Iowa Hosts Kent State in Season Opener

Aug. 26, 2004

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Purchase your 2004 Iowa Football tickets online

Learn more about the Throwback Game

OPENING KICKOFF
Iowa opens the 2004 season Saturday, Sept. 4, hosting Kent State in “The Throwback Game”. Game time is 11:10 a.m. (CDT) in Kinnick Stadium (70,397). 75TH YEAR IN KINNICK STADIUM
Iowa is celebrating its 75th year in Kinnick Stadium. Kinnick Stadium opened in 1929 and Iowa has posted a 216-158-15 record in 74 years. The Hawkeyes begin the season with a 12-game winning streak in Kinnick. Iowa won all seven home games a year ago. As part of the 75 year celebration, the Hawkeyes and Golden Flashes will wear throw-back uniforms in Saturday’s game. The Iowa uniforms, from the 1939 season, include black jerseys with gold numbers, white pants and a gold helmet. ON THE TUBE
ESPN Plus will televise the contest to a regional audience that includes KGAN Cedar Rapids, KDSM Des Moines, KMEG Sioux City, KYOU Ottumwa, KWQC Quad Cities and Cox Cable Omaha. The game is also available on DIRECTV’s ESPN GamePlan package. Larry Morgan and Marv Cook will call the action. RADIO BROADCAST
Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, with color commentator Ed Podolak and new sideline reporter Rob Brooks. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes more than 40 stations throughout the state. HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,052 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 530-483-39 (.522). That includes a 334-191-16 (.632) record in home games, a 196-292-23 (.406) record in games away from Iowa City, a 258-326-25 (.444) mark in Big Ten games and a 216-158-15 (.575) record in Kinnick Stadium. SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is 82-31-2 (.722) in season-opening games and 84-29-1 (.741) in home openers. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Hawkeyes open their season at home against a school from the Mid-American Conference. Iowa averaged 43.0 ppg and a winning margin of 35.0 in its last three season opening victories (Miami, OH 21-3 in 2003; Akron 57-21 in 2002; Kent State 51-0 in 2001). THE SERIES
Iowa leads the series 1-0. The Hawkeyes beat Kent State (51-0) in the 2001 season opener in Kinnick Stadium. TICKET UPDATE
Iowa home games vs. Iowa State and Ohio State are sold out. Kent State, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin are nearing sellout status. The Iowa record for average home attendance is 70,071, set in 1991. The current capacity is 70,397. IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa begins the season ranked No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. Iowa’s ranking is its highest preseason ranking since 1985 where the Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 by USA Today/CNN and No. 4 by the AP. None of the Hawkeyes’ non-conference opponents are ranked, but five of their eight conference foes are in the top 25. The Big Ten boasts six teams ranked in the top 25 – the most of any conference. Michigan was ranked No. 7/8 (ESPN-USA Today/AP), followed by No. 9/9 Ohio State, No. 12/19 Iowa, No. 22/21 Wisconsin, No. 23/25 Minnesota and No. 23/24 Purdue. ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 1-1 in games played on Sept. 4. The Hawkeyes defeated Tulsa 31-28 in 1993, but lost to Nebraska 42-7 in 1999. The loss to the Cornhuskers was Coach Ferentz’s first game as Iowa’s head coach. IOWA VS. THE MAC
This year marks the sixth straight season the Hawkeyes will play a Mid-American Conference opponent. Iowa holds an all-time record of 13-1 against current members of the MAC having faced Akron (1-0), Buffalo (1-0), Central Michigan (2-0), Kent State (1-0), Miami (3-0), Northern Illinois (5-0) and Western Michigan (0-1). KENT STATE VS. THE BIG TEN
Kent State is 0-5 against members of the Big Ten Conference having faced Iowa (0-1), Purdue (0-1), Ohio State (0-1) and Penn State (0-2). COMMON FOES
