Sept. 27, 2003
The loss to Michigan State stopped Iowa’s 13-game regular-season winning streak, third longest in school history. Iowa had also won 10 straight Big Ten Conference games, dating back to a 34-28 loss at Wisconsin on 11/3/01. Iowa has posted an 18-4 record over its last 22 games overall. The loss to MSU also snapped a six-game winning streak in regular season road games.Iowa began the game on defense for just the second time in 47 games, and for the first time in 16 games, dating back to Miami (OH) in the second game of the 2002 season. Iowa has started on offense in 47 of 53 games under Kirk Ferentz.Michigan State became the second Iowa opponent in five games to score on its opening drive. Miami (OH) opened the first game of the season with a field goal. The 14-point deficit is Iowa’s biggest of the season, as Iowa trailed Miami (OH) by three points and Arizona State by two points.Today marks the third straight season MSU has started the game against Iowa with a touchdown drive, dating back to Iowa’s 21-16 win in Iowa City in 2000.Iowa, in its first four games of the season, allowed just two touchdown passes and 12 points in the first quarter. MSU scored 14 first quarter points on two TD passes.Iowa failed to score on its opening possession for the third time in five games, due to a fumble on its opening possession. Iowa did not score on its first possession in the opening win over Miami (OH), or against Arizona State. Iowa began the win over Buffalo with a touchdown drive and opened the win at Iowa State with a field goal.Senior tackle Robert Gallery was in Iowa’s starting line-up for the 36th straight game. His starting streak is the longest current streak in the Big Ten among offensive linemen. OG David Walker missed his second straight game after starting the first three games of the season. Eric Rothwell, who did not play at Iowa State after starting the first two games, played left guard in place of Walker for the second straight week and Pete McMahon played right guard for the third straight game.Senior PK Nate Kaeding, with his PAT in the first half, tied Tom Nichol’s school record of 142 career PATs. Kaeding also had a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to raise his career-best scoring total to 298 points. He had made all five field goal attempts and all 16 PAT attempts this season. Kaeding has made 52-64 career field goal attempts, including 21-26 outside of 40 yards and 3-3 outside 50 yards, and 142-144 PATs.Fred Russell moved into ninth place on Iowa’s career rushing chart. Russell vs. MSU rushed 23 times for 122 yards, improving his career totals to 341 carries for 2,021 yards. Russell rushed for at least 100 yards in a game for the third time this season and for the 11th time in his career.Senior DB Bob Sanders returned to action after missing Iowa’s last three games. WR MauriceBrown missed his second straight game and FB Champ Davis missed his third straight game. WR Ed Hinkel did not play after leaving the Arizona State game early a week ago.Michigan State recovered two Iowa fumbles in the first half and scored 10 points following the turnovers, and the Spartans added a field goal following an Iowa fumble in the fourth quarter. Iowa was guilty of a season-high four turnovers, one interception and three fumbles. Iowa had no interceptions and lost just two fumbles in the first three games of the season before having an interception and two lost fumbles in a 21-2 win over Arizona State. Iowa’s five opponents have scored 22 points on eight Iowa turnovers.Michigan State’s field goal just before halftime marked the first points allowed by Iowa in the second quarter this season. Iowa, through five games, has not allowed any points in the third quarter.WR Scott Chandler became the sixth true freshman to play for Iowa this season. Three of the six rookies, Chandler, James Townsend and Eric McCollom, have played wide receiver. The other true freshmen are QB Drew Tate, RB A.J. Johnson and FB Champ Davis.Nathan Chandler threw his ninth scoring pass of the season, and he came into the game leading all Big Ten QBs in touchdown passes. TE Mike Follett scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter on the first reception of his career. The sophomore played defense prior to this season.