Sept. 11, 2006
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IOWA TO HOST IOWA STATE
Iowa (2-0) returns home to host Iowa State (2-0) Saturday. Game time is 11:02 a.m. in Kinnick Stadium (70,585). The game is sold out, as are Iowa’s five other remaining home contests. Saturday’s football game will be the third event in the third annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.
ON THE TUBE
ESPN (HD) will televise the contest to a national cable audience. Pam Ward, Mike Gottfried and Jimmy Dykes 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 549-492-39 (.527). That includes a 346-192-16 (.639) record in home games, a 204-300-23 (.409) 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.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 16th in both major polls. Iowa State is not ranked.
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 a 19-10 advantage since 1977 when the Cy-Hawk Trophy was first awarded. The Cy-Hawk Trophy currently resides in Ames as a result of Iowa State’s 23-3 victory in Ames last season.
ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 2-3 in games played on Sept. 16. The Hawkeyes defeated Northwestern 20-3 in 1978 and Iowa State 27-10 in 1995. Iowa lost to Ohio State 21-0 in 1972, Oregon 44-6 in 1989 and Iowa State 24-14 in 2000.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
Saturday will mark the 55th consecutive game the Hawkeyes have been selected for television. The last Iowa contest not televised was against Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001.
IOWA NOMINEE FOR PONTIAC AWARD
Iowa’s stellar goal line defense in double overtime earned the Hawkeyes a nomination for the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” in week two. Iowa kept Syracuse out of the end zone on seven consecutive plays from the two yard line in the waning moments of the game. The Hawkeyes (playing without star quarterback Drew Tate) and its impenetrable defense helped assure a 20-13 victory.
Now it’s up to the Iowa fans to determine if the Hawkeyes earned the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” for the second week of the 2006 NCAA Football Season. Iowa fans can go to pontiac.com/ncaa, where they can view video clips of the four finalists and vote for their favorite play. Voting ends at midnight on Wednesday. ESPN will announce this week’s “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” winner, on Thursday night, during the Pontiac Performance Halftime Report. The winning university earns a $5,000 contribution from Pontiac to their general scholarship fund. Additionally, the winning play will be nominated for the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year” in December.
IOWA VS. THE BIG 12
Iowa holds an all-time record of 64-63-3 (.504) 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.
WINNER HAS SCORED FIRST
The team that has led after the first quarter has won 14 of the last 16 meetings (two were tied) and the team that has led at halftime has won 15 of the last 16 contests. Last season, Iowa State led 6-0 after one quarter and 16-0 at halftime. The Cyclones went on to a 20-point victory (23-3) in Ames.
IOWA, IOWA STATE NOTES
? Both Iowa and Iowa State made goal line stands to capture victories last week. The Hawkeyes stopped Syracuse eight times inside the five-yard line in double overtime to pull off a 20-13 win. Iowa State was able to keep UNLV out of the end zone on the final play of the game. The Rebels advanced to the Cyclone 11-yard line with two seconds left, but failed to complete a pass into the end zone, preserving the Cyclones’ 16-10 win.
? Iowa State ranks ninth nationally in punt returns (23.67) and 21st in rushing defense (59.5). LB Alvin Bowen leads the nation in tackles (16.5), while DL Rashawn Parker ranks fifth in TFLs (2.5) and sacks (1.5). RB Stevie Hicks ranks 24th in the nation in rushing (99.0), while QB Bret Meyer ranks 23rd in passing efficiency (157.19).
? Iowa ranks eighth nationally in rushing defense (40.0), ninth in total defense (212.0), 13th in sacks (3.5), 17th in scoring defense (10.0) and 18th in TFLs (8.0). DT Mitch King ranks fifth in the nation in TFLs (2.5) and seventh in sacks (1.5) LB Mike Klinkenborg ranks 13th nationally in tackles (11.5).
? Iowa and Iowa State average 30.5 points per game, both scoring 61 points through two games.
THE SERIES
Saturday’s game against the Cyclones marks the 54th time the two in-state rivals have met. Iowa holds a 35-18 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. The Hawkeyes have won 17 of the last 23 meetings, but the Cyclones have won six of the last eight in the series.
The teams did not meet between 1935 and 1976 and Iowa holds a 19-10 advantage since the series resumed in 1977. Iowa holds a 20-12 advantage in games played in Iowa City. Iowa defeated the Cyclones by a 17-10 margin in the last meeting in Kinnick Stadium in 2004.
The Hawkeyes won 15 straight games in the series (1983-1997).
