Hawkeyes Return Home To Face Arizona

Sept. 14, 2009

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IOWA TO HOST ARIZONA
Iowa (2-0) returns home Saturday, Sept. 19 to host Arizona (2-0). Game time is 2:36 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium (70,585). A limited number of tickets remain.

ON THE TUBE
ABC (HD) will televise the game to a regional audience. Fans not in the ABC regional footprint can watch the game on ESPN2 (HD). The game will also be available online at ESPN360.com.

Mike Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox 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 and Arizona are listed among teams receiving votes in both the USA Today poll and the Associated Press poll. In pre-season rankings, Iowa was ranked 10th by College Football Insider, 15th by The Kickoff Magazine, 20th by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, 21st in USA Today coaches poll, 22nd by the Associated Press, 23rd by Athlon Sports and 24th by Sports Illustrated.

Around the Big Ten, Penn State is ranked No. 5/5 (ESPN-USA Today/AP), Ohio State is No. 11/11 and Michigan is 25th in the AP poll. Iowa opponents Arizona, Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota are listed among teams receiving votes in one or both of the polls.

IOWA WIN STREAK
Iowa’s six-game winning streak is currently tied for sixth best in the nation with Texas and Nebraska. Utah holds the longest win streak at 16 games, followed by Southern Cal (12), Florida (12), Mississippi (7) and Southern Mississippi (7). Iowa won its final three regular season games a year ago (Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota) and defeated South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl before opening with wins over Northern Iowa and Iowa State.

SASH SHARES BIG TEN HONOR
University of Iowa defensive back Tyler Sash has been named co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Saturday’s 35-3 victory over Iowa State. The announcement was made Sunday night on the Big Ten Network’s weekly recap show.

It’s the second straight week the Hawkeyes have had a Big Ten Player of the Week. Linebacker Jeremiha Hunter won co-Special Team honors for his play in Iowa’s win over Northern Iowa.

In addition, Sash has been named national defensive Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Awards (collegefootballperformance.com). The organization recognizes players at all positions each week during the college football season and honors national “Performers of the Year” at the end of the season. Hawkeye TE Tony Moeaki earned honorable mention from collegefootballperformance.com after having 10 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in Iowa’s opening win over Northern Iowa.

Sash, a 6-1, 210-pound sophomore from Oskaloosa, IA, won his second career Defensive Player of the Week honor. He also took the award following Iowa’s win over Penn State last season. He shared the honor this week with Minnesota linebacker Nate Triplett.

Sash intercepted a record tying three passes, returning them 63 yards, against Iowa State. He tied the interception mark held by linebacker Grant Steen (Indiana, 2002). Sash has intercepted six passes in the last four Hawkeye games. He had two in the 2009 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina. Sash also had a team high 10 tackles (eight solo), including two for losses (-5 yards) and a forced fumble, against the Cyclones. His two-game total of 20 tackles leads the team.

Iowa had seven Big Ten Player of the Week honorees last season.

IOWA RECORDS A DIVISION I FIRST
With two blocked field goals in the opening win over Northern Iowa, Iowa tied a school and NCAA Div. I record. Iowa became the only Division I football team to block field goal attempts on consecutive plays.

Iowa previously blocked two kicks during a game on five occasions. Most recently, DE Kenny Iwebema blocked two Syracuse field goal attempts in Iowa’s 35-0 win over the Orange on Sept. 8, 2007.

On the national scene, Iowa tied the Division I record for blocked field goals in a quarter. Of the previous four occasions, none occurred on consecutive plays. Also with two blocked field goals in a single period are Southern Cal vs. California (10/22/94) and Arizona State (10/11/08); Wyoming vs. Fresno State (11/18/95) and Central Michigan vs. Kent State (10/2/04).

LIVE BLOGGING FROM KINNICK
Hawkeye fans not able to make it to Kinnick Stadium for the Arizona game Sept. 19 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. hawkeyesports.com received over 2,700 unique readers and registered over 3,000 reader comments during the football game day live blog of Iowa’s 17-16 win over Northern Iowa.

HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,118 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 570-509-39 (.527). That includes a 360-198-16 (.641) record in home games, a 210-311-23 (.407) record in games away from Iowa City, a 281-343-25 (.452) mark in Big Ten games and a 243-162-15 (.596) record in Kinnick Stadium.

