Andrew Logue

alogue@dmreg.com

It was time for Scott Siepker to tweak his "Iowa Nice Guy" image. So he got a little medieval.

Siepker, a Des Moines-based filmmaker, gained national attention through his video contributions to ESPU's College Football Daily.

But he spent this fall preparing for the lead role in Shakespeare's "Macbeth," which Siepker and friends will perform at the Viking Theater — located on the Grand View University campus — Dec. 12-21.

All shows begin at 7:30, except for a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

So the man who once explained that Kansas State coach Bill Snyder can bring a team back from the dead because, "he does it to himself every morning," is now saying things like, "Let not light see my black and deep desires."

That, my friends, is a departure.

Siepker, who grew up in Carroll, says he considered contributing to ESPNU for a third season, but was intrigued by a new challenge.

"We could have gone on with them this year," Siepker said. "After looking at it … It took a good amount of time and it really wasn't a money situation where we were profiting financially from it."

The primary benefits came through building a brand, and his clips were trendy on YouTube. It also put Siepker in danger of being typecast.

"After looking at it, we felt very confident and proud of the work we've done for two years," Siepker said. "We talked about it and decided, let's transition and start looking toward the next caucus cycle.

"And also, there's other projects we've been working on."

A standing agreement remains with ESPNU that the network may air a random segment produced by Siepker.

After a little toil and trouble, however, Siepker and a group of fellow thespians formed the Goldfinch Theater Company

He also tried to raise voter turnout with a mock run for governor, vowing to annex Omaha, "because a town that exciting shouldn't be in a state that boring."

STRONG TAKE

Each week, former Iowa basketball star Jess Settles gives the Big Ten Network his three takes. Last week, Settles gave his thoughts on Maryland's upset of Iowa State: "In a statement game for the Big Ten and (coach Mark) Turgeon, Maryland controlled the Cyclones most of the evening in what has become known as 'Hilton Coliseum South.' ISU won the Big 12 championship on the same court last season, and it is a huge homecourt advantage for the Cyclones."

TOP TWEETS

Jim Sullivan of the Waterloo Courier (@Sullyside73):What Nebraska needs is another coach with an admirable personality. No one better there than Mr. Bobby Petrino. — Nov. 30

Steve Deace, nationally syndicated radio host based in Des Moines (@SteveDeaceShow): For those saying Bo Pelini had a lot of 9-win seasons, true, but from 1969-2003 Huskers lost 4 games just once. Pelini lost 4 games 6 times. — Nov. 30

Chris Hassel, ESPN anchor, formerly of WHO Channel 13 (@hasselESPN): Ferentz hasn't won 9 games in a season since 2009. — Nov. 30

SAY WHAT?

CBS analyst Greg Gumbel, a graduate of Loras College, took a verbal shot at auto racing during a recent NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. When a couple players got in a scuffle, Gumbel remarked, "Easy, guys. This isn't a NASCAR race." It was a verbal jab better than anything thrown by any of the players.

STAY TUNED

A new era kicks off Sunday when The College Football Playoff Selection Show airs on ESPN, starting at 11:45 a.m. Rece Davis will host with analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Danny Kanell and David Pollack.

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Andrew Logue has been with the Register for 21 years. Follow him @AndrewMLogue.