Sept. 4, 2006
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IOWA HITS THE ROAD
Iowa (1-0) hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Syracuse, NY, to meet Syracuse (0-1) Saturday. Game time is 2:36 p.m. (CDT) at the Carrier Dome (49,262).
ON THE TUBE
ABC will televise the contest to a regional audience. Gary Thorne, Andre Ware and Todd Harris 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 sideline reporter Rob Brooks. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes more than 40 stations throughout the state.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,079 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 548-492-39 (.526). That includes a 346-192-16 (.639) 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 229-157-15 (.590) record in Kinnick Stadium.
HAWKEYE HUDDLE AT SYRACUSE
The National I-Club and the UI Alumni Association invite all fans to the “Hawkeye Huddle” from 12:30-2:30 p.m. (EDT) prior to the Syracuse game Saturday. The “Hawkeye Huddle” will be held at Soho East, located at 414 South Clinton Street in Syracuse. The free reception features refreshments, snacks, Hawk Shop door prizes, Herky, and the Iowa cheerleaders.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa was ranked 16th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll and 17th in the USA Today Preseason Poll. Syracuse was not ranked (rankings for the week of Sept. 4 were not available at the time this release was published).
ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 1-1 in games played on Sept. 9. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Iowa 34-13 in 1995. Iowa lost to Western Michigan 27-21 in 2000.
THE SERIES
The series is tied, 1-1. Syracuse defeated Iowa (10-7) on Sept. 20, 1975 at Syracuse, while the Hawkeyes downed the Orange (41-3) on Sept. 18, 1976 in Kinnick Stadium. Saturday will be Iowa’s first game in the Carrier Dome, as the arena opened its doors in 1980.
IOWA VS. THE BIG EAST
Iowa has only played six games against teams currently in the Big East Conference. The Hawkeyes are 3-3 against the Big East (Cincinnati, 1-0; Pittsburgh, 1-2; Syracuse, 1-1). Iowa is slated to host Syracuse in 2007 and play at Pittsburgh in 2008.
SYRACUSE FALLS AT WAKE FOREST IN OPENER
For the third-straight season, Syracuse lost its opener as the Orange fell at Wake Forest, 20-10. The loss was Syracuse’s 10th consecutive defeat, dating back to last season, which is a school record.
Wake Forest held Syracuse to only 136 total yards, including 45 yards passing. The Orange were only able to move the chains 11 times and maintained possession for only 24:51. Syracuse converted only one of its 11 third downs.
QB Perry Patterson completed 5-18 passes for 45 yards and one touchdown. The score came on a 20-yard pass to Rice Moss late in the first quarter. RB Curtis Brinkley started his first career game, rushing eight times for a team-best 49 yards.
Syracuse’s defense yielded 363 yards total offense, including 245 yards on the ground. LB Kelvin Smith collected a game and career-high 16 tackles (13 solo). Five other Syracuse players had eight tackles each.
SYRACUSE HEAD COACH GREG ROBINSON
Greg Robinson is in his second season as a college head coach, both at Syracuse. Robinson has posted a 1-11 (.091) overall record and 0-7 mark in the Big East Conference. Like Ferentz, Robinson has NFL coaching experience. Robinson coached for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for 14 seasons (1990-2003). He was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator when they won their two Super Bowls (1997 and 1998). Prior to coaching in the NFL, Robinson was an assistant coach for UCLA (1982-89), where the Bruins won seven bowl games, including three Rose Bowls. Robinson captured his fourth Rose Bowl ring when he served as co-defensive coordinator on the Texas coaching staff in 2004 when the Longhorns defeated Michigan.
IOWA, SYRACUSE NOTES
? Saturday will be the first of back-to-back games against Big Ten opponents for Syracuse. Next week the Orange travel to the University of Illinois.
? Iowa has lost its last two road openers (2004 at Arizona State, 44-7 and 2005 at Iowa State, 23-3).
? The Hawkeyes are 3-1 in games played in a dome, under Coach Ferentz. Iowa collected victories over Minnesota in the Metrodome in 2002 and 2004 and Texas Tech in the Alamo Dome in the Alamo Bowl in 2001. The Hawkeyes lost at Minnesota in 2000. Iowa concludes its 2006 regular season at Minnesota on Nov. 18.
? All five Iowa road games this year (Syracuse, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota) will be played on field turf.
? Iowa rushed for 166 yards last week, while Syracuse’s defense yielded 245 yards on the ground at Wake Forest.
? All 11 Big Ten teams won their season openers.
