Hawkeyes Set to Open Season Sept. 5th

Aug. 28, 2009

• 2009 Fall Preseason Camp Central
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
• 2009 Football Media Fact Book
• 2009 Football Media Guide
• New and renewal season ticket customers: Purchase yours online!
• Iowa and the Big Ten Network
• gohawks.com
• Iowa Football wallpaper

Complete Release in PDF Format

IOWA OPENS AT HOME
Iowa (0-0) hosts Northern Iowa (0-0) Saturday, Sept. 5 in Kinnick Stadium (70,585) to open the 2009 season. Game time is 11:01 a.m. Tickets remain on sale.

ON THE TUBE
The Big Ten Network (HD) will televise the contest to a national cable audience. Tom Werme, Anthony Herron and Elizabeth Moreau 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.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked 21st in the USA Today poll and 22nd in the Associated Press poll in the pre-season rankings. Iowa is also ranked 15th by The Kickoff Magazine, 20th by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview and 24th by Sports Illustrated. Northern Iowa is ranked fourth among FCS teams in the Sporting News pre-season rankings and the pre-season coaches rankings. Around the Big Ten, Ohio State is ranked No. 6/6 (ESPN-USA Today/AP) and Penn State is 8/9. Iowa opponents Michigan State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Arizona, Minnesota and Michigan are listed among teams receiving votes.

FRY FEST ACTIVITIES FOR OPENING GAME
Former Iowa Football Coach Hayden Fry will be recognized on FRYDAY, Sept. 4 as part of FryFest. Activities include a Friday evening concert at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville, featuring the Charlie Daniels Band, the Outlaws and Jake Owen. Events will also include the World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow and Tailgate Party and the official unveiling of Hayden Fry Way in Coralville. The Unveiling Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Friday, near the corner of First Ave. and Ninth St. in Coralville and will feature comments from UI President Sally Mason and UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta.

SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is 87-31-2 (.733) in season-opening games, including an 8-2 mark under Coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has averaged 40.9 points and a winning margin of 35.4 in its last eight season-opening victories (Maine 46-3 in 2008; Northern Illinois 16-3 in 2007; 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.

LIVE BLOGGING FROM KINNICK STADIUM
Hawkeye fans not able to make it to Kinnick Stadium for the season opener vs. Northern Iowa Sept. 5 can log on to hawkeyesports.com and have a chance to be interactive. The Iowa Sports Information staff will be blogging live from the press box during the game. Hawkeye fans can log on to hawkeyesports.com and click on the blog story and follow along. Fans will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments, answer quick polls and get up-to-the-minute information about the game and Hawkeyes.

BE BOLD, WEAR GOLD
Fans are encouraged to wear gold clothing to Kinnick Stadium for Iowa’s annual “Be Bold, Wear Gold” event.

HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,116 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 568-509-39 (.526). That includes a 359-198-16 (.640) record in home games, a 209-311-23 (.406) record in games away from Iowa City, a 281-343-25 (.452) mark in Big Ten games and a 242-162-15 (.595) record in Kinnick Stadium.

TICKET UPDATE
Tickets remain for all Iowa home games except the Homecoming contest vs. Michigan (Oct. 10). A limited number remain for Northern Iowa. Single game tickets vs. Arizona, Arkansas State, Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota are still available. Fans may purchase tickets online at hawkeyesports.com, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS or in person at the UI athletic ticket office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Iowa record for average home attendance is 70,585, set in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

IOWA LEADERSHIP GROUP
Iowa’s Leadership Group for the 2009 season includes three seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and one true freshman. A member of the incoming freshman class will soon be named. Permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Group for this season includes seniors Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds and Tony Moeaki; juniors Bryan Bulaga, Adrian Clayborn, Brett Greenwood and Ricky Stanzi, sophomores Broderick Binns, Marvin McNutt, Tyler Nielsen and Tyler Sash, and redshirt freshmen Greg Castillo and James Vandenberg.