Iowa and Kent State met three common opponents a year ago. The Hawkeyes defeated Penn State (26-14), Miami (21-3) and Buffalo (56-7), while the Golden Flashes defeated Buffalo (34-24), but lost to Miami (38-30) and Penn State (32-10). IOWA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Iowa’s Leadership Council for the 2004 season includes 13 players, including five seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and two redshirt freshmen. A member of the incoming freshman class will be added this fall. Permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Council for this season includes seniors Jonathan Babineaux, Sean Considine, Tony Jackson, Tyler Luebke and Pete McMahon, juniors Chad Greenway, Ed Hinkel and Abdul Hodge, sophomores Jason Manson and Mike Elgin and redshirt freshmen Bryan Mattison and Albert Young. IOWA LOOKS TO EXTEND HOME WINNING STREAK
Iowa’s win over Minnesota on Nov. 15, 2003 extended its home winning streak to 12. The 12-game home winning streak, dating back to 2002, is a new Kinnick Stadium record. Overall, Iowa’s longest home winning streak is 20 games, dating from Nov. 19, 1918 to Oct. 20, 1923. In Big Ten games only, Iowa’s current streak of nine straight home wins is the best for the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium. Overall, Iowa won 10 straight home conference games from Nov. 9, 1918 to Oct. 20, 1923. The current nine-game win streak in conference games began with a 42-24 win over Minnesota in 2001. HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Saturday’s home opener will mark the 44th consecutive game the Hawkeyes have been selected for television. The last Iowa contest not televised was at Illinois on Oct. 14, 2000. IOWA COACH KIRK FERENTZ
The 2002 Associated Press Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year, Kirk Ferentz (pronounced FAIR-rintz, rhymes with parents), is in his sixth season as Iowa’s head football coach. He resurrected the Iowa program and led the 2003 Hawkeyes to a 10-3 record and a 37-17 Outback Bowl victory No. 17 Florida. Iowa has posted a 21-5 (.808) overall mark and 13-3 (.813) Big Ten record the last two seasons under Ferentz. Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 32-29 (.525) and a 20-20 (.500) mark in Big Ten games. In eight seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 44-50 (.468). Twenty-one of Iowa’s 61 games over the last four seasons have been decided by seven points or less and 23 were played against opponents who were ranked in the top 25 at the time. Ferentz joined the Iowa staff after serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He had been part of the Baltimore (Cleveland Browns prior to the move) staff for six years. Ferentz was named head coach of the Maine Bears in 1990 and held that position for three years. Ferentz was a member of Hayden Fry’s Iowa staff for nine years as offensive line coach (1981-89). He coordinated Iowa’s running game during his first coaching stint with the Hawkeyes. Iowa appeared in eight bowl games during the time Ferentz was an Iowa assistant, posting a 4-4 record. A pair of Rose Bowls (1982 & 1986), two Holiday Bowl appearances (1986 & 1987) and a pair of Peach Bowl visits (1982 & 1988), along with appearances in the Gator (1983) and Freedom Bowls (1984) highlighted his previous Iowa stay. Iowa’s record in those nine years was 73-33-4 and included two 10-win and two nine-win seasons. Ferentz was born in Royal Oak, MI, and attended high school in Pittsburgh, PA. Kirk earned his bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of Connecticut in 1978, where he was a football captain. Ferentz is 1-0 against Kent State, but has never coached against Head Coach Doug Martin. He is 7-1 against current members of the MAC, with victories over Akron (57-21), Buffalo (56-7), Kent State (51-0), Miami (44-19, 29-24, 21-3), Northern Illinois (24-0) and a loss to Western Michigan (27-21). KENT STATE COACH DOUG MARTIN