? Syracuse Head Coach Greg Robinson’s son Dominic is in his second season as an offensive graduate assistant.
? Prior to joining the Syracuse staff this year, Offensive Coordinator Brian White served as offensive coordinator at Wisconsin from 1999-2005.
FERENTZ CLOSES IN ON MILESTONES
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz collected his 50th overall win at the University of Iowa against Montana. Additionally, he is only two 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.
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 39-12 (.765) overall mark and a 25-7 (.781) Big Ten record the last five seasons.
Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 50-36 (.581) and a 32-24 (.571) mark in Big Ten games. In 11 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 62-57 (.521). Twenty-nine of Iowa’s 86 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.
IOWA 41, MONTANA 7
Iowa won its sixth-straight season opener defeating Montana, 41-7, in Kinnick Stadium. The win was Kirk Ferentz’s 50th win as head coach at Iowa.
The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 17-0 halftime advantage after touchdown receptions from RB Albert Young (5 yards) and WR Dominique Douglas (9 yards) and a 41-yard field goal by Austin Signor.
Montana scored its only points following a Young fumble, which it converted into a touchdown in the third quarter. Leading 17-7, Iowa closed the game with 24 unanswered points.
QB Drew Tate completed his third touchdown pass when he found TE Scott Chandler in the end zone for a six-yard score to extend Iowa’s lead to 24-7 late in the third period.
Young scored on a five-yard run, RB Dana Brown scored from one yard and Signor converted a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Iowa’s offense scored on its final four possessions.
Tate completed 15-28 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Young rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and also caught four passes for 55 yards and a score.
Signor replaced starting place kicker Kyle Schlicher, out with an injury. The redshirt freshman made all five PATs and both field goal attempts in his first college game.
Iowa’s defense was stifling, as it limited Montana to 144 total yards, including just 10 rushing yards. The 10 yards rushing are the second-fewest under Ferentz. The Grizzlies were only able to advance the ball past the Hawkeye 30-yard line once, which followed the Hawkeye lone turnover. Iowa collected an interception and forced Montana to punt five times in its six first-half possessions.
Junior LB Mike Klinkenborg recorded a team and career-high 11 tackles. Junior DE Bryan Mattison and sophomore DL Mitch King combined for 14 tackles, including five for loss.
FINAL GAME NOTES
? Iowa improves to 85-31-2 (.729) in season-opening games and 87-29-1 (.748) in home openers.
? Montana accumulated 144 yards total offense, the exact number Ball State had in Iowa’s 2005 season opener, which was a 56-0 Hawkeye win.
? QB Drew Tate’s three touchdown passes moved him into sole possession of second place on Iowa’s career touchdown chart with 46. Chuck Long is Iowa’s career leader with 74.
? Iowa had nine different receivers catch at least one pass.
? RB Albert Young moved past Ryan Terry and Mike Saunders into 18th place on Iowa’s career rushing chart.
? Three true freshmen saw action: WR Dominique Douglas, WR Anthony Bowman and LB A.J. Edds. Douglas caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown and returned one punt 25 yards. Bowman and Edds did not record any statistics.
? Four different players scored Iowa’s five touchdowns (RB Albert Young – 2; TE Scott Chandler; WR Dominique Douglas; RB Dana Brown). Touchdowns scored by Douglas and Brown are the first of their careers.
? Iowa’s defense forced one turnover, an interception by LB Mike Humpal. The Hawkeyes converted the turnover into three points.
? Iowa dominated the first quarter, posting 81 yards on 20 offensive plays, while Montana ran only nine offensive plays for negative one yard.
? Neither team scored on its first possession. In fact, both team’s opening possession resulted in a three-and-out. The Hawkeye defense held the Grizzlies without a first down on their first three possessions.
COACHING STAFF STABILITY
Iowa has only lost four assistant coaches during Coach Ferentz’s tenure. After three years, Brett Bielema left and is currently the head coach at Wisconsin. After one season, Chuck Long departed and is now the head coach at San Diego State. Joe Philbin exited after four years and is now on the Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff. Pat Flahlerty left after one season and is currently on the New York Giants’ coaching staff.
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
Saturday will mark the 54th consecutive game the Hawkeyes have been selected for television. The last Iowa contest not televised was against Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001.
DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa boasts the third-best home winning percentage in the nation since the start of the 2003 season. The Hawkeyes are tied with Oklahoma and Boise State with a .950 (19-1) winning percentage. Leading the pack is USC (1.000, 18-0), followed by Ohio State (.955, 21-1).
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).
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.
