Aug. 24, 2007
The Big Ten Network: Nuts and Bolts
The Big Ten Network: Myths and Facts
The Big Ten Network: What the Hawkeyes Are Saying
The Big Ten Network: Newspaper Says ‘Yes’
The Big Ten Network: Big Ten Fact Sheet
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OPENING KICKOFF
Iowa opens the 2007 season Saturday, September 1, against Northern Illinois. Game time is 2:34 p.m. at Chicago’s Soldier Field (61,500). The game is sold out.
ON THE TUBE
ESPNU will televise the game to a national cable audience. Doug Bell and Charles Arbuckle 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. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 196.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,091 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 553-499-39 (.525). That includes a 349-194-16 (.639) record in home games, a 204-303-23 (.407) record in games away from Iowa City, a 272-336-25 (.449) mark in Big Ten games and a 232-159-15 (.590) record in Kinnick Stadium.
HAWKEYE HUDDLE IN CHICAGO
The National I-Club and the UI Alumni Association invite all fans to the “Hawkeye Huddle” from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday. The “Hawkeye Huddle” will be held at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, located at 600 Grand Avenue downtown Chicago. The free reception features refreshments, snacks, Hawk Shop door prizes, Herky, and the Iowa cheerleaders.
SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is 85-31-2 (.729) in season-opening games, including posting a 6-2 mark under Coach Ferentz. Iowa has averaged 44.2 points and a winning margin of 37.8 in its last six season-opening victories (Montana 41-7 in 2006; 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 the 2000 Eddie Robinson Classic at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
FIRST FIVE IOWA HOME GAMES SOLDOUT
Iowa’s first five home games of 2007 reached sellout status in late July. The Hawkeyes enter this season with 24 consecutive sellouts, dating back to 2003. Kinnick Stadium’s capacity is 70,585. Approximately 2,000 tickets remain for Iowa’s Nov. 17 game against Western Michigan.
HAWKEYES AND THE CUBS
Friday has been designated “Iowa Day” at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros at 1:20 p.m. Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, while former Hawkeye and NBA star B.J. Armstrong will sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.
ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 1-0 in games played on Sept. 1. The Hawkeyes defeated Kent State 51-0 in 2001.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois returns 41 lettermen, including 15 starters from a year ago. Last year the Huskies posted a 7-6 overall record, finished third in the Mid-American West Division and earned a berth in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl. Northern Illinois has posted seven straight winning seasons under Head Coach Joe Novak.
Junior Dan Nicholson will start the season as the Huskies’ quarterback after starting five games last year as a sophomore. Nicholson will have a brother combination of WR Britt and TE Brandon Davis to throw the ball to in 2007. The Huskies lost the NCAAs leading rusher, Garrett Wolfe, to graduation.
The Huskies return seven starters off a defensive unit that yielded 21.2 points per game a year ago. PK Chris Nendick enters his senior season having converted 45 career field goals. Nendick ranked ninth nationally in field goals last season.
In late September and the entire month of October, Northern Illinois will play five of six road games, including facing its second Big Ten opponent Wisconsin (Oct. 20) in Madison.
THE SERIES
Iowa boasts a 6-0 record against Northern Illinois, with all six games played at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes won the previous six meetings by a 32.8 margin of victory. Iowa won the last meeting 24-14 on Oct. 24, 2006. Coach Kirk Ferentz’s first victory as Iowa’s head coach came against the Huskies in 1999 (24-0). Here are the results:
*9/21/85 W 48-20*9/20/86 W 57-3*9/28/91 W 58-7*11/6/93 W 54-20*9/18/99 W 24-0*10/24/06 W 24-14
* – – at Iowa City
IOWA, NORTHERN ILLINOIS NOTES
• The season opener will be the first time Iowa will play in Soldier Field. This season marks the fourth time in Iowa history its season opener will be played at a neutral site. The Hawkeyes played Tennessee and NC State in the 1987 and 1992 Kickoff Classic at East Rutherford, NJ, respectively, and Kansas State in Kansas City in the 2000 Eddie Robinson Classic.
