police department, time spent booking the publicly intoxicated could instead be spent on more pressing matters, not to mention the reduction of violence between police and drunks. Who is more likely to get aggressive, the drunk told he’s being brought to jail or the one told he won’t be charged and is simply being brought somewhere to sober up a place with medical staff often better equipped to handle de-escalation?
Brought before the Iowa City City Council with letters of support from the community, a sobriety center is a very real possibility. Next time you complain about the chaos of downtown late at night, keep a sobriety center in mind as a possible option for the future.
Iowa City does not need more parking
Despite student requests for more parking, IC should not be centered around cars.
I often find myself resorting to the same question every time I try making small talk around campus: “How are you liking the city?” To which I am often hit with “It’s great, but parking sucks.” I hear this complaint so often I am starting to assume it is the consensus among students. “My apartment has terrible parking,” “Parking meters are so expensive,” “They should make campus parking free,” are other common complaints I hear.
Some groups have even gone as far as to turn their complaints into advocacy — from the campus Instagram meme page, which is not affiliated with the university, posting a utopian image captioned “society if there was ample parking on the UIowa campus,” to the Undergraduate Student Government. approached city officials and the university’s Transportation and Parking Department to address the need for student parking. In a recent research project with the UI School of Planning and Public ffairs, fourth-year I student harlie Thomas analyzed the comments section of a health and transportation survey conducted on campus. He found about a quarter of the responses mentioned parking.
So the question must be asked: Does Iowa City really need more parking?
To help answer this question, I asked Bogdan Kapatsila, assistant professor at the School of Planning and Public ffairs.
“When something is not expensive and convenient, like parking in many parts of Iowa City, it generates more demand since people perceive it as a norm. Using that perspective, there will never be enough parking,” he said.
If Iowa City were to create more parking, Kapatsila said, more people would choose to drive instead of walking, biking, or using the public buses — creating what transportation planners and engineers call “induced demand.” ventually, this funding and land dedication for car infrastructure would lead to a reduction of bus, bike, and walking infrastructure. People who previously utilized those systems would be forced to rely more on cars, which only further increases the demand for parking.
The city does not have unlimited amounts of funding and land. It must choose which transportation projects to invest in based on their goals for the community. The Iowa City Comprehensive Plan outlines these objectives, which include reducing emissions, improving health of citizens, and making housing more affordable.
Active modes of transport, Kapatsila said, are necessary to reach these goals. By making biking, walking, and busing options more available, we can reduce the emissions cars bear and advocate active lifestyles. When it comes to housing affordability, we can choose to use land for building more housing, rather than more driving lanes and parking spaces.
I’d consider the UI to be relatively walkable. Instead of regressing readily available ways to boost walking attitudes, we should embrace what campus has to offer.
In another option to increase
parking minimum requirements. This would allow developers or landlords to decide how much parking to provide.
That cost — which can range from $25,000 to $35,000 per space — is met with increasing rent and price of purchasing. This means developers will have the options to select the type of
affordability of housing while meeting the parking demands, we could do what many cities have done before and remove
housing and infrastructure to provide, increasing the diversity of offerings in terms of cost — to residents as well.
“Looking at these objectives, Iowa City does not need more parking,” Kapatsila said. Being that most students at the university have grown up in the rural and suburban Midwest, it is understandable why they are most comfortable using cars. ven though the city and campus provide an excellent bus system, many people still find themselves driving it is what they are used to, especially if they live far away from the heart of Iowa City. Unfortunately, this leads many to misunderstand how transportation works in larger cities — what they perceive as a severe lack of parking is actually a purposeful and strategic investment in sustainable transportation methods. I encourage students to not advocate for our campus and city to be structured around cars advocate for it to be structured around people transportation infrastructure is key.
SPORTS Managers take to the turf
A long walk through the dimly lit corridor of the Iowa football facility leads to a set of double doors. Past that barrier, a football practice unfolds like any other. Wide receivers trace articulate routes on the green artificial turf, uarterbacks sling spirals into tight windows, and players stand in huddled masses around a laminated play sheet. A clock operator mimics in-game scenarios while a camera records all the action.
Yet this Thursday night scene isn’t some covert training for the Hawkeyes, but rather a practice opportunity for the people who don’t wear a uniform. Iowa football’s 12 student managers attend every practice, travel to every game, and perform myriad tasks, ranging from e uipment needs to team operations.
The group’s objective centers on the Hawkeyes winning games, but they also have a contest of their own: an annual ag football game against isconsin’s student managers dating back decades. The weekly practice in the facility is one of many methods Iowa employs in preparation for the one-game season, played the Friday night before the Hawkeyes take on the Badgers. Iowa co-head student manager Elio Celentino knows an outsider may be skeptical, but he holds no doubts as to the game’s importance. The stakes for the matchup include an aptly named Rusty Toolbox trophy, but for the players, it might as well be made of gold.
“We take this pretty ridiculously seriously for a ag football game,” elentino said. “But when you only got one game a year, and you got an entire lineage of managers counting on you, you need to win it.”