The Hawkeyes were flagged eight times for 79 yards in the 2006 opener vs. Montana.
TATE CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS
QB Drew Tate, who is on the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Manning Award Watch Lists, ranks high in all the Iowa career passing charts. The senior ranks second in touchdown passes (46), third in completion percentage (.617), fourth in completions (473) and fifth in attempts (766), yards (5,892) and total offense (5,905). Tate is within reach to climb into second in completions, attempts, yards and total offense. The all-Big Ten performer is only 1,042 yards behind second place Chuck Hartlieb for yards and 950 yards behind second place Matt Rodgers for total offense. He is 77 completions and 139 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 completed 15-28 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns vs. Montana. He has thrown two touchdown passes or more in 18 career games, including 15 of his last 18 games dating back to 2004. Chuck Long is Iowa’s career leader with 74.
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 18 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).
TATE EFFICIENT AMONG NATION’S BEST
Drew Tate ranks fifth in the nation among active quarterbacks in interception percentage vs. top 25 opponents since 2003. In nine games against ranked foes, Tate has thrown 10 interceptions in 257 attempts for a 3.9 percentage. Tate ranks behind Florida’s Chris Leak (2.0), Wisconsin’s John Stocco (2.4), Syracuse’s Perry Patterson (3.1) and Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn (3.2).
YOUNG LEADS IOWA’S RUSHING ATTACK
All-Big Ten RB Albert Young, who is on the Maxwell and Doak Walker Award Watch Lists, returns after carrying the ball 249 times for 1,334 yards (111.2 avg.) and a team-best eight touchdowns in 2005. He ranked 17th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten for all games. In the season opener vs. Montana, Young rushed for 93 yards (4.9 avg.) and a touchdown and caught four passes for 55 yards and a score.
Young, who was a second team all-Big Ten selection by the media and honorable mention pick by the coaches, averaged 125.2 yards in conference games to lead the league by 0.3 yards per game over Minnesota’s Laurence Maroney (124.9). Young also ranked second in all-purpose yards in league games, only 0.9 yards behind leader Brandon Williams (177.9) of Wisconsin. Young rallied to become the first Hawkeye to lead the conference in rushing (league games only) since Dennis Mosley in 1979. He ranked fifth among all rushers after five Big Ten games and climbed to No. 1 following big games against Northwestern, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
He rushed for over 100 yards in seven straight games (an Iowa record) and eight times in 2005 (Iowa State, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Minnesota). He averaged 139.6 yards rushing per game during the streak. Iowa has had a 1,000-yard rusher in five of the last six years. Ladell Betts (2000-01), Fred Russell (2002-03) and Albert Young (2005). Young also surpassed 200 all-purpose yards in four of the last seven games. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 18th nationally in all-purpose yards (146.7).
Young ranks 18th in Iowa career rushing with 1,519 yards. Another solid campaign will move him into the top ten. The junior needs only 408 yards to tie Levi Mitchell for 10th (1,927).
SCHLICHER THE KICKER
PK Kyle Schlicher returns for his senior campaign after earning second team all-conference accolades last season. The senior did not play in the season opener due to injury, but it is hopeful he will return at Syracuse.
Schlicher, who is on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Watch List, ranked first in team scoring his junior year (17-21 FGs, 43-44 PATs – 94 points), sixth in Big Ten scoring and third in league kicking points. He ranked 26th in the nation in field goals per game (1.42) and 39th in overall scoring per game (7.8). Additionally, the 94 points rank seventh-most in a single season at Iowa. His .810 field goal percentage was tops in the Big Ten last year. He was a Groza semifinalist in 2005.
The Ankeny native has 189 career points, which ranks 10th in Iowa career scoring. He is only three points from equaling Ronnie Harmon and Tim Dwight (192) in eighth place. He is 38-47 in career field goal attempts, including 6-13 from beyond 40 yards, and 75-79 on PATs. Schlicher has only missed two field goals under 39 yards (30-32). He has made two field goals or more in 11 contests.
SCHLICHER AMONG NATION’S ELITE
Kyle Schlicher ranks among the nation’s best place kickers in active career field goal percentage and field goals made per game (min. 30 FG made).
Schlicher ranks first in field goals made (1.58) and fourth in percentage (.809). Schlicher (.809) trails Eastern Michigan’s Andrew Wellock (.821), Virginia Tech’s Brandon Pace (.820) and Southern Mississippi’s Darren McCaleb (.815) in field goal percentage.
