Jay Norvell meets with the Media & gives Update on Iowa's RB room
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Jay Norvell on Iowa's RB room:
-Kamari Moulton has "probably has the best overall package and knowledge at this time."
-Xavier Williams "has had a great spring."
-Nathan McNeil: "Very versatile" and "can do a lot of different things as a receiver."
-L.J. Phillips Jr. is like a "bowling ball of butcher knives — nobody wants to tackle him when he runs."
-Kamari Moulton has "probably has the best overall package and knowledge at this time."
-Xavier Williams "has had a great spring."
-Nathan McNeil: "Very versatile" and "can do a lot of different things as a receiver."
-L.J. Phillips Jr. is like a "bowling ball of butcher knives — nobody wants to tackle him when he runs."
Owen Gill was the original bowling ball of butcher knives. Hayden called him that.
I thought it was Richard Bass...Was Owen Gill called that before Richard?
I think it was actually Richard Bass or somebody after Gill, arount 1985 or so, but I'm not sure. I have an excellent memory. It is just that sometimes I forget where I put it.
I stand corrected................
The Iowa Hawkeye player you’re thinking of is Richard Bass.
He was a fullback in the late 1980s under coach Hayden Fry, who famously described Bass as a “rolling ball of butcher knives.”
Bass was known for his powerful, bruising running style—exactly the kind of player that nickname was meant to capture.
Don Doxie (formerly of the QC Times), in the linked column, wrote that Hayden called fullback Richard Bass “a rolling ball of butcher knives.”
IHJ Guest Column: Hayden Fry was complex, hilarious and thoroughly unforgettable
By Don Doxsie Remember back in high school when you had to write an essay about the most unforgettable person you’d ever met? Some of us probably had trouble deciding who to write abo…
iowahistoryjournal.com
Last edited:
I believe it was Norm Granger, fullback, that Hayden Fry described as "a bowling ball of butcher knives," and I'm pretty sure that's where Jay picked up that description. Hayden used his fullbacks in the running game, and Granger was as described, along with being fast enough to return kicks. If LJ Phillips is in that category, let him loose.
I think Norm Granger or Bass. Owen Gill he called the baby bull.....
I would have argued it was David Hudson so I was wrong too
That backfield of Norm Granger, Owen Gill and Eddie Phillips was fun.
It was. One of my favorite Hawk memories was watching Nick Bell run through Illinois like Crap thru a goose...lolol..
Nick Bell and Tony Stewart... Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Richard Bass = rolling ball of butcher knives
Owen Gill = baby bull
Owen Gill = baby bull
Good press conference. You can tell he is really happy to be at Iowa.
I'm afraid not. Owen Gill was the player Fry called the baby bull....Just Google an article from the Gazette or someone else covering Iowa football in 1982. Lots of examples.
Last edited:
Nothing personal against the coach who just went back to the NFL, but my feeling is that we will experience a net gain with Jay coming in and leading that group
Loaded backfield. I followed Phillips while he was with the Coyotes. Tough runner, had the ability to get the extra yards after contact similar to Mekhi Sargent. IMO better vision than Moulton. Interested to see what he can do in the BigTen.
I guess I stand corrected. Maybe my legendary memory is not as good as I thought it was, and perhaps I am wrong. This is the first time in my life that I have ever been wrong about anything, though. The One previous time I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken (about being wrong, that is.)
Before he got injured I recall he was going to be a super FB/RB… then his freak injury happened on a long run I believe against (IDK) but was never the same after that.
Yes he was. I think he could have been a stud RB.
My favorite FB ever is Burger. I dont know why. Just is.
Great memories…that was against a highly rated Illinois defense too if memory serves…
Because u like Hamburgers? Sorry I couldn’t resist … but he was on some bad Iowa teams but he was good