IOWA STATE DEFEATS UNLV
Iowa State won its second game of the young season, holding onto a 16-10 victory over UNLV at Jack Trice Stadium last Saturday night. Trailing 16-10, UNLV quarterback Shane Streichen’s pass to Aaron Straiten was caught beyond the end zone line as time expired, which would have tied the game and given the Rebels the opportunity to win with a PAT. The Cyclones built a 16-3 advantage through three quarters on a pair of one-yard runs by RB Stevie Hicks and FB Ryan Kock, and a 24-yard Bret Culbertson field goal. Hicks rushed 23 times for 109 yards, marking the 10th career 100-yard game. QB Bret Meyer completed 14-21 passes for 203 yards. WR Austin Flynn caught four passes for 56 yards. Both of the Cyclones’ first two games came down to the final play, as Iowa State defeated Toledo in three overtimes in week one.
ISU COACH DAN MCCARNEY
Dan McCarney is in his 12th season as a head coach, all at Iowa State. McCarney, who was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year after capturing the league’s North co-championship in 2004, has guided Iowa State to five bowls. McCarney is a native of Iowa City and a former Hawkeye player and coach. His record as a head coach stands at 54-77 (.412). McCarney was an assistant coach at Iowa (1977-89) and Wisconsin (1990-94) before taking over the Iowa State program. McCarney is 6-5 against Iowa and 5-2 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.
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 51-36 (.587) and a 32-24 (.571) mark in Big Ten games. In 11 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 63-57 (.525).
Twenty-nine of Iowa’s 87 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 is 2-5 against Iowa State and Cyclone Coach Dan McCarney.
LAST MEETING
Iowa State scored all 23 of its points off Iowa turnovers en route to a 23-3 victory over the Hawkeyes in Jack Trice Stadium. The victory snapped a two-game Iowa winning streak over Iowa State and the Cyclones regained possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy.
Iowa State WR Austin Flynn caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter after the Cyclones recovered a fumble on the Hawkeyes’ 12-yard line (PAT attempt missed). Iowa State added a 29-yard field goal and returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to take a 16-0 advantage into halftime.
Hawkeye starting quarterback Drew Tate was forced to leave the game in the second quarter after suffering a concussion on a tackle attempt following an interception. Tate finished the game completing 5-11 passes for 57 yards.
Iowa scored its only points when PK Kyle Schlicher split the uprights for a 44-yard field goal on the Hawkeyes’ first possession of the second half. The Hawkeye offense was sluggish most of the game, turning the ball over five times (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions).
Iowa State scored its final points on a two-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter.
TE Scott Chandler caught a career-high seven passes for 72 yards, while RB Albert Young rushed 18 times for a career and game-high 140 yards. Reserve QB Jason Manson completed 10-31 passes for a career-high 117 yards and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 57 yards.
Linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge both recorded 13 tackles, while DB Marcus Paschal added 10. DE Mike Follett contributed five tackles, including a career-high two sacks.
IOWA 20, SYRACUSE 13 (2OT)
Despite turning the ball over four times, Iowa escaped with a 20-13 double overtime victory at Syracuse. The win was the first as a starter for QB Jason Manson, who was inserted into the lineup for Drew Tate. Tate missed the game due to an abdominal strain.
Syracuse marched 78 yards on 13 plays and scored a touchdown on its first possession to take an early 7-0 advantage. Iowa’s defense rallied after the first score and forced the Orange to only three points the remainder of the contest, that coming in the final seconds of the fourth period. The Hawkeyes forced Syracuse to punt seven times and also snuffed out a fake punt attempt.
Manson engineered a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive to even the game at 7-7 when he connected with TE Scott Chandler for a one-yard scoring strike. Manson was perfect 4-4 on the drive, throwing for 43 yards.
PK Kyle Schlicher put the Hawkeyes in front 10-7 with a 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Iowa maintained a three-point lead until Syracuse converted a 41-yard field goal with six seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Both teams converted short field goals in the first overtime session. Iowa scored first in the second overtime on RB Albert Young’s one-yard run to give the Hawkeyes the seven-point advantage. Iowa’s defense was spectacular in the final drive, stopping Syracuse eight times inside the five-yard line and capturing its first September road win since 2003.
Manson completed 16-32 passes for 202 yards. He threw one touchdown and had four interceptions. Young carried the ball 18 times for 73 yards and one score. TE Scott Chandler caught six passes for 65 yards and one touchdown, all in the first half.
FS Marcus Paschal and LB Mike Klinkenborg led Iowa with 12 tackles. The 12 stops are a career-high for Klinkenborg and match a career best for Paschal. DE Kenny Iwebema had 11 tackles (9 solo), also a career-high including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. DL Mitch King equaled Iwebema in tackles for loss and sacks.
FINAL GAME NOTES
? The win at Syracuse was Iowa’s first outside the Midwest since a 15-14 victory at Arizona in 1987.
