By Pat Harty

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – It seems the little things always stand out while covering Big Ten football media day.

Like Barry Alvarez not wearing socks, the lack of rest areas in Indiana and Illinois compared to Iowa, and the number of times each head coach says the word excited.

I remember about 15 years ago counting the number of times the word excited was said by the head coaches, and it was close to 100 times. And that was with just 11 head coaches.

Why was I counting the number of times the word excited was said by the head coaches?

Well, I don’t have an explanation for that. It probably says more about me than the head coaches.

But anyway, the little things often leave a big impression, and that was the case again last Friday in Indianapolis.

This year’s Big Ten media day event was different than a typical event in that social distancing was being practiced due to the same pandemic that canceled Big Ten media day in 2020.

The event until this year was always held in Chicago, and is expected to return to Chicago next year.

But there was something special with Indianapolis hosting the event, and that was watching junior receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. represent the Iowa football team.

Tracy was one of three Iowa players that attended the event, with center Tyler Linderbaum and defensive end Zach VanValkenburg the other two.

And while all three have an intriguing story to tell about their personal experience, Tracy grew up in the Indianapolis area, and went to high school there.

So this was a homecoming for Tracy, and reason for him to be proud because it isn’t easy getting selected to represent a Big Ten team at media day, and because the past year has been a test for Tracy, on and off the field.

From having to endure a global pandemic that refuses to go away to the racial unrest from last summer to the frustration of seeing his statistics and playing time drop in 2020 compared to the previous season, Tracy has dealt with a heavy load emotionally, and has handled it well, or he wouldn’t have been chosen to represent Iowa.

“This is where I grew up at, so just to come back and actually sit here and talk to you guys, is like a blessing for me,” Tracy said. “You don’t understand how grateful I am to be here.

“But when I am here, I do want to take advantage of the opportunity. I don’t want to waste it. This is a business trip, and talking to you guys is a blessed situation.”

Tracy looked dapper at media day with his dark suit coat and bow tie, and with a smile that never left his face.

His patience, his loyalty and his pride have all been tested on the field, and away from it. But Tracy has stayed the course and is now poised to have a major impact on the field.

Tracy already has had a breakout season, which was 2019 when he had 36 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns. He shredded Wisconsin for 130 yards on five catches, highlighted by a 75 yard touchdown catch in which Tracy blew past the Badger secondary.

But then last season he played behind seniors Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette at receiver, and his numbers dropped to just 14 catches for 154 yards and one touchdowns, albeit in just eight games.

Tracy has been outspoken about the accusations of racial disparities from last summer, and it was a topic that was discussed at media day.

“Yes, we did have some racial issues,” Tracy said. “But we definitely have turned that around. The culture now around Iowa is a lot better than it was a year ago, and that’s the honest truth. When people come there and visit Iowa, you will see, you will go in there and feel like it’s home instead of a house.”

Tracy said almost the exact same thing to the media earlier this summer that the environment feels more like a home than a house.

So that’s a sign of progress because nobody knows and understands the culture better than the players.

One of the changes in the wake of the racial unrest is that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz now allows his players to be on Twitter.

And for Tracy, it’s a chance to push his brand in this new age of Name, Image and Likeness, and to connect with the fans.

“Twitter is something that obviously everybody in the world has,” Tracy said. “So you want to utilize that to the best of your ability. So, with NIL coming out, social media, in general, is your best friend. You want to make yourself a brand. You have to keep up.

“You can go on there and let the fans get to know you. Let them know you’re not just a football player, you’re a person with feelings and a personality.”

So again, it’s the little things that so often leave a lasting impression from media day, and watching Tracy bask in the spotlight in his hometown was pretty cool.

You could tell it meant a lot to him, and he represented Iowa with class.

It’s just nice to see someone who’s deserving get rewarded.