Doug Martin enters his first season as a college head coach, becoming the Golden Flashes’ 19th head coach in the 81 years of the program. Martin joined the Kent State coaching staff in January 2003 as offensive coordinator. Under Martin’s offensive system, Kent State averaged 26.8 ppg, the school’s second-highest in 30 years and posted 30 points or more a school record eight times. Martin came to Kent State following 11 seasons with East Carolina, the last seven of which he coached the offense (1996-2002). He served as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator for two seasons (1992-95) prior to his promotion. Martin also served as offensive coordinator at East Tennessee State for three seasons (1989-91). Martin was a four-year letterwinner at Kentucky (1981-84), spending time as a part-time starter at quarterback before injuries limited him to a holder role. HAWKEYES SIDELINED SATURDAY
Iowa running backs Jermelle Lewis and Marquis Simmons will be serving a one-game suspension Saturday. Both Lewis and Simmons violated team rules and will return to the sidelines next Saturday vs. Iowa State. COACHING TIES
Jon Wauford, Kent State’s defensive line coach, is in his first season on the Golden Flashes coaching staff after spending last season in the state of Iowa. Wauford served as the offensive and special teams coordinator at Clinton High School and was also a special education teacher in the Clinton City Schools. Prior to coaching prep football, Wauford was the defensive coordinator at Miami, OH for three seasons (2000-02). The Hawkeyes defeated the RedHawks in 2001 (44-19) and 2002 (29-24). Kent State’s wide receivers coach, Dan Kratzer, was an assistant coach at Indiana for one season (1983). Larry McDaniel, Kent State’s outside linebackers coach, was a four-year letterwinner (1989-92) at nose guard for Indiana. He also served as a graduate assistant for Indiana for one season (1997). INSTANT REPLAY
Nine of Iowa’s 11 games this season will feature the Big Ten Conference’s experimental instant replay system. The Hawkeyes’ home game vs. Iowa State (9/11) and road contest at Arizona State (9/18) are the only two Iowa games that will not be utilizing the system. The NCAA Football Rules Committee granted the Big Ten the right to experiment with instant replay on a one-year basis for all televised games at league stadiums in 2004. While all 44 conference games will utilize this system, visiting teams during non-conference contests must approve the usage of instant replay. FAMILY AFFAIR
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his son, Brian, Ferentz are believed to be one of only four father-son duos in Division I this year. They join Art Briles and his son Kendal from Houston, Tony Samuel and his son Travis from New Mexico State and Mike Bellotti and his son Luke from Oregon. STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa returns three starters on offense and seven on defense, in addition to punter David Bradley. The returning starters on offense include guard Mike Jones and Pete McMahon and receiver Ed Hinkel. The defensive starters returning include tackle Tyler Luebke, end Matt Roth, linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway, backs Jovon Johnson and Antwan Allen and safety Sean Considine. RETURNING WITH HONORS
Iowa returns six players who earned all-Big Ten and/or national honors a year ago. That list includes linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway, who were named first and second team all-Big Ten, respectively. Defensive end Matt Roth was a first team all-Big Ten honoree as well. Wide receiver Calvin Davis and offensive guard Mike Jones were named to the Rivals.com Freshman all-America team. Both were named to the group’s honorable mention unit. Jones was also named to The Sporting News third Freshman all-America squad and Big Ten all-Freshman team. Linebacker Edmond Miles was also selected to the Big Ten all-Freshman team by the publication. In addition, Jovon Johnson, David Bradley, Greenway and Roth each received Big Ten Player of the Week recognition once last season. LAST MEETING
