Sunday, April 30, 2006

Greenway Googled (Stories About the SoDak FarmBoy)

From Draftboard Insider.com
What's not to like about Chad Greenway? He's a huge man, with eye-popping strength. If anyone in this draft defines "sideline-to-sideline" linebacker, Chad Greenway does. He possesses a startling quickness when making plays, rather than having out and out speed. It seems 9 times out of 10 when opposing offensive players look up, Chad Greenway is in their face because his tackling abilities are as stout as they come. If Greenway gets a hand on the ball carrier, it's a safe bet he’s hitting the turf real soon. He wraps up and drives through his tackles exceptionally well. If you’re looking for a big body to stuff the run, Chad is as good as they get. Yet, originally sized up as a safety, Chad can cover well in passing situations also, and has that great intermediate speed to hang with any coverage across the middle or with the shorter shallow routes. His game study ethics, and ability to see the entire field, help to make him even more lethal.
Small-town quarterback to Division I glory
Q&A with Chad Greenway

From the Daily Iowan

by Bryan Bamonte - The Daily Iowan

Each week the Daily Iowan scans the sideline for another Hawkeye football player to chat it up with. And this week, we found one of the most imposing figures ever to wear an Iowa uniform. We asked all-everything linebacker Chad Greenway about watching film, listening to country, and the NFL.

DI: What's the best part about being Chad Greenway?

Greenway: Probably getting to run out in front of 70,000 fans every week.

DI: Do fans do anything crazy when they recognize you?

Greenway: Just ask for autographs. Things like that. Nothing too fun.

DI: Country music, right?

Greenway: Yep. Garth Brooks.

DI: Food?

Greenway: Steak

DI: How often do you think about the NFL?

Greenway: Right now it hasn’t really been in my mind. I haven’t thought about it. The scouts are there, but you just have to worry about what you’re doing.

DI: World Series prediction?

Greenway: You know, I'm a Cubs fan, so that didn’t work out. Then I'm a Red Sox fan, and that didn’t work out. But being a Cubs fan, I don’t want the White Sox or the Cardinals. So I’m gonna take the Astros.

DI: Any pregame rituals to get "jacked up?"

Greenway: I stay pretty even-keeled. I eat at the same table every pregame.

DI: Favorite movie?

Greenway: Braveheart.

DI: Favorite television show?

Greenway: "Forensic Files."

DI: Superpower you wish you had? And no, what you do on the football field doesn't count?

Greenway: Read people's minds.

DI: Who do you play like?

Greenway: I probably play more like a Brian Urlacher in the NFL, and I guess he's a good person to play like.

DI: What does the home winning streak mean to you?

Greenway: I've had a great time playing here. It's been a wonderful experience.

DI: Hobbies?

Greenway: Yeah, golf. I'm not very good. I shoot par [looks away quickly and smiles].

DI: What do you do to get away from football?

Greenway: Play with my dog.

DI: Best part about playing for Ferentz?

Greenway: Once you become an older player, he kind of lets you play your game. He doesn't really force things on you. He's not always pushing and pushing, because he's a quiet guy.

DI: What does playing in the NFL mean to you?

Greenway: It's been a dream since being a kid. But it's nice to know you're in a position where it might happen.

DI: Do you look at Mel Kiper's Big Board to see where you are?

Greenway: I don't. I saw it during the draft, and I haven't seen it since. I probably fell after the Ohio State game.

From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Stu Whitney
swhitney@argusleader.com

published: 8/30/2004

Chad Greenway greets you with small-town hospitality and a Division I smile.

His football skills have taken him from his family's Mount Vernon hog farm to the University of Iowa, where he proudly offers a summer tour of the Richard O. Jacobson Athletic Building - headquarters for the Hawkeyes.

A short stroll from 70,000-seat Kinnick Stadium, the football facility features a 10,000 square-foot weight room, coaches offices and a lavish players lounge filled with plasma TVs and pool tables.

"We spend a lot of time here," grins the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Greenway, a former nine-man quarterback who has emerged as a star junior linebacker for the nationally ranked Hawkeyes.

In a glass case near coach Kirk Ferentz's office sits the Heisman Trophy won by Nile Kinnick in 1939, shadowed by a shrine to those who sparked Iowa's recent resurgence - Robert Gallery, Brad Banks, even kicker Nate Kaeding.

Greenway's visage might soon join them, which seemed unlikely even as he was lifting Mount Vernon-Stickney to Class 9AA titles in 1999 and 2000.

The multi-sport star intrigued Iowa with his athleticism, running the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds.

His success after shifting to linebacker in college has caused Division I coaches to reconsider their view of South Dakota as a recruiting wasteland.

"There's no doubt about it," says Iowa assistant coach Reese Morgan, who recruits the state. "We're always looking for the next Chad Greenway."

Though he tested well at a Nike combine in Colorado, Greenway wasn't hotly pursued by major programs when Iowa started viewing his videotape and paying visits to Mount Vernon following his junior football season. But Morgan and Iowa liked what they saw.

After Greenway's senior year, in which he rushed for 27 touchdowns and passed for 15, Ferentz was eager to see this small-town gem in person. The head coach invited Greenway and his parents to Iowa City in November of 2000 to attend the Hawkeyes' 27-17 upset win over Northwestern.

In the Iowa locker room amid the postgame cheer, Ferentz offered Greenway what for many athletes remains a distant dream: a full-ride NCAA Division I football scholarship.

"That's a moment I'll never forget," says Ferentz, whose team opens its season Saturday against Kent State. "It was a big victory for our football team, and Chad happened to be there with a couple of other recruits. I'll always remember the look in his eyes. He got wrapped up in everything he saw that day, and I just had a gut feeling after seeing him. When you talk about Chad Greenway, you're talking about a kid who loves everything about college football."