VARSITY CLUB DAY
Five former University of Iowa student-athletes and one former coach will be inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, Sept. 5. It’s Iowa’s 21st Hall of Fame Class. The new class includes: Fred Becker (Football, 1916), Cap Hermann (Fencing, 1964-66), Deb Bilbao (Softball, 1995-98), Duane Goldman (Wrestling, 1983-86), Jay Thornton (Gymnastics, 1993-96) and Glenn Patton (Swimming Coach, 1975-98). The induction ceremony banquet/dinner will be held Sept. 5 in the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Convention Center – Coral Ballroom at 6:30 p.m., preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. The banquet/dinner is open to the public. For more information please call the Varsity Club office at (319) 335-9438.

ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 1-1 when playing on Sept. 5. The Hawkeyes lost to Miami, FL 24-7 in 1992 in the first night game ever played in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa defeated Central Michigan 38-0 in 1998.

DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa has won 38 of its last 46 games (.826) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. The eight Hawkeye losses came to Western Michigan (28-19 in 2007), Indiana (38-20 in 2007), Michigan (23-20 in overtime in 2005), Ohio State (38-17 in 2006), Northwestern (21-7 in 2006 and 22-17 in 2008), Wisconsin (24-21 in 2006) and Iowa State (36-31 in 2002). Iowa recorded a school-record 22-game home winning streak between 2002-05. Iowa’s 32-7 (.821) home record from 2003 thru 2008 ties West Virginia for 15th-best nationally and ranks third in the Big Ten.

THE SERIES
Iowa leads the all-time series 13-1 against Northern Iowa. Ten of the 13 meetings occurred before 1915. The Hawkeyes hold a perfect 13-0 advantage in games played in Iowa City. Northern Iowa’s only victory came in 1898 at Cedar Falls (11-5) in the first meeting between the two teams. Iowa scored a 45-21 victory on Sept. 17, 2005 when the teams last met. The 21 points scored by Northern Iowa in the last meeting marks the most the Panthers have scored against Iowa. The Hawkeyes average 38.5 ppg in the series.

THE LAST MEETING
Iowa scored on five of its six first-half possessions en route to a 45-21 victory over Northern Iowa in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 17, 2005. The win was Iowa’s 20th straight at home, which tied the school record. Iowa would extend the streak to 22 straight home wins before an overtime loss to Michigan. The Hawkeyes scored the first 21 points on two RB Albert Young touchdown runs and a DB Jovon Johnson interception return for a score. Young posted scoring runs of 10 and one yard in the first quarter, while Johnson returned his interception 18 yards for a touchdown. Northern Iowa scored a touchdown to trim Iowa’s lead to 21-7, but the Hawkeyes scored the next 17 points. PK Kyle Schlicher connected on a 23-yard field goal and WR Clinton Solomon caught touchdown passes of 11 and 71 yards from QB Drew Tate to stretch Iowa’s lead to 38-7. The Panthers added two fourth quarter touchdowns, before Iowa RB Damian Sims scampered for a 39-yard score with 30 seconds remaining to conclude the scoring. Tate completed 15-18 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed three times for 33 yards. Young led the Hawkeye ground attack, recording 13 carries for 97 yards and two scores. Solomon posted four catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, while WR Ed Hinkel contributed five receptions for 42 yards. Linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge spearheaded the Hawkeye defense. Greenway collected a game and career-high 20 tackles (12 solo). He had one tackle for loss and one pass break-up while earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career. Hodge recorded 12 stops (6 solo) and recovered a fumble.

IOWA COACH Kirk Ferentz
Kirk Ferentz (pronounced FAIR-rintz, rhymes with parents) is in his 11th season as head football coach at the University of Iowa. His latest contract extension, signed this past summer, runs through the 2015 season. Ferentz was honored as the 2002 Associated Press and Walter Camp National Coach of the Year and was the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year that season as well. He was named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year in both 2002 and 2004. Ferentz guided Iowa to Big Ten titles twice in the last seven years and five January bowl games, including three New Year’s Day bowl victories (2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl and 2009 Outback Bowl). Iowa has posted a 59-29 (.670) overall mark and a 36-20 (.643) Big Ten record the last seven seasons. Ferentz has guided the Hawkeyes to seven first division finishes. Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 70-53 (.569) and a 43-37 (.538) mark in Big Ten games. In 13 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 82-74 (.526). Ferentz, who boasts the second-most victories by a Hawkeye head coach, coached his 150th career game as a head coach at Indiana (Oct. 11, 2008). Forty-four of Iowa’s 123 games under Ferentz have been decided by seven points or less (20-24) and 36 were played against opponents who were ranked in the top 25 at the time (14-22). 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. Kirk received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut in May, 2009. He was inducted into the Upper St. Clair High School Hall of Fame in September, 2002 and the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in May, 2003.