Iowa scored on its first drive of the game and controlled the action on both offense and defense in defeating Kent State (51-0) in Iowa City to open the 2001 season. The Hawkeyes racked up 567 yards of total offense, including 331 yards rushing. The Iowa defense did its part, holding Kent State to just 203 yards total offense. The Golden Flashes were inside the Iowa 30-yardline just once and that came as a result of Iowa’s only turnover of the day. RB Ladell Betts led the Hawkeye ground game with 99 yards on 15 carries. RB Aaron Greving tied an NCAA record when he scored a touchdown on three consecutive carries. The touchdown runs of 14, 1 and 26 yards were his only carries of the day. FB Jeremy Allen had 12 rushes for 73 yards, including a 14-yard scoring run for the first touchdown of the day. QB Kyle McCann completed 12-18 passes for 165 yards and no interceptions. TE Dallas Clark had five catches for 84 yards while Kahlil Hill had 56 yards on four receptions. DE Matt Roth recorded eight tackles to lead Iowa’s defense. DB Chris Smith had five tackles and two pass breakups, DE Aaron Kampman had an interception and DL Derrick Pickens had two tackles for loss. PK Kate Kaeding made all six extra point attempts and converted three field goals. His 15 points set a school record for kicking points in a game. NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK
For the fifth consecutive season, Iowa will start with a different starting quarterback from the previous year. Entering the 2004 season, sophomores Drew Tate and Jason Manson are listed 1-2 on the depth chart. Last year, Nathan Chandler started all 13 games, while in 2002 it was Brad Banks, preceded by Kyle McCann in 2001 and Scott Mullen in 2000. Tate played in six games last year, completing 6-11 passes for 55 yards and one touchdown. Manson saw limited action in just two games. THEY STARTED THEM ALL
Iowa had 10 players, four on offense and seven on defense, start all 12 games last year. That list included OL Robert Gallery, OL Pete McMahon, QB Nathan Chandler, RB Fred Russell, DE Howard Hodges, DE Matt Roth, LB Abdul Hodge, LB Chad Greenway, DB Jovon Johnson, DB Antwan Allen and FS Sean Considine. Seven of those players (McMahon, Roth, Greenway, Hodge, Considine, Johnson and Allen) are on the 2004 roster. ROTH ON PRE-SEASON LISTS
Senior DE Matt Roth is a pre-season candidate for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year and Bronko Nagurski Watch Lists. Other pre-season honors for Roth include the Playboy magazine all-America team, second team all-America by Lindy’s and first team all-Big Ten by Athlon Sports. Last season, Roth was a first team all-Big Ten honoree by both the media and coaches. He ranked second in the league and 13th nationally in sacks (0.88) and fifth in tackles for loss (1.23). Roth ranked second on the Hawkeyes in quarterback hurries (4) and eighth in tackles (51). He recorded at least one sack in 15 of Iowa’s last 20 games, dating back to 2002. Roth also tied for second in the league and 26th nationally in forced fumbles (4). He posted four tackles, including one sack, vs. Florida in the Outback Bowl. The native of Villa Park, IL, led the Hawkeyes in sacks (10) and ranked 11th in tackles (48) in 2002. His 10 QB sacks ranked second in the Big Ten in all games and ranked first in conference games only (9). His 12 QB sacks in 2003 ties as the second best single-season Iowa total. Leroy Smith set the record in 1991 with 18. Roth’s 22 career sacks ties the third best total with Leroy Smith (1988-91), and trails Jared DeVries (42, 1995-98) and Mike Wells (33, 1990-93). Also, he sits in third place in tackles for loss (28) behind Jim Johnson (39, 1987-90), Wells (54, 1990-93) and DeVries (78, 1995-98). LINEBACKERS ARE BIG TEN LEADERS
Iowa’s linebacking duo of Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge are on the 2004 Dick Butkus Award Watch List, which is annually given to the nation’s top college linebacker. They were also named to the preseason first team all-Big Ten team by Athlon Sports. Hodge was also named second team all-America by The Sporting News, while Greenway was named honorable mention all-America by NationalChamps.net. Greenway and Hodge, both juniors, were a force in the middle of Iowa’s defense in 2003. Both players earned all-Big Ten laurels. Hodge was a first team pick by the media and a second team honoree by the coaches, while Greenway earned second team accolades by both. The duo of Hodge and Greenway ranked first and third in the Big Ten in tackles, respectively. Both collected double figures in tackles in seven of Iowa’s last 10 regular season games. Hodge, who was named to the 2004 