IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa freshman running back Mika’il McCall has been suspended for Friday’s regular-season finale at 22nd-ranked Nebraska for violating team rules. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz wouldn’t elaborate Tuesday on why he’s keeping McCall from making the trip. He hasn’t decided whether McCall would also be suspended from any bowl game. McCall rushed for 61 yards in the season opener for the Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) before breaking his ankle. He returned for last week’s 31-21 win over Purdue, rushing for four yards on two carries. Ferentz says little-used junior Jason White will serve as the backup to Marcus Coker against the Huskers (8-3, 4-3).

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa junior quarterback James Vandenberg has quietly put together one of the best seasons in school history entering Friday’s regular season finale at 22nd-ranked Nebraska. Vandenberg leads the Big Ten with 238.5 yards passing per game is second only to Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson with 23 touchdown passes. Vandenberg’s also thrown just five interceptions while completing 60.9 percent of his throws. Though Vandenberg has often been overshadowed by receiver Marvin McNutt and running back Marcus Coker, he’s been the leader of one of Iowa’s best offenses in recent memory. McNutt says Vandenberg has provided strong leadership this season and has developed into great player. The Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) face the Huskers (8-3, 4-3) for the first time in 11 seasons and for the first time as Big Ten opponents.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – For the third time since the St. Louis Cardinals’ improbable World Series championship run, David Freese got the red carpet treatment. Life has definitely changed for the player who emerged as a star after winning MVP of the World Series and NL championship series. He represented the team at the premiere of the World Series video Tuesday night. Since Game 7, Freese has chatted with Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres, served as guest presenter at the Country Music Awards and hung out at a GQ magazine party, the latter two also with red carpet entrances he tried to duck. Before getting to his seat at the Peabody Opera House on Tuesday, Freese amiably shuffled down a receiving line doing several interviews. Teammate Kyle McClellan also attended the video premiere, although this was his first red carpet experience. Before watching the video, the reliever said he’d always remember the victory lap to celebrate with fans after Game 7.

w/ Jim Field

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Jim Field and Chris Parks have the call of the game played Monday, November 21st.

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ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) – Joe Harris had 18 points and Mike Scott added 14 points and nine rebounds to lead Virginia to a 60-52 victory Monday over pesky Drake in the fourth-place game of the Paradise Jam. Virginia led 26-15 at the half and pushed its lead to 36-20 in the early part of the second half after a basket by freshman Malcolm Brogdon. But Drake steadily outscored the Cavaliers from there. The Bulldogs took advantage of five straight Virginia turnovers to pull within four after a bucket by David Smith with 44 seconds left in the game. However, the Cavaliers (4-1) sealed the victory with free throws down the stretch. Harris and Scott stepped to the line and hit two each as Virginia held on for the win. Ben Simons led Drake (3-2) with 14 points, but was just 4 of 12 from the field.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to Rob Gronkowski and the New England Patriots shook off a sluggish start to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 34-3 on Monday night. Julian Edelman returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and Kyle Arrington had two interceptions, helping the Patriots (7-3) increased their AFC East lead to two games. The Chiefs (4-6) weren’t expected to do much on offense behind untested quarterback Tyler Palko, making his first career start with Matt Cassel injured. And they didn’t, managing just a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Succop with 1:30 left in the first quarter for their only lead. The Patriots had their second straight dominant game after beating the New York Jets 37-16. The Chiefs lost their third straight.

• Exira/EHK 55, A-H-S-T 22 (Exira/EHK: Maddy Peppers 16 pts, Taylor Petersen 13, Rachel Smith 10.  A-H-S-T: Casey Peters led with 8 pts, Exira/EHK outscored A-H-S-T 34-7 in second half)
• Guthrie Center 55, Audubon 53
• Iowa Christian Academy 53, Earlham 44
• Shenandoah 48, East Mills 31
• Lamoni 41, Lenox 38

The mayors of Council Bluffs and Omaha have agreed to a friendly wager on Friday’s Iowa/Nebraska football game. Tom Hanafan and Jim Suttle met this morning (Monday) on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Missouri River and links the two states. Omaha Mayor Suttle says the winning team will score a victory for a great cause.  “The losing city is going to come across this bridge and build a house for a needy family,” Suttle explained. Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan said it’s a bet he’s happy to make.

“It’s not about the bet as much as it is about Habitat for Humanity and helping people out,” Hanafan said. But, the two mayors are also comfortable with a little trash talking. Hanafan said he’s looking forward to overseeing Mayor Suttle’s workmanship. “I’ll be watching what he does to make sure he does everything right,” Hanafan said. Suttle, meanwhile, isn’t too worried about the Hawkeyes winning in Lincoln.  “I’m feeling confident. So, go Big Red and I think we’ll be in the winners circle,” Suttle told reporters. The home build for Habitat For Humanity will take place in either Council Bluffs or Omaha on Saturday, December 10th.

(Radio Iowa)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Fourth-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini says he is proud of the strides his program has made despite an up-and-down season.  Fans are grousing after the 22nd-ranked Cornhuskers’ 45-17 loss at Michigan. The Huskers also had a 31-point loss at Wisconsin and a home loss to Northwestern this year.  Pelini won nine, 10 and 10 games his first three years and took his 2010-11 teams to the Big 12 championship game.  The Huskers (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten) were the trendy pick to win the Legends Division in their first year in the conference. Pelini said the week before the opener that the season would not be a success unless the Huskers won the Big Ten championship.  Nebraska finishes the regular season Friday against Iowa (7-4, 4-3).