Aug. 23, 2006
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OPENING KICKOFF
Iowa opens the 2006 season Saturday, September 2, hosting Montana. Game time is 11:03 a.m. in Kinnick Stadium (70,585).
ON THE TUBE
ESPNU will televise the contest to a cable audience. Clay Matvick and Marv Cook will call the action. This will be Iowa’s first game on ESPNU.
RADIO BROADCAST
Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, with color commentator Ed Podolak and sideline reporter Rob Brooks. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes more than 40 stations throughout the state.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,078 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 547-492-39 (.526). That includes a 345-192-16 (.638) record in home games, a 203-300-23 (.408) record in games away from Iowa City, a 270-330-25 (.452) mark in Big Ten games and a 228-157-15 (.589) record in Kinnick Stadium.
BARTA TAKES OVER
Iowa’s contest vs. Montana will be its first football game under new Athletics Director Gary Barta. Barta has 19 years of athletic administration experience and came to Iowa after serving three years as director of athletics at Wyoming.
KINNICK STADIUM
The second phase of the $88-million renovation to Kinnick Stadium is nearly complete. The second phase of renovation began after the last home football game in 2006 and included improvements to concessions, restrooms and the press box. The first phase of the renovation included demolition and reconstruction of the south end zone, addition of a new jumbotron and scoreboards and parking lot improvements.
NEW PRESS BOX
Iowa’s game against Montana will be its first in the new press box. The press box has been named the “Paul W. Bechler Press Box”. Earlier this year, the Iowa Board of Regents, approved the naming of the new press box at Kinnick Stadium in honor of Iowa director and business manager. During his tenure, UI teams won three Big Ten football championships and two Rose Bowl games, made two appearances in the Final Four in men’s basketball, and won Big Ten championships in four additional sports. Numerous student-athletes earned all-Big Ten and all-America honors and many advanced to participation in the Olympics.
VARSITY CLUB DAY
Five former University of Iowa student-athletes, one coach and one administrator will be inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday, Sept. 2. Athletes John Niland (Football 1963-65), Rummy Macias (Wrestling 1944-46, 48), Fred Brown (Basketball 1970-71) Reggie Roby (Football 1979-82), and Rafal Szukala (Swimming 1992-1995), are being inducted, along with former Women’s Basketball Coach C. Vivian Stringer and former Athletic Director Dr. Christine Grant. The class will be inducted at the annual Varsity Club banquet and recognized at halftime of the Montana football game.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 16th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll and 17th in the USA Today Preseason Poll. Montana is ranked third in The Sports Network Preseason I-AA Poll. The Grizzlies received five first place votes in the initial poll.
SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is 84-31-2 (.726) in season-opening games and 86-29-1 (.746) in home openers. Iowa has averaged 44.8 points and a winning margin of 38.6 in its last five season-opening victories (Ball State 56-0 in 2005; Kent State 39-7 in 2004 and 51-0 in 2001; Miami, OH 21-3 in 2003; Akron 57-21 in 2002). Iowa’s last season-opening loss came to Kansas State (27-7) in 2000.
ON THIS DATE
Saturday will be Iowa’s first game ever played on September 2.
THE SERIES
Iowa leads the series 1-0. The Hawkeyes defeated Montana (48-6) on October 2, 1954 in Iowa City.
SCOUTING MONTANA
Montana has won or shared eight Big Sky Conference championships in a row and garnered league titles 11 of the past 13 seasons. The Grizzlies have also registered a record 13 straight Division I-AA playoff appearances. Montana has been ranked in The Sports Network’s Division I-AA top 25, 185 of the past 189 weeks, including being ranked third in this year’s preseason poll.
Montana, which has compiled 20 consecutive winning seasons, returns 15 starters and 45 lettermen from an 8-4 team that was ranked 12th in The Sports Network’s season-ending poll. Starting RB Lex Hilliard suffered a season-ending foot injury in mid-August and is replaced on the depth chart with Greg Coleman. Coleman transferred to Montana after rushing for 419 yards and four touchdowns at Iowa State in 2006. QB Josh Swogger is a senior transfer from Washington State and earned the starting nod after a solid spring.
