Sept. 6, 2004
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IOWA TO HOST IOWA STATE
Iowa (1-0) hosts in-state rival Iowa State (1-0) Saturday. Game time is 11:10 a.m. (CDT) in Kinnick Stadium (70,397). The game is sold out. Saturday’s football game is the first event in the new Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.
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, KXLT Mason City-Rochester and Cox Cable Omaha. The game is also and Jeannine Edwards 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.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 13th in the ESPN/USA Today and 16th in the Associated Press poll. The Hawkeyes moved up three spots in the AP poll after being ranked 19th last week.
ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 1-4 in games played on Sept. 11. The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State 31-28 in 1993. Iowa lost to Ohio State 52-21 in 1971, Illinois 24-6 in 1976, Nebraska 42-7 in 1982 and Iowa State 17-10 in 1999. Iowa’s loss to Iowa State in 1999 was Coach Ferentz’s second game on the Hawkeye sidelines as head coach.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,053 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 531-483-39 (.523). That includes a 335-191-16 (.633) 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 218-156-15 (.580) record in Kinnick Stadium.
TICKET UPDATE
A limited amount of tickets remain for home games vs. Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Last week’s game vs. Kent State was a sellout, while games vs. Iowa State and Ohio State are already sold out.
The Iowa record for average home attendance is 70,071, set in 1991. The current capacity is 70,397.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Saturday’s game vs. Iowa State will mark the 45th consecutive game the Hawkeyes have been selected for television. The last Iowa contest not televised was at Illinois on Oct. 14, 2000.
IOWA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Iowa’s Leadership Council for the 2004 season includes 13 players (five seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and a true freshman). 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, redshirt freshmen Bryan Mattison and Albert Young and true freshman Seth Olsen.
GREENWAY EARNS WEEKLY HONORS
Junior linebacker Chad Greenway was honored by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Big Ten after last week’s outstanding performance vs. Kent State. Greenway was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National 1-A Defensive Player of the Week and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The conference honor was the second of his career.
Greenway led the Hawkeye defense, intercepting two passes and returning them 54 yards, including a 30-yarder for a touchdown. He also collected a team-best 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assists), including two for loss and recorded one pass breakup as Iowa held the Golden Flashes to minus 13 yards rushing and just 110 total yards. On special teams, the native of Mt. Vernon, SD, blocked his second career punt, which resulted in a field goal.
TOP DEFENSES SQUARE OFF
After the first week of competition, Iowa State and Iowa rank 1-2 nationally in total defense. The Cyclone defense yielded only 99 yards vs. Northern Iowa, while the Hawkeyes allowed only 110 yards against Kent State.
CY-HAWK TROPHY
When Iowa resumed its football series with Iowa State in 1977, the Des Moines Athletic Club donated a trophy to be awarded to the winner of the annual in-state battle.
The Hawkeyes hold an 18-9 advantage since 1977 when the Cy-Hawk Trophy was first awarded. The Cy-Hawk Trophy currently resides in Iowa City as a result of Iowa’s 40-21 win in Ames last season.
HY-VEE CY-HAWK SERIES
Hy-Vee, Inc., in conjunction with Hawkeye Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Communications and Cyclone Sports Marketing, a division of Clear Channel and ESPN Regional, has reached an agreement with Iowa State and Iowa to serve as the title sponsor for the schools’ Cy-Hawk Series – the name given to the collection of regular season, head-to-head intercollegiate athletic events featuring Cyclone and Hawkeye teams.
A point system will track each institution’s performance and will culminate in one institution winning the annual trophy for the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Intercollegiate athletic teams from Iowa and Iowa State will square off in head-to-head competition nine different times during the 2004-05 academic year. The competition this year is in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, softball and women’s swimming and diving. Additional points will be available for each school to secure based on successful performance in the classroom by its student-athletes.