• Northern Illinois ranked second in the country in fewest fumbles lost (0.8) and 12th in punt returns (13.2) in 2006. The Hawkeyes recovered one fumble in their victory over the Huskies last season. Iowa allowed only 33 yards in punt returns a year ago.
• Coach Ferentz has been a coach at Soldier Field only once before in his career. He was the offensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. The Chicago Bears defeated the Ravens (24-3) on Dec. 20, 1998. He was introduced as Iowa’s head football coach two weeks earlier (Dec. 2).
• Iowa ranked 27th nationally in total offense (383.3) and passing offense (239.9) in 2006. Individually, LB Mike Klinkenborg ranked 12th in the country in tackles per game (9.9).
NORTHERN ILLINOIS COACH JOE NOVAK
Joe Novak is in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, all at Northern Illinois. Novak’s record with the Huskies is 61-66 (.480). Under Novak, Northern Illinois has tied for first in the Mid-American Conference West Division four of the last six years. The Huskies have been to two bowl games under Novak, winning the 2004 Silicon Valley Classic (34-21) over Troy and falling to TCU (37-7) in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl. Novak was named the 2002 MAC Coach of the Year and the 2004 AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. Prior to being named head coach at Northern Illinois, Novak spent 12 seasons (1984-1995) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Indiana. The Hoosiers made six bowl appearances while he was in Bloomington. Novak began his coaching career at his alma mater, Miami, OH (1974-76) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Novak also served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Northern Illinois from 1980-83. He played defensive end for Coach Bo Schembechler at Miami, OH in 1965 and ’66.
Novak is 0-2 vs. Iowa and Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz.
LAST MEETING
Iowa became bowl eligible for the sixth straight year with a 24-14 non-conference triumph over Northern Illinois in Kinnick Stadium last season.
Jake Christensen started at quarterback for the injured Drew Tate, completing 19-30 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Christensen became Iowa’s first left-handed quarterback to start since Phil Suess (1977-80) and the first redshirt freshman to start since Jon Beutjer in 2000.
Iowa took a 17-0 lead in the first half. RB Albert Young scored on a seven-yard run, WR Dominique Douglas caught a six-yard touchdown pass following a DB Marcus Paschal interception and PK Kyle Schlicher converted a 38-yard field goal.
Northern Illinois’ Garrett Wolfe scored on a one-yard run on the first play of the fourth period to cut Iowa’s advantage to 17-7. The Huskies added another touchdown on their next possession to trim the Hawkeye lead to 17-14 with 8:40 remaining. Christensen responded by engineering a nine-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 4:44 and culminated with a TE Scott Chandler 10-yard scoring reception with 3:56 remaining, stretching the Iowa advantage to 24-14.
Young eclipsed the century mark, rushing for a game-high 124 yards on 25 attempts. Chandler led Iowa receivers with five catches for 63 yards. WR Andy Brodell caught three passes for 64 yards.
Wolfe, who entered the game as the nation’s leading rusher, was limited to 66 rushing yards on 22 attempts. The Hawkeye defense held the Huskies to 196 total yards and 73 yards rushing; entering the contest Northern Illinois averaged 412.2 yards total offense and 201.4 yards rushing.
Iowa’s defense was led by LB Edmond Miles, LB Mike Klinkenborg and DE Bryan Mattison. Miles and Klinkenborg each collected a team-best 11 tackles. Klinkenborg also recovered a fumble. Mattison posted nine tackles and was credited with two pass break-ups and OLB Mike Humpal joined Paschal with an interception.