The Grizzlies ranked sixth nationally in turnover margin (+1.08), eighth in net punting (36.47), ninth in kickoff returns (22.74) and 16th in scoring defense (18.17) in 2005.
Montana Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Ends Coach Kraig Paulson was on Utah State’s coaching staff in 2002 when the Aggies lost, 48-7, to Iowa in Kinnick Stadium. Paulson served as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for Utah State in 2002.
MONTANA HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK
Bobby Hauck enters his fourth year as a college head coach, all at Montana. Hauck has posted a 29-11 overall mark and 16-5 record in the Big Sky Conference. He has guided the Grizzlies to three straight league championships and three Division I-AA playoff appearances, including the championship game in 2004. Hauck began his collegiate coaching career in 1988 with the Grizzlies. Following a three-year stint, he moved on to UCLA for three years (1990-93), Northern Arizona for two years (1993-94), Colorado four years (1995-98) and then Washington four years (1999-02). Hauck has two family members on his coaching staff. Tim, his younger brother, is in his third year coaching safeties. Tom, his uncle, enters his seventh year coaching defensive tackles.
COACH Kirk Ferentz
The 2002 Associated Press, Walter Camp and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year and two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Kirk Ferentz (pronounced FAIR-rintz, rhymes with parents), is in his eighth season as Iowa’s head football coach. Ferentz guided Iowa to Big Ten titles twice in the last four years (2002 and 2004) and four straight January bowl games, including back-to-back New Year’s Day bowl victories (2004 Outback Bowl and 2005 Capital One Bowl). Iowa has posted a 38-12 (.760) overall mark and a 25-7 (.781) Big Ten record the last four seasons.
Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 49-36 (.576) and a 32-24 (.571) mark in Big Ten games. In 10 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 61-57 (.517).
Twenty-nine of Iowa’s 85 games over the last seven seasons have been decided by seven points or less (14-15) and 29 were played against opponents who were ranked in the top 25 at the time (12-17).
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 CLOSES IN ON MILESTONES
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz is only one victory from collecting his 50th overall win at the University of Iowa. Additionally, he is only three triumphs from tying Forest Evashevski (1952-60) for the second-most wins by a Hawkeye head coach. Ferentz’s next conference victory will also tie Evashevski for second at Iowa with 33. Hayden Fry (1979-98) is Iowa’s all-time winningest coach with 143 overall wins and 96 league victories.
IOWA OPENS BIG TEN PLAY ON ROAD
Iowa will begin its quest for a 12th Big Ten championship Sept. 23 at Illinois. This year marks the seventh time in eight years, including the last five, the Hawkeyes will open league play on the road. Iowa’s lone conference home opener, under Coach Ferentz, came in 2001 when it defeated Penn State.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Iowa’s season-opener vs. Montana will mark the 53rd consecutive game the Hawkeyes have been selected for television. The last Iowa contest not televised was against Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001.
IOWA AMONG THE BIG TEN’S ELITE
Iowa is tied with Michigan and Ohio State for the most conference victories the last four years. All three schools have 25 wins during that time. Michigan (19) has won the most league contests the last three years, followed by Iowa (17) and Ohio State (17).
HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 43 lettermen from 2005, including 23 on offense, 18 on defense and two specialists. The Hawkeyes return seven starters on offense and seven on defense, plus placekicker Kyle Schlicher and punter Andy Fenstermaker. The lettermen breakdown includes 11 three-year lettermen, 12 two-year lettermen and 20 one-year lettermen.
The total roster has 112 players, and includes 19 seniors, 15 juniors, 30 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 25 true freshmen.
DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa boasts the fourth-best home winning percentage in the nation since the start of the 2003 season. The Hawkeyes are tied with Oklahoma with a .947 (18-1) winning percentage in fourth. Leading the pack is USC (1.000, 18-0), followed by Ohio State (.952, 20-1) and Boise State (.950, 19-1).
STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa returns seven starters on offense and seven on defense, in addition to PK Kyle Schlicher and P Andy Fenstermaker. The returning starters on offense include guards Mike Jones and Mike Elgin, tackle Marshal Yanda, running back Albert Young, fullback Tom Busch, tight end Scott Chandler and quarterback Drew Tate. The defensive starters returning include ends Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison, tackles Matt Kroul and Mitch King, linebacker Edmond Miles and safeties Marcus Paschal and Miguel Merrick.