? The game marked the fourth overtime contest in Iowa history. The Hawkeyes improved to 3-1, including 2-0 in double overtime. The Hawkeyes won at Penn State 26-23 in two overtimes in 2000 and won at Penn State 42-35 in single overtime in 2002. Iowa lost to Michigan 23-20 in one overtime a year ago in Iowa City.
? With his 26-yard field goal in the first overtime, PK Kyle Schlicher is now 2-2 in overtime field goals. He had a 28-yarder vs. Michigan in 2005. Schlicher saw his first action of the season with two PATs and converting 2-3 field goals in the game. For the second-straight week, redshirt freshman Austin Signor handler kickoff duties. Signor averaged 64.0 yards on his three kickoffs, including one touchback.
? PK Kyle Schlicher scored eight points (2 PATs, 2 FGs), moving him past Tim Dwight and Ronnie Harmon into eighth on Iowa’s career scoring chart. He is only 17 points from equaling Sedrick Shaw and Jeff Skillett’s total of 214.
? QB Drew Tate had started 25-straight games before not playing at Syracuse. Tate started all 12 games in 2004 and 2005 and last week’s opening win vs. Montana, posting an 18-7 record. The most recent game not started by Tate was the 2004 Outback Bowl, in which Nathan Chandler was under center.
? Prior to the game at Syracuse, Iowa had just one quarterback start all games in each season since 2000. Tate started all games in 2004 and 2005, Nathan Chandler started all games in 2003, Brad Banks started every game in 2002 and Kyle McCann started all games in 2001. In 2000, Scott Mullen started the first four contests, Jon Beutcher started games five through eight and McCann started the final four games, including the Alamo Bowl win over Texas Tech.
? QB Jason Manson started for the first time in his career. His totals of 16 completions, 32 attempts, 202 yards and one touchdown are all career bests. His previous bests were 10-31 for 117 yards at Iowa State last year, which coincidentally was also week two. Manson also rushed nine times for 25 yards against the Orange.
? WR Herb Grigsby and DE Kenny Iwebema returned to action after missing Iowa’s opening game – both started.
? After three true freshmen saw action in Iowa’s opener (WR Dominique Douglas, WR Anthony Bowman and LB A.J. Edds), only Douglas saw action at Syracuse. Douglas did not record any statistics against the Orange.
? RB Albert Young’s 73 rushing yards moved him into 16th place in Iowa’s career rushing annals. Young moved past Rick Bayless and Tim Sullivan with 1,592 yards on 313 attempts. He is only 37 yards from tying David Hudson for 15th. Young also caught three passes for 29 yards at Syracuse to give him seven receptions in two games.
? Iowa had four turnovers, all interceptions, but none resulted in Syracuse points. The Hawkeyes have collected just one turnover in two games, an interception vs. Montana.
? Iowa failed to score on its first possession of the game. The Hawkeyes have not scored on their first possession in the first two contests. Syracuse scored a touchdown on its first possession.
? RB Damian Sims rushed 10 times for 51 yards. The 10 attempts are a career high.
? Both Iowa scoring drives in regulation registered nine plays.
? Iowa had three-straight possessions end with an interception.
FERENTZ CLOSES IN ON MILESTONES
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz collected his 51st overall win at the University of Iowa at Syracuse. Additionally, he is only one triumph 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.
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.
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).
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.
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 did not play at Syracuse due to injury. He hopes to return Saturday vs. Iowa State. Tate 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 (2.7) and Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn (3.0).
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. He carried the ball 18 times for 73 yards and a score and caught three passes for 29 yards at Syracuse.
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 16th in Iowa career rushing with 1,592 yards. Another solid campaign will move him into the top ten. The junior needs only 335 yards to tie Levi Mitchell for 10th (1,927).
CHANDLER LEADS HAWKEYE RECEIVERS
TE Scott Chandler, a candidate for the John Mackey Award given to the nations’ top tight end, has had a solid start to the 2006 campaign. The senior leads the Hawkeyes in receptions (10) and yards (109). Chandler has caught touchdown passes in each of Iowa’s first two games – a six-yard reception vs. Montana and a one-yard catch at Syracuse.
Seven of his 10 receptions have moved the chains. Chandler caught four passes for 44 yards and one touchdown vs. Montana, with all four receptions moving the sticks. The native of Southlake, TX, caught six passes for 65 yards and a score at Syracuse – all in the first half. Four of his six catches gave Iowa first downs.
Chandler, who is the younger brother of former Hawkeye quarterback Nathan Chandler (2002-03), has 81 career receptions for 985 yards and six touchdowns.
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 handled PATs and field goals at Syracuse. Schlicher scored eight points, converting 2-2 PATs and 2-3 field goals.