NORTHERN IOWA COACH MARK FARLEY
Mark Farley is in his fifth season as a college head coach, all at Northern Iowa. Farley’s overall record on the Panther sidelines is 34-17 (.667). The native of Waukon was named the 2001 Gateway Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year and AFCA NCAA I-AA Region 4 Coach of the Year after guiding the Panthers to a first place conference finish and advancing to the I-AA national semifinals. Farley led Northern Iowa to a share of the league title in 2003 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Prior to being named head coach at Northern Iowa, Farley served as an assistant coach at Kansas (1997-2000). Farley was a three-year starter at linebacker for the Panthers, leading the team, in tackles 1984-86. He was the 1985 Gateway Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year and was a three-time first team all-conference honoree.

IOWA, NORTHERN IOWA NOTES

• Northern Iowa was picked to finish first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll conducted by the league coaches, media and sports information directors. Seven Panthers were also named to the 2009 Missouri Valley preseason squad.
• Northern Iowa has won the conference title and advanced to the FCS playoffs in three of the last four seasons. UNI is one of four FCS programs with 24 or more wins since 2007. The current class of Panther seniors begins the 2009 season with a 31-8 overall record.
• Northern Iowa tight end coach and recruiting coordinator Erik Chinander is an Iowa graduate and lettered in 2002 as a member of the Hawkeye football team that won the Big Ten and participated in the 2003 Orange Bowl. Iowa’s roster of 117 players includes 56 from the state of Iowa. Northern Iowa lists 69 players from Iowa among its roster of 105 players.
• Northern Iowa linebacker Elijah Hodge is the younger brother of former Hawkeye Abdul Hodge. Elijah Hodge is in his first year at UNI after playing at Wisconsin. Hodge had three tackles in Wisconsin’s 38-16 loss in Iowa City last season. He had seven tackles in Wisconsin’s 17-13 win in 2007 and one tackle when the Badgers won 24-21 in 2006.

NORTHERN IOWA IN POST-SEASON
Northern Iowa advanced to the FCS playoffs a year ago. The Panthers advanced to the semi-finals, where they dropped a last minute decision to Richmond in the UNI-Dome. Richmond went on to win the FCS national title. Northern Iowa has made 14 FCS playoff appearances, advancing to the semi-finals seven times and making it to the championship game in 2005.

HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 48 lettermen from 2008, including 22 on offense, 22 on defense and four specialists. The 48 lettermen are four less than the 52 that returned a year ago. The Hawkeyes return six starters on offense, eight on defense and their place kicker and punter. The lettermen breakdown includes five three-year lettermen, 22 two-year lettermen and 21 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 117 players, and includes 15 seniors, 30 juniors, 25 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 24 true freshmen. The depth chart includes 10 seniors, 20 juniors, 14 sophomores and five redshirt freshmen.

STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa returns six starters on offense, eight on defense and three specialists. The returning starters on offense include: tackles Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway, guard Julian Vandervelde, receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, quarterback Ricky Stanzi and fullback Brett Morse (plus part-time starters, guards Rafael Eubanks and Andy Kuempel, fullback Wade Leppert and receiver Trey Stross). The defensive starters returning include: ends Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard, linebackers Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds and Jeremiha Hunter and backs Brett Greenwood, Tyler Sash and Amari Spievey. Punter Ryan Donahue and place kicker Daniel Murray also return (plus part-time starting place kicker Trent Mossbrucker).

RETURNING WITH HONORS
Iowa returns seven players who earned all-Big Ten honors a year ago. That list includes LB Pat Angerer, OL Bryan Bulaga, OL Kyle Calloway, P Ryan Donahue and CB Amari Spievey, who were second team honorees by either the coaches or media. LB A.J. Edds and FS Brett Greenwood earned honorable mention accolades.