Sept. 11, Football — 3 points
Oct. 31, Soccer — 2 points
Dec. 1, W. Basketball — 2 points
Dec. 4, W. Swimming and Diving — 2 points
Dec. 5, Wrestling — 2 points
Dec. 10, M. Basketball — 2 points
Jan. 28, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Feb. 19, W. Gymnastics — 2 points
Apr. 19, Softball — 2 points
Two points for an institution if the student-athlete graduation rate for all student-athletes is greater than the national average for all student-athletes. Click HERE to learn more about the new challenge between two old intrastate rivals.=http:>
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 22-5 (.815) overall mark and 13-3 (.813) Big Ten record the last three seasons under Ferentz.
Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 33-29 (.532) and a 20-20 (.500) mark in Big Ten games. In eight seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 45-50 (.474).
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 1-4 against Iowa State and Cyclone Coach Dan McCarney.
ISU COACH DAN MCCARNEY
Dan McCarney is in his tenth season as a head coach, all at Iowa State. McCarney is a native of Iowa City and a former Hawkeye player and coach. His record as a head coach stands at 38-67 (.362). McCarney was an assistant coach at Iowa (1977-89) and Wisconsin (1990-94) before taking over the Iowa State program. McCarney is 5-4 against Iowa and 4-1 vs. Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz.
WORKING TOGETHER AT IOWA
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz and ISU Coach Dan McCarney worked together as assistant coaches at Iowa from 1981-89. After playing at Iowa McCarney joined the Iowa football staff in 1977 and stayed until 1989. Ferentz joined the Hawkeye staff in 1981 and also left in 1989, for the head coaching position at Maine.
IOWA LOOKS TO EXTEND HOME WINNING STREAK
Iowa’s win over Kent State last week extended its home winning streak to 13. The 13-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.
COMMON FOES
Iowa and Iowa State did not play any common opponents last year, nor will they this year.
IOWA VS. THE BIG 12
Iowa holds an all-time record of 63-62-3 (.492) against current members of the Big 12 Conference, having met all but Baylor at least once. Iowa State is the only Big 12 opponent on the Hawkeye schedule this season.
ISU VS. THE BIG TEN
ISU is 21-75-2 vs. the Big Ten, but has not played Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State or Purdue.
WINNER HAS SCORED FIRST
The team that has led after the first quarter has won 12 of the last 14 meetings (two were tied) and the team that has led at halftime has won 13 of the last 14 contests. Last season, Iowa led 10-7 after one quarter and 20-7 at halftime. The Hawkeyes went on to a 19 point victory (40-21) in Ames.
THE SERIES
Saturday’s game against the Cyclones marks the 52nd time the two in-state rivals have met. Iowa holds a 34-17 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. The Hawkeyes snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cyclones with a 40-21 triumph in Ames last season.
The teams did not meet between 1935 and 1976 and Iowa holds an 18-8 advantage since the series resumed in 1977. Iowa holds a 19-12 advantage in games played at Iowa City. Iowa State has won the last three games in Iowa City, but Iowa has won the previous seven in Kinnick Stadium dating back to 1984.
The Hawkeyes won 15 straight games in the series (1983-1997). Here are the results:
INSTANT REPLAY
Nine of Iowa’s 11 games this season will feature the Big Ten Conference’s experimental instant replay system. The Hawkeyes’ next two games (vs. Iowa State and at Arizona State) are the only two Iowa contests that will not be utilizing the system. There were no plays reviewed in last week’s win over Kent State.
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.
IOWA STATE WINS OPENER
Iowa State scored 17 points in the second quarter en route to a 23-0 triumph over in-state rival Northern Iowa. The Cyclones outgained the Panthers 378-99 in total offense, which marked the first time they held an opponent to below 100 yards since a 69-0 win over Colorado State in 1980. RB Stevie Hicks rushed 23 times for 111 yards, while QB Bret Meyer completed 15-24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown for the Cyclones. WR Todd Miller posted game highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (51).