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 197 career points, which ranks eighth in Iowa career scoring. He is only 17 points from equaling Sedrick Shaw and Jeff Skillett (214) in sixth place. He is 40-50 (.800) in career field goal attempts, including 6-14 from beyond 40 yards, and 77-81 on PATs. Schlicher has only missed two field goals under 39 yards (30-32). He has made two field goals or more in 12 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 (1.6) and fourth in percentage (.800). Schlicher (.800) trails Eastern Michigan’s Andrew Wellock (.826), Virginia Tech’s Brandon Pace (.820) and Southern Mississippi’s Darren McCaleb (.818) in field goal percentage.
SYRACUSE RUNS INTO WEB
Syracuse had eight tries inside the Iowa five-yard line in double overtime, but the Hawkeye defense was like a brick wall and turned away the Orange to propel the Hawkeyes to victory. Four of the eight plays were stopped by DE Kenny Iwebema. The junior collected four of his nine solo stops on the goal line stand.
Hawkeye historians are calling it one of, if not the best, goal line stand in Iowa football history.
IWEBEMA ANCHORS DEFENSIVE LINE
DE Kenny Iwebema, who is on the Ted Hendricks, Lott Trophy and Bednarik Watch Lists, 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 and made his 2006 debut at Syracuse. Iwebema amassed 11 tackles (9 solo), including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Four of his nine solo stops came in a goal line stand in double overtime, lifting Iowa to victory.
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 LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 74 of its last 81 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 76-of-87 games under Kirk Ferentz.
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 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 36 of its last 45 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 39-2 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.
BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa has posted seven offensive plays that went for 20 yards or more, five via the pass and two on the ground. WR Andy Brodell caught a game and career-high 44-yard pass vs. Montana, while Herb Grigsby also caught a career-high 44-yard pass at Syracuse. RB Albert Young and RB Damian Sims have each posted a 21-yard run. Montana registered just one offensive play over 20 yards, a 21-yard pass. Syracuse recorded pass plays of 25 and 40 yards. Iowa’s defense has yet to allow a run over 30 yards.
IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa has outscored its opponents 17-0 in the second quarter, 10-7 in the third, 17-3 in the fourth and 10-3 in overtime. Iowa and its opponents have both scored seven points in the first period.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s nine scoring drives average 8.8 plays, 60.9 yards and 3:23 elapsed time. Six of the nine scoring drives covered 65 yards or more.
Hawkeye opponents have posted three scoring drives that average 7.7 plays, 50.3 yards and 3:11 elapsed time.
Both average scoring drives do not include overtime possessions.
ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averages 5.7 yards on 66 first down plays, 5.1 yards on 49 second down plays, 5.1 yards on 25 third down plays and 7.0 yards on two fourth down plays. The Hawkeyes recorded 33 first-down plays in each of its first two contests.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa, who ranked second nationally in red zone proficiency in 2005, is 10-11 in the red zone (7 TD, 3 FG). The Hawkeyes failed to convert a field goal (43 yards) after it reached the red zone at Syracuse.
Hawkeye opponents have only marched inside the red zone four times, scoring on three of their possessions (2 TD, 1 FG). Syracuse turned the ball over on downs after Iowa’s defense stopped the Orange on eight plays inside the five-yard line, including four-straight inside the two, to win in double overtime in week two.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored three points following a LB Mike Humpal interception vs. Montana. The Hawkeyes did not collect any turnovers at Syracuse.
Montana converted a RB Albert Young fumble into seven points. The touchdown was the only points scored against the Hawkeye defense. Syracuse picked off Iowa QB Jason Manson four times in week two, but did not convert the interceptions into any points.
INSTANT REPLAY
Instant replay was used once in the first period, once in the third and once in the fourth at Syracuse, the most in any game Iowa has played since replay’s inception. In the first quarter, a Syracuse pass that was ruled incomplete was changed to a completion for a three-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, a play that was ruled a Syracuse fumble (recovered by Iowa) was changed to an incomplete pass. In the fourth period, the call on the field of a Syracuse completion was upheld.
Instant replay was used once in Iowa’s opening contest, when a call on the field (an Iowa fumble recovered by Montana), was upheld.
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. The Hawkeyes’ road contest at Syracuse was televised regionally on ABC. Saturday’s home game vs. intra-state rival Iowa State will be televised nationally on ESPN at 11:02 a.m. The Hawkeyes’ Big Ten opener at Illinois will be aired regionally on ESPN Plus at 11:10 a.m. Iowa’s home conference opener vs. Ohio State will be televised on either ABC or ESPN at 7:05 p.m., marking the fifth time Kinnick Stadium will host a night game.
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 was 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.
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.
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 opens Big Ten play at Illinois on Sept. 23 (11:10 a.m., ESPN Plus) before returning home Sept. 30 to host nationally-ranked Ohio State (7:05 p.m., ABC or ESPN).