Wait, which 49ers player was underneath the Herbie the Hawk head? Why, that’s Brock Purdy, the quarterback. And because his college team let him down last Saturday, he had to don the mascot head with the likely instructions of don’t be shy.
“Whoever lost the game had to wear the other team’s mascot helmet up here,” Purdy explained to reporters. “So here we are.”
George Kittle made the bet with Purdy. And we think every NFL team should have its own internal Iowa-Iowa State rivalry. Because a Cy-Hawk Trophy looks nice behind glass. And the following scene certainly lightens the mood in the interview room.
The Hawkeyes knocked off the Cyclones, 20-13, from Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. And the Iowa team was in a super celebratory mood. The victory gave coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career win. Plus, the game proved popular with the political types. The Iowa caucuses typically usher in the presidential primary season and candidates end up making numerous trips to the state. That was why former president Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were at the game, taking in the action.
Purdy probably shouldn’t bet again until his Cyclones get their fortunes turned around. Iowa lost last year. However, the Hawkeyes have won seven of the last eight meetings. That dates back to the Purdy years.
Times are good for the 49ers as they enter the second week of the season. San Fran opened the season on the road with a 30-7 thumping of the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Now, the team heads south with a road game at SoFi Stadium against the Rams.
Last Sunday, the 49ers hit on all facets. Purdy, playing his first complete game since elbow surgery, completed 19 of his 29 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk. And Christian McCaffrey rushed 22 times for 152 yards and a score. Purdy also was able to get everyone on offense involved.
“I think you have all this, stardom on a team and what not, and for everyone to just put the ego aside and be like, ‘Hey, we want to win. We want to win a Super Bowl and we’re going to do what it takes,’” Purdy said. “And I think what we all know is what it takes is to put the ego aside. If I don’t get all these yards and catches and touchdowns for one game, but our other guy does, like, ‘Hey, I did my part to help win.’ And that’s what we all care about here.
“And really the leaders, the guys that have been here for a while have set that standard. It’s not like just [a] certain guy, like we’ve all learned from the older guys that have come before us. So the culture, the organization here, that’s the standard.”
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