Happy Hour: The Return of the Previews and Expansion speculation

DAILY SPECIAL: Since finals week began there have been a few big happenings along the preview circuit.  CFN has started releasing their team by team previews, so far Big Ten teams Indiana and Northwestern have been previewed as well as nearby Big XII team Kansas.  These are usually worth the read so if you hav the time to flip through the links that preview the offense and defense I would recoomend it.

The Rivalry Esq continues it's team by team conference preview with a week solely devoted to the Hawkeyes.  It's a good write up and there will be new posts every morning so you should be reading them.

BHGP is breaking down the Hawkeyes position by position and started with the Manzi at quarterback.

Corn Nation discusses Iowa and the role the Hawkeyes will play if the Huskers join the Big Ten.  Not a bad read if you want Big Red's perspective on the Black and Gold.


DRAFTS: Speaking of conference expansion, the scuttlebut last weekend was that Mizzou, Nebraska, Rutgers and Notre Dame were getting the nod to join the conference.  This of course set the internet on fire and it wasn't until Jim Delaney came with an ice cold bucket of reality that the fire got put out.  The fallout?  Well..... There was this post from Black Heart Gold Pants, this post from Maize and Brew, this post from Rock M Nation, this post from Rutgers blog "On the Banks", and some posturing here and here from Kansas AD Lew Perkins. 

Also, the boys over at the Daily Gopher have taken to explaining the prosand cons of different expansion candidates, so far Pitt, Rutgers, UConn, and Syracuse have all been explained (they are all on the front page if you scroll down).  If you have been following this closely it is old hat but if you haven't this would be a good way to catch up.

BSD chimes in with a blogger rountable of the Eastern expansion candidates while BHGP asks what the impacts of expansion could be on ESPN/ABC and if any of the Eastern block schools really give the Big Ten NYC.

With rumors of Big Ten expansion put on hold for this weeks Big Ten meetings in Chicago (they atart today and go through Wednesday) The expansion rumor machine is now swirling on Boise State and the Mountain West.
SHOTS: Iowa Softball was swept by #2 Michigan at Pearl Field this weekend. 

Iowa Baseball took two of three from Ohio State this weekend (more on baseball later this week).

The Hawkeyes crowned three Big Ten champions in Track and Field.

Iowa Women's Tennis fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Boise State

Not Hawkeye related but Ole Miss blog Red Cup Rebellion discusses the myth vs. the reality regarding the media narrative of the Boise State football program in light of the Broncos trip to Oxford to start the 2011 season.

Finally, go to the 52 min. mark to see Brent Metcalf's match against Darion Caldwell Bubba Jenkins (Caldwell pussied out and injured himself so he wouldn't have to face Metcalf).  Needless to say Brent takes his frustration out on Jenkins who is still Metcalf's whipping boy.