HAWKEYES TO WATCH
Six Hawkeye players are listed on eight different pre-season “Watch Lists” for individual national awards. Those players include senior LB Pat Angerer (Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy), junior OL Bryan Bulaga (Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award), junior P Ryan Donahue (Ray Guy Award), senior TE Tony Moeaki (John Mackey Award), junior DB Amari Spievey (Jim Thorpe Award) and junior QB Ricky Stanzi (Manning Award). Iowa is one of three football programs (joining Oklahoma and Texas) to have five different individual players earn national Player of the Year honors at their position since 2002.

DEPTH CHART INCLUDES EIGHT WALK-ONS
Iowa’s depth chart includes 10 walk-ons, four on offense, three on defense and three on special teams. That list includes OL Kyle Haganman, OL Josh Koeppel, RB Paki O’Meara, FB Wade Leppert, DL Travis Meade, DB Brett Greenwood, DB Joe Conklin, PK Daniel Murray, P Eric Guthrie and long snapper Andrew Schulze.

BERNSTINE TO MISS SEASON
Junior DB Jordan Bernstine will miss the 2009 season after suffering a major ankle injury during pre-season practice. Bernstine (5-11, 205) was listed as a first team cornerback following spring practice. He saw action in seven games a year ago, recording 12 tackles. He had a pass interception against Michigan State. Bernstine did not use a redshirt at Iowa in 2007, recording nine tackles as a true freshman. The Des Moines native joined the Hawkeye program after an outstanding prep career at Lincoln HS where he earned Elite first team all-state recognition as a junior and senior.

A GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
Iowa plays four of its first six games in Kinnick Stadium. Following the home opener, Iowa plays at intra-state rival Iowa State (Sept. 12). Iowa then returns home to host Arizona (Sept. 19) before opening the Big Ten schedule at Penn State (Sept. 26). This season marks the ninth time in Ferentz’ 11 years at Iowa that the Hawkeyes will play their conference opener on the road. After playing the league road opener, Iowa returns to Iowa City to host Arkansas State (Oct. 3) and Michigan (Oct. 10). The Hawkeyes conclude the season with road contests at Wisconsin (Oct. 17), Michigan State (Oct. 24) and Ohio State (Nov. 14), and home dates with Indiana (Oct. 31), Northwestern (Nov. 7) and Minnesota (Nov. 21). Seven of Iowa’s 2009 opponents competed in bowl games at the conclusion of the 2008 season, along with Northern Iowa being involved in the FCS playoffs. Of the seven bowl participants, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State played in January bowl events.

HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
All Iowa football games this season will be televised on either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Big Ten Network or Fox Sports Net. The last Iowa contest not televised was vs. Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001. Iowa has appeared on television in its last 90 games.

IOWA UNDER THE LIGHTS
Iowa will play three games under the lights in 2009. Those include the Homecoming contest vs. Michigan (7 p.m. CT, Oct. 10) and road games at Penn State (7 p.m. CT. Sept. 26) and Michigan State (6 p.m. CT, Oct. 24). Iowa’s non-conference home game against Arizona will start at 2:30 p.m. and contests at Iowa State (Sept. 12) and Wisconsin (Oct. 17) will start at 11 a.m.

IOWA TO FACE TWO FORMER PLAYERS
The 2009 college football season will feature 14 Division I games in which a head coach is facing his alma mater. Iowa is the only team that will face two opponents that are being coached by former players. Arizona is coached by former Hawkeye Mike Stoops (1981, 1983-84) and former Hawkeye Bret Bielema (1989-92) is the head coach at Wisconsin.

FAMILY AFFAIR
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his son, James, are believed to be one of only five father-son duos in Division I in 2009 in which the head coach has a son on the team. They join Tommy West and his son Turner from Memphis, Scott Downing and his son Andrew from Northern Colorado, Bobby Petrino and sons Nick and Bobby from Arkansas and Steve Spurrier and son Scott from South Carolina. In addition, Akron defensive coordinator Jim Fleming has a son, Will, playing at Akron, Oregon State assistant Joe Seumalo has a son, Andrew, playing at Oregon State, Rice assistant Darrell Patterson has a son, Michael, who plays for the Owls and Western Illinois def. coordinator Mark Hendrickson, a former Iowa assistant coach, has a son, Myers, who plays for WIU. Arizona State head Coach Dennis Erickson has a son, Bryce, who is the ASU running backs coach and Northern Colorado offensive coordinator Dennis Darnell has a son, Pete, who is the Northern Colorado quarterbacks coach. Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin’s father, Monte, is the Tennessee defensive coordinator.