IOWA 39, KENT STATE 7
Iowa won its fourth consecutive season opener with a 39-7 victory over Kent State in “The Throwback Game” celebrating 75 years in Kinnick Stadium.
The Hawkeyes scored on four of its first five possessions. PK Kyle Schlicher converted his first collegiate field goal attempt (20 yards) giving Iowa an early 3-0 advantage. Two possessions later, WR Matt Melloy caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from QB Drew Tate to give the Hawkeyes a 10-0 lead. Iowa scored two touchdowns in 1:14 in the second quarter to stretch its lead to 23-0 (PAT blocked).
Kent State scored its only points of the game on a Jake Williams 99-yard interception return.
QB Drew Tate played the first half and completed 13-22 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. QB Eric McCollom directed the Hawkeye offense in the second half and completed 5-8 passes for 87 yards.
RB Albert Young carried the ball 23 times for 87 yards and one score to lead the Hawkeye rushers.
Iowa quarterbacks did a good job distributing the ball as 10 Hawkeyes caught at least one pass. WR Ed Hinkel tied a career high with four receptions and set a career high with 65 yards to lead the Hawkeye receiving corps.
Iowa’s defense was led by Greenway. The junior intercepted two passes, recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including two for loss and blocked one punt. As a unit, the Hawkeyes allowed -13 yards rushing and 123 yards passing. Iowa forced four turnovers (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions) and blocked one punt.
FINAL GAME NOTES
Iowa improved to 2-0 against Kent State and 14-1 against current members of the Mid-American Conference.Chad Greenway’s two interceptions marked the first time an Iowa player picked off two passes in a single game since Jovon Johnson collected two thefts in last year’s season opener vs. Miami (OH).Iowa’s average starting field position was its own 49 yardline, while Kent State’s average starting spot was its own 22.The Hawkeyes dominated time of possession more than 2-1. Iowa held the ball for 40:06, while Kent State maintained possession for 19:54.Kyle Schlicher converted 2-3 field goals and 3-5 PATs in his first game as Iowa’s starting placekicker.David Bradley punted four times for a 46.5 average.No true freshman saw any action in Iowa’s season opener.Last week marked the first Iowa game that could utilize the Big Ten Instant Replay system, however, no plays were reviewed.
STAT CHANGES FROM SATURDAY
Three Iowa offensive and one defensive change have been made following Saturday’s Kent State game. Defensively, Tyler Luebke has been credited with a fumble recovery instead of Jonathan Babineaux. Offensively, three plays have been added to the Hawkeyes’ first possession of the second half. Statistically, RB Albert Young had one additional carry for five yards and QB Eric McCollom had two more rushes for 12 yards. Below are the corrected team and individual stats.
Team
Rushing attempts: 60
Rushing average: 36
Yards Gained rushing: 246
Yards lost rushing: 32
Net rushing yards: 214
First downs: 22
Total plays: 90
Total offense: 437
Individual
Albert Young: 23 carries, 87 yards
Eric McCollom: 9 carries, 17 yards
David Bradley: 4 punts, 186 yards, 46.5 average, 53 long
NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK
For the fifth consecutive season, Iowa started with a different starting quarterback from the previous year. Sophomore Drew Tate started last week’s game vs. Kent State. 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.
CAPTAINS BY THE WEEK
Iowa’s game captains are selected each week. Following is a game-by-game list of Hawkeye captains:
Kent State: OL Pete McMahon, DE Matt Roth, DL Jonathan Babineaux, DB Sean Considine
LAST MEETING
Big plays on special teams and a strong defensive effort enabled the Hawkeyes to snap a five-game losing skid to Iowa State in a 40-21 road victory.
After posting a field goal on its opening drive, LB Grant Steen recovered a first-quarter fumble that led to Iowa’s first touchdown as QB Nathan Chandler hit Maurice Brown on a 17-yard pass play to give Iowa an early 10-0 lead. The score proved costly, though, as Brown was hurt on the play and missed a number of games. After a Cyclone score, Iowa put up 23 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to extend its lead to 33-7.
