This week brings the start of the high school and college football seasons, and our sports staff is geared up to provide in-the-moment updates on your phone or desktop during games and comprehensive recaps and analysis afterward.
A look at Des Moines Register’s high school football coverage
Deputy sports editor Will Kennedy, wkennedy@dmreg.com, supervises our high school coverage.
“The Register will provide high school football fans across Iowa with a one-stop shop for coverage throughout the fall,” Kennedy said. “On Friday nights we will have our reporters and photographers on the ground at the most compelling games, while also providing live analysis and a statewide scores list. We’ll keep fans updated on their favorite teams and players while also telling inspiring on and off-the-field stories about athletes and coaches all season long.”
Alyssa Hertel will again be the lead reporter on high school football, assisted by Eli McKown and Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register staff, covering top recruits and teams statewide but with an emphasis on Des Moines metro teams, with contributions from Joe Randleman of the Ames Tribune and Marc Ray of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
Most of the state’s high schools open the regular season Thursday and Friday. Get prepped by catching up with preseason coverage, such as Hertel’s rankings of top recruits from each class, her 50 questions as the season begins or McKown’s rankings of the top players at each position.
Each week during the season, readers can vote on athletes of the week, and we’ll roll out new class-by-class team rankings, the statewide schedule of games that week, a story previewing top games of the week, with predictions, and team and player features.
On Friday nights, follow our live updates on action around the state. Photographers Cody Scanlan and Lily White will roam the sidelines shooting games each week, and Nixson Benítez will cover the fans, marching bands and game action with Instagram reels and TikTok videos on dmregister accounts. Look for Friday night analysis in the Sunday print edition.
Des Moines Register’s college football coverage
Sports editor James Kramer, jkramer@registermedia.com, supervises college football coverage, which will include basic coverage of Drake University and the University of Northern Iowa, but will primarily focus on Iowa’s two Power Four teams, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.
“The Register aims to provide Cyclone and Hawkeye fans with insightful, must-read analysis and commentary seven days a week, from the season openers through the bowl games and beyond,” Kramer said. “Our writers will give Iowa and Iowa State fans a front-row seat and a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite teams.”
Drake kicks off its season Thursday against Quincy, but the other teams begin play on Saturday. Both Cyclone and Hawkeye fans enter the season with high hopes: The Cyclones return most of their starters after reaching the Liberty Bowl in 2023, and the Hawkeyes return their top-shelf defense and harbor hopes for a better offense.
Register’s plans for Iowa State Cyclones football coverage
Columnist Travis Hines leads our Cyclones coverage, stepping into the role long held by Randy Peterson, who retired this spring. We’re conducting interviews and hope to announce Hines’ successor as Cyclones beat reporter soon, but in the meantime Birch, Hertel and McKown are all pitching in to ensure a steady stream of coverage for Cyclones fans, and Hertel will provide coverage of press conferences and games throughout the season.
Fans can get ready for the season by reading Hines’ game-by-game look at how the Cyclones’ season may unfold or his thoughts on a worst-case scenario as well as the best-case scenario of the lofty heights this team is capable of achieving.
Super-fans will want to be sure to sign up for Hines’ text message group, where he shares what he’s working on and insider tidbits that might not make it into a column. And they’ll want to listen to the weekly Cyclone Insider KXnO radio show, featuring Hines and Birch, which has shifted to 6 p.m. Thursdays, and postgame podcasts.
Each week of the season will bring a consistent pattern of coverage, including a new DVR Monday column by Hines, a deeper dive after reviewing film from Saturday’s game; a column, news stories, features and video from Tuesday’s coach press conference and other media availabilities; and Hines’ preview and prediction for the next game.
Register’s plans for Iowa Hawkeyes football coverage
Columnist Chad Leistikow, who has worked for 29 years with the Des Moines Register and the USA TODAY Sports Network, leads our Hawkeyes coverage, along with beat reporter Tyler Tachman and reporter Dargan Southard, who pitches in on press conference and game coverage and trending news.
Fans can prepare for the season by reading Chad’s game-by-game predictions for how the Hawkeyes’ season may unfold or his looks at the key roles defensive tackles Yahya Black and Aaron Graves play in the defense or at the wait-my-turn mentality that has produced NFL-caliber linebackers. Tachman also wrote about worst-case and best-case scenarios for this Hawkeyes team.
Super-fans will want to sign up for Leistikow’s text message group and tune in to KXnO at 6 p.m. Wednesdays for the Hawk Central show. Leistikow and Tachman also do frequent podcasts, after press conferences, games or major news developments, such as after the Thursday announcement of coach Kirk Ferentz’s one-game suspension for a potential NCAA recruiting violation.
Each week will bring a drumbeat of coverage, including the DVR Monday column originated by Leistikow; release of the depth chart; a column, news stories, features and video from Tuesday’s coach press conference and other media availabilities; and Leistikow’s preview and prediction for the next game.
For both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes, look for tailgating and live-action photo galleries from each home game. Digital producer Gus Martin will also report on trending news and produce videos and other coverage for both teams.
It’s shaping up to be a memorable season for high school and college teams across Iowa. I hope you enjoy our coverage.
Carol Hunter is the Register’s executive editor. She wants to hear your questions, story ideas or concerns at 515-284-8545, chunter@registermedia.com, or on Twitter: @carolhunter.
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Publish date : 2024-08-25 01:00:00
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