TICKET UPDATE
Tickets remain for all Iowa home games except the Homecoming contest vs. Michigan (Oct. 10). Tickets remain for Arizona, Arkansas State, Indiana, Northwestern and Minnesota. 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. Iowa has sold over 10,000 student season tickets for the 2009 season.

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. 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, redshirt freshmen Greg Castillo and James Vandenberg and true freshman Keenan Davis.

ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 3-3 when playing on Sept. 19. Iowa defeated Washington (MO) 26-7 in 1942, Iowa State 48-9 in 1987 and Iowa State 21-7 in 1992. The Hawkeyes lost to Oregon State 21-14 in 1970, Iowa State 23-12 in 1981 and Arizona 35-11 in 1998.

THE SERIES
Arizona holds a 6-5 advantage in the series that began with a 31-20 Iowa victory Sept. 17, 1966 in Iowa City. The teams are meeting for the first time since Arizona scored a 35-11 victory over Iowa on Sept. 19, 1998 in Tucson. Iowa had won three straight in the series before that last meeting. Iowa is 3-3 against Arizona in games played at Iowa City, while the Wildcats have won three of the five meetings at Tucson.

Seven of the previous 11 games have been decided by seven points or less, with Iowa’s last three wins in the series coming by a combined five points. The Hawkeyes won 21-20 on Sept. 7, 1996 when the Wildcats last visited Kinnick Stadium. The teams will meet next season in Tucson.

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 61-29 (.678) overall mark and a 36-20 (.643) Big Ten record the last seven-plus seasons. Ferentz has guided the Hawkeyes to seven first division finishes.

Ferentz, at Iowa, holds an overall record of 72-53 (.576) and a 43-37 (.538) mark in Big Ten games. In 13 seasons as a college head coach his career mark is 84-74 (.532). 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-five of Iowa’s 125 games under Ferentz have been decided by seven points or less (21-24) 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.

ARIZONA HEAD COACH Mike Stoops
Former Iowa all-American Mike Stoops is in his sixth year as the head coach at Arizona. Stoops has posted a 27-34 (.443) record as a head coach, all at Arizona. Stoops began his coaching career as a graduate assistant (1986-87) and volunteer assistant (1988-91) at Iowa. He has also coached at Kansas State (1992-98) and Oklahoma (1999-2003) before moving to Tucson.

Stoops earned all-American honors as a senior at Iowa in 1984 and he was a two-time first team all-Big Ten defensive back. Stoops was involved in eight Iowa bowl games as a Hawkeye player and coach.

Stoops, last season, led Arizona to its first eight-win season in 10 years as the Wildcats ended the campaign with a 31-21 win over Brigham Young in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl. The Wildcats, in 2008, ranked 16th nationally in scoring offense and 24th in total defense. Arizona has averaged over 50,000 fans per game in each of the past five seasons, the best streak in Arizona football over the past 30 years.

COACHING CONNECTIONS

• Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz served as offensive line coach with the Hawkeyes from 1981-89. During that time, Arizona Coach Mike Stoops was a Hawkeye defensive back (1981-84), graduate assistant coach (1986-87) and volunteer assistant coach (1988-91).

• Iowa Assistant Coach Phil Parker and Arizona Head Coach Mike Stoops were both named first team all-Big Ten defensive backs in 1983 and 1984. Parker was a junior at Michigan State in 1984 while Stoops was a senior at Iowa. Parker also was first team all-Big Ten in 1985 while Stoops played professional football before joining the Iowa coaching staff the following season.

• Iowa football administrative assistant LeVar Woods was a sophomore and played for the Hawkeyes in 1998 when Arizona defeated Iowa 35-11 in Tucson.

• Arizona assistant Mark Stoops is a three-year Iowa football letterman (1987-89). Mark competed in four bowl games with the Hawkeyes and later served as a Hawkeye graduate assistant when the Hawkeyes competed in two additional bowl games.

• Arizona assistant Sonny Dykes was on the coaching staff at Texas Tech when Iowa defeated the Red Raiders 19-16 in the 2001 Alamo Bowl. Sonny is the son of former Texas Tech head Coach Spike Dykes.

• Arizona assistant Bill Bedenbaugh was a graduate assistant at Central Michigan when Iowa defeated CMU 38-0 in 1998 and a graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 2001 as well. Bedenbaugh played four seasons at Iowa Wesleyan College under current Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach.

