JOHNSTON, Iowa, August 1, 2024 — Pioneer has been helping heroes in the field for generations but usually it is in corn and soybean fields across the Midwest.

Pioneer continues that commitment to support everyday heroes as the title sponsor of the “Heroes Game” between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers this fall. The 14th annual matchup between the Big Ten Conference rivals will kick off at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

In a change of tradition, instead of asking fans to nominate their local hero over the next few months, Pioneer and the University of Iowa have already selected Dan Marburger, the former Principal of Perry High School, as this year’s Iowa Hero.

“We had an outpouring of individuals reach out to the University of Iowa after that tragic moment suggesting Principal Marburger be our next Hero” said Beth Goetz, UI Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “We felt strongly that this would be a positive way to honor him, and the Perry community.”

“Dan absolutely loved this part of Hawkeye Football” said Elizabeth Marburger, Dan’s wife. “I am not sure we could find too many things he didn’t love about Iowa Football. He was an avid fan his whole life. We would love to represent him on November 29.”

“We are honored to recognize local heroes through the Pioneer Heroes Game,” said Todd Frazier, VP, U.S. Marketing, Corteva Agriscience. “It is one small way we can express our sincere gratitude for local heroes and the impact they have in our communities.”

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named Erik Crawford and Stevie Taylor as assistant coaches. Crawford has spent the past two seasons as the Director of Player Development, while Taylor was the Assistant Director of Player Development last season.

The 2023-24 Cyclones won the Big 12 Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones finished with a 29-8 overall record and 13-5 league record, the second-most wins in school history. The 37 games played are tied for the most in program history. The Cyclones went a perfect 18-0 at Hilton Coliseum, the fifth undefeated year in the building’s history. Iowa State had seven Top 25 victories on the year, including two wins over Houston when they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 and a victory over No. 7 Kansas.

During Crawford’s two seasons in Ames, the Cyclones have advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.

“Erik has been an unbelievable resource for the young men in our program,” Otzelberger said. “He has created tremendous value in improving our guy’s perimeter shooting and designing a plan of attack to be successful offensively. He has been a terrific asset to our coaching staff and program. We’re very happy for Erik.”

Crawford played a pivotal role in Tamin Lipsey’s increased production during his sophomore season in 2023-24. Lipsey was just 5-of-25 from 3-point range as a freshman, but went 45-of-115 (39.1%) in his sophomore year. He also increased his rebound average from 4.0 to 4.6, while turning the ball over fewer times and increasing his assist total by 30. He averaged 7.3 points as a freshman and moved that number to 12.4 as a sophomore.

Taylor joined the Cyclones prior to the 2023-24 season.

“Stevie has worked countless hours with our guys in the player development department and their skill development putting time into their game,” Otzelberger said. “We’re excited for him and this step forward for him and his career.”

The Cyclones open the 2024-25 season Nov. 4 against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum.

AMES, Iowa – For the second-straight season, Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List presented by Texas Roadhouse. The award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

A Second Team All-Big 12 selection a season ago, Noel finished with 66 receptions for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. His 66 catches were the seventh-most in a single season in ISU history and the fourth-most among Big 12 players last season.

The Kansas City, Mo. native has a reception in 32 consecutive games, tied for the fourth-longest active streak nationally and the fourth-longest streak in school history, and multiple receptions in 15-straight games.

Noel also handled kick and punt return duties for the Cyclones in 2023 and averaged 8.5 yards per punt return and 27.2 yards per kick return. He is the first FBS player since 2014 to have four 50-plus yard receptions, two 50-yard kick returns and two 30-yard punt returns in a season.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior linebacker Jay Higgins has been named to the 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, the Wuerffel Foundation announced Thursday.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) during the 2023 season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally. The total tied the program record for tackles in a single season.

The Indianapolis native is a preseason All-American and Phil Steele Preseason National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List earlier this week.

Now in its 20th season, the Allstate Wuerfel Trophy is college football’s premier award for community service. The trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida who parlayed his success on the football field into a lifetime of service and humanitarianism.

Higgins volunteered more than 50 combined hours last year with groups such as Safe Haven Animal Shelter in South Amana, Iowa, the Community Crisis Services and Food Bank, Special Olympics, Dream City and University of Iowa Student-Athlete Academic Services.

The 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by a national voting committee along with a fan vote component. The winner will be announced on ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 12th. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Presentation Gala will take place February 1, 2025, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The award recipient will be invited to join Danny Wuerffel in New York City to attend the Heisman Trophy ceremonies, including the press conference, televised announcement show and gala.

The Hawkeyes open the season Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State inside Kinnick Stadium beginning at 11 a.m. (CT).

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Nic Robinson has been named the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Iowa women’s golf program, it was announced Thursday by head coach Megan Menzel.

Robinson joins the Hawkeyes following three seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee. He has also coached collegiately at Charlotte and Asbury University.

“I am so excited to have Nic join our staff and to have the opportunity to work alongside him,” said Menzel. “He has great success and experience that he will be bringing to our program. He will be a hard-working and tough recruiter and I love his excitement about helping us to continue to push our program forward. We are thrilled to welcome Nic and his family to the Hawkeye golf family.”

In his three seasons in Knoxville, Robinson coached the Lady Vols to a pair of team NCAA Regional appearances. During the 2021-22 season, he coached Mikayla Bardwell to the NCAA Regionals as an individual.

The Vols had three top five finishes as a team and 13 top 10 individual showings during the 2023-24 season. The team earned runner-up honors at the Collegiate Invitational in the first tournament of the spring and closed out the year by placing sixth (of 12 teams) at the NCAA Bermuda Run Regional.

“I am thrilled to be at Iowa and under the leadership of such a respected coach,” said Robinson. “It’s a special time at Iowa and I can’t wait to hit the ground running and make a splash this upcoming season. The community support, fan base and national brand that is Iowa athletics is truly incredible and I can’t wait to leave our mark on such a historical place.”

Prior to his arrival on Rocky Top, Robinson spent four seasons at Charlotte, serving as the program’s assistant women’s golf coach. Hired prior to the program’s inaugural season in 2017-18, Robinson helped the 49ers claim three top-five finishes during their debut campaign.

In the following year, Charlotte placed second at the Conference USA Championships. The 49ers logged five top-five finishes in 2018-19, had two players earn All-Conference USA honors and sent Cecilie Finne-Ipsen to the NCAA Championships as an individual.

Despite only participating in six tournaments during the 2019-20 season to COVID-19, Robinson’s Charlotte squad earned two team titles at the Yale Invitational and the Idle Hour Collegiate — the first two tournament wins in the young program’s history — while adding three additional top-five finishes for a shortened-season total of five.

By Charlotte’s third varsity season, Robinson had helped guide Charlotte to a No. 27 national ranking by Golfweek and assisted in developing five eventual All-Conference USA performers.

Preceding his time in Charlotte, Robinson had a three-year tenure as the head coach of Asbury University. By 2017, the Eagles achieved a national ranking of No. 49. He also served as the Connemara Golf Course Head Golf Pro from 2015-17.

Robinson’s coaching career began at Lexington Christian Academy in Kentucky as the school’s head golf coach from 2012-14. He earned his degree in biomedical science from Southeast Missouri State in 2010.