The Rusty Toolbox was once the non-
descript item of Bill Dervich, Iowa’s former e uipment manager and director of football operations. His Wisconsin counterpart, John Chadima, wanted to create an eight versus eight ag football game for the managers of the two schools but needed some added incentive. When Dervich was looking for a new toolbox, Chadima found the answer.
After annual battles almost every year since 1991, age took its toll on the hardware. Now it dons black and white paint and is littered with the insignia of the two rivals. A Wisconsin W next to a given year indicates a Badger victory, while a Tigerhawk says otherwise.
The trophy found itself in Madison from 2009 to 2019, when Iowa reclaimed it with a double overtime triumph. Jake Manning was a volunteer manager that year and streamed the game back in Iowa ity. hen he became an official manager and member of the team in 2021, the cul-
Hawkeyes find o ensive spark
After redshirting last season, the second-year middle hi er tallied career-high kills against Utah Tech.
For Iowa volleyball second-year Aleksandra “ ashka” to anovic, a season on the sidelines was ust the beginning.
fter redshirting her first year on campus, the elgrade, Serbian-born Stojanovic opened the 2025-26 season with a burst of energy to lock down a key spot on the court for the Hawkeyes.
ike the center in basketball or the offensive tackle in football, volleyball’s middle hitter is an important position traditionally assigned to taller players. Stojanovic has merged experience with a 6-foot-3 frame to become a lethal blocker for Iowa.
“She’s really coachable, coming in from another country and learning the language and a different style of play,” head coach Jim Barnes told The Daily Iowan. “I train our middles, and she’s been great to coach.”
ture from two years ago remained alive and well. Manning said then-head managers Nolan Davis and Matt Condon appealed to the s uad’s pride. The days of serious sports ended after high school, but the toolbox game offered a chance to not only turn back the clock but provide a welcome respite from their daily work as managers.
“It’s a good chance to take all the hard work of a season and channel it into something for a night,” Manning said. “ e found a lot of enjoyment from it, but it’s a lot of hard work itself, too.” Manning, who now works at Northern Illinois, said Iowa would bring in the top intramural ag football teams to scrimmage against. Videos of past toolbox games offer opportunities for film study. Nonetheless, all these duties come after their job as managers, which Celentino
Forward Olivia Lebdaoui makes the right move
After three seasons at Florida State, the forward already sports two goals for the Hawkeyes.
Barnes further praised Stojanovic’s determination, adding she perceives instruction as a challenge to improve and, more importantly, an opportunity to master a skill.
After a high school career concluded with a spot on the No. 8 club team in Serbia in 2024 as well as a state championship in 2022, Stojanovic found herself drawn to the U.S. because of the opportunity to continue playing at a higher level.
“In urope in general, colleges ust work differently,” Stojanovic said. “You can’t play for a college. They don’t have sports teams. The only way you can actually do what you love and go to college, get a degree, is [to] go to merica.”
While the second-year loves her teammates and the culture, she was especially drawn to the commitment of arnes and his coaching staff.
“I remember we talked about something and [Barnes] said that he has daughters and that he knows that we are
Succeeding in a new environment with completely new teammates, coaches, plays, and schemes can be daunting to most, but not for graduate student forward Olivia Lebdaoui.
Down one score to then-No. 7 Texas Christian University in August, Iowa soccer found itself in an early hole during its home opener of the
Playing in just her second official game as a Hawkeye, Lebdaoui still boasted experience from three years at Florida State, where she helped the Seminoles to an ACC title in 2024. Clutch situations weren’t new to her, and the forward took advantage. She barely had to move.
Launching a corner kick over multiple TCU defenders to tie the game, Lebdaoui added another goal on a penalty shot, marking the first multi-goal game for a Hawkeye this season. When asked what’s been working for her this year, Lebdaoui had to laugh.
“I mean, set pieces? I’m waiting for one in the run of play, but I mean a corner and a PK, they found the back of the net,” she said. While missing the 2023 season and watching as Florida State took home the national championship, Lebdaoui holds plenty of hardware, including the ACC tournament title and three regular season conference champion awards.
After graduating from Florida State, Lebdaoui felt the need to start over elsewhere. She wanted to pursue a master’s degree in sport management but also continue her career on the pitch.
The Hawkeyes’ NCAA tournament run to the Sweet 16 grabbed her attention.
From mountains to pastures
Colorado native Elena Torres looks to build on her successful freshman campaign and help the Hawkeyes prove their doubters wrong in 2025.
Growing up in Loveland, Colorado, Elena Torres lived directly between the territories of nationally-recognized Colorado and Colorado State cross country programs.
Both programs have an illustrious championship history, with Colorado winning an NCAA title in 2018, but Torres decided to find new pastures literally.
Having lived near the mountains her whole life, Torres was eager to branch out to a state she was more unfamiliar with. One visit to Iowa City was the selling point, and she announced her commitment to the Hawkeyes ahead of her senior year of high school.
Two years later, the second-year distance runner ust won her first race in the black and gold. The historic milestone occurred during the season-opener at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City on Sept. 5.
It was a special moment for Torres.
“I was super excited crossing the finish line and then turning around and seeing all of my teammates finishing with P s as well,” Torres said. “My dad and sister surprised me at this race, too. I didn’t know they were coming out so that was good that they got to be there, too.”
