Therapeutic Thursday: Bowlsby, LJ, Bernstine

By Andrew Gogerty

Wait a second.  Bob Bowlsby is about to become the Commissioner of the Big 12?  Former Iowa Hawkeye Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby?  Soon to be in charge of the conference my beloved Cyclones reside in?  This can’t be a good thing, can it?  Surely there’s some harbored cardinal and gold bitterness deep down in that formerly black and gold heart of his, right? 

Truth is, this is the best news the Big 12 Conference has had since, well…almost ever.  Bob Bowlsby is an experienced, proven, widely respected, leader.  Mike Hlas, sports columnist for The Gazette, who has followed the career of Bowlsby extensively while at Iowa, thinks Bowlsby is not only well qualified to take the reins of the Big 12 Conference, but could be in line to become the president of the entire NCAA someday. 

Now tell me, fellow Cyclone fans (and even Hawkeye fans who are truthful with themselves), how can this be a bad thing for the Cyclones?  Answer: It’s not.  Two years ago, we were on the verge of conference extinction, facing the very real possibility that we could become the next members of some Podunk conference in the Mountain Time Zone, or worse yet, the MAC.  Now, we have one of the most widely regarded athletic leaders in all of the NCAA at the helm to not only right the ship, but to take us to even higher levels.  Who knows?  Give Bowlsby a few years, and maybe the Cyclones could be in the most well-esteemed conference in America.  Don’t worry about the Hawkeye roots, Cyclone fans.  This is a great, great day in Big 12 history.

Leonard Johnson/Jordan Bernstine

How in the name of the Washington Redskins did Leonard Johnson not get drafted, but Jordan Bernstine did?  Then again, this is the same Redskins team that drafted Kirk Cousins when they already had mortgaged their entire future to move up to select RG3.  They did realize they were drafting Jordan Bernstine, not Rodney Bernstine (the former San Diego Charger and Denver Broncos running back), right?  Nothing should be taken for granted with the Redskins.

Draft experts say teams were enamored with Bernstines potential, his time in the 40 yard dash, and his athletic abilities and size.  Conversely, Leonard Johnson performed poorly in the 40 and is smallish for a defensive back, which were the most common reasons listed by experts for him not being drafted.  All teams needed to do was look at the level of competition LJ faced in the Big 12 week in and week out against the likes of Kendall Wright and Justin Blackmon and they should have had plenty of evidence that LJ can cover anybody.  I never saw anything from Bernstine in four seasons that made me think he was a future NFL draft pick.  Most Hawkeye fans would agree–that was a stunner.    

Well, I’ve gotten a few things off my shoulders today.  And there should be a couple of good topics for both Cyclone fans and Hawkeye fans to weigh and debate there.  The spot on the therapy couch is open.  It’s your turn.