NationalChamps.net pre-season all-America second team, ranked first in the Big Ten and 27th nationally in tackles (10.8) last season. His 141 tackles rank second in single season tackles at Iowa. Andre Jackson (1972) is Iowa’s record holder with 171 tackles. Nine of his 141 tackles were for loss, ranking fourth on the Hawkeyes. Greenway ranked third in the conference in tackles (10.2) and was third on the Hawkeyes in TFL (11) and pass break-ups (6). His 132 tackles rank 12th in single season tackles at Iowa. IOWA STARTS ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 53 of its last 55 games. Iowa’s games at Miami, OH (9-7-02) and at Michigan State (9-27-03) are the only contests that the Hawkeyes didn’t start on offense. Iowa has started the game on offense in 55 of 61 games under Kirk Ferentz. DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD SOLID FOR 2004
DBs Antwan Allen and Jovon Johnson and FS Sean Considine are looking for another good season as part of Iowa’s defensive unit. Johnson intercepted six passes in 2003, two in the end zone. The six interceptions are the most by an Iowa player since Damien Robinson had six thefts in 1996. The six picks tie for sixth in a season at Iowa. He finished the season with three interceptions in Iowa’s last three games. Johnson ranked second in the Big Ten in interceptions (6) and 22nd in the nation. Additionally, he was ninth on the team in tackles (41) and ranked first in pass break-ups (13). He ranked second in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in passes defended (19). His 10 interceptions in 25 career games ties for seventh in career interceptions at Iowa. Considine intercepted three passes, blocked two punts and returned a fumble for a touchdown last season. The native of Byron, IL, ranked fourth on the team in tackles, posting a career-high 64. He also ranked second in pass break-ups (3) and second in recovered fumbles (2). Considine has 109 career tackles and three picks. Allen ranked fifth on the team in tackles, collecting a career-high 61 stops. The native of Tampa, FL, also recorded 10 pass break-ups, which ranked second on the team. Allen has 121 career tackles and four interceptions. EXPERIENCED RUNNING BACKS RETURN
Iowa returns senior Jermelle Lewis and junior Marcus Schnoor in the backfield for 2004. Lewis will sit out Saturday’s contest due to a violation of team rules. Lewis is one of 50 student-athletes named to the 2004 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List. Last season, Lewis rushed 46 times for 241 yards, ran for one score and also caught one touchdown. He was Iowa’s leading rusher in the Hawkeyes’ victory vs. Minnesota, rushing nine times for 63 yards. Lewis also rushed a season-high 12 times for 45 yards vs. Florida in the Outback Bowl. The native of Bloomfield, CT, missed Iowa’s first seven games recovering from off-season knee surgery. Lewis’ career numbers include 169 rushing attempts for 950 yards and nine touchdowns and eight receptions for 71 yards and two scores. Schnoor rushed 29 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns last year. The native of DeWitt, IA, carried the ball a season-high 10 times for 60 yards, including a two-yard touchdown vs. Buffalo. Schnoor has rushed 58 times for 290 yards and three touchdowns in his career. ELEVEN WERE WALK-ONS
Eleven members of Iowa’s initial two-deep joined the program as walk-ons. That list includes offensive linemen Pete McMahon, Todd Plagman, Greg Dollmeyer and Jacob Bowers, running back Marcus Schnoor, wide receiver Matt Melloy, defensive tackle Tyler Luebke, defensive backs Sean Considine and Chigozie Ejiasi, deep snapper Kody Asmus and safety Andrew Becker. Considine and McMahon started all 12 games, while Luebke started the last two contests in 2003. Schnoor, Melloy and Ejiasi played in every game last year. SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
