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Hawkeyes Travel to Iowa State Saturday

Hawkeyes Travel to Iowa State Saturday

Sept. 5, 2011

Iowa Game Notes

HAWKEYES TRAVEL TO IOWA STATE
Iowa (1-0) travels to Ames to meet Iowa State (1-0) Saturday, Sept. 10 in Jack Trice Stadium (55,000) in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series battle. Game time is 11:10 a.m. The game is sold out. Iowa opened the season with a 34-7 win over Tennessee Tech in Iowa City. Iowa State defeated Northern Iowa 20-19 in Ames. Saturday’s game will be the third event in the eighth annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series. ISU defeated Iowa in volleyball last weekend in Ames, and the women’s soccer teams meet this Friday in Iowa City. Iowa leads the series 4-3.

ON THE TUBE
FOX (HD) will televise the contest. Joel Meyers, Joel Klatt and Jim Knox 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
In preseason rankings, Iowa is listed among teams receiving votes in both the USA Today coaches poll and the Associated Press rankings. Iowa is ranked 19th in the Sagarin Ratings and 28th in the Sporting News’ preseason rankings. Around the Big Ten, Wisconsin is ranked 11/10 (AP/Coaches), Nebraska is 10/11, Ohio State is 18/16, Michigan State is 17/17 and Penn State is 25/RV. Northwestern, Michigan and non-conference opponent Pittsburgh are all listed among teams receiving votes in both rankings.

ON THIS DATE
Iowa has posted a 4-1 record when playing on Sept. 10. Iowa defeated Arizona 31-20 in 1966, Iowa State 12-10 in 1977, Penn State 42-34 in 1983 and Iowa State 37-9 in 1994. The Hawkeyes lost at Iowa State 23-3 in 2005.

SEASON OPENERS
Iowa is now 90-31-2 (.734) in season-opening games. Iowa has won 11 straight openers and is 11-2 under Coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s winning streak in season opening games ranks fourth longest among Big Ten teams, trailing only Nebraska, 26, Wisconsin 13 and Ohio State 12. Iowa is also 22-1 in its last 23 non-conference home games. Iowa’s last season-opening loss came against eighth-ranked Kansas State (27-7) in the 2000 Eddie Robinson Classic at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Iowa’s most recent home opening loss was to fifth-ranked Nebraska (42-7) in 1999.

HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,143 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 588-516-39 (.531). That includes a 371-201-16 (.645) record in home games, a 217-315-23 (.412) record in games away from Iowa City, a 289-348-25 (.455) mark in Big Ten games and a 254-165-15 (.603) record in Kinnick Stadium.

HAWKEYE GAMEDAY LIVE
The UI Department of Athletics is introducing a new-and-improved “Hawkeye Gameday Live” page each Saturday for Hawkeye fans. The page will feature game information such as notes, rosters, TV and radio information, etc.; live stats and blog, and twitter and facebook feeds. It’s the one-stop-shop for the ultimate Hawkeye fan who wants to check stats of their favorite player and participate in the conversation during the football game. Check the front page of hawkeyesports.com each Saturday for access to “Hawkeye Gameday Live”.

#HAWKEYES AND TWITTER
Hawkeye fans join the twitter conversation each game by including #Hawkeyes in your gameday tweets. By including #Hawkeyes in your tweets, in addition to showing your Hawkeye pride you will help the #Hawkeyes trend. Also, if you are not already following @TheIowaHawkeyes and @HawkeyeFootball, visit twitter.com and follow both feeds. Also, Hawkeye fans are encouraged to tweet their photos on gameday to @theiowahawkeyes.

IOWA LEADERSHIP GROUP
Iowa’s Leadership Group for the 2011 season includes four seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and one redshirt freshman. A member of the incoming freshman class will be added this fall. Permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Group includes seniors Broderick Binns, Mike Daniels, Marvin McNutt, Jr. and Tyler Nielsen; juniors Greg Castillo, James Ferentz, Micah Hyde, Riley Reiff and James Vandenberg; sophomores Marcus Coker, Casey Kreiter, James Morris and Brett Van Sloten; and redshirt freshman Brandon Scherff.

HAWKEYE EXPRESS HITS RECORD
The Hawkeye Express, which transports fans attending Iowa home games from the west edge of Coralville to Kinnick Stadium, recorded an all-time high last weekend for the Tennessee Tech at Iowa game. A total of 5,240 fans rode the train, surpassing the previous high of 4,931 riders for the Ball State at Iowa game last season. The Hawkeye Express is operated by the Iowa Northern Railroad Company.