Torres made an impact during her freshman campaign, finishing in second place at the 2024 Big Ten Championship and NCAA Midwest egional. ow off to a strong start in 2025, the sophomore has proven she could offer even more firepower to Iowa’s lineup.
Head coach Randy Hasenbank couldn’t help
but rave about Torres’ impact on the team, not only with her race performances but through her character as well.
“She’s a natural leader just by her work ethic,” said Hasenbank. “People see that and go, ‘OK, that’s how it needs to be done.’”
During the recruitment process, Hasenbank knew what sort of performances he could get out of the Colorado native. However, Torres’ character played just as much of a role to him when it came to wanting her on the team.
“Altitude aside, it’s her attitude,” Hasenbank said. “She’s very determined, and that’s already affecting the way the rest of the team prepares.” Her attitude has sifted down to the entire Hawkeye team. Iowa made a statement at the
Q&A | Iowa cross country runner Luke Knepp
What’s the hardest course you’ve ever raced at?
Hawkeye Invitational, placing each of their top seven runners in the top-10.
“We had some really big PRs across the board in our first meet,” Torres said. “ nowing we’re in better shape already than last year is a really good feeling.”
With only three meets until the Big Ten Championship in late October, there’s only so many races and such limited time to improve for the Hawkeyes.
The season opener was a strong testament to what Iowa is capable of, but they still have a lot more to prove over the course of the next seven meets.
Torres understands Iowa could have some doubters this season, but she and her teammates are on a mission to prove those doubters wrong.
“We’re an underdog,” Torres said. “I think we’re ready to go out and show everyone what we’ve got.”
The Daily Iowan: What is yourfavorite pre-race song?
Luke Knepp: That’s a hard question for me because I can’t remember any lyrics or song titles, but I’ve been into Mac Miller, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Frank Ocean.
The only song I can actually remember the name of in general is “Yellow” by Coldplay.
If you could be on any other Hawkeye sports team, which would it be?
Definitely golf. I’m a big golfer, so getting to golf for free and travel around the country to see a bunch of courses would be pretty cool.
What is your go-to pre-meet meal?
Oatmeal, a bagel, or applesauce. I have a pretty weak stomach, so I keep it pretty light on race day. If it’s a night race, it’s pretty common that I’ll just eat those for both breakfast and lunch.
I was an alternate my freshman year at the Oklahoma State meet. That course was pretty hard, but I didn’t have to run it. My home cross country course for Pleasant Valley in high school is probably the toughest course I ran in high school.
What’s your favorite training shoe brand?
The Nike Vomero 18 is what our team got this year, and I like them a lot. I liked the Vomero 17s a lot before that, so the Vomero line has definitely been my go-to for the past couple of years.
Would you rather race in 40 degree or 80 degree weather?
For an easy run I would take 80s, but for a race I’d have to go 40s.
What’s your favorite course to race at?
I’ve enjoyed racing out at our home course here in Iowa City. I’ve ran there three times,
one of them being in high school, and all of them have gone pretty well. It’s fun to be out there where there’s some fans that are only going to see you run once, so it’s a good time. Who’s your favorite Hawkeye athlete of all time?
I didn’t grow up a Hawkeye fan, so I would say recently it would be Caitlin Clark. She’s the face of women’s basketball, so it’s pretty cool that she started here. She’s also from Iowa, which makes it cooler.
What’s your favorite Iowa City restaurant?
Graze. I discovered it last year, and I’m obsessed with it. Their main thing is chicken lips, which are basically just chicken wings. I get their green beans, and they also have good pizza.
What’s your favorite cereal?
I don’t eat cereal often, but in the dorms I would say Cheerios or Lucky Charms. I just like the Lucky Charms for the marshmallows.
Which Iowa rookie will have the most success in the NFL?
Kaleb Johnson could be considered the steal of the draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with the No. 83 overall pick in the 2025 raft, and he fits the mold of the Steel City perfectly.
Johnson embodies the tough, hardworking nature of Steelers football with his tough running style and ability to break tackles. While at Iowa, Johnson found the most success on zone runs, where he could stretch the defense and find a cutback lane. The Steelers love to run the ball and have a similar style to the Hawkeyes, so ohnson will fit into that offense perfectly by using his experience at Iowa. While he’s not the lead back, Pittsburgh has an extremely effective
weapon at its disposal.
ohnson can also break off big runs and hit those “home run” plays the Steelers need. One of the biggest examples of Johnson’s home run ability was his 72-yard touchdown catch against Nebraska last season, where he broke five tackles and ipped the game.
Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards on 240 attempts with the Hawkeyes in 2024, while also breaking Shonn Greene’s single-season rushing touchdowns record with 21 scores. Johnson ran for over 128 yards per game last season and reached the 100-yard mark eight times through 11 games. Johnson recorded a touchdown in every game last season, and only had one game where he didn’t have a rushing score. His 6.4 yards per carry tied him for second-most in the Big Ten in 2024. With Johnson’s tough-nosed attitude and big-play ability, he’ll easily become a staple in the NFL and be a weapon for the Steelers.