For the first time since the 2001 season, Iowa’s regular season schedule includes only 11 games. The Hawkeyes will play six home games in Kinnick Stadium, where they have posted a 13-1 record the last two seasons, including a perfect 7-0 mark last year. Six of Iowa’s 11 opponents posted seven wins or more and competed in bowl games last season. The newest addition to the slate includes Kent State from the Mid-American Conference, which will serve as Iowa’s opening-day opponent in Kinnick Stadium. Other home games include intra-state rival Iowa State and Big Ten opponents Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. All four home conference foes earned bowl bids last season. Iowa’s only non-conference road game is at Arizona State, while it travels to Michigan, Penn State, Illinois and Minnesota within the conference. For the second consecutive year, the Hawkeyes’ league schedule does not include Indiana or Northwestern. FIVE PUNT BLOCKS IS A FIRST FOR IOWA
Iowa blocked a single season school record five punts, three of which were returned for touchdowns, in 2003. Sean Considine blocked two punts at Iowa State, Chris Smith blocked a Michigan punt, Chad Greenway blocked a punt vs. Penn State and Matt Melloy blocked his first career punt vs. Florida in the Outback Bowl. Iowa won every game that it blocked a punt. The first block at Iowa State and blocks vs. Penn State and Florida were returned for Hawkeye touchdowns, while Iowa added a field goal following the second block at Iowa State and the block vs. Michigan. Matt Melloy blocked and recovered a punt vs. the Gators in the Outback Bowl. IOWA NOTES

• The Hawkeyes were 5-2 against ranked opponents in 2003.
• Iowa closed last season with three straight wins over ranked teams. The Hawkeyes posted consecutive points of 37 vs. Minnesota, 20 at Wisconsin and 27 vs. Florida.
• Iowa ranked in the top three in the Big Ten in 13 statistical categories, including ranking first in field goal percentage, red zone defense and scoring defense.
• The Hawkeyes have won 19 of their last 21 games in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the end of the 2000 season. Iowa’s two losses came against Iowa State (36-31 in 2002) and Michigan (32-26 in 2001).
• Iowa has won 18 of its last 21 regular season games. The Hawkeyes’ loss at Michigan State on Sept. 27, stopped a 13-game regular season winning streak, the third longest in school history.
• Iowa posted five home sellouts in 2003 (Arizona State, Michigan, Penn State, Illinois and Minnesota). Iowa’s home attendance average of 65,798 was its best since 1998 (68,330).
• Iowa finished fourth in the Big Ten and now has 45 first-division finishes in the conference, including four championships and seven additional finishes among the top three teams in the league.
• DEFENSE MAKES A STAND
• The Hawkeyes ranked in the top 25 nationally in four defensive statistical categories: scoring defense (7th), rushing defense (8th), total defense (16th) and pass efficiency defense (24th) in 2003.
• Iowa’s 2003 rushing defense yielded 1,205 yards (92.7), which ranks second-best in school history.
• Iowa’s 2003 red zone defense ranked first in the Big Ten. Hawkeye opponents scored on only 62.5 percent (20-32) of their possessions inside the 20.
• Iowa’s 2003 rushing defense held eight of its opponents under 75 yards rushing.
• Iowa collected 34 sacks, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten last year.
• Four different Hawkeyes earned Big Ten Weekly defensive honors (Jovon Johnson, Bob Sanders, Matt Roth and Chad Greenway) last season.
• Iowa’s defense allowed only 210 points (16.2) in 2003, which was tops in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation. Six of the opponents’ 21 offensive touchdowns came against Iowa’s second team defense in the fourth quarter of five big wins (Buffalo, Iowa State, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida).
• Iowa collected four interceptions against Miami (OH) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the 2003 season opener. It marked the first time Iowa collected four interceptions in a single-game since a 62-0 victory over Indiana in 1997. The highly-regarded Roethlisberger had only 10 interceptions in 14 games last season as Miami posted a 13-1 record and led the nation in scoring.
• Iowa’s defense collected 25 takeaways (13 interceptions, 12 fumbles), including 10 (five interceptions, five fumbles) the last three games last year.
