AH podcast: Big Ten Network’s Gery DiNardo breaks down the Iowa football team
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Gerry DiNardo has pretty much done it all in football.
He was an All-America offensive guard at Notre Dame in 1974, and was the head coach for Vanderbilt, Louisiana State and Indiana.
He was also the head coach for the XFL’s Birmingham Thunderbolts in 2001, although the league folded after just one season.
The 66-year old DiNardo now serves as a college football studio analyst for the Big Ten Network after having served in the same capacity for ESPN.
DiNardo was in Iowa City on Tuesday as part of the Big Ten Network’s annual late-summer tour of the conference’s 14 teams in preparation for the start of the season.
He attended Tuesday’s practice and was kind enough to be our guest on Wednesday on the Allhawkeyes radio show and podcast.
DiNardo shared his observations from practice and also talked about what he thinks will be a highly competitive race for the Big Ten West Division title.
DiNardo believes that Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska are the top three contenders in the West Division, but he also didn’t rule out Northwestern and Minnesota as possible contenders.
He said the Cornhuskers and Gophers have both made considerable progress over the past two seasons with regard to personnel, and he also said that Iowa has the most physical practice of any of the teams in the Big Ten.
DiNardo said it makes sense that Iowa would have the most physical practice in the Big Ten because that's how Iowa plays under head coach Kirk Ferentz, who is entering his 21st season as head coach.
DiNardo also spoke highly of the Iowa running backs and praised the depth being built at that position.
The podcast starts with the DiNardo’s interview, which lasts for about 30 minutes. The entire podcast lasts for about 90 minutes and includes our usual audience participation.
We appreciate DiNardo giving us time during his busy schedule and think you will enjoy his unique and well-informed insight.
So give it a listen.