THEY STARTED THEM ALL
Iowa returns seven players who started all 13 games last season. That list includes the following, with the number of consecutive starts in parenthesis: OL Kyle Calloway (25), OLB A.J. Edds (25), DB Brett Greenwood (20), OL Bryan Bulaga (18), DE Christian Ballard (13), LB Jeremiha Hunter (13) and DB Amari Spievey (13). In addition, punter Ryan Donahue has handled all punting duties over the past 25 games. Additional Iowa players who started every game a year ago, but are not returning this season, included WR Andy Brodell, TE Brandon Myers, OL Rob Bruggeman, RB Shonn Greene, DL Matt Kroul, DL Mitch King and DB Bradley Fletcher.

EXPERIENCE IN OFFENSIVE LINE
Iowa’s returning offensive linemen have combined to start 99 games throughout their careers. Seniors Kyle Calloway and Rafael Eubanks have each started 25 games. Others with starting experience include Bryan Bulaga (18), Julian Vandervelde (15), Dace Richardson (9), Dan Doering (5) and Andy Kuempel (2). In addition, senior Travis Meade started five games as an offensive lineman before moving to defense for his final season.

DOWN TO THE WIRE IN `08

• Five of Iowa’s eight 2008 Big Ten games were decided in the final minutes of play, including wins over Penn State and Purdue and losses to Northwestern, Michigan State and Illinois.
• In the 22-17 loss to Northwestern, Iowa had a first and goal at the Wildcat eight-yard line but failed to convert and Northwestern took over with 1:08 remaining.
• In the 16-13 loss at Michigan State, Iowa failed to convert a fourth and one at the MSU 21-yard line and the Spartans took over with 2:10 remaining.
• In the 27-24 loss at Illinois, Iowa tied the game at 24 with 2:46 to play before Illinois kicked the winning field goal with 24 seconds left in the game.
• In the 24-23 win over No. 3 Penn State, Iowa scored the game winning 31-yard field goal with one second remaining.
• In the 22-17 win over Purdue, the Boilermakers reached the Iowa 27-yard line in the final seconds before a pass into the end zone was incomplete as time expired.
• In non-conference play, Iowa lost by a single point (21-20) at Pittsburgh when the Panthers took the lead early in the fourth quarter.

STANZI LEADS IOWA OFFENSE

• Ricky Stanzi emerged as Iowa’s starting quarterback after four games in 2008.
• As a sophomore, Stanzi completed 150-254 (.591) passes for 1,956 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008.
• Stanzi needs just 44 passing yards to become the 19th Iowa quarterback to reach 2,000 career passing yards.
• He ranked fourth in Big Ten passing efficiency and 40th nationally (134.8). The 1,956 yards passing ranks 19th-best in Iowa’s single-season record chart. The 14 scores ties three others for the 13th-most in a single-season at Iowa.
• Stanzi threw at least one touchdown pass in eight of Iowa’s last nine games.
• Stanzi completed 15-25 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, including engineering Iowa’s 15-play, 57-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes, vs. then-No. 3 Penn State last year.
• Stanzi completed 15-28 passes for a career-high 255 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season finale at Minnesota.
• Stanzi completed 13-19 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in his first bowl game, a 31-10 win over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl.