THE SERIES
Saturday’s game will mark the 59th game in the series. Iowa holds a 39-19 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. The Hawkeyes have won 21 of the last 28 meetings, including the last three games, four of the last five and six of the last eight. The Hawkeyes won 15 straight games in the series (1983-1997). Iowa holds a 16-7 advantage in games played in Ames. Iowa won at Iowa State in 2009 (35-3), but the teams have split the last four meetings in Jack Trice Stadium. The teams did not meet between 1935 and 1976. Iowa holds a 23-11 advantage since the series resumed in 1977.

CY-HAWK TROPHY
Iowa Corn is the new sponsor of the Cy-Hawk Series and the annual football game between the two schools. Iowa Corn is working with officials from both Iowa and Iowa State in the development of a new traveling trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the yearly football contest. Iowa and Iowa State played for the Cy-Hawk Trophy from the time the series resumed in 1977, with the Hawkeyes holding a 23-11 advantage between 1977-2010. That Cy-Hawk Trophy was donated to the series by the Des Moines Athletic Club. The Cy-Hawk Trophy currently resides in Iowa City as a result of Iowa’s 35-7 victory in Iowa City last season.

COACH Kirk Ferentz
Kirk Ferentz (pronounced FAIR-rintz, rhymes with parents) is in his 13th season as head football coach at the University of Iowa. His latest contract extension runs through the 2020 season. Ferentz was named the 2009 Dave McClain Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year. He was one of 15 semi-finalists for the 2009 George Munger Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the College Coach of the Year. He was the 2009 AFCA Region Three Coach of the Year and was one of 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual national Coach of the Year. 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 2002, 2004 and 2009. Ferentz guided Iowa to Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2004. Iowa has made two BCS bowl appearances, including a 24-14 win in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl. Iowa has played in six January bowl games and has four January bowl victories (2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl, 2009 Outback Bowl and 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl). Iowa has posted an 86-41 (.677) overall mark and a 50-30 (.625) Big Ten record the last 10-plus seasons. Ferentz has guided the Hawkeyes to nine first division finishes, including a second-place finish in 2009. Iowa was bowl eligible in 2010 for the 10th straight season. The Hawkeyes are 6-3 in bowl games under Ferentz. His six bowl wins tie as third most among all-time Big Ten coaches and he has led Iowa to three straight bowl victories. At Iowa, Ferentz holds an overall record of 90-60 (.600) and a 53-43 (.552) mark in Big Ten games. In his 16th season as a college head coach, he holds a career mark of 102-81 (.557). Fifty-seven of Iowa’s 150 games under Ferentz have been decided by seven points or less (26-31) and 46 were played against opponents who were ranked in the top 25 at the time (20-26). Ferentz joined the Iowa staff after serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. He was 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 at Iowa. Iowa appeared in eight bowl games during the time Ferentz was an Iowa assistant. Ferentz was born in Royal Oak, Mich., and attended high school in Pittsburgh, Pa. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English Education from 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.

FERENTZ SIXTH IN LONGEVITY
Now in his 13th season as Iowa’s head football coach, Kirk Ferentz ranks sixth in longevity among FBS head coaches. Ferentz is second among Big Ten coaches and nationally ranks behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech, Larry Blakeney of Troy, Pat Hill of Fresno State and Mack Brown of Texas.

IOWA STATE HEAD COACH PAUL RHOADS
Paul Rhoads is in his third season as head coach at Iowa State. Rhoads is a Nevada, Iowa native who attended Ankeny HS. Rhoads led ISU to a 7-6 record in his first season, including an Insight.com Bowl win over Minnesota. His record as a head coach is 13-13 after ISU opened the season with a win over Northern Iowa. Rhoads re-joined the ISU staff after serving as the defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2008. Rhoads served as the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh for eight seasons (2000-07), helping the Panthers earn the 2004 Big East title. Rhoads previously served on the staff at Iowa State for five seasons, serving as inside linebacker coach (1995) and secondary coach (1996-99) under Dan McCarney. Rhoads has also served as an assistant coach at Pacific (1992-94) and he was a graduate assistant at Ohio State (1991), under John Cooper, and at Utah State (1989-90), under former Drake Coach Chuck Shelton. Rhoads played football at Missouri Western (1986-88), where he earned his bachelor’s degree before earning his master’s degree from Utah State.

