Story: Michael O'Connell too smart to ever doubt himself

**WaldoPepper** · 08-07-2010, 12:55 PM

Iowa State captain O’Connell too smart to ever doubt himself | GazetteOnline.com

**Cato2handjam** · 08-07-2010, 02:13 PM

I'll be pulling a little harder for Mike O. this year. Great story, thanks for posting.

**isufan** · 08-07-2010, 02:13 PM

Good find.

**woodie** · 08-07-2010, 04:06 PM

mike will have a great year,i predict...........

**clone136** · 08-07-2010, 05:28 PM

How could he not get into Iowa with a 3.3. I knew a girl in HS who got a 14 on the ACT who went to Iowa.

**jsmith86** · 08-07-2010, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by clone136

How could he not get into Iowa with a 3.3. I knew a girl in HS who got a 14 on the ACT who went to Iowa.

I don't think it was Iowa he was trying to get into. I'm pretty sure the reporter meant he was trying to get into Notre Dame and mistakenly called ND a state school.

**Dopey** · 08-07-2010, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by jsmith86

I don't think it was Iowa he was trying to get into. I'm pretty sure the reporter meant he was trying to get into Notre Dame and mistakenly called ND a state school.

“Meeting with certain people in the admissions department and them telling me that based on their past history, they thought I wouldn’t make it a semester at Iowa.”

I agree though. Something doesn't seem right. I thought both ISU and Iowa required only 1 of the 3: Top half of class, 3.0 gpa, or 18 on the ACT.

**CrossCyed** · 08-07-2010, 06:40 PM

MOC busts his ***.

**clones_jer** · 08-07-2010, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Dopey

“Meeting with certain people in the admissions department and them telling me that based on their past history, they thought I wouldn’t make it a semester at Iowa.”

I agree though. Something doesn't seem right. I thought both ISU and Iowa required only 1 of the 3: Top half of class, 3.0 gpa, or 18 on the ACT.

Not sure of the setup now - they changed it up a few years back - but in '97 it was top half of your class or > 22 on the ACT.

of course either school will do that probation deal where you take a summer class or two and if you pass you're in.

this seems a little overly dramatic - but I hear him on the problem with upper half of the class. Way back in the day I had a 3.35 and was 24 of 53 at my high school, cut it close.

**Stonesthatroll** · 08-08-2010, 01:50 PM

Problem with his 3.3 GPA is that IC Regina "uprates" their grades based on courses. IIRC if you take an honors or AP level course this happens. I know many people around Iowa City that have explained to me that had Mike gone to City or West, he would have not had this issue and more than likely have gotten into Iowa.

**Aaron Jacobs** · 08-08-2010, 02:53 PM

I think he was saying, the people in the admissions department for Notre Dame told him he wouldn't make it at Iowa.

**clonedude** · 08-08-2010, 02:57 PM

So when did Iowa ever raise their standards so high? This article is a bunch of BS IMO. It makes it sound like Iowa has these high academic standards and ISU doesn't. That's complete BS.

Are you telling me that Abe Satterfield and Dominique Douglass were better in high school than Michael O'Connell? I've seen interviews with some Iowa players that can barely speak in complete sentences at all.

Truth is, Iowa did not want O'Connell. They didn't think he was good enough, but needed a reason not to bring him in so it wouldn't look bad that they didn't want the local boy. If Mike was a 4 star recruit out of IC Regina, he would have been at Iowa... GUARANTEED... even if he had a 1.8 grade pt avg. What a farce. Mike Hlas can't honestly believe this garbage can he?

**clonedude** · 08-08-2010, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron Jacobs

I think he was saying, the people in the admissions department for Notre Dame told him he wouldn't make it at Iowa.

I read the actual article today in my CR Gazette, and Mike Hlas specifically states that he couldn't get into Iowa. I don't buy it. If he was a 4 or 5 star recruit, he would have been at Iowa... don't fool yourself.

**Aaron Jacobs** · 08-08-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by clonedude

I read the actual article today in my CR Gazette, and Mike Hlas specifically states that he couldn't get into Iowa. I don't buy it. If he was a 4 or 5 star recruit, he would have been at Iowa... don't fool yourself.

Learn to read. The part of the statement about getting into Iowa was in quotes. That means it's a quote from O'Connell.

**clonedude** · 08-08-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron Jacobs

Learn to read. The part of the statement about getting into Iowa was in quotes. That means it's a quote from O'Connell.

I understand that O'Connell himself said that he was told he couldn't qualify at Iowa... I just don't believe that Iowa was telling Mike the truth. As I said, if MOC was a 4 or 5 star recruit, he would have qualified to play at Iowa. Truth is, they did NOT want him.

I just wonder if Mike Hlas actually believes that MOC wouldn't qualify at Iowa?