FRESHMEN SHINE IN FIRST GAME
Redshirt freshman PK Austin Signor played his first collegiate game vs. Montana, replacing the injured Kyle Schlicher, who is expected to return at Syracuse. Signor converted all five PATs and made his two field goal attempts of 41 and 35 yards. He also averaged 64.0 yards on his eight kickoffs, including four touchbacks.
Redshirt freshman QB Jake Christensen was perfect is Iowa’s final drive of the game. Christensen engineered an eight-play, 39-yard drive that culminated with a touchdown with six seconds left. He completed all three pass attempts for 19 yards.
True freshman WR Dominique Douglas had a solid first game for the Hawkeyes. Douglas caught three passes for 43 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass, and also returned a punt 25 yards.
IWEBEMA ANCHORS DEFENSIVE LINE
DE Kenny Iwebema, who is on the Ted Hendricks, Lott Trophy and Bednarik Watch Lists, has received considerable praise from pre-season publications. The junior is a second team pre-season all-America honoree by Street & Smith and selected to the third team by Athlon Sports.
Iwebema missed Iowa’s season opener after being suspended by Coach Ferentz and will make his 2006 debut Saturday at Syracuse.
The native of Arlington, TX, ranked seventh in Big Ten QB sacks (0.58) for all games and tied for fourth (0.62) in league games in 2005. Iwebema tied an Iowa single-game record with two blocked kicks (both field goals) in a 35-7 triumph over Illinois in 2005. He was a first team all-Big Ten selection by the media, finishing his sophomore year with 47 tackles (10 TFL).
IOWA NOTES
? Senior OL Mike Elgin is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, emblematic of the nation’s top center.
? OL Mike Jones has been named first team pre-season 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 has won 35 of its last 44 regular season contests.
? Iowa is one of only four teams (USC, Georgia and Florida State) to appear in four straight January bowl games.
? In the last five years, Iowa is 34-3 when leading at the half and 38-2 when leading after three quarters.
? 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 31 of their last 34 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).
? Iowa has a consecutive home sellout streak of 18, 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 sold out.
? 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.
IOWA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Iowa’s Leadership Council for the 2006 season includes six seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshmen and one true freshman. Permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Council for this season includes seniors Mike Elgin, Jason Manson, Miguel Merrick, Marcus Paschal, Drew Tate and Marshal Yanda; juniors Mike Humpal, Bryan Mattison and Albert Young; sophomores Mitch King, Matt Kroul, Tony Moeaki and Seth Olsen; redshirt freshman Jake Christensen and true freshman A.J. Edds.
IOWA LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 73 of its last 80 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 75-of-86 games under Kirk Ferentz.
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.
HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 41 lettermen from 2005, including 23 on offense, 16 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 10 three-year lettermen, 12 two-year lettermen and 19 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 111 players, and includes 18 seniors, 15 juniors, 30 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 25 true freshmen.
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.
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.
BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa posted four offensive plays that went for 20 yards or more, three via the pass and one on the ground. WR Andy Brodell caught a game and career-high 44-yard pass vs. Montana. True freshman Dominique Douglas returned his only punt return 25 yards in the fourth quarter. Montana registered just one offensive play over 20 yards, a 21-yard pass.
IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa outscored Montana 7-0 in the first quarter, 10-0 in the second and 17-0 in the fourth period. Both teams scored seven points in the third quarter.
ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averaged 6.8 yards on 33 first down plays, 5.4 yards on 25 second down plays, 3.3 yards on 13 third down plays and 7.0 yards on two fourth down plays vs. Montana.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s seven scoring drives vs. Montana averaged 8.7 plays, 58.1 yards and 3:10 elapsed time. Four of the seven scoring drives covered 65 yards or more.
Montana only posted one scoring drive; eight plays, 44 yards and 3:40 elapsed time. The scoring drive resulted in a touchdown after a Hawkeye turnover.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa, who ranked second nationally in red zone proficiency in 2005, scored on all six red zone possessions vs. Montana. The Hawkeyes posted five touchdowns and a field goal.
Montana only advanced inside the red zone once, which it converted into seven points following a Hawkeye turnover.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored three points following a LB Mike Humpal interception last week vs. Montana.
Montana converted a RB Albert Young fumble into seven points. The touchdown was the only points scored against the Hawkeye defense.
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 25-2 record the last five 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 marked the second consecutive year the Hawkeyes played 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 made its ESPNU debut in the season opener vs. Montana last week. Saturday’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 111 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 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 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 returns home to host in-state rival Iowa State in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series on Sept. 16 (11:05 a.m., ESPN). The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play at Illinois on Sept. 23 (11:05 a.m., ESPN Plus).