• Arizona assistant Jeff Hammerschmidt played for Arizona when Iowa defeated the Wildcats 15-14 in 1987. He was on the Indiana coaching staff when the Hoosiers defeated Iowa in 1998 and 1999.

• Arizona assistant Tim Kish has coached at four Big Ten Conference schools, including Purdue (1979-81), Northwestern (1992-96), Illinois (1997-00) and Indiana (2002-03).

• Arizona assistant Dave Nichol was a student assistant coach at Texas Tech in 2001 when Iowa defeated the Red Raiders in the Alamo Bowl.

• Corey Edmond, UA’s director of performance enhancement, played for North Carolina State when Iowa lost to the Wolfpack in the 1988 Peach Bowl.

• Erick Harper, UA director of football operations, was a defensive back at Kansas State in 1987 and 1988 when Iowa defeated the Wildcats in back-to-back seasons.

• Bill Baker, UA assistant director of football operations, played at Arizona in 1973 when the Wildcats scored a 23-20 win in Iowa City and was an assistant coach at Purdue from 1978-82.

IOWA, ARIZONA NOTES

• The Arizona game marks the first of two Iowa will play in which the opposing head coach is a former Hawkeye player. Like UA Coach Mike Stoops, Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema also played for Iowa, and like Stoops, helped the Hawkeyes earn a Rose Bowl berth. Iowa is the only Division I program in the nation that will play two regular season games in which the opposing head coach is coaching against his alma mater.

• Saturday will mark the 12th meeting between Arizona and Iowa, a total that will tie Arizona with Oregon State as the Pac-10 team Iowa has faced most often. Iowa and OSU have also met 12 times, but not since 1972.

• Iowa holds a 28-33 all-time record against members of the Pac-10 Conference, having played all but Stanford. Iowa’s last football game against a team from the Pac-10 was a 44-7 loss at Arizona State early in the 2004 season.

• Arizona is 13-22 all-time against current members of the Big Ten, having played all 11 teams at least once. Iowa is also the team from the Big Ten that Arizona has played the most. The Wildcats have played Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State each four times. Arizona’s last contest against a Big Ten team resulted in a 31-24 loss to 12th-ranked Purdue in Tucson in 2005.

• The last time Iowa played a Pac-10 team was Sept. 18, 2004 at Arizona State. That same day, Arizona was hosting Wisconsin of the Big Ten. Ironically, both games that day were delayed by severe storms passing through the Tempe and Tucson areas.

• The Arizona at Iowa game will be the fourth matchup of the season between the Big Ten and the Pac-10. Last weekend, USC won 18-15 at Ohio State and Oregon defeated Purdue 38-36 in Eugene. California plays at Minnesota Saturday at 11 a.m.

LAST MEETING
Arizona used three long pass plays in key touchdown drives in taking a 35-11 win over Iowa on Sept. 19, 1998. The Wildcats built a 14-3 halftime advantage, with the key play in the first scoring drive of the night being a 56-yard pass play. Iowa seemed poised to close the gap midway through the third period, driving for a first and goal at the Arizona five. Iowa went for a touchdown on fourth down from the two, but failed to score. The Wildcats then connected on a 76-yard pass play to set up a touchdown to take a 21-3 advantage. Arizona followed with a 44-yard scoring pass midway through the fourth period before Iowa scored the final points of the game in the final seconds.

Arizona totaled 285 passing yards on 11 completions (25.9 yards per reception) and 191 rushing yards while gaining 476 yards total offense. Iowa wasn’t far behind, gaining 421 total yards, including 393 passing yards. Iowa had more first downs (22-19) and held the advantage in time of possession (31:01-28:59).

Iowa quarterback Kyle McCann completed 18-36 passes for 274 yards, while reserve Scott Mullen completed 7-11 passes for 116 yards. Iowa had just 28 net rushing yards.

Iowa posted a 3-8 record in 1998, Hayden Fry’s last season as Hawkeye head coach. Arizona posted a 12-1 record that season under Coach Dick Tomey.

IOWA WINS AT IOWA STATE
Iowa collected six turnovers and featured a balanced offense in taking a 35-3 win at Iowa State. The Hawkeyes scored 35 straight points after trailing 3-0 in the first period. Iowa did not allow Iowa State a touchdown for the third straight season (14 quarters overall). Iowa had five pass interceptions in the game and turned four of the six ISU turnovers into 28 points.