Despite being undrafted, Jay Higgins was the best Iowa football player available in the 2025 NFL draft. The linebacker went from a three-star recruit out of Indianapolis to a consensus top linebacker in the country. Yet, nobody picked him.
Seven full rounds of players better than him? Yeah, right. Give it two years.
The combine is an opportunity to improve a player’s draft stock, though the opposite can happen. That was the case for Higgins. If he never went, he would’ve certainly got drafted. That’s why the combine doesn’t make sense sometimes. And of all 32 NFL teams, the
team that picked him up was the Baltimore Ravens — one of the favorites, if not the favorite, to win the Super Bowl. For a rookie to come in and earn one of the 53 spots on a contending team is extremely difficult.
The Ravens will take the 22-year-old and develop him into one of the better linebackers in the league in a few years.
In his last two seasons at Iowa, Higgins logged 295 combined tackles, 132 solo, nine passes de ected, eight tackles for loss, five interceptions, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in just 27 games played and earned an All-American spot for the 2024 season. Higgins is the epitome of a guy who’s been constantly overlooked. It happened in high school, it (somehow) happened in college, and it’ll probably happen in the NFL. But not for long. He will make his name known sooner than later.
said ranges from 40-50 hours a week.
“ s student managers, we work our asses off,” he said. “ e don’t expect any praise.”
There’s no general application to becoming a student manager. Rather, those interested need to reach out to the right people. For Celentino, a center and defensive lineman in high school, the toolbox team was an implicit part of the hiring process in 2021.
“ hen I was doing my tryout process, they were looking at how I could throw a ball, how I could catch a ball, what I was like holding up pads in practice because they wanted to slot me in for that team,” he said. “That’s something that we carry now we hire strong managers first, good workers. Not necessarily looking at athletes, but there’s an athletic part of the ob.”
hile the role of student manager re uires strength, a toolbox title involves physicality. Celentino places heavy air uotes on “ ag.” The line of scrimmage features three offensive linemen against two pass rushers. o pads, of course, just mouth guards. Outside of cut blocks, everything is fair game. or ieran Monaghan, a lineman at est elaware igh chool in Manchester, Iowa, his first toolbox game mirrored his tackle career and then some.
“ e obviously have to work the next day, and I felt like I got hit by a truck,” Monaghan said. “I was more sore than I’ve ever been playing a real football game because your body is not used to doing that. It’s been years since you’ve actually hit. It’s a weird feeling.”
elentino said offenses generally involve trick plays, especially since the game doesn’t involve field goals and extra points. Rather, teams can opt for one, two, or three added points to a touchdown depending on the distance from the goal line. ith a three-person referee crew to enforce the rules, the teams do their best to be as civil as a rivalry could be.
“ hen you do it your first year, you’re not really set on why we are doing this,” Monaghan said. “It hasn’t really hit yet, but you get done with that first game, and you’re talking s--- to the guy across from you, and you remember his face
ince that victory in , the toolbox has stayed in Iowa ity, and the awkeyes want to keep it that way. The managers’ locker room contains a countdown to this year’s contest, which will take place on Oct. 10 in Madison. Celentino said after past road victories, Iowa football players will greet the team that night with cheers. Similar support comes from head coach irk erent and the staff, who make sure to discuss the game during isconsin week.
“You only get noticed as a student manager if you don’t do your ob, and we’re a pretty good crew,” elentino said. “ ut the week before the toolbox and the week after, if we’ve won, every person in the Iowa building is coming up to you and
or elentino, who hails from an iego, the toolbox game is a chance for his family to visit. Attendance is an open invite, and elentino said former Iowa managers and even players like allas lark and randon cherff make appearances. hile the Iowa student managers appreciate the support, they also value how the toolbox game enhances their unity. “ e have a really good camaraderie built, and I think toolbox is the thing that puts it all together because we’re all fighting for one thing,” Monaghan said. “ es, we have jobs and goals, but this thing is an actual competition that we’re working towards. So it’s just another thing that
someone’s daughters,” to anovic said. “That carries a lot of weight. opefully a lot of coaches think that way, but not everybody does. That’s something I really appreciate about the whole staff. That’s why I chose Iowa.”
Third-year and fellow middle hitter annah
hittingstall loves the energy to anovic brings to the team.
“She just gets so fired up whenever she gets these kills,” hittingstall said. “ e love it. he brings such a uni ue energy to our team, and she’s so crafty.”
hittingstall hails from an ntonio, and while Iowa ity is over , miles away from her hometown, the distance to Stojanovic’s home spans across the Atlantic. She said besides Stojanovic’s accent, she would have no idea her teammate is from so far away. hittingstall said it helps to have other interna-
Plus, Iowa defender exy riffi n hails from the same hometown of Panama City, Florida. The pair are great friends, which only made the decision easier.
“I talked to the coaches, and immediately, I ust loved the energy,” ebdaoui said. “This is the only place I came and visited before I committed.” hile having a friend like riffi n on the team helped sway ebdaoui, making the move has proven to be successful for the former Seminole, as the forward sits one goal shy of tying her three career goals for Florida State. ven though ebdaoui hasn’t worn the Tigerhawk for long, she feels her leadership is still effective.