HAWKEYES TO PLAY 12
The 2007 Hawkeyes will play six home games in Kinnick Stadium, where they have posted a 28-5 (.848) record the last five seasons. Iowa opens its 2007 season vs. Northern Illinois at Soldier Field Sept. 1. The opener will be the first NCAA Bowl Subdivision contest in renovated Soldier Field and first since Northwestern defeated Oklahoma on August 23, 1997, in the Pigskin Classic. Additionally, the game will mark the first time Iowa opens the season at a neutral site since playing Kansas State on August 26, 2000, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The Hawkeyes’ home opener will come against Syracuse one week later. Other Iowa home games include Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and Western Michigan. The Hawkeyes’ only true road non-conference contest is at intra-state rival Iowa State, while they travel to play conference foes Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern. Six of Iowa’s 12 opponents played in bowl games in 2006 (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota).Iowa has a new Big Ten slate, as this season marks the first time in three years it will play Michigan State and Penn State. While the Spartans and Nittany Lions rejoin the Hawkeye schedule, leaving are Michigan and Ohio State for the next two seasons.
IOWA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Iowa’s Leadership Council for the 2007 season includes five seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, one redshirt freshman and one true freshman. A member of the incoming freshman class will be named soon. Permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Council for this season includes seniors Tom Busch, Mike Humpal, Mike Klinkenborg, Bryan Mattison and Albert Young; juniors Rob Bruggeman, Matt Kroul and Seth Olsen; sophomores Jake Christensen, A.J. Edds and Rafael Eubanks and redshirt freshman Brett Greenwood.
COACH Kirk Ferentz
The 2002 Associated Press, Walter Camp National Coach of the Year 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 ninth season as Iowa’s head football coach. Ferentz guided Iowa to Big Ten titles twice in the last five years 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 44-19 (.698) overall mark and a 27-13 (.675) Big Ten record the last five seasons.
Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 55-43 (.561) and a 34-30 (.531) mark in Big Ten games. In 11 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 67-64 (.511). Ferentz, who boasts the second-most victories by a Hawkeye head coach, will coach his 100th game as Iowa’s head coach on Sept. 8 vs. Syracuse in Iowa City.
Thirty-two of Iowa’s 98 games under Ferentz have been decided by seven points or less (14-18) and 33 were played against opponents who were ranked in the top 25 at the time (12-21).
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 2-0 vs. Northern Illinois and Huskie Coach Joe Novak.
IOWA OPENS BIG TEN PLAY ON ROAD
Iowa will begin its quest for a 12th Big Ten championship Sept. 22 at Wisconsin. This year marks the eighth time in nine years, including the last six, the Hawkeyes open league play away from Iowa City. Iowa’s lone conference home opener, under Coach Ferentz, came in 2001 when it defeated Penn State.
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. Iowa’s first five games have been selected for television. The Hawkeyes will play their season opener vs. Northern Illinois at Chicago’s Soldier Field Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Iowa will make its Big Ten Network debut in hi-definition Sept. 8 vs. Syracuse at 7:05 p.m., marking the second straight year, and sixth time ever, Kinnick Stadium will host a night game. The Hawkeyes will make their first-ever appearance on the Versus Network when they visit intrastate rival Iowa State Sept. 15 at 12:30 p.m. Iowa’s conference opener at Wisconsin will air on ABC to a split-national audience at 7:05 p.m. The Black and Gold’s homecoming game vs. Indiana Sept. 29 will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network at 11:05 a.m. All times listed are central time. Iowa’s bowl game vs. Texas on Dec. 30, 2006, marked the 65th consecutive game the Hawkeyes appeared on television. The last Iowa contest not televised was vs. Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001.
IOWA AMONG BIG TEN’S ELITE
Ohio State has the most conference victories the last five years with 33. Michigan ranks second (32) and Iowa (27) ranks third during that time span. Michigan (26) has won the most league contests the last four years, followed by Ohio State (25) and Iowa (19).
HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 32 lettermen from 2006, including 16 on offense, 15 on defense and one kicker. The Hawkeyes return five starters on offense and eight on defense. The lettermen breakdown includes eight three-year lettermen, 13 two-year lettermen and 11 one-year lettermen.The total roster has 113 players, and includes 13 seniors, 24 juniors, 19 sophomores, 29 redshirt freshmen and 28 true freshmen. Week one’s depth chart includes 11 seniors, 12 juniors, 12 sophomores, 12 redshirt freshmen and six true freshmen. Only three seniors (two running backs and one fullback) are listed on the offensive depth chart.
STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa returns five starters on offense and eight on defense. The returning starters on offense include: center Rafael Eubanks, guard Seth Olsen, running back Albert Young, fullback Tom Busch, wide receiver Andy Brodell (plus part-time starters RB Damian Sims and OT Dace Richardson). The defensive starters returning include: ends Kenny Iwebema and Bryan Mattison, tackles Matt Kroul and Mitch King, linebackers Mike Klinkenborg and Mike Humpal and corners Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey (plus part-time starter DB Bradley Fletcher).
RETURNING WITH HONORS
Iowa returns three players who earned all-Big Ten honors a year ago. That list includes LB Mike Klinkenborg, who was a second team honoree by the media. DE Bryan Mattison and DB Adam Shada earned honorable mention accolades.
HAWKEYES HAVE NEW SIGNAL CALLER
Iowa will have a new quarterback for the first time since the 2004 season. The Hawkeyes will replace three-year (2004-06) starter Drew Tate. Tate concluded his career ranked second in passing yards (8,292), touchdown passes (61), completions (665), attempts (1,090) and total offense (8,427) and third in completion percentage (.610) at Iowa.
Jake Christensen will likely start the season opener, as he is listed first on the pre-season depth chart and is the only returnee with game experience. The 6-1 sophomore saw action in five games, including one start, a year ago. Christensen completed 23-35 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns in 2006, including 19-30 for 256 yards and two scores in his only start in the Hawkeyes’ 24-14 victory over Northern Illinois. In fact, if Christensen starts Iowa’s 2007 opener against the Huskies, it is believed that he will be the first quarterback in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history to start his first two games against the same team.
Listed as Christensen’s back-ups are Arvell Nelson and Ricky Stanzi. Both Nelson and Stanzi are redshirt freshmen, stand 6-foot-4 and hail from Ohio. Nelson was a second team all-state and first team all-conference honoree his senior season at Glenville High School, while Stanzi was first team all-state and all-conference and named the Ohio Division III Offensive Player of the Year his senior year for Lake Catholic High School.
KLINKENBORG ANCHORS LINEBACKING CORPS
Linebacker Mike Klinkenborg returns for his final season after a stellar junior campaign. Klinkenborg ranked second in the Big Ten and eighth in the country in tackles per game (10.75). He led Iowa with 129 tackles, 29 more than second-ranked LB Edmond Miles (100). The native of Rock Rapids, IA, earned second team all-Big Ten accolades by the media. He recorded double-digit tackles in nine of 12 games in 2006. He was credited with a career-high 16 stops vs. Northwestern. Klinkenborg was unable to play in the bowl game vs. Texas due to injury.
Despite losing his father last Sept. 10, Klinkenborg started vs. Iowa State and amassed eight tackles and helped lead the Hawkeye defense. His performance just days after his father’s death earned Klinkenborg Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week honors. Klinkenborg was one of three Hawkeyes (Adam Shada and Mike Elgin) to earn first team academic all-America honors; Iowa was the only school to accomplish that feat in 2006.
IOWA RETURNS TWO EXPERIENCED BACKS
Iowa returns two experienced senior running backs to lead its rushing attack in 2007, Albert Young and Damian Sims. Young ranks eighth in Iowa career rushing with 2,205 yards. He needs only 66 yards to tie Ronnie Harmon for seventh (2,271). Young ranked first in team rushing attempts (178), rushing yards (779), touchdowns (7) and all-purpose yards (1,004), fourth in receptions (30) and fifth in receiving yards (225) in 2006. He ranked eighth in Big Ten rushing (59.6). Young carried the ball 249 times for 1,334 yards (111.2 avg.) and a team-best eight touchdowns in 2005. The native of Moorestown, NJ was a 2005 second team all-Big Ten selection by the media and honorable mention pick by the coaches. He averaged 125.2 yards in conference games to lead the league. Young also ranked second in all-purpose yards in league games, only 0.9 yards behind the leader. Young became the first Hawkeye to lead the conference in rushing (league games only) since Dennis Mosley in 1979.