Iowa scored 10 points in the second quarter on a RB Fred Russell three-yard run and a Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goal before the Hawkeye special teams broke the game open in the third quarter.Sean Considine blocked his first of two punts, which was recovered by Chris Smith in the end zone. Two drives later Steen returned an interception 15 yards to the ISU four-yard line, which Iowa converted into a field goal. Iowa’s defense stopped ISU on the next drive and Considine blocked another punt that led to three more points. RB Marcus Schnoor added a 33-yard scoring run to put an exclamation point on the Hawkeye victory.
Kaeding kicked four field goals and four PATs to set a single-game record with 16 kicking points. He also tied the school record (four) for field goals in a game. Additionally, he passed Rob Houghtlin to become Iowa’s career scoring leader with 291 points. Kaeding’s efforts landed him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Chandler completed 7-14 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Russell rushed for 75 yards on 26 carries, while Brown caught three passes for 52 yards and a touchdown before leaving with the ankle injury. Defensively, Iowa recorded 14 tackles for loss, including three sacks. Steen collected six tackles, intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble. Considine recorded six tackles, including one for loss, blocked two punts and had one pass break-up. LB Chad Greenway had a career-high 17 tackles, while LB Abdul Hodge registered a career-high 15 stops, including three for loss, one sack and a forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS RISE AGAIN
After blocking a single season school record five punts last season, Iowa has started on the right foot in 2004. LB Chad Greenway blocked a Kent State punt in the third quarter, which resulted in a field goal. Iowa is 5-0 in games that it blocked at least one punt dating back to last season.
QUARTERBACKS SEE EQUAL TIME
Starting QB Drew Tate completed 13-22 passes, including 10 consecutive in the second quarter, and two touchdowns and had one interception in his one half of action. The sophomore directed the Hawkeye offense to scores on four of its first five possessions. Tate did not play in the second half due to cramps. He is expected to start Saturday.
QB Eric McCollom stepped in and played the second half, completing 5-8 passes for 87 yards. McCollom and the Hawkeye offense scored 10 points on two of three drives in the third quarter.
GAIN TWO, LOSE ONE
After serving a one game suspension last week, running backs Marquis Simmons and Jermelle Lewis return to action Saturday. While Iowa returns two running backs to the lineup this week, it loses RB Marcus Schnoor to a possible season-ending knee injury suffered in the first half vs. Kent State. The junior rushed six times for 25 yards. For his career he has carried the ball 64 times for 315 yards.
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.
Simmons redshirted last season after transferring to Iowa from Nebraska.
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.
IOWA NOTES
The Hawkeyes have won 20 of their last 22 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 19 of its last 22 regular season games.Iowa has improved to 4-2 in season openers under Kirk Ferentz, winning the last four.Saturday’s game vs. Iowa State will be its seventh-straight sellout dating back to last year. The seven consecutive sellouts at the current Kinnick Stadium capacity (70,397) is a school record. The previous record was five set in during the 1992 season. RB Albert Young and LB Chad Greenway scored their first collegiate points last week. Iowa ranks second in the nation in net punting (50.8) and fifth in turnover margin (3.00).WR Matt Melloy ranks 14th nationally in scoring (12.0) after scoring two touchdowns vs. Kent State.Iowa began the season ranked No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. The 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.
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.
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.
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. Other home games include 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.
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 given annually to the nation’s top college linebacker. They were also named to the preseason first 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 figure 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.
Against Kent State, Abdul Hodge collected two solo tackles and forced one fumble.
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. The native of Mt. Vernon, SD, has posted double digit tackles nine times during his career.
Last week, Greenway intercepted two passes and returned them 54 yards, including a 30-yarder for a touchdown. He also collected a team-best 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assists), including two for loss and recorded one pass breakup. On special teams, the native of Mt. Vernon, SD, blocked his second career punt, which resulted in a field goal.
