Soil Compilation

Sports
A Team of Dreamers

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For nine days, an unlikely cast of Hawkeyes made the world believe. They made themselves believe. The team of dreamers, and an unforgettable run in March.

Sports
Football

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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Baylor Deserves The Death Penalty- Here’s Why

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The image of Baylor University and specifically their football program has been nothing short of ugly over the course of the past two years. Allegations of drug abuse, academic cheating and sexual assault has ravaged Baylor university and they wholeheartedly deserve the “Death Penalty” sanction from the NCAA. Here’s why. Not only were multiple players accused of these allegations allowed to continue to play football but some barely received a slap on the wrist. The Baylor University Board Of Regents released an official statement titled “Findings Of Fact” that did not include any scrap of evidence of incriminating text messages from … Continued

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Sometimes the Empire Wins, and that’s okay

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I was wrong. And that’s okay. Tom Brady was named MVP yet again of a Super Bowl. And that’s okay. The underdog was just that, the underdog. And that’s okay. In the spectacle of sport, the one cardinal rule that overcomes all others: Win. And that is exactly what the New England Patriots did Sunday night. Atlanta, however, had a collapse unbeknown to be possible in sports. In a Golden State-Cleveland Indians fashion of doing things, The Atlanta Falcons blew the largest lead in super bowl history. What a feat of destruction. What went wrong? The answers are never quite … Continued

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Keys to Success: Iowa vs. Penn State

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3) travel to State College to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2). Beaver Stadium will be a hostile environment and will be a test for the desperate Iowa team. Here are the keys to success for the Hawkeyes Get the run game going early: With the loss of star WR Matt VandeBerg, it’s no surprise that the Hawkeyes go to plan will be running the football. The Hawkeyes will need set the tone early with the run game to help open up the passing game and to keep their defensive fresh. … Continued

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Iowa – Penn State Football Preview

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Coming off of a much needed bye-week, the Hawkeyes are looking to get their sixth win of the season, tonight, and become bowl eligible. But it won’t be easy. A top 15 team in the Penn State Nitty Lions stand in their way. Oh, and the game is being played in State College. Camden Palmisano and Austin Bramley have your preview from Beaver Stadium.

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Hawkeyes struggle to contain Wildcats on Homecoming weekend

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Northwestern came to Iowa City on Saturday October 1st with the least-efficient offense in the Big Ten through their first four games of the season. You would not have known it after watching their offense work against the Iowa defense. In their 38-31 victory over Iowa, the Wildcats gained 198 yards in the rushing game and 164 through the air, with the bulk of those yards going to just two players. Justin Jackson led all rushers with 26 attempts for 171 net yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats. No other Wildcat gained more than 19 … Continued

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