“I hope to encourage them to be confident, to step on the field, and play how they play,” ebdaoui said. “ ot try to be any type of player that maybe they don’t necessarily fit into but lead by example. hen you do what you’re best at, the team benefits more.” The transition to Iowa hasn’t been perfect.
tional students on the team who are willing to help one another out.
“It’s kind of cool to see them all helping each other work through it and being together,” hittingstall said. “ ut again, I feel like from day one she was very adaptive and very willing to learn anything and everything.”
In addition to her height, to anovic has worked hard since her arrival in Iowa ity to grow physically stronger.
“ ince she’s gotten here, she’s worked her tail off,” arnes said. “ he’s probably put on about - pounds of muscle. She trained like crazy to get ready for this year, and it’s all paying off because she’s more than ready to compete.”
arnes said this hard work contributes to the second-year’s offensive prowess as an attacker and
ebdaoui said she’s still ad usting to Midwest weather, claiming she never wore a jacket in the summer until arriving in Iowa ity. n the field, however, she’s becoming more comfortable with the ball, increasing creativity with her touches. She values the support she’s received from others and knows the relationship is mutual. “Some of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve had, I’ve talked to older people, or I’ve talked to someone and gotten a new perspective,” ebdaoui said.
“ ean on the people around you, there’s so much to learn from. There’s so many perspectives you’re gonna get coming to college, and then do what feels right from there. You know yourself best.”
someone the team can depend on.
“She never gives up. Sashka always keeps the ball alive,” he said. “ he’s ust a relentless player, and the team absolutely rallies around her. They love seeing her play so well because they know how hard she’s worked.”
Stojanovic appreciates her responsibility and role on the court, knowing her preparation determines her mindset and as a result, her performance for the awkeyes.
“If I don’t do it in practice every day, I’m not going to be able to do it on the court confidently,” to anovic said. “I picked up the pace in practice, and I’m ust more confident when game time comes.”
The awkeyes will play the Iowa tate yclones Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. in Xtream Arena in Coralville. The team’s record currently sits at 7-2.
IOWA HOLDS GROUND
The then-No. 11 Iowa Hawkeyes tied the Northwestern Wildcats 1-1 at the Iowa Soccer Complex on Friday, Sept. 5. The tie brought their record to 5-1-2.
The ABCs of Iowa City
From historic spots to cultural treasues, explore Iowa City from A to Z.
From A to Z, Iowa City’s best spots have it all — drinks, dives, and delicious eats.
Everywhere you look around town, letters are hiding in plain sight. From decades-old signs to iconic artwork and more, this list rounds up a full alphabet of spots around Iowa City. Can you spot them?
The $1 slices of pizza on Sundays, iconic Hammer cocktail, and walls covered in photos and TVs are just some of The Airliner’s most iconic features. The Airliner, open since 1944, is a must-go-to for students looking for an affordable meal, somewhere to watch a football game, or just a place to have a good time.
“Serious about our BURGERS. Crazy about our BIG BEERS.” That’s the message on the Bo-James Facebook page, and for 35 years, it's been a downtown Iowa City staple.
quee has brightened the streets of Iowa City for over 100 years. From vaudeville shows to a full-time movie theater to its current incarnation as an entertainment spot hosting a variety of events, from drag shows to live music to stand up comedians, the Englert remains an iconic attraction in downtown Iowa City.
No plans this Friday night? See a movie at FilmScene. Every Friday of the school year, FilmScene partners with the Bijou Film Board to provide $4 tickets for University of Iowa students to see any new release film at either location.
With its neon red sign lighting up Washington Street, Gabe’s is known for its music history. A bevy of famous artists, from Nirvana to Chance the Rapper, have played the venue.
General Manager Pete McCarthy said Gabe’s welcomes all UI students who are looking to see quality music performances.
“We are the best live music venue downtown,” he said. “If college kids
A large heart with the words “practice love” is painted on the side of Hothouse Yoga on Clinton Street in 2019.
A classic Irish pub and restaurant for more than 30 years, Mickey’s is a long-time Iowa City favorite. Grab a basket of free popcorn, order up a conglomeration, a pint of Guinness, and settle in for a fun-filled night.
Nodo is the ultimate study spot during lunch. Grab a sandwich, wrap, or salad and use the restaurant's free wifi for the most productive lunch break you’ll ever have.
The iconic Ridge and Furrow statue, better known as the “Brain Rock,” was recently moved from its spot on the T. Anne Cleary Walkway by the Pomerantz Center to the sidewalk between the Eckstein Medical Research Building and the Medical Education Research Facility. Some say touch it for good luck – others know better.
A camping-themed pizza bar in Iowa ity with a dance oor and a S'ookie (s’mores skillet cookie) has become a favorite spot downtown since it opened in 2023.
An 8.5-foot-tall bronze memorial in Oakland Cemetery, turned black over time due to oxidation, has become the center of local legends and myths. Popular theories suggest a curse because the woman depicted in the statue was unfaithful and that touching it will bring death or bad luck. Creepy? A bit. Cool? Totally.
