DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa state legislator says he’ll try again to pass a bill that would allow fantasy sports players in the state to claim prizes. The Des Moines Register reports those who play fantasy sports in Iowa are currently banned from obtaining cash prizes. The state Senate approved a bill last session to legalize payouts, but it failed to clear the House.

Republican state Rep. Jake Highfill, the House bill’s chief author, says he’s reworking the bill in hopes to reach a consensus among key parties in the upcoming session. He says the legislation would set an age limit and develop a regulatory structure and tax provisions. Democratic state Rep. Dan Kelley says he is strongly opposed to legalizing payouts, saying daily fantasy games are like gambling.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Chris Parks.

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AMES, Iowa (AP) — Abdel Nader led six players in double figures with 21 points and 11th-ranked Iowa State beat Coppin State 104-84 on Wednesday night in its final tune-up for Big 12 play. Deonte Burton scored 17 points for the Cyclones (11-1), who open their conference schedule at No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday.

Iowa State went ahead by 21 points midway through the first half and won by at least 20 for the sixth time. Monte Morris had 10 points with 11 assists for his fourth double-double of the year for the Cyclones. Josh Treadwell had 21 for Coppin State (2-13), which lost its 11th straight.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Jeremy Morgan scored 18 points and Northern Iowa routed Bradley 80-44 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools on Wednesday night. Northern Iowa (9-5, 1-0) has won 13-straight conference home games dating back to the 2013-14 season. Its 36-point win set a conference record for largest margin of victory.

Morgan was 6 of 8 from the floor and had six rebounds and four assists. Bennett Koch scored 15 points, and Paul Jesperson and Klint Carlson added 12 apiece for Northern Iowa. Matt Bohannon chipped in 11 points with three 3-pointers. Scottie James scored nine points to lead Bradley (2-12, 0-1). The Braves shot 33 percent from the field, scored a season-low 44 points, and have lost three straight.

It was tied at 9-all five minutes into the game. The Panthers used a 13-0 run and led 22-9 midway through the first half and cruised from there.

ATLANTA (AP) – Kirk Ferentz has been selected the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year after leading Iowa to 12 wins and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Ferentz, completing his 17th year, is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten. He also won the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the nation’s top coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney was named The Associated Press coach of the year.

The Bobby Dodd Trophy, presented by the Peach Bowl and the Bobby Dodd Foundation, recognizes scholarship, leadership and success on the field. From 2013-15, the Iowa team served more than 1,500 community service hours.

Iowa will play Stanford in Friday’s Rose Bowl. Alabama’s Nick Saban won the award in 2014.

With KJAN’s Jim Field.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Mike Gesell scored a career-high 25 points and Iowa cruised past top-ranked Michigan State 83-70 on Tuesday night, handing the Spartans their first loss of the season. Peter Jok had 19 points for the Hawkeyes (10-3), which toppled a No. 1 team for the first time in 16 years.

Iowa never trailed in what turned out to be a surprisingly easy win over the Spartans (13-1). The Hawkeyes led by as much as 19 in snapping a nine-game losing streak against Michigan State.

Eron Harris scored 21 points to lead the Spartans. They were playing their second game without injured star Denzel Valentine — their leader in scoring, rebounds and assists — and their first since coach Tom Izzo’s father Carl died Monday.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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SPENCER, Iowa (AP) – Hundreds of relatives, teammates, classmates and community members have gathered to remember a northwest Iowa wrestler who collapsed during a championship match and died at a hospital. Austin Roberts was praised Monday at the Spencer High School Fieldhouse as a kind and compassionate gladiator. The 18-year-old Died Dec. 19 at Spencer Hospital, just hours after collapsing on a mat during the 220-pound weight class final at the Spencer High School Invitational meet.

A preliminary investigation points to a natural cause of death, but complete autopsy results are not yet available. The Sioux City Journal reports the Spencer High School wrestling coach Adam Gress says Roberts could inflict pain on the coach during their practice matches, but Roberts always asked, “Coach, are you all right?”

The success of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl could come down to how well the defense stops one of the country’s top running backs. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker says Heisman Trophy finalist Christian McCaffery puts a lot of stress on a defense to play its best. He says they have to go 13 games back and then see all the things McCaffery can do to hurt you. “The preparation is definitely difficult for us, and you’ve always got to go back and keep on looking for plays they have designed for him,” Parker says. McCaffery says there’s not a lot of reading of the defense to do before the snap.

He says they run they schemes very well with their techniques and blitzes and coverages. “It’s gonna be tough, because there are not a lot of indicators of what they are doing. They line up and it’s the same stagnant front,” according to McCaffery. Stanford offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren says the Hawkeyes vanilla style actually makes it tougher to be prepared.

Bloomgren says Iowa lines up the defense and the coaches trust that everyone will be in the right place, as opposed to the Pac 10, where they see a lot of different schemes and movement. Bloomgren says Iowa and Stanford are a lot alike in philosophy. “Every time we touch the ball, we want to score points. That’s our offensive philosophy in a nutshell, hey let’s do whatever we can to score points.” Bloomgren says. “And the other thing is, play great defense. Both teams have certainly done that.” He says when it comes to Iowa’s defense, they can’t overthink the game plan.

“The biggest thing for us as coaches is not to put in every play that draws up well against that structure on the board,” Bloomgren says. “You’ve still got to limit. You’ve got to figure out what you do best and what is going to fit best for your matchups.”
Parker says one thing for his defense that has led to success is stopping long runs or passes. Parker says if they give up three or less big plays each game then they are only going to give up around 13 points. Any more big plays than that and he says they can expect to give up around 23 points. Parker says his philosophy is built a lot like former Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker.

“I think a lot about Norm. Obviously this year there were a couple of games where I thought he was looking over and smiling a little bit,” Parker says. “Last time I was here, I was here with Norm in the Rose Bowl, I was a G-A for him in 1988. So, to me it brings a lot of memories.” Iowa meets Stanford in the Rose Bowl on Friday.

(Radio Iowa)