After taking the early lead, ISU attempted an onside kick, but Iowa recovered the ball and had good field position for its initial scoring drive. QB Ricky Stanzi drove Iowa 41 yards in four plays, completing the drive with a one-yard pass to FB Brett Morse for the first of his four TD passes, a career-high.

DB Tyler Sash tied a school record with three pass interceptions. His second of the day, in the second period, led to Iowa’s second touchdown, an 18-yard reception by Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Iowa held a 14-3 advantage at halftime.

LB Jeremiha Hunter recovered an ISU fumble early in the third period to set up another Iowa score. Iowa capped a 48-yard drive with a seven-yard pass from Stanzi to TE Allen Reisner. True freshman RB Brandon Wegher added a one-yard scoring run late in the third period and freshman WR Keenan Davis had a 10-yard scoring reception with six minutes remaining to end the scoring.

DB Brett Greenwood had Iowa’s other two pass interceptions. The five thefts are the most for Iowa since also grabbing five in a 1985 win over Illinois and the six turnovers matches Iowa’s total vs. Illinois in a 2006 win in Champaign.

Iowa gained 426 yards total offense, 191 rushing and 235 passing. Stanzi completed 18-34 passes for 197 yards and four scores, with two interceptions. Wegher had his first statistics of the season, leading Iowa with 15 rushes for 101 yards. Wegher also had two receptions for 17 yards. A total of 12 receivers had at least one reception. Senior Trey Stross led the way with 69 yards on four catches.

Sash added 10 tackles (eight solo), two tackles for loss and a forced fumble to go with his interceptions, which he returned 63 yards. DE Broderick Binns added a career-best nine tackles and Greenwood added two pass break-ups to go with his interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

• Iowa improved to 38-19 all-time against Iowa State, including wins in five of the last seven years. Iowa has opened the season with consecutive wins for the fourth straight season.

• Iowa State had not scored a touchdown against Iowa since the second period of Iowa’s win in Iowa City in 2006, a string of 14 consecutive quarters. The Cyclones won on five field goals in 2007 (15-13) and Iowa allowed just one field goal and a safety last season (17-5).

• Three Iowa players started for the first time in their career. Those players were redshirt freshman Riley Reiff at left offensive tackle, sophomore William Lowe at cornerback and redshirt freshman Adam Robinson at running back. Reiff started in place of Bryan Bulaga, Lowe replaced Greg Castillo and Robinson started in place of Paki O’Meara.

• Sophomore DB Tyler Sash had three pass interceptions and had 63 return yards. He tied the Iowa single-game record with his third theft in the fourth period. Sash tied the Iowa record held by LB Grant Steen in a win at Indiana on Oct. 19, 2002. In addition to his school-record-tying three thefts, Sash finished with a team-high 10 tackles (8 solo), including two for loss, and a forced fumble. Sash tied for the team lead last season with five interceptions and totaled 147 return yards. He also had two interceptions in Iowa’s win over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl. Sash has collected six interceptions in Iowa’s last four games (Minnesota – – 1; South Carolina – – 2; UNI – – 0; ISU – – 3).

• Junior DB Brett Greenwood had Iowa’s third interception of the half in the closing minutes of the second period. Greenwood had two interceptions in each of his first two seasons. He added a second theft in the third quarter vs. ISU.
• The five interceptions against Iowa State are the most for Iowa since also collecting five in a 59-0 win over Illinois in 1985. Iowa also had a fumble recovery early in the third period against ISU. The six turnovers are the most for Iowa since collecting six (four interceptions, two fumbles) in a 2006 win at Illinois.

• Twelve Hawkeyes had at least one pass reception against Iowa State. That list includes seven wide receivers, three tight ends, one running back and one fullback. three Hawkeyes, RB Brandon Wegher, WR Kennan Davis and FB Brett Morse, scored their first career touchdowns.

• Iowa scored on five of six drives inside the red zone. Iowa did not score after reaching the red zone in the closing minutes. Iowa has scored on 38 of the last 40 red zone possessions (26 TDs and 12 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 19-20 combined inside the red zone its last four games. Iowa State did not reach the red zone.

• Instant Replay was used once in the first period and once in the third period. The first replay confirmed Iowa RB Adam Robinson was out of bounds at the one yard line. The second replay featured a reversal, as Iowa RB Brandon Wegher was ruled to be down inside the one-yard line before scoring. Wegher scored on the following play.