Located on E Washington Street, delicious Chinese cuisine can be found right across from Iowa City’s Ped Mall. ith affordable prices and high-quality meals, a trip to Uncle Sun’s serves up entrees for the community.
n the th oor of the ilton arden Inn, the Vue Rooftop restaurant and event space features live music, events, and entertainment with a stunning view of the Iowa City skyline. Dueling pianists showcase their skills throughout the year, and catching a performance is a must.
Located in the alley between Linn Street and the Pedestrian Mall on the side of the Iowa City Public Library, the “Greetings from Iowa City” mural depicts people and places in each letter, with the “C” including a portrait of Mr. Iowa City himself, Irving Weber, a longtime historian of the area.
Iowa City was the third city in the world designated as a United Nations ducational, cientific and ultural Organization, or UNESCO City of Literature, in 2008. The mural was dedicated to this achievement.
Located on Dubuque Street, the Deadwood Tavern has been open for 34 years and has since cemented itself as an Iowa City staple. This cash-only bar is known for its pool tables, pinball machines, dark booths, and, during the holidays, upside-down Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling.
Ben Mummey, Deadwood’s owner, bought the bar in 2017. He said Deadwood is a great spot downtown if you’re looking for a chill bar vibe. “We are a straight-up jukebox, dive bar,” Mummey said.
Opened in 1912, the
are seeking out live music, and that's what they're looking to do, they end up coming to Gabe’s.”
Presidential visits. A greasy brunch. Pie shakes. The coffee bean caucus. Need we say more?
Duh.
The ava ouse was one of the first local coffee shops to bring urope an-style coffee culture to the Iowa City area back in 1994, and remains one of the most popular places to grab a drink downtown today. It started as a shop inside Prairie Lights Bookstore before expanding to Washington Street and multiple locations.
Standing at 20 feet tall, the Nile Kinnick statue outside Duke Slater Field welcomes any student, alumnus, or local walking into the stadium to watch a football game. Players and coaches have made it a tradition to touch the statue on their way into the stadium for good luck.
Voted the best pizza place in Iowa City on Barstool Iowa’s Instagram, some might say Iowa City is known for Pagliai’s. Since 1957, it's been serving up pies and burning the roofs of mouths of many who can’t wait a few minutes for their Palace Special to cool down before digging in.
Named for famous Hawkeye alum Gene Wilder and located below the Graduate hotel, Wilder prides itself on being a “wild way to dine” in Iowa City. The establishment serves everything from starters and light
A little too much fun Saturday night? On Sunday, head to this spot on Washington Street. Order up a basket of “ ay ff Me I’m tarving” fries — covered in chili, queso, shredded cheese, and sour cream — and take advantage of the all-day happy hour to cure what ails you.
ReUnion Brewery stands on the Ped Mall as a popular bar for both students and locals.
According to Bryan Cordova of the ReUnion management team, the combination of a brewery on the main oor and a dance oor upstairs is what truly makes the establishment unique.
“Every bar kind of has its own little vibe, whether it be a sports bar or a dive, but ours is really one of its own,” he said. “That's one thing we really appreciate, we've been able to cement our own spot in downtown Iowa City.”
bites to home-style cooking. It’s also the perfect place to get the party started during its lively, happier hour.
Need a custom shirt or Hawkeye sports gear? X-Grain has you covered. Located on Clinton Street, X-Grain claims to be “seasoned pros when it comes to the sports apparel industry.”
Frozen yogurt is a popular dessert to grab downtown, and Yotopia seems to have perfected the art of offering a sweet treat in a welcoming environment. Flavors and toppings galore keep it busy yearround.
Opening just last year in the Old Capitol Mall, Zolly’s offers a wide menu, from burgers to cheesesteaks to gyros.
Englert’s mar -
IC stand-up comedian steps to the mic
Recurring Alley Cat
comedian Zach Jakubiak provides insight into the comedy world.
University of Iowa fourth-year student
Zach Jakubiak, a regular at Alley Cat’s open mic nights, performed his first open mic back in his hometown of Milwaukee. Jakubiak’s journey as a local stand-up comedian has led him to alter his style multiple times, and he now tries to bring laughter and fun to both himself and his audience.
The Daily Iowan: What inspired you to try stand-up comedy for the first time?
Zach Jakubiak: I enjoy presenting to and interacting with people constantly. And I’ve had a couple of people who have
told me over time “Oh, you should try doing stand-up comedy. You should do this.” I do remember, in one event, I was at my senior year hockey banquet, and the woman running it all, without even asking me, just threw me up on the mic. I got up there, I oked around a little bit, and I specifically remember one of my teammates was like, “You should do stand-up.” It’s strange, but that got me into it.
Do you remember your first open mic? What was it like?
I do. I’m not a person who gets very nervous, although a lot of people say it’s nerve-racking. I did it back home in Milwaukee. It didn’t go very well. Pretty much everybody bombs their first open mic. I got some chuckles, but I mean, it was just a mess looking back. It was just a hot mess. The first thing I said when I got up there was, “All right, everybody. This is my first time, you know o you can take out your earplugs. It’s not really going to get loud.” But it was a very welcoming
How often do you perform?
