Former Hawkeyes Shine in Opener

As I have mentioned before I am a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan. I go to school there after all. I love to watch Iowa play in any sport really. An Iowa victory just makes my day a little better. A Vikings win makes my day a bit better too, but we're going to have to wait until Week 2 to get that chance again.

I support all Hawkeye athletes, even after their time at the University of Iowa has past. I always wish for former Iowa players to find success at the professional level, especially in the NFL. That is why I was jumping out of my skin with excitement when I first heard Chad Greenway was drafted as the 17th pick overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Finally, a recognizable Iowa football player was going to the pro team I had been rooting for for almost as long as I've been rooting for the Hawks. I was also thrilled when the Vikings acquired former Iowa running back Albert Young as an undrafted free agent after this year's draft. Though Young was eventually cut, he is still a part of the team's practice squad.

Greenway was receiving all sorts of buzz at linebacker as a rookie in 2006, but unfortunately his season was ended after one play. Greenway was on special teams for the first time in the Vikings' first preseason game when he suffered a serious knee injury that forced him to miss his entire rookie season. Greenway vowed to come back, though, stronger than before and even got the attention of his teammates and coaching staff with his work ethic. Chad held true to his promise and in his second chance at a rookie season, he showed his potential on the field racking up 105 total tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Not bad for a (2nd-year) rookie. Greenway finished second on the team in tackles behind veteran linebacker E.J. Henderson. In 2008 he hopes to take his game even further and hopefully be an anchor on defense for a potential playoff run for the Purple and Gold.

In Monday night's 24-19 opening loss to the Packers, Greenway proved that he's ready as he and cornerback Antoine Winfield led the team with eight tackles each. Greenway was big in the fourth quarter with four tackles; one for a loss and a touchdown saver after Ryan Grant juked Vikings defenders all the way to the 2-yard line. Greenway was a positive to a rather negative performance by the Vikings defense.

Meanwhile, another former Hawkeye was leaving his mark on the football field that Monday night. Aaron Kampman, a 7th-year defensive end for the Packers, registered five tackles (four solo) and a sack. Kampman entered 2008 as one of the league's top pass-rushers having picked up 27.5 sacks in the last two years ranking him among the best in the league. Kampman continued is reign of terror on opposing offenses reeking havoc all night forcing running backs Adrian Peterson and Chestor Taylor to changes directions and forcing QB Tarvaris Jackson to scramble for his life and make plays sooner than he wanted to.

Kampman was taken by the Packers as the 156th pick in the 5th round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Minnesota's next opponent also has a couple of former Hawkeyes who are now stars at their respective positions. Dallas Clark, a 2002 Mackey Award winner at Iowa (Best TE in the nation), is one of the best tight ends in the National Football League and one of the best in franchise history for the Colts. Bob Sanders, a first team All-Big Ten and All-American at Iowa, was named the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year as a safety. Both could have an impact on the outcome of this Sunday's game as the Vikings get their home-opener at the Metrodome against the Indianapolis Colts.