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.
Johnson registered three solo tackles in last week’s win over Kent State.
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 113 career tackles and three picks.
Last week, Considine posted four tackles and one pass breakup.
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 124 career tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Allen collected three solo tackles, one pass breakup and forced one fumble vs. Kent State.
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 23 career sacks ranks third best, and trails Jared DeVries (42, 1995-98) and Mike Wells (33, 1990-93). Also, he sits in third place in tackles for loss (29) behind Jim Johnson (39, 1987-90), Wells (54, 1990-93) and DeVries (78, 1995-98).
Last week, Roth collected one sack and two QB hurries.
DEFENSE MAKES A STAND
The Hawkeyes held Kent State to minus 13 yards rushing. Iowa could have held the Golden Flashes to minus 30 yards if not for their punter scampering 17 yards following a blocked punt in the third quarter.Iowa’s rushing defense (-13.0) ranks first nationally, while its total defense ranks second (110.0), pass efficiency defense ranks ninth (70.39%) and its pass defense ranks 16th (123.0).
IOWA STARTS ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 54 of its last 56 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 56 of 62 games under Kirk Ferentz.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa scored on six of nine drives that reached the red zone last week, collecting two rushing TDs, two passing TDs and two field goals for 33 points. The Hawkeyes failed to score any points the other three times inside the red zone when QB Drew Tate was intercepted on the one yardline, PK Kyle Schlicher missed a field goal and the team failed to convert on a fourth down late in the game while trying to run out the clock.
Kent State advanced inside the red zone only once last week and did not score. The Golden Flashes tried to convert on a fourth down late in the game and failed to move the chains.
IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa outscored Kent State 10-0 in the first and third quarters, 13-7 in the second quarter and 6-0 in the fourth quarter.
ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averaged 4.9 yards on 36 first down plays, 3.2 yards on 31 second down plays, 7.3 yards on 21 third down plays and 2.0 yards on one fourth down play last week.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored 14 points after obtaining four turnovers (4 interceptions, 2 fumbles), plus an additional three points following a blocked punt in last week’s victory over Kent State.
Kent State scored seven points on a 99-yard interception return.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s six scoring drives averaged 7.8 plays, 36.7 yards and 3:22 elapsed time. Four of Iowa’s six scoring drives covered 45 yards or more. In addition, Iowa had four drives that amassed eight plays or more, including a 14-play drive that consumed 6:08 that resulted in a Matt Melloy four-yard TD reception vs. Kent State.
Kent State did not score any offensive points last week. In fact, the Golden Flashes’ offense advanced past midfield only once.
TEN WERE WALK-ONS
Ten 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, 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. Melloy and Ejiasi played in every game last year.
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.
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 118 players includes 56 players from Iowa. The roster includes 12 players from Florida, 10 players from Texas, eight from Illinois, seven from New Jersey, three from Pennsylvania and Connecticut, two from Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and South Carolina and one from Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, and New York.
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, while Oelwein has three.
THE NAME GAME
Iowa has two players named Davis (Calvin and Champ, no relation), Johnson (A.J. and Jovon, no relation) and Lewis (George and Jermelle, 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.
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.
IOWA DEPTH CHART
Iowa’s depth chart includes 15 seniors, 14 juniors and 10 sophomores and redshirt freshmen. These numbers do not include return specialists. Iowa does not have any true freshmen listed on this week’s depth chart.
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 118 players, including 15 seniors, 24 juniors, 28 sophomores, 29 redshirt freshmen and 22 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. Parker missed last week’s game due to surgery and hopes to return Saturday.
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 will be televised. 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 12 days prior to game days.
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.
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.
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.
AFTER THIS
Iowa hits the road for its first two-game road trip this year. The Hawkeyes play their final non-conference game of the year at Arizona State on Sept. 18 (9:05 p.m., ESPN Plus), followed by a trip to Michigan on Sept. 25 (kickoff time TBA).