ARIZONA WINS IN-STATE BATTLE
Arizona RB Nie Grigsby rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona improved to 2-0 with a 34-17 home win over Northern Arizona. The Wildcats have won four straight games dating back to last season.

Grigsby scored on runs of 25 and 30 yards as the Wildcats built a 14-3 advantage through the first period. Grigsby added a 94-yard scamper on Arizona’s first offensive play of the third period to set up another touchdown. Arizona increased the advantage to 34-10 before Northern Arizona added a final touchdown in the fourth period. Grigsby earned his yards on just 15 carries, averaging 13.8 yards per attempt.

The Wildcats rushed for 365 yards in the contest, while holding Northern Arizona to 67 net rushing yards and 226 yards total offense. Arizona also came up with three turnovers and had over an 11 minute advantage in time of possession.

Arizona QB Matt Scott completed 14-20 passes for 150 yards, with one touchdown and an interception. QB Nick Foles added 44 passing yards while completing 6-8 attempts. Terrell Turner and David Douglas each had five receptions.

DB Devin Ross led the Wildcat defense with six tackles and DB Trevin Wade had five tackles and two pass interceptions.

TRUE FRESHMEN IN 2009
Iowa has used three true freshmen through two games. They are DB Micah Hyde, RB Brandon Wegher and WR Keenan Davis. Wegher and Davis both scored touchdowns in the win at Iowa State. Wegher (15-101) became the second Iowa RB in two seasons to rush for over 100 yards in a game as a true freshman. Jewel Hampton had 114 rushing yards a year ago in a win at Indiana.

The Hawkeyes had seven true freshmen play a year ago. Iowa also had seven true freshmen play in 2003 and 2000.

HAWKEYES TO WATCH
Seven Hawkeye players are listed on 10 different pre-season “Watch Lists” for individual national awards. Those players include senior LB Pat Angerer (Butkus Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott Trophy), junior OL Bryan Bulaga (Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award), junior P Ryan Donahue (Ray Guy Award), senior OLB A.J. Edds (Butkus 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.

DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa has won 39 of its last 47 games (.830) 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.

THREE HAWKEYES WILL MISS SEASON
Senior RB Jayme Murphy, sophomore RB Jewel Hampton and Junior DB Jordan Bernstine will miss the 2009 season due to injuries.

Bernstine (5-11, 205) was listed as a first team cornerback following spring practice before suffering an ankle injury at the start of fall drills. 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.

Hampton (5-9, 210), who will miss the season with a knee injury, was listed as the first team running back following spring practice. He rushed 91 times for 463 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008 as a true freshman. The seven rushing touchdowns are an Iowa freshman record.

Murphy (5-11, 210) will miss this season due to a back injury. Murphy had just seven rushing attempts a year ago but made his mark throughout his career with his outstanding play on Iowa’s special teams.

STANZI LEADS IOWA OFFENSE

• Ricky Stanzi emerged as Iowa’s starting quarterback after four games in 2008.

• Stanzi began his junior season by completing 22-34 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown in an opening win over Northern Iowa. Stanzi reached career bests in both attempts and completions and did not throw an interception.

• Stanzi had a career-best four TD passes against Iowa State. He previously had three scoring strikes in two games last season.
• He completed 18-34 passes for 197 yards at Iowa State and has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 10 of Iowa’s last 11 games.

• Stanzi ranks 14th in career passing with 2,395 yards, moving past Nathan Chandler and Ed Podolak in career yards last weekend. He has completed 190-326 career passes, with 19 touchdowns.

• 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.
• Stanzi completed 150-254 (.591) passes for 1,956 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008.

HAWKEYE PLAYER NOTES

• True freshman Brandon Wegher scored the first touchdown of his career in the third period on a one-yard run. Wegher ended the game with 15 carries for 101 yards and had two pass receptions for 17 yards. Iowa has had a true freshman rush for over 100 yards for the second straight season. Jewel Hampton had 114 yards at Indiana last season.

• Senior TE Tony Moeaki collected a career-best 10 receptions in the win over Northern Iowa. Moeaki gained 83 receiving yards and scored on a six-yard reception early in the fourth period to give the Hawkeyes a 17-13 advantage. Moeaki is among the pre-season candidates for the John Mackey Award. Moeaki battled through injuries, again, in 2008, finishing with 13 catches for 144 yards and one touchdown, in nine contests. He has accumulated 57 receptions for 653 yards and eight touchdowns during his injury-plagued collegiate career.