THE SPORTING NEWS LIKES HAWKEYES
The Sporting News has a number of Hawkeyes listed in its preseason rankings. The publication ranks Drew Tate as the fourth-best quarterback in the nation, while it also ranks Marcus Paschal as the fourth-best free safety. Kyle Schlicher was chosen as the fifth-best place kicker and Mike Jones was selected as the fifth-best offensive guard. Albert Young is picked the seventh-best running back, while Kenny Iwebema is ranked the eighth-best defensive end.
RETURNING WITH HONORS
Iowa returns five players who earned all-Big Ten honors a year ago. That list includes defensive end Kenny Iwebema, who was a first team honoree. Place kicker Kyle Schlicher and running back Albert Young earned second team laurels. Defensive tackle Mitch King and safety Marcus Paschal earned honorable mention accolades. King was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 14.
IOWA LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 72 of its last 79 games. Iowa’s games vs. Minnesota (11/19/05), vs. Michigan (10/22/05), at Purdue (10/8/05), at Minnesota (11/13/04), vs. Purdue (11/6/04), 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 won five of those seven games. Iowa has started the game on offense in 74-of-85 games under Kirk Ferentz.
TATE CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS
QB Drew Tate, who is on the Maxwell Award Watch List, enters the 2006 season ranked high in all the Iowa career passing charts. The senior ranks second in touchdown passes (43), third in completion percentage (.621), fourth in completions (458) and fifth in attempts (738), yards (5,669) and total offense (5,680). Tate is within reach to climb into second in completions, attempts, yards and total offense. The all-Big Ten performer is only 1,265 yards behind second place Chuck Hartlieb for yards and 1,175 yards behind second place Matt Rodgers for total offense. He is 92 completions and 167 attempts from tying Matt Rodgers for second. Chuck Long is Iowa’s all-time leader in completions (782), attempts (1,203), yards (10,461) and total offense (10,254).
Tate garnered first team all-Big Ten laurels from the coaches and second team recognition by the media in 2004. He became the first Iowa sophomore quarterback to make first team all-Big Ten since Chuck Long was honored in 1983. Tate was also recognized as the 2004 Big Ten Player of the Year by collegefootballnews.com.
TATE AMONG HAWKEYE ELITE
Drew Tate joins Chuck Long, Matt Rodgers and Matt Sherman as the only three-year starters at quarterback in Iowa history. Tate has collected 17 overall victories under center, which ranks fourth in Hawkeye annals behind Long (33), Sherman (24) and Rodgers (21). Tate has also amassed 12 conference wins directing the Hawkeye offense, which ranks fourth behind Long (24) and Sherman (14) and Rodgers (14).
Iowa QB VictoriesQuarterback Overall Big Ten1. Chuck Long (1981-85) 33-13-1 (.713) 24-7-1 (.766)2. Matt Sherman (1994-97) 24-10-0 (.706) 14-8-0 (.636)3. Matt Rodgers (1988-91) 21-10-1 (.672) 14-8-0 (.636)4. Drew Tate (2003-p) 17-6-0 (.739) 12-4-0 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hawkeyesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/schlicher_kyle00.html"="">Kyle Schlicher, Iowa (SR) 24 38 47 .809 1.58="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/strong%3EJad%20Dean,%20Clemson,%20Clemson%20(SR)%2023%20%2036%20%2046%20%20.783%20%20%20%201.57Andrew%20Wellock,%20E.%20Michigan%20(SR)%20%20%20%2034%20%2053%20%2065%20%20.815%20%20%20%201.56Brandon%20Pace,%20Virginia%20Tech%20(SR)%20%20%20%2026%20%2040%20%2049%20%20.816%20%20%20%201.54Jeremy%20Ito,%20Rutgers%20(JR)%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%2023%2035%20%2051%20%20.686%20%20%20%201.52%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EField%20Goal%20Percentage%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20GM%20FGA%20FGA%20Pct.%20%20%20%20FG/GM%3C/strong%3EDarren%20McCaleb,%20S.%20Miss.%20(SR)%20%20%2036%20%2053%20%2064%20%20.828%20%20%20%201.47Brandon%20Pace,%20Virginia%20Tech%20(SR)%20%20%20%2026%20%2040%20%2049%20%20.816%20%20%20%201.54Andrew%20Wellock,%20E.