Soil Compilation

Music
Interview: Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers

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I sat down with multi-instrumentalists Jano Rix before his gig with The Wood Brothers at The Englert Theatre on November 12th. Taking a beat to touch on what shaped him artistically, his favorite illustrators, and the impact dancing has had in his adult life, Jano let us into how he makes a chaotic world feel focused and comfortable.

Sports
Cash in Hand 

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College athletes across the country are now receiving direct revenue-sharing payouts, fueling everything from luxury shopping sprees and impulsive spending to investments, charity, and family support. Their choices reveal how a generation of 18-to-22-year-olds is navigating sudden wealth in a rapidly shifting era where college sports now function like big-league business.

Columns
Football

Previewing where the Hawks could be playing this bowl season

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Bowl season.   With only one weekend remaining in the College Football season, most teams have their eyes on the postseason. At 7-5, Iowa will likely be on unfamiliar grounds this year; meaning no Insight or Outback bowl. Out of the three bowls that seem to have interest in the Hawks, only one has ever featured an Iowa team… and that dates back to 1991.   It’s worth noting that out of the eight Big Ten teams eligible for bowl season, Iowa has the second worst record out of the bunch. However, … Continued

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The Vikings QB Debacle

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After what has been a pretty impressive season for the Minnesota Vikings, there are a lot of positives to take away from this team. The run game is finally a dependable aspect of their offense, thanks to the upgraded offensive line. The Vikings offense, which ranked 28th last season, is now a top 10 offense in the NFL. Lot of props should and will go to the offensive line, but some should also go to their diamond in the rough QB, Case Keenum.   Case and Point The Vikings acquired Case Keenum in March of 2017, mostly for the role … Continued

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Three reasons the Bears could be back in the Postseason sooner than we think

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The Lowdown:   As Bears fans everywhere know: rebuilding is a long, torturous process that has had us ready to punt our TVs out the window ever since Jay Cutler joined us in watching the Packers advance to the Super Bowl in 2011. But hey, it could always be worse… the Jets were also playing in the conference championship that season, at least we’re not them. That being said, things are cautiously optimistic for Bears fans right now… even with the injury to Zach Miller. Most people believe the Bears are still years away from true contention, but why listen? … Continued

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NFL Midseason Honors 2017 Edition

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IOWA CITY – Entering Week 8 of the 2017 season, the NFL never ceases to amaze its fans. Rookies have grown throughout the first 7 weeks. Some have flourished, others have stalled. The league’s elite continued their stride. The veterans’ show off their leadership as they enter decline. Thus, the cycle of the NFL moves on. This period of the season, known as the midseason, is one where teams attempt to regroup for the final push. The playoffs are on the horizon. However, if the season ended today, how would the awards shape up? While the annual NFL Honors show … Continued

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Glimpse at Iowa’s Losses

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Iowa City – Iowa football has faltered twice this season. Once to a Penn State team with arguably the most dynamic player in college football. The other, at the hands of an improving Michigan State team. One came at home, the other in East Lansing. Four wins and two losses at the midway point sets the Hawkeyes on track to equal last year’s record. Another eight win, four loss would be shooting par in Iowa City. Although, these two losses have a different value. Both, through a fairly short connection chain, trace back to an undefeated team. Penn State is … Continued

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Big Ten Football in Full Swing

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In the realm of college football, the Big Ten is often considered one of the best top-to-bottom conferences in the nation. It is home to 13 Heisman trophy winners, 22 national titles, six NFL starting quarterbacks and currently holds four of the top 11 teams in the AP Poll.   This storied conference is rich in past glory, but the teams continue to make history every year. All fourteen teams are in a constant battle for supremacy in the conference and the 2017 Big Ten season is just getting underway.   Rutgers – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A … Continued

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Time’s Up. Blake Bortles Is Past Expiration Date

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On the Right Path In 2015 Blake Bortles was coming off his rookie campaign in the NFL, which was sub-par to say the least. The first year is always rough for a rookie Quarterback in the league, so the optimism was still there for Bortles after year one. Sure enough, Bortles made the stride that everyone had hoped for his second year and all the sudden the team from Jacksonville was a threat to compete in the AFC South. During his 2015 season Bortles put up statistics some of the best QB’s in the league. He ranked top five in … Continued

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Premier League: Matchweek 4 Preview

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Raheem Sterling seconds after scoring to beat Bournemouth – and minutes before being sent off. (The Independent)   The international break is complete and players across the globe are making their way back to work. With the September round of the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers wrapped up, we can now delve into the thick of the Premier League season.   Matchweek 4 Preview:   Sep. 9, 6:30 AM CST / Etihad Stadium Manchester City  1 2 Liverpool   After a thrashing of Arsenal at Anfield two weeks ago, Liverpool sit atop my PL Power Rankings. This may come as a … Continued

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Jay Cutler Should Get Another Shot

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If someone was asked to sum up the career of former Denver Bronco and Chicago Bear Jay Cutler in one word, that someone would be wise to describe him as polarizing. As a resident in the Chicagoland area throughout the duration of Cutler’s 8 year career, I can assure you that very few talking heads had an opinion of him that wasn’t on the extreme end of the spectrum. Cutler has been the poster boy for the “you either love him or you hate him” cliche. What bothers so many people in the Cutler fan camp is how he has … Continued

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Comparing the 2017 NFL Draft Class to 2002 Backyard Football Players

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Video games in the recent age have had a very small number of companies control the entire sports market. EA Sports and 2K Sports are juggernauts in their own rights. But there was once a company that made games that were simple, fun and uber-competitive: Humongous Entertainment. They made “Pajama Sam” and “Putt-Putt” as well as many other franchises. However, the one franchise HE is widely known for is their “Backyard” sports editions. Baseball, Football, Basketball. All sorts of sports full of kids that are short and from port to port. A particular game that I grew fond of over … Continued

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