• Junior WR Johnson-Koulianos led Iowa in receptions (44) and receiving yards (639) and was second in kickoff returns (9-178-19.8) in 2008. DJK’s career numbers include 86 receptions for 1,182 yards and six touchdowns, including an 18-yard scoring reception at Iowa State. He is tied for 20th in career receptions and ranks 27th in career receiving yards.

• Senior WR Trey Stross had three receptions for 61 yards against Northern Iowa and led Iowa with four receptions for 69 yards at Iowa State. Stross ranked fifth in team receiving in 2008, collecting 13 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown, in 11 games. He has 49 career receptions for 700 yards and six scores.

• Redshirt freshman Adam Robinson led Iowa’s rushing attack with 63 yards on 15 carries in the win over Northern Iowa. He added 69 yards on 12 attempts in the win at Iowa State. Robinson scored the first touchdown of his career on an 11-yard run in the third period of the opening game, his longest rush of the game.

• DB Brett Greenwood collected 12 tackles against Northern Iowa, just two shy of his career high. Greenwood had five solo tackles and added one pass break-up. Greenwood collected two of Iowa’s five pass interceptions in the win at Iowa State and added two pass break-ups.

• After leading the team in tackles a year ago, senior LB Pat Angerer recorded 12 tackles vs. Northern Iowa and four stops against Iowa State. Angerer also had a tackle for loss against Northern Iowa. Angerer led Iowa with 107 tackles while playing in all 13 games in 2008.

• Junior CB Amari Spievey was a busy man for the Hawkeyes in the season opener. While starting his 14th straight game, Spievey recorded eight tackles and two pass break-ups. Spievey also was used on punt returns and KO returns. Spievey added four solo tackles and one KO return at Iowa State. He is on the pre-season Watch List for the Jim Thorpe Award.

• Junior punter Ryan Donahue started the season on a high note, averaging 42.8 yards on five punts in Iowa’s opening win. He averaged 39 yards on four punts at Iowa State. Donahue had a long of 56 yards against Northern Iowa and a 57-yard boot at Iowa State. Iowa’s two opponents have three punts returns for one net yard. He has at least one punt of over 50 yards in 11 of Iowa’s last 13 games. He is on the Ray Guy Watch List this season.

• Sophomore LM Bruce Davis is making a name for himself on Iowa’s special teams. Davis is on the front line on Iowa’s kickoff and kick return teams. He recovered an onside kick by Iowa State early in the game last week, which led to Iowa’s first touchdown of the day. Last season Davis recovered the mishandled kickoff at the end of the game, sealing Iowa’s upset win over Penn State.

BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa posted three offensive plays (all pass completions) that resulted in 20 yards or more against Iowa State, plus two interception returns over 20 yards. Iowa has six pass plays and one rushing attempt over 20 yards in its two games. Iowa’s defense allowed just one offensive play (50-yard pass completion) of 20 yards or more to Northern Iowa and none at Iowa State.

IOWA BY QUARTERS
Iowa has outscored its opponents 10-6 in the first period, 21-3 in the third period and 14-3 in the fourth period. Both Iowa and its opponents have scored seven points in the second period.

ON THE AVERAGE
Iowa averaged 3.7 yards on 33 first down plays, 6.8 yards on 26 second down plays and 9.8 yards on 13 third down plays at Iowa State.

For the season, Iowa is averaging 5.1 yards on first down, 5.4 yards on second down and 7.1 on third down. Iowa has not gained any yards on two fourth down attempts.

AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa averaged six plays, 51 yards and 3:57 elapsed time on five scoring drives in the win at Iowa State. All five were touchdown drives, as Iowa attempted no field goals. In two games, Iowa’s eight scoring drives have averaged seven plays, 56.3 yards and 3:57 in elapsed time.

Iowa’s opponents have had five scoring drives, averaging 9.4 plays, 47.8 yards and 4:15 elapsed time.

IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa is 7-8 in the red zone (7 TDs) through two games, not scoring in the red zone at the end of the 35-3 win at Iowa State. The Hawkeyes have scored on 38 of its last 40 red zone possessions (26 TDs and 12 FGs) dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 19-20 combined inside the red zone in its last five games. Northern Iowa was a perfect 4-4 in the red zone, collecting three field goals and one touchdown, while Iowa State did not reach the red zone in game two.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored 28 points against Iowa State after collecting six turnovers (five interceptions, one fumble). Iowa failed to score after collecting one turnover in the win over Northern Iowa.

The Hawkeyes turned the ball over twice in each of their first two games (two interceptions, two fumbles). The two opponents scored six points following the four turnovers.

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.

THEY STARTED THEM ALL
Iowa returns seven players who started all 13 games last season. That list includes OL Kyle Calloway, OLB A.J. Edds, DB Brett Greenwood, OL Bryan Bulaga, DE Christian Ballard, LB Jeremiha Hunter and DB Amari Spievey. In addition, punter Ryan Donahue has handled all punting duties over the past 27 games. Calloway did not play in the opening game and Bulaga missed the contest at Iowa State. 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. With the exception of Brodell, all are currently with NFL teams.

EXPERIENCE IN OFFENSIVE LINE
Iowa’s returning offensive linemen have combined to start 109 games throughout their careers. Seniors Rafael Eubanks has started 27 games and senior Kyle Calloway has 26 starts. Others with starting experience include Bryan Bulaga (19), Julian Vandervelde (16), Dace Richardson (11), Dan Doering (6), Andy Kuempel (2) Adam Gettis (1) and Riley Reiff (1). In addition, senior Travis Meade started five games as an offensive lineman before moving to defense for his final season.

DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR HAWKEYES

• 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. Iowa’s 2009 opening win over Northern Iowa was not decided until the final play of the game.

• In the win over Northern Iowa, the Hawkeyes blocked field goal attempts on UNI’s final two plays of the game, the second with one second remaining.
• In a 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 a 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 a 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 a 24-23 win over No. 3 Penn State, Iowa scored the game winning 31-yard field goal with one second remaining.

In a 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.

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 has recorded at least one takeaway in 35 of its last 37 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. Against Iowa State, Iowa scored 28 points after collecting six turnovers. Iowa did not score in game one after collecting one Northern Iowa turnover. Last season, Iowa scored 99 points following 32 opponent turnovers.
• Over the past eight years, Iowa is 49-7 when leading at the half and 54-6 when leading after three quarters.

• Iowa sold out six of its seven home games in 2008 and the 2009 opening game vs. Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes have sold out 37 of their last 38 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 in 2008 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 35-3 win at Iowa State last week keeps the Cy-Hawk Trophy in Iowa City.

KINNICK STADIUM TOPS BIG TEN
The Sporting News ranked Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium as the best college football stadium in the Big Ten Conference in its pre-season publication. Kinnick Stadium was also selected as the best stadium in the Big Ten by the Sporting News in 2007.

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 92 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.

FAMILY AFFAIR
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his son, James, are believed to be one of only seven father-son duos in Division I in 2009. They join Bobby Petrino and sons Nick and Bobby from Arkansas, Dan Hawkins and his son Cody from Colorado, Pat Hill and his son Zak from Fresno State, Tommy West and his son Turner from Memphis, Scott Downing and his son Andrew from Northern Colorado, 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, Western Illinois def. coordinator Mark Hendrickson, a former Iowa assistant coach, has a son, Myers, who plays for WIU, Fresno State defensive coordinator Randy Steward has a son, Taylor, on the Fresno State team and San Jose State defensive coordinator Keith Burns has a son, Tanner, on the San Jose State team.

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.

BEST IN THE BUSINESS
Iowa football Coach Kirk Ferentz (2002) and men’s basketball Coach Todd Lickliter (2007) have each been recognized as national Coach of the Year in their respective sports. Only six other Division I programs currently have coaches in those sports that have earned that distinction. The schools include Florida (Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan); Florida State (Bobby Bowden and Leonard Hamilton); Illinois (Ron Zook and Bruce Weber); Kansas (Mark Mangino and Bill Self): Maryland (Ralph Friedgen and Gary Williams) and Southern Methodist (June Jones and Matt Doherty).

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.

Station will be recognized at Kinnick Stadium Oct. 10 as Iowa hosts Michigan for Homecoming.

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.

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 begins the Big Ten Conference season Sept. 26 at Penn State (7:12 p.m. CT, ABC). Iowa’s final non-conference game is Oct. 3 when Arkansas State visits Kinnick Stadium.