As the starting weakside linebacker last season, Greenway finished with 132 tackles for the 10-3 Hawkeyes, helping them beat Florida in the Outback Bowl. That decision to sign the Mount Vernon product definitely looks like a good move now.

"We've had our share of success stories from guys from smaller towns," the coach says.

"When we recruited Chad, it quickly became apparent that he's a guy who's really driven to succeed. It didn't really take Albert Einstein to figure that out."
Posted by Marcus at 6:13:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Draft Day 1 Picks-- Who is that?

We loved the Chad Greenway & Cedric Griffin picks, but spent the rest of the day in Stier's Garage wondering why the Vikings liked Cook over Eslinger, and Tavaris over anyone else available? Oh well, time will tell if these guys will be in the Media Guide on Super Sunday but for now, take a look.

Video clips and profiles of the ' 2006 draft picks:



  1. Chad Greenway - (Round 1, Pick # 17) 6' 4", 244 lbs. Iowa, OLB. . . . .
    Profiles: | | | | | | .


  2. Cedric Griffin - (Round 2, Pick # 48) 6' 2" 193 lbs. Texas, CB. . .
    Profiles: | | | | | |  & .


  3. Ryan Cook - (Round 2, Pick # 51) 6' 7", 320 New Mexico, C/OL. .
    Profiles: | | | | .


  4. Travaris Jackson - (Round 2, Pick # 64--from Pittsburg in exchange for two 3rd round picks) 6' 3", 225 lbs. Alabama State, QB. .
    Profiles: | | .


  5. Ray Edwards - (Round 4, Pick # 127) 6' 6", 270 lbs. Purdue, DE. .
    Profiles: | | | | | .


  6. Greg Blue - (Round 5, Pick # 149) 6' 2" 221 lbs. Georgia, FS/LB. .
    Profiles: | | | | | .
Posted by Marcus at 3:46:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Draft Favorites From The Lot

Give me any 5 of the following players in this weekends draft, and we'll see you in Miami:
Bobby Carpenter LB 6-3 255 Ohio State
Chad Greenway MLB 6-4 235 Iowa
Abdul Hodge MLB 6-2 232 Iowa
Tamba Hali DE 6-3 267 Penn State
DeMeco Ryans OLB 6-1 225 Alabama
Marcedes Lewis TE 6-6 255 UCLA
Dominique Byrd TE 6-3 260 USC
Lendale White TB 6-2 235 USC
Alan Zemaitis CB 6-2 201 Penn State
Mark Anderson DE 6-6 239 Alabama
Darnell Bing S 6-2 220 USC
Greg Blue S 6-2 214 Georgia
Marcus Hudson CB 6-2 200 North Carolina State
Will Derting LB 6-0 237 Washington State
Elvis Dumervil DE 6-0 256 Louisville
Dusty Dvoracek DT 6-3 298 Oklahoma
Greg Eslinger C 6-3 285 Minnesota
Derek Hagan WR 6-2 202 Arizona State
Michael Robinson QB 6-2 217 Penn State
Darryl Tapp DE 6-1 264 Virginia Tech
Jeremy Trueblood OT 6-9 295 Boston College
Posted by Marcus at 2:44:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Friday, April 07, 2006

Time to Play Some Ball

Okay people, it's April and it's baseball season. As most of you know, I am a diehard ball player fan, so I will be taking a break for the summer to get out and play as much softball as this 41-year old body can handle.

For those who care, check out the http://www.normsoftball.com website to see how the summer progresses. We have gotten a few of the Norms from our World Championship run back in '02 and are at least hoping to make a run at the league title in Eagan, MN this summer.

I will also be coaching in the Lakeville, MN youth baseball league again this summer. That is, I hope to be coaching if I can find a spot to be a part time coach.

And there is always Twins baseball to watch. Someday, I will reintroduce the Twinnin.com website to the world again. I will be in Milwaukee the weekend of May 19-21 to tailgate in the show, the real show (baseball) outdoors, under the lights in the summer.

I just hope the Twins can keep it interesting until the Vikings cue it up for the summer pre-season in August. Until then, feel free and e-mail me at the site e-mail here, and stay in touch. We'll be seeing you in the Minnesota lots this fall, and then probably San Francisco for the roadtrip later this year.
Posted by Marcus at 12:51:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Thursday, April 06, 2006

2006 Schedule and New Uniforms

Here it is, the 2006 schedule and the new Vikings uniforms. straight from winter park! Please note, the uniforms are not official. Somebody forwarded me the graphic, and I am all about adding to the mystery of the new Vikes unis, and these looked like the best I have seen floating around, so...

Sept. 11 at Washington, 6 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 17 vs. Carolina, noon, Fox

Sept. 24 vs. Chicago, noon Fox

Oct. 1 at Buffalo, noon, Fox

Oct. 8 vs. Detroit, noon, Fox

Oct. 15 bye week

Oct. 22 at Seattle, 3:15 p.m., Fox

Oct. 30 vs. New England, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Nov. 5 at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m., Fox

Nov. 12 vs. Green Bay, noon, Fox

Nov. 19 at Miami, noon, Fox

Nov. 26 vs. Arizona, noon, Fox

Dec. 3 at Chicago, noon, Fox

Dec. 10 at Detroit, noon, Fox

Dec. 17 vs. New York Jets, noon, CBS

Dec. 21 at Green Bay, 7 p.m., NFL Network

Dec. 31 vs. St. Louis, noon, Fox
Posted by Marcus at 12:43:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)