"Voice of the Hawkeyes" Gary Dolphin tells Decorah Rotary Club members the Iowa football team exceeded his expectations

(Left to right): Decorah Rotary Club president Jim Morrow, Iowa Hawkeye broadcaster Gary Dolphin and KDEC General Manager Bob Holtan, whose station carries Dolphin's broadcasts

University of Iowa radio announcer Gary Dolphin told members of the Decorah Rotary Club on Tuesday that even he didn't quite expect the kind of season the 2015 Hawkeye football team had.

Iowa finished the season with 12 wins and 2 losses.  Dolphin told the group he thought the Hawkeye football team would be very good in 2015 because the players would be motivated to rebound from 2014's disappointing season.  But he didn't become really optimistic until after the Hawkeyes shut out Northwestern 24-0 in a game in Evanston.

Dolphin--who has been doing Iowa sports broadcasts for 19 seasons--says there's a simple reason the football team did well in 2015: "They just executed better."

He also praised the play of Decorah native Josie Jewell and Waukon native Parker Hesse and says the two should be just as good--if not better--next year.  Dolphin expects 2016 will be another good season for Iowa because quarterback CJ Beathard will return.  "He's the real deal," said Dolphin, who says the Hawkeyes need to find one or two really speedy receivers to become a great team.

(Visit www.decorahsports.com for Dolphin's thoughts about the Hawkeye men's basketball team)