At my peak, I was performing four times a week. And they were all late at night and extremely inconvenient. But it’s a ton of fun. If you’re into it, it’s a very weird community. Alley Cat has three open mics a week. They have unday night, Monday, and Thursday. I was mostly on undays. What is the hardest thing about doing open mics?
The hardest thing is time management. I don’t even mean doing your five minutes up there or whatever. I mean, you’re dedicating a lot of late hours. For me, that’s when I’m very productive. But the time can be rough if you’re doing the late-night mics, which is when most of them are.
How do you mentally prepare to go on stage?
For me, I perform 100 percent sober every time. A lot of people like to have a beer before they go on stage. ome people get really messed up and then go up there. I want to have a strong habit of performing sober to the point that when I do bigger things or I get bigger shows, I don’t try to lean into alcohol or anything else to get me going. Everybody is different, I will tell you. ou’ll learn that with comedy, everybody’s so unique.
You mentioned during your first open mic experience, a joke bombed. How do you respond to bombs?
I’ve changed my method a few times. What I do now is kind of funny. I come up with five or six catchphrases to have in the back of my head, so when it’s really not going well, you can kind of just jump to those. My friend also told me, “If you want it, there’s a lot of good constructive criticism in comedy communities.” You always have a weakness to improve on, and you always have a strength you can lean into more. What’s going to happen if you ever do comedy ou are going to suck, dude. You’re going to suck for a good long time. When you become more used to it, you start finding your groove and gain confidence. Even if people aren’t laughing all the time, you’re going to enjoy yourself so much more.
Broadway celebrates a decade of ‘Hamilton’
University of Iowa students react to the legendary musical’s anniversary.
you will see photos of Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos, and other original cast members of “Hamilton.”
Previews began for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s highly-anticipated new musical on July 13, 2015, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. The show, the now beloved “Hamilton,” was instantly a hit.
“Hamilton” was nominated for 16 Tonys in 2016, winning 11 of them. It won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album and a Pulitzer Prize for drama the same year. Ten years later, “Hamilton” is still running at Richard Rodgers Theatre. Leslie Odom Jr., who originated the role of Aaron Burr, is reprising his role through November, and tickets to see the show are selling for as much as , . on the official ticketing website.
To celebrate the anniversary of “Hamilton,” or HamilTEN as Miranda has coined it, the musical will be available to watch in theaters.
Through its evolution,“Hamilton” has had a large impact on pop culture. One of the best examples of these changes is when you look up the founding fathers online,
Before “Hamilton” became as mainstream as it is now, early fans created animatics, or rough sketches animated over music, from the soundtrack. These fans also created fan art of the dramatized characters, which depicted the historical men as much more progressive figures than they actually were.
Nevaeh Brown, a third-year University of Iowa student and one of the early fans who had this experience, is excited “Hamilton” is growing more popular.
“I just think it’s fun that people are more accepting than they were about Hamilton in the past. It’s fun to be able to talk about it,” Brown said.
Throughout the past 10 years, the cast of “Hamilton” has stayed in the limelight on social media, with memes being made about them. The most popular post was a photo of Miranda biting his lip and other “Hamilton”-themed events, such as a cast performance over Zoom.
More recently, clips of songs have gone viral, including many snippets of “ on- top,” “ ho ives, ho ies, ho Tells our tory,” and “The eynolds Pamphlet.”
Now, “Hamilton” has taken over media outlets, especially TikTok, where the song “Best of Wives and Best of Women” is currently trending, with people dressing up in founding father regalia, pretending to be Alexander Hamilton as he sneaks out a window.
For other fans of “Hamilton,” the musical was a gateway to learning more about . . history.
“I’m a criminology major, so I kind of experience this in my classes, but it definitely shows history repeats itself,” Emily Olson, a second-year student at the UI, said.
Olson and her roommate, Yanna Krokos, said they frequently reenact scenes from “Hamilton” with each other. “I have a class before Emily every day, so whenever I leave, I’m like, ‘Alexander, come back to sleep.’ It’s our whole personality right now. We put on two-man shows, too,” Krokos said.
Brown, Olson, and Krokos also said as they stream “Hamilton,” more of their friends are beginning to listen to the soundtrack.
s of ug. , “ amilton” producer effrey eller said 4.6 million people have seen the production on stage. Brown, Olson, and Krokos are among millions of fans around the world celebrating the anniversary.
The artist behind new, bold, queer musical
A University of Iowa graduate playwright debuts “Drag’daLore:
“Where are my freaks?”
This punchy call comes from “Drag’daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic,” the debut musical from Adrian Enzastiga.
Enzastiga is a graduate student in the University of Iowa’s Playwrights Workshop and is a self-proclaimed Midwest princess.
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Enzastiga majored in English and creative writing and screenwriting as an undergrad at the UI.
During his fourth year, Enzastiga enrolled in professor Lisa Schlesinger’s undergraduate playwriting workshop, where he discovered and explored his true passion for playwriting.
Unlike screenwriting, which emphasized structure, the class encouraged him to trust his artistic instincts.
“I felt like I fit into playwriting more than I had any other art form,” Enzastiga said.
