C.J. Fiedorowicz: We Welcome You With Open Arms

Not to toot our own horns, but we changed the 2010 recruiting class. How, you the reader may be wondering? Well it's a terrific story. During Minnesota week, we looked at our recruits that have verbally committed and were satisfied with what we saw (for Iowa standards). We knew though that we needed one big name. About Wednesday of that week we learned that we would be entertaining two huge prospects during the Minnesota game, 4-star Tight End C.J. Fiedorowicz (the former Illini verbal commit) and 5-star Offensive Tackle Seantrel Henderson (undecided).

So what did we do as avid Iowa Football fans? We got to the gate at 9:00 A.M and waited for the gates to open (nothing different than normal, but we needed to be close to convince the recruits [and to see the tenacity that is Seantrel Henderson] that Iowa is the place for them). We ran down the bleachers, laid down to hold our seats, and waited. After the stands starting filling up, and the players came out to warm up, we saw the recruits come out. No C.J., no Seantrel.

The recruits got a good glimpse of what it's like before a Hawkeye game then got escorted back into the tunnel. We were confused, where was C.J. and Seantrel? Then out of nowhere out come C.J. (accompanied by his mother) and Seantrel (with what looked like an entourage). From the fourth row behind the South endzone, Seantrel was a monster (6 foot 7, 295 pounds), and C.J. towered over the people around him (6 foot 6, 230 pounds). So here we are, staring down at one of the top high school tight ends, and the number one recruit in the country.

So onto the story. C.J. turns around and immediately I say, "C.J. come to Iowa, we work the tight end much more than Illinois!". He smiled with an awestruck look on his face (or maybe that was my expression). Everyone around us started buzzing, asking us who those guys were. Soon everyone knew, and everyone knew the importance of their visit. I said again "C.J. we want you here!" and Jonah uttered the ol' Kirk Ferentz line "You'll look great in Black and Gold". He turned around and gave us the thumbs up (while his mom tugged at his Johnsburg High School Letterman's jacket with a huge smile on her face). Right before they left, the student section busted out into a huge "Come to IOWA" chant, and Mrs. Fiedorowicz looked like she could have cried and C.J. looked like he would have signed the letter right then and there! I loved it, we sold it, we got him hooked. We couldn't tell if we affected Seantrel (his expressions were ice cold) but we got one at least.

So while reading up on him we learned that he decommitted from Illinois, and gave a verbal agreement to come to Iowa. Here is what he said, "I wasn't happy with what is going on at Illinois," Fiedorowicz told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I like all the coaches at Iowa. They will be staying around for a long time. I went to the Iowa/Minnesota game last weekend and the atmosphere was so much better than at Illinois. Now I feel good about my decision." This is a kid that had the likes of Notre Dame, Miami, LSU, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Arizona on his trail and us, Iowa, nabbed him!

But how are we the soul reason why C.J. committed to us? Because of this, "Last weekend, I was talking to Iowa fans and they knew all about me. You could tell they care about their football over there"

That's right, he gave us a shout out without even knowing our names! But that's OK, we have no problem admitting who we are, and what we did! So Welcome C.J., and if you need anything, please let us know!

Love,
The Manchise