From High School to the NFL, the Career of Damien Clark

[matt314hew]

Damien's Thoughts
July 30, 2009

Well guys, it has been some time since I have been on. My cousin is getting the new blog set up right now. We have finished the Freshman camp and have started into practices. One reason that I have not been on much.

Camp wasn't too bad. They gave us a brief introduction to the coaching staff and introduced all of us first year players. Keenan is a pretty cool guy. We have been getting along well so far. He has been struggling a little in practice with running the routes, but who hasn't?

I have been over-running my routes all week. It sucks as our D has been picking off passes thrown my way. I guess once I get more familiar with the playbook, it will be easier, but I need to get better.

Only 3 weeks until school will really start, well 3 and a half weeks and then it will be almost time for our first game. It will be a nice game to start with. An FCS school but we still need to get out there and show what we have.

I haven't talked too much with McKee too much because of our practices, but he is doing well. Next year when we play it will be better, as we should both be starters.

Well, time for sleep. Tomorrow is Friday and we have the weekend off. Keenan and I are going to go out with a couple of the other freshmen. And next weekend we have an event here that the upper classmen have for us to do.

[matt314hew]

UPdate coming tonight from week 1.

[matt314hew]

Hello faithful readers. I know it has been some time since I last posted on here. Well, as you can probably figure out, it is because I have been busy with practice and studying the playbook.

Good news though is that I have been able to move up 2 spots in the depth chart. Coaches have been extremely happy with how I have been performing in practice and beating the coverage. I do have to say that it was against the younger guys. But I am still getting downfield and making some great catches.

But as you all know, we have already played a game against the FCS team. While we won the game 29-3, all we could put on the board was 23 points. that is not great, but it was nice because I was on the kickoff coverage.

I recorded my first 3 tackles of the season and hope to be able to get out there to make some plays offensively.

I will be back next week to let you know how we do against Iowa State. First road game for us. Should be good.

Oh, and McKee didn't get to play in PSU's win, but they are also 1-0. Week 4 is our big meeting.

Davis also made an impact on the coaches and did a great job with the kickoff coverage as well.

[matt314hew]

9/13/2009

Well guys, you know what happened. We traveled to Iowa State and just gt destroyed. it was not even close. 31 to 7 was the final score. I was able to move up to number 4 in the roster, but I was only on 2 kickoff coverages. it started off bad for us.

we let them go right down the field and score off the bat. Then we give them the ball back and they get a field goal. After that we turn the ball over and they returned it for a touchdown. At the half we were down 17-0 and coach was yelling at us.

well, it didn't get any better. They scored to make it 24-0 and then we finally scored to get 24-7, but they put another touchdown on the board.

Our first road game was a horrible experience. Arizona is coming to our house next week and we must get a win. It is going to be an interesting week at practice.

Well, Davis and I are getting ready to go out and hit up the union. Having a little Freshman welcoming there. Talk to you guys later.

[matt314hew]

PantherLairBlog
9/14/09

Hi guys. Clark's cousin here. as you have known, the football season has started and my panthers and buckeyes are 2-0 while Damien's hawkeyes are 1-1. They suffered a tough road loss last week. Again, Damien was only on the Kickoff coverage and was only able to be out there for 2 kickoffs.

the team only scored 1 touchdown and the opening kickoff of the game.

so far Damien has not been on the field for an offensive play, but has recorded 3 tackles, all in week one's game.

Next week they play at home against Arizona and the week after that they travel to happy valley to take on Penn State. I am going to drive down to Plum to meet up with Damien's parents and then we are going to go up there. Well my dad is coming too. he went to Penn State and says that he will root for Damien, but is hoping for a Penn State win. He does hate the fact that I also root for the Buckeyes.

Well, I guess I should get going.

Hail to Pitt.

[matt314hew]

Hey guys. Sorry I have been away from this blog. I have been extremely busy with school and practices. But as you know, we have played 2 more games this season. One at home vs arizona and the other in Penn State.

The game against AZ was my first as the number 3 receiver. And I started the game off with a bang. First pass to me ever and I caught it and ran for a 74 yard td. All in all, that game i was targeted 12 times making 10 catches and 2 tds. I had over 200 yards receiving and also tried a trick play with me running for no gain. We improved to 2-1 after a 52 to 24 victory.

Then we played PSU. First game for me against my buddy David McKee. He wasn't going to play, but his team got the best of us. They beat us 42-21 but I had 7 catches for 110 yards and a TD. It was a horrible loss for us and I felt responsible. I dropped an easy pass and the next play was an int returned for a tD. At half it was a 14-14 game, but they came out to play in the 3rd and took a 28-14 lead to the 4th. We let them go up 35-14 before I made the TD to cut it to a 14 point difference, but that was when the int happened.

It stung, especially having my family there, but I caught a TD and this past week in practice I worked hard enough to earn the number 1 spot for the receivers. It was surprising how much I have improved the coaches said. They could tell that I want to be on the field as much as possible and I will get that chance.

we are now 2-2 and 0-1 in the Big 10. Pitt is 4-0 right now, so my cuz is happy and telling me I should have gone there. But There is still a lot of football for us Hawkeyes to play. We could run the tables and have that loss to PSU be the only one in conference play.

Time to study the playbook some more.

[matt314hew]

NOTE:

I have not had much time to play any more games. I have been busy getting our one room set up for our baby (2 more months). I have also been playing baseball as baseball season is right around the corner.

Depending on my free time, I should be able to update for each game, unlike the last update which was 2 games.

Now that he is a starter, the updates should be getting a little better.. I will have to add some story with his college career though.

[ofpveteran73]

finally some on compliments iowa YEAH!