%20Michigan%20(SR)%20%20%20%2034%20%2053%20%2065%20%20.815%20%20%20%201.56%3Cstrong%3E%3Cahref="http: hawkeyesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/schlicher_kyle00.html"="">Kyle Schlicher, Iowa (SR) 24 38 47 .809 1.58="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/strong%3EJad%20Dean,%20Clemson,%20Clemson%20(SR)%2023%20%2036%20%2046%20%20.783%20%20%20%201.57%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cstrong%3EIWEBEMA%20ANCHORS%20DEFENSIVE%20LINE%3C/strong%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20DE%20Kenny%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Iwebema%20has%20received%20considerable%20praise%20from%20pre-season%20publications.%20The%20junior%20is%20a%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20second%20team%20all-America%20honoree%20by%20Street%20&%20Smith%20and%20selected%20to%20the%20third%20team%20by%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Athlon%20Sports.%20He%20is%20on%20the%20watch%20lists%20for%20the%20Ted%20Hendricks%20Award,%20the%20Lott%20Trophy%20and%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20the%20Bednarik%20Award.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3EThe%20native%20of%20Arlington,%20TX,%20ranked%20seventh%20in%20Big%20Ten%20QB%20sacks%20(0.58)%20for%20all%20games%20and%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tied%20for%20fourth%20(0.62)%20in%20league%20games%20in%202005.%20Iwebema%20tied%20an%20Iowa%20single-game%20record%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20with%20two%20blocked%20kicks%20(both%20field%20goals)%20in%20a%2035-7%20triumph%20over%20Illinois%20in%202005.%20He%20was%20a%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20first%20team%20all-Big%20Ten%20selection%20by%20the%20media,%20finishing%20his%20sophomore%20year%20with%2047%20tackles%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(10%20TFL).%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIOWA%20LEADERSHIP%20COUNCIL%3C/strong%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Iowa's%20Leadership%20Council%20for%20the%202006%20season%20includes%20six%20seniors,%20three%20juniors,%20four%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20sophomores,%20one%20redshirt%20freshmen%20and%20one%20true%20freshman.%20A%20member%20of%20the%20incoming%20freshman%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20class%20will%20be%20named%20soon.%20Permanent%20team%20captains%20are%20named%20at%20the%20conclusion%20of%20each%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20season.%20The%20Leadership%20Council%20for%20this%20season%20includes%20seniors%20Mike%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Elgin,%20Jason%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Manson,%20Miguel%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Merrick,%20Marcus%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Paschal,%20Drew%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Tate%20and%20Marshal%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Yanda;%20juniors%20%3Ca%20href="/roster.aspx?rp_id=2899" class="imported_story_link" oldlink="/sports/m-footbl/mtt/humpal_mike00.html">Mike Humpal, Bryan Mattison and Albert Young; sophomores Mitch King, Matt Kroul, Tony Moeaki and Seth Olsen and redshirt freshman Jake Christensen.
IOWA NOTES
? Senior OL Mike Elgin is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, emblematic to the nation’s top center.
? OL Mike Jones has been named first team all-America by Sports Illustrated.
? Both LB Chris Brevi (foot) and DB Ma’Quan Dawkins (knee) will miss the 2006 season and will receive medical reshirts. Brevi is a junior, while Dawkins is a senior.
? Iowa retained possession of two traveling trophies in 2005: Floyd of Rosedale (52-28 win over Minnesota) and the Heartland Trophy (20-10 win over Wisconsin).
? Iowa has won 34 of its last 43 regular season contests.
? Iowa is one of only four teams (USC, Georgia and Florida State) in the nation to appear in four straight January bowl games.
? In the last four years, Iowa is 33-3 when leading at the half and 37-2 when leading after three quarters.
