Fan makes NFL Films-style video of Caitlin Clark assists vs. Colorado in Iowa’s Sweet 16 win
The old school NFL Films are ever familiar for sports fans; grainy black and white footage of Jim Brown rumbling through a defense, Terry Bradshaw connecting to Lynn Swann on the Immaculate Reception, Vince Lombardi marshaling the Green Bay Packers, or Bill Walsh, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice cooking up touchdowns. And now a fan has taken efforts to include a new passer’s highlights in the style of an old NFL Films highlight reel.
The player? Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Yes, that’s right. And it’s a frankly deserved honor after Clark dished out 15 assists at No. 1 seed Iowa won a Sweet 16 matchup to advance into the Elite 8 on Monday.
Adding to the je ne sais quoi of the overall video is the music, which is evocative of the old, grainy clips many fans know so well. And the narration is voiced by an AI John Facenda, who voiced the original NFL Films clips.
“And though she’s feared for the logo bomb, perhaps the most devastating weapon in Caitlin Clark’s arsenal is the pass itself, which she commands precisely as if guided by laser,” the narrator said as the orchestra and trumpets score the highlights.
Iowa and Clark are playing in a national championship rematch on Monday
Iowa cruised back into the Elite 8 for a second-straight season with a 89-68 win over No. 5 seed Colorado in the Sweet 16 on Saturday afternoon. And with the win, Iowa is set to face No. 3 seed LSU in a rematch of the 2023 National Championship game, which the Hawkeyes lost.
And to dispatch the Buffaloes in the Sweet 16, Hawkeyes star guard Caitlin Clark was her usual dazzling self. She started off with an array of assists, loosening the Colorado defense with high-level passing and quickly pushing the ball in transition. Then she did what she’s become known so well for: Scoring the ball.
By the time she checked out with fewer than two minutes left in the game and Iowa leading by nearly 20, Clark had 29 points, 15 assists and six rebounds.
Along with Clark, four other Hawkeyes finished scoring in double figures. Sydney Affolter scored 15 and Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin each added 14 points, respectively. And forward Hannah Stuelke finished with an 11 point, 10 rebound double-double.
At halftime, Clark spoke with ABC sideline reporter Holly Rowe about her assist-first mentality in the first half. Clark went into the break with 15 points and eight assists.
“I think that’s the key to the game,” Clark said. “When we have multiple people in double figures we’re really good. I thought our ball screen offense was really good, being able to work that. They’re flooding so being able to hit it on the roll but, I thought we got out in transition. I think our defense needs to be a little better in transition.”
Now, Iowa plays LSU on Monday with a chance to advance to the Final Four.
The post Fan makes NFL Films-style video of Caitlin Clark assists vs. Colorado in Iowa’s Sweet 16 win appeared first on On3.
