Z. Johnson is special guest at Iowa vs. Wisconsin game
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
Ever since he was the pint-sized version of "Zach Johnson from Cedar Rapids, Iowa" -- as he so famously and modestly anointed himself after he won the 2007 Masters -- Hawkeye football has been his passion.
Johnson and his family spent nearly every Saturday afternoon tailgating at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Those memories are great, but it was nothing like the red-carpet treatment he received recently during Iowa's game at Wisconsin.
One weekend after rubbing elbows with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan at The Presidents Cup, Zach Johnson found himself in Iowa's locker room listening to Coach Kirk Ferentz's pre-game speech. He ran out of the tunnel with the team. He spent the first and fourth quarters on the sidelines, too.
And after the undefeated Hawkeyes polished off that 20-10 victory over the Badgers, Johnson was overwhelmed when Ferentz told the team that one of the day's two game balls was going to the PGA TOUR star.
"He was giving his closing remarks on the game," Johnson recalled. "You're a second-half team, you guys played tough, the effort was outstanding -- and then he mentions my name. It was bizarre. I was so amped up just to watch them play. It was really a treat for me."
Ferentz didn't just mention Johnson's name, though. When pressed for specifics, the six-time PGA TOUR champ elaborated, albeit somewhat shyly.
"It was nice," said Johnson, who also has a game ball from the 2008 season in recognition of his efforts to raise money for the devastating floods that ravaged his home state that year. "(Ferentz) said, 'He's a huge Iowa fan. We appreciate his support, and we put on a good show for him. It was fun for us and fun for him.'
"He always mentions that how I approach my business is how the team does. I am probably not the most gifted of athletes, but through hard work, perseverance and grinding it out, good things can happen. The team does the same things."
Johnson's PGA TOUR schedule had prevented him from attending any Iowa games this year. His brother-in-law suggested they head to Badger Stadium, though, and a friend and former Iowa player, Lon Olejniczak, who also happens to work for one of Johnson's sponsors, Transamerica, came up with the tickets -- and more.
"He mentioned going in the locker room to me," Johnson said. "The last thing I wanted to do was intrude. I want them to win so badly, but you've got to take opportunity. I saw some familiar faces, and they welcomed me in."
Johnson said he was "very, very nervous" on the sidelines because he didn't want to get in the way. And he described himself as a "fly on the wall" in the locker room. That is, until the team hoisted the Heartland Trophy that goes to the winner of the Iowa-Wisconsin game each year.
"My brother and I were sitting right there, and we got to sing the fight song with them," Johnson said. "It was so cool. I didn't even go there, but as a kid, that was a dream of mine. Drake was just a better fit at the time (I was ready to go to college). So my allegiance is to two schools."
Johnson says the Iowa football program is like a "big old family -- that's what I appreciate." He was only too happy to pose for a photo with senior linebacker A.J. Edds and mingle with the team, several of whom had gone to the John Deere Classic earlier this year to watch him play.
"A number of the players after the game were pretty excited to shake my hand," Johnson said. "But it was the same feeling for me. I know who all these guys are and follow them more than I probably should. I am passionate about Iowa football."
Johnson, who won twice this year on TOUR, played wide receiver and did some kicking until he was in the eighth grade, when football conflicted with golf. He said he had "pretty good skills; pretty good hands. But I was not the fastest and certainly not the most powerful -- sort of like my golf game."
Contributing to a Presidents Cup victory for the Americans and receiving the game ball in back-to-back weekends wasn't half bad. But Johnson was quick to point out that the Hawkeyes scored on fourth down and seven with two seconds remaining to beat Michigan State 15-13 last week.
"So that one was massive to keep the momentum going," Johnson said.
The Hawkeyes are 8-0 and ranked fourth in the BCS poll and seventh in the AP Top 25. He's well aware of the bowl talk and national championship buzz.
"We are getting a lot of publicity with being undefeated," Johnson said. "In talking and listening and reading what Coach Ferentz has to say, though, that's all it is -- publicity. We have four tough games left, three of which are at home, which is nice. I hope to get back for another, too.
"But I don't like expectations. In my sport, I don't like to say I should play well here or I should win there. They just need to stick to what they've been doing, their process, and what they've been doing in practice, and there's no telling what they can do. And regardless of what happens, I am a huge fan."
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
FAN ZONE
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network