? Iowa ranked second nationally in red zone proficiency in 2005, scoring 93.3 percent of the time. The Hawkeyes scored on 42 of their 45 trips inside the red zone. SMU ranked first (93.8 percent), but only marched inside the red zone 32 times.
? Iowa had its 22-game home winning streak snapped when Michigan escaped with a 23-20 overtime win last Oct. 22. The Hawkeyes boasted a 24-point winning margin during the school-record streak. The Hawkeyes have won 30 of their last 33 games in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the end of the 2000 season. Iowa’s three losses came against Iowa State (36-31 in 2002) and Michigan (32-26 in 2001 and 23-20 in overtime in 2005).
? All six of Iowa’s home games in 2005 were sellouts (Ball State, Northern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota). Iowa’s 2005 home attendance average of 70,585 is a school record.
? Iowa enters the 2006 season with a consecutive home sellout streak of 17, dating back to the 2003 season. The last Hawkeye game not sold out was vs. Buffalo (9/6/03). All seven home contests this season are expected to be sellouts.
? Iowa tied for third in the Big Ten in 2005 and now has 47 first-division finishes in the conference, including 11 championships and eight additional finishes among the top three in the league. The Hawkeyes have finished among the top three in the Big Ten standings three of the last four years.
THREE TRUE FRESHMAN “PLAY IT SMART”
True freshman QB Arvell Nelson, LB Derek Smith and WR Dominique Douglas are one of 57 Play It Smart student-athletes who signed National Letter of Intent last February.
Launched in 1998 and currently in 136 high schools in 35 states, Play It Smart trains “academic” coaches to work with high school football teams during the entire school year, taking transferable life skills learned on the field an applying them in the classroom and the community.
DISCIPLINED HAWKEYES
Iowa was only penalized 52 times for 447 yards in 2005. The Hawkeyes ranked fourth nationally in fewest penalties per game (4.3) and fifth in fewest penalty yards per game (37.25). The Hawkeyes were penalized two times or less in four games.
BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa posted 56 offensive plays of 20 yards or more, 18 on the ground and 38 via the pass in 2005. RB Damian Sims produced Iowa’s three-longest running plays. He ran for a career-long 71-yard touchdown vs. Minnesota, 66-yard score vs. Illinois and a 39-yard touchdown vs. Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes’ longest pass was a 78-yarder from QB Drew Tate to WR Clinton Solomon at Purdue.
Iowa’s defense allowed 41 offensive plays of 20 yards or more.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored a total of 45 points following opponent turnovers in 2005, while Hawkeye opponents scored a total of 47 points off Iowa turnovers.
IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa outscored its 2005 opponents 119-37 in the first quarter, 95-79 in the second, 61-41 in the third and 82-77 in the fourth. Hawkeye opponents owned a 6-3 edge in the first overtime period.
Iowa outscored its opponents 91-0 in the first quarter in its six home games in 2005.
ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averaged 6.8 yards on 393 first down plays, 5.9 yards on 258 second down plays, 5.6 yards on 161 third down plays and 6.8 yards on eight fourth down plays in 2005.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s 58 scoring drives averaged 6.8 plays, 58.9 yards and 2:31 elapsed time in 2005. Forty-one of Iowa’s 58 scoring drives covered 50 yards or more. The Hawkeyes recorded their longest scoring drive of the year at Northwestern (14 plays, 88 yards). Iowa recorded a season-high eight scoring drives vs. Minnesota, with seven of the eight covering 55 yards or more.
Iowa opponents in 2005 recorded 33 scoring drives, averaging 9.2 plays, 67.7 yards and 3:41 elapsed time. Six of the 33 scoring drives followed Iowa turnovers.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
The Hawkeyes marched inside the red zone 45 times and scored 42 of those times (93.3%) in 2005. Iowa scored on its first four red zone possessions vs. Northern Iowa and its first 10 of the season before turning the ball over on downs late in the third quarter with a large lead. Twenty-seven of the 42 scores (61.5%) were for touchdowns.
Hawkeye opponents advanced inside the red zone 35 times and scored only 25 times (71.4%) last year. Iowa’s red zone offense (93.3%) and defense (71.4%) both were tops in the conference.