Sims ranked second on the Hawkeyes in rushing yards (686), rushing attempts (132), all-purpose yards (981) and touchdowns (6) in 2006. His totals from a year ago helped him eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in his career. He now has 1,005 yards and is the 37th Hawkeye to top the 1,000-yard plateau. The native of Boynton Beach, FL, started two games in 2006 (Purdue and Indiana) for injured starter Albert Young. Sims carried the ball 20 times for 155 yards and two scores against the Boilermakers. The 155 yards is a career-high, besting his 104 yards vs. Minnesota in 2005.
BRODELL FINISHES STRONG
Junior Andy Brodell finished the 2006 season with two strong performances. He caught seven passes for 159 yards and a touchdown in the regular season finale at Minnesota and six passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns vs. Texas in the Alamo Bowl. The 159 yards against the Longhorns was an Alamo Bowl record. Brodell also had a career-long 63-yard touchdown reception vs. Texas, which was the longest touchdown reception in Iowa bowl history and the fifth-longest reception in Alamo Bowl history. His two Alamo Bowl touchdown receptions (63 and 23 yards) ties an Iowa bowl record with four others.
The native of Ankeny, IA, finished 2006 ranked first on the team in yards (724) and yards per catch (18.6) and third in receptions (39). His 724 yards rank 21st-best in Iowa single-season history.
MOYLAN GRANTED ADDITIONAL YEAR
DB Devan Moylan, a senior in 2006, was granted a medical hardship after playing in just four games a year ago. Moylan was injured in Iowa’s win at Illinois and missed the final nine games of the season. Moylan, a three-year letterman, adds experience and depth to Iowa’s safety positions. He started in the secondary in Iowa’s 2006 win over Iowa State and played a key role on special teams prior to his season-ending injury.
MOVING ON UP
Four Hawkeyes have already earned their bachelor’s degree and are currently working on advanced degrees. Anton Narinskiy earned a BBA in Accounting in May, 2007, Mike Humpal and Devan Moylan earned a BA in Health and Sport Studies in May, 2007, while Clint Huntrods received his BA in Communication Studies in August, 2007.
DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa has won 27 of its last 31 games in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. The Hawkeyes’ four losses came to Michigan (23-20 in overtime in 2005), Ohio State (38-17 in 2006), Northwestern (21-7 in 2006) and Wisconsin (24-21 in 2006). Iowa recorded a school-record 22-game home winning streak between 2002-05.
The Hawkeyes (.846, 22-4) boast the 11th-best home winning percentage in the nation over the last four years (2003-06).
IOWA NOTES
• Iowa starts the season with three of its first four games away from Iowa City, while it concludes the season with four of six in Kinnick Stadium.
• Junior offensive lineman Dace Richardson will celebrate his 21st birthday on gameday.
• Four Hawkeyes have been named pre-season all-Big Ten by collegefootballnews.com. DE Kenny Iwebema was named to the first team, while RB Albert Young, DE Bryan Mattison and LB Mike Klinkenborg were recognized on the second team.
• Iowa has won 44 of its last 61 regular season contests (.721).
• In the last five years, Iowa is 37-5 when leading at the half and 42-3 when leading after three quarters.
• Iowa has been bowl eligible the last six seasons, the school’s longest string of success since playing in eight straight bowl games (1981-88).
• Iowa posted 33 overall wins the last four years (2003-06), a total that ranks 21st-best in the country.
