Iowa State football: Running backs coach Jake Landry on Abu Sama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
'Most improved by far': Iowa football WR room praised by coaching staff
The Iowa football wide receivers have long been perceived as one of the weakest position groups for the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes haven't had a 1,000-yard wide receiver in 14 years, and despite having some decent talent in the room, they've yet to put it all together. It's not all on the wide receivers. They've had to deal with bad quarterback play and below-average play calling. But, it's still been a big weakness for the program for almost 15 years now. Heading into the 2025 season, it seems like optimism within the building is growing for the wide receivers room. While it may not look great on paper, there is talent in the room with graduate Jacob Gill, sophomore Reece Vander Zee, junior Sam Phillips, and senior Seth Anderson. The question is, can they put it all together with a new quarterback in town? And it seems like the Iowa coaching staff believes they can. Kirk Ferentz and Tim Lester both talked with the Big Ten Network crew when they came to Iowa City for their Iowa season preview show on Monday night. And they both had glowing things to say about the wide receivers heading into 2025. The comments from Ferentz and Lester are very interesting and provide some different insights into the wide receiver room entering the season. It's great to hear Lester say that the wide receiver room is the most improved room on the entire roster, but it's the second part of his quote that's the most fascinating. He wants the Iowa offense to be more 50/50 when it comes to rushing and passing, which would be a sharp pivot from the rush-first offense that Hawkeye fans have grown accustomed to under Ferentz. The fact that the wide receivers have taken a big enough step forward for Lester to say that is a good sign for that room. Ferentz's comments are also important, as he talks about the receivers earning the quarterbacks' trust this offseason. With a new quarterback in the fold in Mark Gronowksi, that's a big deal. The more that Gronowski trusts his receivers to make plays, the more opportunities they're going to get. That could open up more explosive passing plays for an offense that desperately needs it. While we'll still have to wait and see how the wide receivers play when the season kicks off, it's a really good sign that the coaching staff is super high on them. And who knows, maybe Iowa will have its first 1,000-yard season from a wide receiver since Marvin McNutt. If that happens, it means 2025 was a massive success for the Hawkeyes. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
Fast Company
a minute ago
- Fast Company
Meet the Watermelon Slice, the $39 cocktail that's about to dominate the U.S. Open
For almost 20 years, the Honey Deuce cocktail has reigned as the undisputed drink champion of the U.S. Open. But this year, a challenger is stepping onto the court, and it's serving up a competitive dose of summer refreshment. Behold, the Watermelon Slice. The Watermelon Slice is a limited-edition beverage designed by IHG Hotels & Resorts. It will be available at the U.S. Open's venue, New York City's Arthur Ashe stadium, starting at the beginning of the tournament on August 18. Attendees will be able to grab the fruity cocktail for a head-turning $39 onsite at IHG's Racquet Bar, as well as at select IHG hotel properties in NYC. [Photo: courtesy IHG] For IHG, this isn't any old cocktail. Selling a custom beverage at the U.S. Open represents a coveted advertising opportunity, given that the branded cups are sure to be captured on the big screen and on countless Instagram accounts throughout the tournament. This year, Grey Goose vodka will be returning for the 19th consecutive year as the U.S. Open's official vodka sponsor, a title that comes with the privilege of serving the tournament's signature cocktail, the $23 Honey Deuce. Subscribe to the Design newsletter. The latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters The Honey Deuce—which combines Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and a touch of Chambord raspberry liqueur, topped with tennis ball-esque scoops of honeydew melon—has been pictured in the hands of such stars as Taylor Swift, Serena Williams, and Travis Kelce. It's a billboard in drink form, which raked in more than $10 million in total sales last year before the tennis matches were even finished, and has inspired its own line of merch. To go racquet-to-racquet with such an iconic beverage, the Watermelon Slice will have to give a truly outstanding performance. The Honey Deuce at the 2023 US Open. [Photo: Grey Goose] Battle of the two beverages The Watermelon Slice is described by a press release as 'a refreshing blend of Moët & Chandon, watermelon juice, elderflower liqueur, and lime,' garnished with a 'signature watermelon wedge.' 'Fans are looking for something vibrant and easy to enjoy between points—nothing too heavy, but packed with just the right flavors. The Watermelon Slice delivers that,' says Connor Smith, VP of masterbrand strategy at IHG. [Photo: courtesy IHG] Like the Honey Deuce, which is named for the 'deuce' point when players are tied at 40-40, the Watermelon Slice also got its name through a tennis reference. A 'slice,' in the tennis world, is a shot that uses a sharp slashing movement to give the ball a difficult-to-hit backspin or sidespin. However, the Watermelon Slice stands apart in its unique collectible cup design (which may, in part, provide the justification behind its hefty price tag). It's served in a stem glass—branded with the IHG Hotels & Resort logo, of course—designed to resemble a tennis ball. In essence, it's the much classier version of eating ice cream out of a helmet cup at a baseball game. 'We started with a clear vision: the glass should be as instantly recognizable as a tennis ball but still feel premium and functional for service,' Smith explains. 'The biggest challenge was achieving that perfect pop of neon yellow (or green depending on what color you think a tennis ball is) without compromising the feel of the glass in your hand. We worked closely with our partners to get the shape, color, and tactile finish just right.' A large part of the intrigue surrounding both the Honey Deuce and the Watermelon Slice are their exclusivity: Both cocktails are strictly available during the course of the tournament. As to whether the Watermelon Slice will be returning in years to come, Smith says, 'You'll just have to wait and see.'
