By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – I’ll let you in on a little secret; I’m a huge Mark Gronowski fan, and have been since the first time I interviewed him.

It’s impossible not to like Mark Gronowski just from how friendly and respectful he seems to treat everybody.

Hopefully, Iowa Sports Information Director Matt Weitzel won’t mind me sharing what he said about Gronowski this past summer after having been around him for several months.

Weitzel said that Gronowski was a pleasure to work with; cooperative, appreciative and always willing to do whatever was needed from a media standpoint.

And through the course of this up-and-down season in which Iowa is 6-4 heading into Saturday’s game against Michigan State, Gronowski hasn’t let what has or hasn’t happened on the field effect how he treats the media.

He shows up every Tuesday and graciously answers questions from the media until Weitzel finally has to bring it to an end because Gronowski won’t.

And while a cynic might counter by saying that’s a very small price to pay for what Iowa is paying Gronowski; the little things still should matter.

I’ve covered a lot of Iowa quarterbacks over the years, including some grumpy ones who made it abundantly clear that dealing with the media was more of an annoyance.

Never once has Gronowski seemed grumpy or annoyed by having to deal with the media.

Even after Iowa’s four gut-wrenching losses, Gronowski has stepped to the podium and been accountable. You know he’s just in agony from losing, and yet, he still meets his responsibility with class.

Gronowski has been asked some questions by the media that might deserve an eye roll, but never once has he showed his frustration, anger or displeasure.

I felt compelled to write this column about Gronowski in response to all the anger caused by an article I wrote that was published Wednesday on Hawk Fanatic that examined the ongoing struggles with the passing game and whether Gronowski was a good or bad investment from the transfer portal.

I’ve written enough columns and commentaries about Hawkeye athletics over the past three decades to usually know when an article might strike a nerve with Hawkeye fans.

But this one I didn’t see coming.

I didn’t see it coming because you can be a huge Mark Gronowski fan and still question why the passing game hasn’t improved with him playing quarterback, and if he was a good NIL investment.

Gronowski has been a great investment in some ways, including becoming one of the greatest running quarterbacks in program history in just 10 games.

Never did I think an Iowa quarterback would run for 13 touchdowns in a single season, but that’s what the 6-foot-2, 235 pound Gronowski already has accomplished this season despite having suffered a knee sprain against Indiana.

He also by all accounts has been a tremendous teammate. You can just tell by the way his Hawkeye teammates talk about him. It isn’t just lip service in front of the media.

Gronowski has earned their respect and admiration just by being himself.

There is always a risk of disrupting team chemistry when adding a high-profile player from the transfer portal.

But Iowa’s team chemistry seems just fine and that’s a credit to Gronowski’s team-first mentality and humble approach.

He is what the younger generation might call a good dude.

Gronowski acknowledged to the media on Tuesday that something has been missing from the Iowa passing game. He is only averaging 121.6 passing yards per game and has thrown just six touchdowns passes along with five interceptions.

Iowa is ranked 131st out of 134 FBS tam in per-game passing yards.

“There’s been, I guess, just a little bit something missing,” Gronowski said.

A member of the media tried to give Gronowski an excuse by pointing out that he has been a Hawkeye for less than a year, which seems fair and legitimate.

Gronowski also had shoulder surgery that limited him this past spring.

So, he could have easily embraced the narrative about not having enough time to adjust to being a Hawkeye.

But he didn’t.

Instead, Gronowski pointed out all the time he spent working with his teammates over the summer, in fall camp and after practice.

Gronowski came to Iowa with the reputation as a winner based on all the wins he accumulated as a four-year start for FCS power South Dakota State. His 55 career wins rank first all time in Division I football, and he’s nearly helped pull off some huge wins as a Hawkeye.

That’s what is so frustrating about this season; how close Iowa has come to beating elite opponents.

Iowa’s four losses to Iowa State (16-13), Indiana (20-15), Oregon (18-16) and USC (26-21) were by a combined 15 points.

Gronowski led an impressive 93-scoring drive late in the fourth quarter against Oregon that gave Iowa a one-point lead with less than two minutes to play.

But then the Iowa defense failed to stop Oregon from kicking a game-winning field goal with three seconds remaining.

So, what could have been a defining moment in Gronowski’s brief career as a Hawkeye sort of became an afterthought due from losing.

Only three games, including a bowl game, are left in Mark Gronowski’s Hawkeye career.

He has obviously made his mark just from all the criticism I received for questioning his value as an NIL investment.

Scott Dochterman from the Athletic reached out by e-mail recently to ask for my vote for the annual Golden Gavel Award, which recognizes an Iowa football player for their daily interactions with local media and the public.

Without hesitation, I said Mark Gronowski by a long shot. And I’m sure I’m not alone with that pick.