Since joining the Playwrights Workshop, he has leaned into his “weird, off-putting” artistic side, describing it as raunchy, absurd, and aggressively funny.
After some time away from Iowa working as a social worker, Enzastiga has strutted back in great fashion, returning with “Drag’daLore: The Musical Ballroom Epic,” his first musical.
He describes the musical as “a love letter to queer people everywhere.”
“[The show is] very camp, very burlesque, very funny, very raunchy, very offensive. Be prepared to clutch some pearls,”
Enzastiga said. This fierce energy carries into the story itself, which is set in a world where everyone is born in drag: full face, full makeup, everything. The world, Enzastiga said, parallels our
Drumming group hosts weekly jam session
Welcoming newcomers, the Fabulous Yahoo Drummers perform on Iowa City’s Ped Mall every Tuesday.
said anyone could grab any instrument and start playing. The group experiments with a variety of unusual and lesser known instruments, but musical saws are Zimmerman’s favorite.
own, much like “The Lego Movie” or “Barbie,” and follows another Midwest princess who heads to the big city only to discover it isn’t as glamorous as she expected.
Characters include a princess protagonist, a villain, a love interest, and, of course, gaggles of mean queens and freaks.
Though Enzastiga has no composing experience, he collaborated with Mark Bruckner, resident music director in the Department of Theatre Arts at the UI, to write the score.
True to drag culture, the music mixes catchy pop choruses with rap verses.
“Real life drag queens, most of them cannot sing. You fake it until you make it. They call it drag delusion,” Enzastiga said, crediting “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as inspiration for the style of song.
Bruckner called the collaboration “a super joyful process,” highlighting Enzastiga’s creativity and ability to blend drag tradition with theatrical music.
John Stinson, a cast member and UI fourth-year student, said working with Enzastiga is equally energizing.
“Adrian infuses the space with such great energy, it allows me to feel grounded,” Stinson said.
Written a year ago, the musical still holds its original intent to celebrate joy for mar-
ginalized communities, even in the current cultural climates, Enzasitga said.
“I hope my audience is left with joy, a sense of community with fellow queer people, and confidence to express themselves authentically and throw the construct of gender out the window,” he said.
As the day starts to wind down in Iowa City, The Fabulous Yahoo Drummers are just getting started. Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., the band performs two hours of music and leaves the Pedestrian Mall vibrating with the heavy pulse of drums, a sound so primal it’s difficult not to stop and give them a listen.
The Yahoo Drummers combine multiple styles from African and jazz to reggae, funk, and Latin music. Instruments are provided, no experience is necessary, and participation is open to anyone who feels compelled to join.
More than a means to impress, the Yahoo Drummers focus on community by bringing together people of all ages and skill levels to make music simply for the joy of it. The group of revolving members has been around for 37 years and invites anyone to join their free-form sessions, turning the typical sounds of downtown Iowa City into a heartbeat of drums.
“I love the way we bring people in,” Scotty Hayward, one of the original group members, said. “It’s really fun to have this attitude that we’re here, and we’re not trying to make money. Everyone can join, and there isn’t necessarily an audience to show off for.”
“We can hear each instrument, listen to see where it fits in, and shift together. That’s really what music is to me,” he said. “Anything goes. We are unique.”
The Yahoo Drummers’ roots stretch back nearly four decades, when the founder first gathered drummers in downtown Iowa City at the now-closed Unitarian Church basement. The current group has been together for about five years, with members always coming and going.
In addition to using “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as inspiration, Enzastiga also bleeds into the musical himself. Before writing the show, Enzastiga performed drag as Azula Rosa, a character who also appears onstage.
In this fall’s staged reading, Azula Rosa joins a cast of 13, mostly current UI students, with Bruckner on piano.
A reading is set for Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. at Studio 13 with a full production anticipated in the spring, or someday, Enzastiga hopes, on Broadway.
They have had University of Iowa students, children, and Iowa City community members join their group on and off. Though they occasionally play paid gigs, the group made it clear their focus is always on fun over profit.
“I like the faculty of art separated from money,” Hayward said.
The group said the high amount of foot traffic through the Ped Mall accentuated the interactive experience.
While the group mainly plays in Iowa City, there were previous attempts to set up in Cedar Rapids that didn’t succeed, Zimmerman said. Audiences there were less willing to participate.
Chris Oquendo, another member who plays the conga, stumbled upon the group while in town for a volleyball tournament.
He said he was walking through the Ped Mall, heard drums, and thought to himself, “Oh, that sounds pretty interesting.”
Oquendo said although he had no prior experience, everyone was welcoming. He called the group his “cozy corner,” a way to relax and destress after work. Beyond the community atmosphere, the Fabulous Yahoo Drummers thrive on improvisation.
Tom Zimmerman, a member since 2009,
As summer comes to a close and the cold creeps in, the group plans to carry their rhythm indoors while still welcoming anyone who wants to join.
The group will continue playing Tuesdays at the Ped Mall through October before going indoors to Full Moon Dance Studio during winter.
They will also play at the Neighborhood Jamboree at Benton Hill Park on Sept. 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and participation is, as always, encouraged.
1776 by David McCullough Revolution directed by Hugh Hudson
John Adams on HBO Max