HAWKEYES TO PLAY 12
After two years of playing an 11-game regular season schedule, Iowa returns to a 12-game slate. The Hawkeyes will play seven home games in renovated Kinnick Stadium, where they have posted a 24-2 record the last four seasons. Eight of Iowa’s 2006 opponents posted seven wins or more a year ago, with six of the eight competing in bowl games. Iowa adds three new opponents to its 2006 slate: Northern Illinois from the Mid-American Conference, Syracuse from the Big East Conference and Montana from the Big Sky Conference (Division I-AA). Iowa’s opener against Montana marks the second consecutive year the Hawkeyes will play a Division I-AA opponent. Other home games include in-state rival Iowa State, Northern Illinois and Big Ten foes Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes’ only non-conference road contest is at Syracuse, while they travel to play conference foes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. Iowa’s regular season finale at Minnesota on November 18 will be the 100th meeting between the Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers.
The Hawkeyes will not face Michigan State or Penn State this year. This year will be the last time Iowa will face Michigan and Ohio State until 2009, as the two schools come off Iowa’s conference schedule in 2007 and 2008.
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
A majority, if not all, of Iowa’s games this season will be selected for television. The Big Ten Conference announces game times and television stations no later than 12 days prior to game days. Four Hawkeye games have already been selected for television. Iowa will make its ESPNU debut in the season opener vs. Montana at 11:05 a.m. The following week’s road contest at Syracuse will be televised regionally on ABC at 2:35 p.m. The Hawkeyes’ home game vs. intra-state rival Iowa State will be televised nationally on ESPN at 11:05 a.m. Iowa’s home conference opener vs. Ohio State will be aired on either ABC or ESPN at 7:05 p.m., marking the fifth time Kinnick Stadium will host a night game. All times listed are central.
HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster of 112 players includes 44 players from Iowa. The roster includes 12 players from Illinois; nine from Ohio; eight from Florida and Texas; seven from New Jersey; three from Minnesota, Nebraska and Pennsylvania; two from Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin and one from Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.
MORE THAN ONE
Ten high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. The leaders are Iowa City West and City High with four. Robert E. Lee (Texas) and Ankeny (Iowa) high schools have three, while six schools have two players on the roster.
THE NAME GAME
Iowa has two players named Davis (Calvin and Champ, no relation). Mike is the most popular first name. There are four Mike’s (Elgin, Humpal, Jones, Klinkenborg). There are three players named Andy (Brodell, Fenstermaker, Kuempel), Dan (Doering, Murray, Olszta) and Ryan (Bain, Donahue, Majerus). There are two Adam’s (Farnsworth, Shada), Austin’s (Postler, Signor), Bryan’s (Mattison, Ryther), Kyle’s (Calloway, Schlicher), Drew’s (Gardner, Tate), Jordan’s (Den Hartog, McLaughlin), Justin’s (Collins, Edwards), Marcus’ (Paschal, Wilson) and Tyler’s (Blum, Gerstandt). Two Hawkeye players go by initials, A.J. Edds and B.J. Travers.
THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
Freshman WR Paul Chaney, Jr. is the lightest Hawkeye player at 160 pounds. Sophomore OL Wesley Aeschliman is the heaviest at 315 pounds. A total of five Hawkeye players are listed over 300 pounds.
The tallest player is 6-8 Aeschliman, while the shortest players, at 5-9, are DB Ma’Quan Dawkins, PK Kyle Schlicher, RB Damian Sims and Chaney, Jr. The average Hawkeye player is 6-2 and weighs 230 pounds. That is the exact height and three pounds lighter than the average Iowa player in 2005.
WATCHING FROM ABOVE
Iowa’s coaches in the press box are Lester Erb (receivers and special teams), along with quality control assistant Scott Southmayd and graduate assistant coaches Seth Wallace and Rick Kaczenski. That leaves Norm Parker (defensive coordinator), 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.
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 STATS ON THE INTERNET
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of 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 hawkeyesports.com and then clicking on the Gametracker link. This feature is available for all games during the 2006 season.
AFTER THIS
Iowa travels to Syracuse on Sept. 9 (2:35 p.m., ABC) at the Carrier Dome before returning home to host in-state rival Iowa State in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series on Sept. 17 (11:05 a.m., ESPN).