EXPERIENCED RECEIVERS RETURN

• Five of Iowa’s top eight receivers return for 2009, including its top receiver from a year ago, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (DJK). Other wide outs returning include Trey Stross and Colin Sandeman, plus tight ends Tony Moeaki and Allen Reisner.
• Johnson-Koulianos led Iowa in receptions (44) and receiving yards (639) and was second in kickoff returns (9-178-19.8) in 2008. He averaged 14.5 yards per reception and had three touchdowns. DJK caught seven passes for a game and career-high 181 yards and a score at Minnesota. The 181 receiving yards are the eighth-most by an Iowa receiver in a single-game and the most since Tim Dwight had 187 yards on eight receptions vs. Iowa State on Nov. 20, 1997. He caught a game-high seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown vs. Penn State.
• DJK’s career numbers include 82 receptions for 1,121 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks 24th in career receptions and 30th in career receiving yards.
• Moeaki battled through injuries, again, in 2008, finishing with 13 catches for 144 yards and a score, in nine contests. He has accumulated 46 receptions for 566 yards and seven touchdowns during his injury-plagued collegiate career.
• Stross ranked fifth in team receiving in 2008, collecting 13 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown, in 11 games. He enters his senior season with 42 career receptions for 570 yards and six scores.
• Reisner had 11 catches for 200 yards and a score and Sandeman had six receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Both are juniors.

SPECIALISTS RETURN

• The Hawkeyes return all their kicking specialists, punter Ryan Donahue and place kickers Daniel Murray and Trent Mossbrucker, and deep snapper Andrew Schulze.
• Murray and Mossbrucker shared kicking duties in 2008. Murray, now a junior, handled all kickoffs and was 14-14 on PATs and 6-9 on field goal attempts. After not attempting a field goal since the Pittsburgh game (Sept. 20), he converted a 31-yard game-winning field goal with one second left to knock off then-No. 3 Penn State (Nov. 8) in a windy Kinnick Stadium.
• Mossbrucker, now a sophomore, was 31-33 on PATs and 13-15 on field goals. His 70 points are a single-season Iowa freshman record and rank 20th overall in Iowa scoring annals. He averaged 1.08 field goals per game, which tied for 51st-best in the nation.
• Donahue, a finalist for the 2008 Ray Guy Award and a second team all-Big Ten performer, punted 50 times in 2008. He averaged 41.56 yards per punt, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten and 35th nationally. He averaged 42.4 yards per kick in eight conference games, which ranked fourth. Donahue, a junior, recorded at least one punt over 50 yards in nine of the last 11 contests. Additionally, 19 of his punts were downed inside the 20.
• Donahue broke two school punting records in 2007, establishing school records for punts in a single-season (86) and punt yardage (3,533). Furthermore, the 86 punts is a Big Ten single-season record. Donahue also earned freshman honorable mention all-American accolades by the Sporting News.

TALENTED DEFENSIVE NUCLEUS RETURNS

• Iowa returns eight talented defensive starters from a year ago. The list includes ends Adrian Clayborn and Christian Ballard (who will see action at both end and tackle), linebackers Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds and Jeremiha Hunter and backs Brett Greenwood, Tyler Sash and Amari Spievey.
• Eight of Iowa’s top 11 tacklers from last season return for 2009. Angerer ranked first in team tackles (107) and tied with Sash for the team-lead in thefts (5). Hunter amassed 80 tackles to rank second. Edds totaled 59 stops and has started 25 straight games.
• Spievey recorded 68 tackles, 43 of which were solo. He also collected four interceptions. Greenwood also was credited with 68 tackles. Sash accounted for 53 tackles and five interceptions, returning the thefts a team-best 147 yards. The 147 yards rank as the second-most interception return yards in a single-season. Sash was named by Rivals.com as the top defensive freshman in the Big Ten.
• Clayborn and Ballard registered 50 and 40 tackles, respectively. Ballard started all 13 games a year ago and Clayborn had 11 starts, missing two games due to injury. They are both juniors.

DEFENSE MAKES A STAND

• Iowa, in 2008, ranked fourth in the country in interceptions (23), fifth in scoring defense (13.0) and pass efficiency defense (98.32), ninth in rushing defense (94.0), 12th in total defense (291.3) and 19th in red zone defense (76%). Iowa’s defense forced 67 punts, 42 three-and-outs (31.4%), blocked a field goal (Northwestern) and a punt (Wisconsin) and collected a safety (Maine).
• Iowa’s defense did not yield a touchdown in the first three contests for the second straight year, in 2008. The first touchdown scored against Iowa’s defense was in the first quarter in game four at Pittsburgh. Iowa was the last FBS school to allow a touchdown in 2008. The Hawkeye defense did not allow a touchdown until the fourth game in 2007 (at Wisconsin). It is believed to be the first time since the 1923 and 1924 seasons that the Hawkeyes started consecutive seasons not allowing a touchdown in their first three contests.
• Iowa’s defense allowed only seven rushing touchdowns in 2008, which ties the Iowa record for fewest in a single-season (1981 and 1984).
• Iowa recorded 23 interceptions to tie a school single-season record (23 in 1986). Nine different Hawkeyes intercepted at least one pass in 2008 and Iowa had 439 return yards (and one touchdown).