• All seven of Iowa’s home games in 2006 were sellouts (Montana, Iowa State, Ohio State, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and Wisconsin). Iowa’s 2005 and 2006 home attendance average of 70,585 is a school record.
• Iowa enters the 2007 season with a consecutive home sellout streak of 24, dating back to the 2003 season. The last Hawkeye game not sold out was vs. Buffalo (9/6/03). All six home contests this season are expected to be sellouts.
• Iowa tied for third in the Big Ten in 2005 and 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 five years.
• Iowa is one of only three institutions (Iowa, Florida and Tennessee) to have a former football and men’s basketball National Coach of the Year currently coaching their respective team.
• Iowa’s regular season finale will come against a non-conference opponent, Western Michigan. The Broncos have been picked to win the west division and also capture the MAC Championship Game in the MAC News Media Association pre-season poll.
• The last time Iowa finished the season with a non-conference game was Iowa State (2001), a contest that was rescheduled due to the 9/11 attacks. Prior to 2001, the Hawkeyes’ last scheduled regular season non-league game came at Hawai’i (1984).
IOWA RETURNS TWO ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
LB Mike Klinkenborg and DB Adam Shada return after earning first team academic all-America honors a year ago. Iowa also had graduating senior OL Mike Elgin on the first team in 2006. For the first time in school history, the Iowa football team placed three players on the first team. No other school in the nation had three first-team selections. The team is voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Shada and Klinkenborg were members of the district all-America team in 2005.
IOWA LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 84 of its last 92 games, including 12 of 13 games in 2006. Iowa’s games vs. Iowa State (9/16/06), 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 six of those eight games. Iowa has started the game on offense in 86 of 98 games under Kirk Ferentz.
IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa outscored its 2006 opponents 69-54 in the first quarter, 99-72 in the second quarter, 81-78 in the fourth and 10-3 in overtime. Opponents outscored the Hawkeyes 62-51 in the third quarter.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s 50 scoring drives averaged 7.8 plays, 56.8 yards and 2:55 elapsed time in 2006. Twenty-eight of the 50 scoring drives covered 65 yards or more. Iowa’s longest scoring drive was a 15-play, 67-yard drive that consumed 5:41 vs. Montana in week one.
Hawkeye opponents in 2006 posted 44 scoring drives that averaged 8.0 plays, 58.3 yards and 3:24 elapsed time.
ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averaged 6.1 yards on 396 first down plays, 5.9 yards on 284 second down plays, 5.2 yards on 161 third down plays and 4.3 yards on nine fourth down plays in 2006.
BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa posted 52 offensive plays that went for 20 yards or more, 39 via the pass and 13 on the ground in 2006. WR Andy Brodell caught a career-high 63-yard touchdown pass vs. Texas, a game-high 52-yard pass vs. Purdue and a 50-yarder at Minnesota. WR Trey Stross had a career-long 47-yard reception from QB Jake Christensen vs. Northern Illinois. RB Damian Sims posted runs of 36 and 44 yards vs. the Boilermakers and 41 yards at Indiana. Iowa had a season-best seven offensive plays cover 20 yards or more in its 30-point win vs. Purdue.
Hawkeye opponents collected 35 plays of 20 yards or more, 27 via the pass in 2006.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa was 42-53 (79.2%) in the red zone (31 TD, 11 FG); two of the 53 possessions were overtime possessions in 2006. Iowa was perfect in the red zone vs. Montana (6-6), Iowa State (4-4), Ohio State (3-3), Purdue (7-7) and Wisconsin (2-2).
Hawkeye opponents a year ago marched inside the red zone 41 times, scoring on 33 (80.5%) of their possessions (26 TD, 7 FG); two of the 41 possessions were overtime possessions.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored 61 points following opponent turnovers in 2006. The Hawkeyes did not collect any turnovers in games against Syracuse, Iowa State and Ohio State.