• IOWA STATS ON THE INTERNET
  Statistics and play-by-play accounts of all Iowa football games are available live on the internet. The statistical program allows viewers to read the play-by-play action just moments after it takes place, and to view all individual and team statistics while the game is in progress. The program can be accessed through www.hawkeyesports.com and then clicking on the Gametracker or Live Stats link. HAWKEYES STAY HOT IN NFL DRAFT
  For the second straight year, five Iowa players were selected in the NFL Draft. OT Robert Gallery was the second player selected, taken by the Oakland Raiders. DB Bob Sanders was a second round selection of Indianapolis and PK Nate Kaeding was selected in the third round by San Diego. DT Jared Clauss (Tennessee) and TE Erik Jensen (St. Louis) were both selected in the seventh round. Nine additional Iowa seniors signed NFL free agent contracts immediately following the 2004 Draft. The five players selected in the 2004 draft matches the number taken in the 2003 draft (Dallas Clark, Eric Steinbach, Bruce Nelson, Derek Pagel, Ben Sobieski), giving the Iowa program its most draft selections in back-to-back drafts since the AFL/NFL merger. Iowa had never had more than nine players selected in back-to-back drafts. HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
  Iowa’s roster of 112 players includes 51 players from Iowa. The roster includes 10 players from Texas and Florida, eight from Illinois, seven from New Jersey, three from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, two from Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and South Carolina and one from Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. IOWA BY QUARTERS
  Iowa outscored its opponents 126-22 and 115-31 in the second and third quarters, respectively last year. Hawkeye opponents owned a 91-72 advantage in the first quarter and a 62-59 edge in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeye defense allowed only one touchdown in the second quarter, which Wisconsin scored in the regular season finale. ON THE AVERAGE
  Iowa averaged 5.6 yards on 377 first down plays, 4.6 yards on 278 second down plays, 4.8 yards on 191 third down plays and 3.4 yards on seven fourth down plays last season. AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
  Iowa’s 59 scoring drives averaged 6.7 plays, 46.9 yards and 2:37 elapsed time last year. Twenty-nine of Iowa’s 59 scoring drives covered 50 yards or more. Iowa had four scoring drives that amassed seven plays or more in its bowl win over Florida. Iowa opponents recorded 33 scoring drives, averaging 7.7 plays, 52.2 yards and 2:47 elapsed time. Eight of Iowa’s opponents’ 33 scoring drives covered 75 yards or more. IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
  Iowa scored on 48 of 55 drives that reached the red zone in 2003, collecting 17 rushing TDs, 15 passing TDs and 16 field goals for 270 points. Hawkeye opponents scored on 20 of 32 possessions inside the red zone, nine rushing TDs, five passing TDs and six field goals for a total of 118 points. POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
  Iowa scored 70 points after obtaining 25 turnovers (13 interceptions and 12 fumbles), plus an additional 19 points following four blocked punts in 2003. The Hawkeyes converted the turnovers into seven touchdowns and seven field goals. Hawkeye opponents scored 44 points on five touchdowns and three field goals. MORE THAN ONE
  Fifteen high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. The leaders are City High of Iowa City and Ankeny, with four. Oelwein has three, while 12 schools have two players on the roster. THE NAME GAME
  Iowa has two players named Davis (Calvin and Champ, no relation), Johnson (A.J. and Jovon, no relation), Lewis (George and Jermelle, no relation) and Williams (Kyle and Richie, no relation). Mike is the most popular first name. There are five Mike’s (Elgin, Follett, Humpal, Jones, Klinkenborg) and two Michael’s (Huisman, Sabers). There are three Matt’s (Kroul, Melloy, Roth). There are three Chris’s (Aldrich, Brevi, Felder). There are two players named Brian (Ferentz, Powers), Kyle (Kesselring, Schlicher) and Bryan (Mattison, Ryther). There are two Andy’s (Fenstermaker, Zeal) and two named David (Bradley, Walker). Two Hawkeye players go by initials, including C.J. Barkema and A.J. Johnson. IOWA DEPTH CHART