IOWA NOTES

• Iowa is one of 10 college football programs in the nation to compete in at least five January bowl games over the last seven seasons. Iowa has been bowl eligible in each of the last eight seasons. The Hawkeyes have played in seven bowl games since 2001, including the 2001 Alamo Bowl, 2003 Orange bowl, 2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl, 2006 Outback Bowl, 2006 Alamo Bowl and 2009 Outback Bowl.
• Iowa is one of three football programs (joining Oklahoma and Texas) to have five different individual players earn national Player of the Year honors at their position since 2002. Iowa’s national award winners have been: Robert Gallery (2003 Outland, Top Lineman); Brad Banks (2002 Davey O’Brien, Top Quarterback; 2002 Associated Press National Player of the Year); Dallas Clark (2002 Mackey, Top Tight End); Nate Kaeding (2002 Groza, Top Kicker); Shonn Greene (2008 Doak Walker, Top Running Back).
• Iowa has placed in the Big Ten Conference first division in seven of the past eight seasons, winning the league title in 2002 and 2004.
• Iowa sold out six of its seven home games in 2008. The Hawkeyes have sold out 36 of their last 37 games, dating back to the 2003 season. The last Iowa game not sold out was vs. Purdue (Nov. 15, 2008). That ended a 36-game consecutive sellout streak that began vs. Buffalo (Sept. 6, 2003).
• Iowa’s four losses came by a combined 12 points (21-20 at Pittsburgh, 22-17 vs. Northwestern, 16-13 at Michigan State and 27-24 at Illinois). Three of the four losses were on the road.
• Iowa won all three traveling trophy games in 2008. The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State 17-5 to gain possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy, Wisconsin 38-16 to claim the Heartland Trophy and Minnesota 55-0 to keep Floyd of Rosedale.
• Iowa’s +73 fourth-quarter point differential was the best in the conference. The Hawkeyes’ +116 second-half point differential was second-best in the league behind Penn State (+160).
• Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 33 of its last 35 games, dating back to the 2006 season.

HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster of 117 players includes 56 players from Iowa. The roster includes 17 players from Illinois; 13 from Ohio; four from Florida; three from Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri and New Jersey; two from Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin, one from Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Montana, South Dakota and Canada.

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. Norm Parker and Phil Parker both coached in the Rose Bowl while on the staff at Michigan State. Erik Campbell played in one Rose Bowl during his Michigan career and coached in four others while on the Wolverine coaching staff.

STATION NAMED TO HALL OF FAME
Larry Station, the former University of Iowa linebacker who compiled nearly 500 career tackles and twice was named consensus All-American, has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Station is the 14th former Hawkeye player or coach to earn the honor and the first since Hayden Fry in 2003. Fry was Station’s coach at Iowa from 1982-85. The Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, 2009, in New York City. The recipients will be officially enshrined at the Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN, in the summer of 2010.

IOWA STATS ON THE INTERNET
Statistics and play-by-play accounts of every Iowa football game 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 GT link. This feature is available for all home games and most road contests during the 2009 campaign.

IOWA FOOTBALL WITH Kirk Ferentz
The weekly television replay show, featuring Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz, is a 30-minute program, which includes Iowa football highlights and weekly features about the University of Iowa football program. Gary Dolphin, the radio play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes, hosts the show. Consult local listings for day and time.

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.

AFTER THIS
Iowa travels to Ames to meet Iowa State in the annual battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy and three points in the sixth annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Game time is 11:05 a.m. on Fox Sportsnet. The Hawkeyes return home to host Arizona Sept. 19 (2:35 p.m., ABC/ESPN).