Hawkeye opponents scored 70 points following Iowa turnovers a year ago. Iowa State, Illinois, Michigan and Northern Illinois were unable to convert Hawkeye turnovers into any points.
HAWKEYES NAMED TO WATCH LISTS
OL Rafael Eubanks, LB Mike Klinkenborg and TE Tony Moeaki have been named to pre-season watch lists. Eubanks is on the Rimington Trophy watch list, which recognizes the nation’s outstanding center in college football. Klinkenborg is on the Lott Trophy watch list, which is awarded to college football’s Defensive Impact Player of the Year. Moeaki is on the John Mackey Award watch list, which is given annually to the best collegiate tight end.
HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster of 113 players includes 50 players from Iowa. The roster includes 14 players from Illinois; 12 from Ohio; six from New Jersey; five from Texas and Minnesota; four from Florida and Pennsylvania; three from Missouri and Nebraska; two from Indiana and one from Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Utah and Wisconsin.
MORE THAN ONE
Thirteen high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. The leaders are Iowa City West (Iowa) and Glenville (Ohio) with four. Iowa City High (Iowa), Cretin-Derham Hall (Minnesota), Glenville (Ohio), C.R. Washington (Iowa), Millard North (Nebraska) and Humboldt (Iowa) high schools have three, while six other schools have two players on the roster.
HAWKEYES SHINE AT SHRINE BOWL
Iowa had a total of eight true freshmen, five scholarship and three walk-ons, compete at the 35th annual Shrine Bowl at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on July 22. WR Colin Sandeman (Bettendorf HS) caught five passes for 84 yards, including two touchdowns (16 and 18 yards), to pace the South team to a 24-7 victory over the North squad. Additionally, Tyler Sash (Oskaloosa HS) caught five balls for 81 yards for the South. Sash will play defensive back for the Hawkeyes.
Sandeman and Sash joined incoming Hawkeye recruits LB Tyler Nielsen (Humboldt HS), TE Allen Reisner (Marion HS) and DB Jordan Bernstine (Lincoln HS) in the contest. Walk-ons DL Nick Brayton (Iowa City West), OL Tyrel Detweiler (Williamsburg HS) and P Eric Guthrie (Nevada HS) also competed.
THE NAME GAME
Iowa has two players named Murphy (Jayme and Nick, no relation).
Mike and Tyler are the most popular first names. There are four Mike’s (Daniels, Humpal, Klinkenborg and Morio) and four Tyler’s (Blum, Gerstandt, Nielsen and Sash). There are three players named Adam (Farnsworth, Gettis and Shada), Daniel (Doering, Murray and Olzsta), Kyle (Calloway, Haganman and Spading) and Nick (Brayton, Kuchel and Murphy). There are two Andy’s (Brodell and Kuempel), Austin’s (Postler and Signor), Ben’s (Evans and Thilges), Brett’s (Greenwood and Morse), Jordan’s (Bernstine and McLaughlin) and Tom’s (Busch and Nardo).
THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
Redshirt Freshman WR Paul Chaney, Jr. is the lightest Hawkeye player at 165 pounds. Junior OL Wesley Aeschliman is the heaviest at 318 pounds. A total of six Hawkeye players are listed over 300 pounds.
The tallest player, at 6-8, is Aeschliman, while the shortest player, at 5-9, is Chaney, Jr.
The average Hawkeye player is 6-1 and weighs 233 pounds. That is one inch shorter and three pounds heavier than the average Iowa player in 2006.
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 Dan Clark. 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), Rick Kaczenski (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 home games and most road contests during the 2007 season.
AFTER THIS
Iowa returns to Iowa City for its home opener against Syracuse, Sept. 8 (7:05 p.m., BTN). The Hawkeyes then hit the road for a two-game road trip at Iowa State, Sept. 15 (12:35 p.m., Versus) and Wisconsin, Sept. 22 (7:05 p.m., ABC).
Click HERE to learn more about the Big Ten Network.