  Iowa’s depth chart includes 14 seniors and juniors, 11 sophomores, nine redshirt freshmen and three true freshmen. These numbers do not include return specialists. Iowa’s three true freshmen include defensive backs Charles Godfrey and Adam Shada and offensive lineman Seth Olsen. THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
  Sophomore DB Ma’Quan Dawkins is the lightest Hawkeye player at 164 pounds, while the shortest player, at 5-8, is RB Marques Simmons. OL Peter McMahon is the heaviest Hawkeye at 320 pounds. A total of six Hawkeye players are listed at over 300 pounds. The tallest players are 6-8 junior offensive tackle C.J. Barkema and sophomore offensive tackle Greg Dollmeyer. Barkema was an all-state basketball player as a prep, while Dollmeyer was a member of Iowa’s 2002-03 basketball team. The average Hawkeye player is 6-2 and weighs 231 pounds. That is the exact height and two pounds lighter than the average Iowa player in 2003. HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
  Iowa returns 39 lettermen from 2003, including 20 on offense, 17 on defense and two specialists. The Hawkeyes return three starters on offense and seven on defense, plus punter David Bradley. The letterman breakdown includes nine three-year lettermen, 10 two-year lettermen and 20 one-year lettermen. The total roster includes 113 players, including 15 seniors, 23 juniors, 27 sophomores, 29 redshirt freshmen and 19 true freshmen. WATCHING FROM ABOVE
  Iowa’s coaches in the press box during the season are Norm Parker (defensive coordinator), Lester Erb (receivers and special teams), along with quality control assistant Jon McLaughlin and graduate assistant coaches Michael Ketchum and A.J. Blazek. That leaves Ken O’Keefe (offensive coordinator), Phil Parker (defensive backs), Carl Jackson (running backs), Reese Morgan (offensive line), Darrell Wilson (linebackers), Ron Aiken (defensive line) and Eric Johnson (tight ends) on the sidelines. ROSE BOWL EXPERIENCE
  Four members of the Iowa coaching staff have coached or played in the Rose Bowl. Kirk Ferentz coached in two Rose Bowl games while on the Iowa staff and Carl Jackson coached in three Rose Bowl games as an Iowa assistant coach. Norm Parker and Phil Parker both coached in the Rose Bowl while on the staff at Michigan State. EARLY GAMES ON TELEVISION
  Iowa’s first three games have already been selected for television. All three non-conference contests (vs. Kent State, vs. Iowa State and at Arizona State) will be televised regionally on ESPN Plus in the state of Iowa. Most, if not all, of Iowa’s games are expected to be televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Plus. The Big Ten Conference announces game times and television stations that will carry the games no later than 13 days prior to game days. IOWA FOOTBALL REPLAY SHOW
  The Hawkeye television program makes its return this season as it takes highlights from Iowa’s most recent game and packages it in a tight and exciting 60 minutes of college football action. Produced by the Iowa Athletic Department in partnership with Mediacom, the Iowa Football Replay Show will air on Mediacom’s “Connections” channel throughout the week in select television markets across the state. KIRK FERENTZ RADIO SHOW
  Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is featured on “Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz” each week. The 90-minute radio call-in show is hosted by Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The show airs each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. from Carlos O’Kelly’s in Iowa City. IOWA FOOTBALL WITH KIRK FERENTZ
  The weekly television replay show, featuring Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz, is a 30-minute program, which includes Iowa football highlights and weekly features about the University of Iowa football program. Gary Dolphin, the radio play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes, hosts the show.

AFTER THIS
Iowa remains home when it hosts intrastate rival Iowa State on Sept. 11 (11:10 a.m., ESPN Plus) in Kinnick Stadium in the first event of the new Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series before playing its first road game of the year at Arizona State on Sept. 18 (9:05 p.m., ESPN Plus).