Soil Compilation

Music
KRUI Interview: Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade

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I spoke with Derek Sanders, frontman of Mayday Parade after their gig at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, Iowa. A conversation spanning much more than the 20 years of the band, he told me about his latest trilogy release and all the way back to his very first autograph he signed.

Sports
Wisconsin

Heartland Domination: All Iowa as the Hawkeyes shutout Wisconsin, 37-0

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Iowa silenced Camp Randall with a statement 37-0 shutout over Wisconsin, reclaiming the Heartland Trophy for a fourth straight year and notching their first road shutout against the Badgers since 1929. Behind Kamari Moulton’s breakout performance and a smothering defense that snagged two interceptions from defensive linemen, the Hawkeyes looked every bit like Big Ten contenders.

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Forever 40: Remembering Chris Street

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An escape. They’re dramas. Plays. An act on the gridiron. A dance on the hardwood. Sports are so popular in today due to the world needing an outlet. A place to diverge our attention from the everyday life. Baseball, the national pastime. Football, the modern-day gladiators. Athletics are so popular due to their ability to create storylines. Magic vs Bird. Steelers and Cowboys. Yankees and Red Sox. Rivalries drive sports. But, even more so than rivalries, fans fall in love when the sports meet the outside world. Iowa has had the best of luck with these kinds of stories. Just … 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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After the Madness: A Story of Broken Brackets

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Before the championship even tips off, I am sitting here surrounded by my busted brackets, seeing exactly where things went wrong. If only (X) team would have beat (Y) then I’d be rich. An old saying. Giving ourselves reassurance that it was not our faults, rather the universe has some sort of score to settle. South Carolina in the Final Four? Three of the Four #16 Seeds had higher final four picks that South Carolina. This year of March Madness certainly wasn’t the craziest in recent memory, nor the one with the most bracket-busters early. It was rather one where … Continued

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Badgers take the Heartland from the Hawkeyes

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – It was a typical Wisconsin vs. Iowa football game at Kinnick Stadium today as the Badgers escape with a 17-9 win on the road. In this classic B1G West battle, defense was the focal point for both teams, and the ever-present physicality of the rivalry was on display as the offenses struggled to put up points. The Hawkeyes had to deal with #10 Wisconsin’s running back Corey Clements, who led all rushers with a career-high 35 rushes for 134 yards and a touchdown. For the most part, the Hawkeyes held Clements in check, as he only … Continued

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Bound and Proud: “Blankets” by Craig Thompson

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Even twelve years after its release, “Blankets” is required reading for anyone who enjoys a good comic (or are fatigued by the medium being dominated by ass-kicking superheroes), a touching love story, or is looking for a great narrative to curl up with once the snow starts falling outside. Mix up some hot chocolate, turn on the fireplace, and grab a couple blankets, including this one.

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