New York Times
3 minutes ago
- New York Times
Pulisic docuseries inflames clash between current, former USMNT players
Christian Pulisic, his father Mark and his U.S. teammate Tim Weah re-ignited the public spat between current and former U.S. men's national team players in an episode of the 'Pulisic' docuseries released on Paramount+ Wednesday. Pulisic, in an interview filmed earlier this summer, called criticism of the team's effort and heart 'the biggest cop-out of all time.' Advertisement Weah, speaking about former players-turned-pundits, said: 'I think those guys are chasing checks. And for me, I just feel like they're really evil. Honestly. Because they've been players, and they know what it's like when you're getting bashed. Those are the same guys that'll turn around and shake your hand, and try to be friendly with you at the end of the day.' Mark Pulisic, Christian's dad, agreed: 'These guys want clicks. It's social media, it's 'subscribe to my channel, listen to my podcasts,' or whatever.'' The comments rekindle a war of words between generations that picked up steam following the USMNT's losses to Panama and Canada in March. Landon Donovan (now a podcaster and Fox Sports pundit) and Clint Dempsey (now a CBS Sports and Men In Blazers pundit), the top two goalscorers in program history, were among the vocal critics. 'I'm so sick of hearing how 'talented' this group of players is and all of the amazing clubs they play for,' Donovan wrote on X at the time. 'If you aren't going to show up and actually give a s!%* about playing for your national team, decline the invite. Talent is great, pride is better.' Weah, in an interview for the docuseries, said of the former players: 'Don't get me wrong, I respect all of them. They were the players that I looked up to. But quite frankly, the guys before us didn't win anything either.' Weah added: 'Christian himself has had a better career than every single one of the guys who speak negative on us.' Mark Pulisic, who previously inflamed the friction with an Instagram post implicitly responding to criticism from Donovan, said of former players: 'I think they should look in the mirror and look at their last performances for the national team before they start talking s***. 'It's jealousy. People want to be in his shoes, and they'll find any reason to bring him down. But Christian doesn't give a s*** about what anyone says.' The criticism of Pulisic crescendoed when he opted to skip this summer's Concacaf Gold Cup. Donovan, in the studio for a Fox Sports broadcast of Portugal's UEFA Nations League win over Spain, said during Portugal's emotional celebrations: 'I can't help but think about our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off.' Advertisement Pulisic, in an interview the following week with CBS Sports' 'Call It What You Want' podcast, defended his decision and addressed the criticism. 'You can talk about my performances, whatever you want, but to question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion, that's way out of line,' he said then. Pulisic reiterated that sentiment in the docuseries: 'I'd say the most annoying thing, and for me the biggest cop-out of all time, is when especially all pundits want to say, 'They didn't want it, they didn't have the heart. Back in our day we would fight and die on that field.' 'It's frustrating. We haven't had as much success as we would like. I think we have had some really incredible moments. But we're out here fighting. And I think if people knew what it actually meant to me and what it meant to our team and all the players, they would never question us. 'Come after whatever you want. Come after my performance, whatever you want to say, but to talk about my commitment, the commitment that I've given to this game, that I've given to my national team for 10 years – that's the only thing that starts to get on my nerves.' With several former USMNT stars now prominent in American soccer media, the clash between them and active players could be an ongoing source of noise between now and the 2026 World Cup. Tyler Adams, speaking recently to The Athletic, called the disconnect between current and former players 'the strangest thing.' 'I can't even explain it,' Adams said. 'I'm not a social-media guy, so I don't follow anything, but when people bring up some of the things that are being said and some of the stories that are being created, it feels weird, because it feels like not long ago that every single one of those people were on board with, like, the direction that the federation was going and how well the players were doing. And it feels like any setback is (treated) like a disaster is happening. Do you know what I mean? Advertisement 'And that happens in football. I get it. Some people have jobs where their job is to speak about the sport, and if that's their opinion, that's their opinion. My goal is to try to create an environment, especially within our team, where guys feel like they can go out, be themselves, be comfortable. We're all on the same page and want to grow the sport in America. People's opinions are people's opinions at the end of the day.' His comments triggered former defender and Fox Sports pundit Alexi Lalas. Lalas, speaking on his podcast this week, said of Adams: 'I thought that this was a strangely immature, and naive, and weak kind of take. Not that he's defending Christian Pulisic, because we're all going to do that, but the way he seemed to think that there should be no criticism and we should all be kumbaya.' The debate had quieted since the Gold Cup. But with European seasons commencing — Pulisic, who missed recent friendlies as a precaution, is preparing for AC Milan's first competitive match this weekend — and the USMNT set to reconvene early next month, it could heat up once again. Mauricio Pochettino's U.S. roster for September friendlies against South Korea and Japan will be released in two weeks. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
