Culver a “huge fan” of the Cyclones, Panthers, Bulldogs…

Former teacher and coach Chet Culver — Iowa’s governor — today tried to figuratively remove the football from his mouth.  Late Saturday night his staff issued a written statement on Culver’s behalf.  It extended the governor’s congratulations to the Iowa Hawkeyes for their stunning victory over Michigan State, a victory which extended the Hawk’s winning streak to eight.  It’s the first time Iowa has opened any season with eight consecutive victories.

But earlier Saturday afternoon, the Iowa State Cyclones stunned Nebraska, 9-7.  ISU hadn’t beenvictorious in Lincoln since 1977.  Some Iowa State fans celebrating the victory saw Culver’s silence on the Cyclone victory as a slight.

No slight intended, Culver said today. Charlotte Eby of the Lee Enterprises Des Moines Bureau asked Culver about the flap this morning and filed a post on her blog. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson fiiled a story.   Culver now promises to go to whatever bowl games Iowa and/or Iowa State may be invited to in the post-season.  (He did not commit to attending the Big 12 Championship game December 5 in Arlington, Texas — in Cowboy Stadium! — should Iowa State win the northern division and play in the championship game.  ISU is currently second in the northern division race.)

Culver also indicated he had issued plenty of congratulatory statements about Iowa State athletics earlier in the year, but they hadn’t been picked up by the media.  Here’s the list, provided by Culver press secretary Troy Price:

• http://www.governor.iowa.gov/pr-archive/releases/2009/03/30_4.php
• http://www.governor.iowa.gov/pr-archive/releases/2009/03/28_2.php
• http://www.governor.iowa.gov/pr-archive/releases/2009/03/24_4.php
• http://www.governor.iowa.gov/pr-archive/releases/2009/03/22_2.php
• http://www.governor.iowa.gov/pr-archive/releases/2009/03/22_1.php

Perhaps this episode will cure Culver of his penchant of issuing statements when he sees an Iowa team or a former Iowan win in some sort of sporting competition.  As evidence, I note Culver did not issue a congratulatory statement to former University of Northern Iowa stand-out Kurt Warner, the former Iowa Barnstormers quarterback who guided his Arizona Cardinals to a rather stunning victory last night over the New York Giants.

Finally, just in case you missed it, Congressman Bruce Braley just issued this statement:

Braley Congratulates University of Iowa Wrestlers

Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) issued the following statement after the House passed a resolution recognizing University of Iowa Wrestling and their 2009 Division I National Championship title (H.R. 368):

“I’d like to congratulate the University of Iowa Wrestling team on their 2009 Division I National Wrestling Championship. This is an outstanding display of athleticism, and the students and coaching staff deserve the utmost recognition. I’m proud to represent a state with such a high-caliber of student-athletes.”