IOWA/STATE NOTES

  • Coach Kirk Ferentz coached game No. 150 as Iowa’s head coach in Iowa’s 34-7 win over Tennessee Tech. The Hawkeyes were also victorious in game No. 50 under Ferentz (56-7 over Buffalo, 9/6/03) and in game No. 100 (35-0 over Syracuse, 9/8/07).
  • Iowa (2010) and Iowa State (2009) are the past two winners of the Insight.com Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. Iowa defeated Missouri last December, while the Cyclones defeated Minnesota the previous season.
  • Iowa WR Jordan Cotton is the brother of ISU defensive back Darian Cotton. Their father, Marshall, was an Iowa running back from 1985-87.
  • Iowa State has 54 players from the state of Iowa on its roster, while the Iowa roster lists 43 players from Iowa high schools.
  • Iowa has allowed Iowa State just one touchdown in the last 18 periods, dating back to the 2007 meeting. That touchdown came in the fourth quarter of Iowa’s 35-7 win in Iowa City a year ago. Iowa won 17-5 in 2008 and 35-3 in 2009.
  • Saturday marks the 14th time, since the renewal of the series in 1977, that both teams enter the game with undefeated records. This is the third straight season the teams have met in the second game of the year.
  • Iowa and Iowa State have recorded last minute victories over Northern Iowa to open this season and 2009. Iowa defeated the Panthers in Iowa City in 2009 (17-16), blocking field goal attempts on each of the final two plays of the game. Last weekend, Iowa State scored a touchdown in the final minute to defeat the Panthers 20-19 in Ames.
  • Iowa won three of five games against Iowa State during the time that ISU Coach Paul Rhoads was a Cyclone assistant coach.
  • ISU assistant Bob Elliott is a former Hawkeye football player (1972, 1974-75) and a former Hawkeye assistant coach (eight seasons). He was most recently an assistant coach at San Diego State before rejoining the Cyclone staff prior to last season.
  • ISU assistant Bill Bleil was the offensive line coach at Northwestern in 1990 and 1991. Iowa defeated the Wildcats in each of those seasons. Bleil is a native of Remsen and ISU assistant Courtney Messingham is a Waterloo native.

IOWA VS. THE BIG 12
Iowa holds an all-time record of 58-37 (.611) against the 10 current members of the Big 12 Conference, having met all but Baylor at least once. Iowa State is the only Big 12 opponent on the Hawkeye schedule this season.

ISU VS. THE BIG TEN
Iowa State is 42-165-5 (.210) vs. the Big Ten. The Cyclones have not played Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State or Purdue, and the record now reflects ISU’s results vs. Nebraska as well.

IOWA OPENS WITH WIN
Iowa dominated the first half of play in defeating Tennessee Tech 34-7 to open the season with a win for the 11th straight season. The Hawkeyes led 27-0 at halftime before the game was delayed for 84 minutes in the third period due to lightning. Iowa built the lead to 34-0 before Tech scored its only points with five minutes remaining in the game. Junior QB James Vandenberg completed 13-21 pass attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. Vandenberg completed scoring strikes of 88 and 19 yards to senior WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. McNutt, Jr. led Iowa receivers with 140 yards on six receptions. Freshman RB Mika’il McCall rushed nine times for 61 yards in the first period before being injured. Seven Iowa receivers had at least one reception, but McNutt, Jr. was the only Hawkeye with more than two catches. Iowa scored 10 points following two pass interceptions in the first half. Senior DB Shawn Prater had an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the second period. Sophomore LB James Morris had a 52-yard interception return earlier in the period that led to an Iowa field goal. Morris and sophomore LB Christian Kirksey each had 10 tackles to lead Iowa’s defense. Sophomore PK Mike Meyer made his only two field goal attempts, from 39 and 20 yards, and was perfect on four PAT kicks. Senior punter Eric Guthrie averaged 39 yards on three punts, allowing no returns while dropping two punts inside the 20.

EXTRA POINTS

  • The game was delayed 84 minutes in the third quarter due to lightning. The game was stopped with 3:37 remaining in the third period and Iowa leading 34-0.
  • With scoring receptions of 88 and 19 yards, senior WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. now ranks third in career touchdown receptions (18), three shy of the school record (21 by Tim Dwight and Danan Hughes). McNutt, Jr. ended the game with six receptions for 140 yards and two scores. The 88- yard scoring catch ranks as the fifth longest in Iowa history. He had two touchdown receptions for the third time in his career (last was at Ohio State in 2009). The receptions and yardage are the most by an Iowa receiver in an opening game since Ryan Barton had 128 yards (four catches) vs. Central Michigan in 1998. The two receiving TDs are the most by a Hawkeye in an opener since Maurice Brown had two TD receptions vs. Akron in 2002.
  • Junior QB James Vandenberg started for the third time in his career, but for the first time since the final regular season game in 2009. He completed 13-21 attempts for 216 yards and two scores, with no interceptions. Vandenberg became the first native Iowan to start at quarterback for the Hawkeyes since Kyle McCann in 2001.
  • Senior DB Shaun Prater had an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second period. The return ranks as the fifth longest interception return for a touchdown in Iowa history. The touchdown return is the second of Prater’s career, as he had a 33-yard touchdown in Iowa’s 2010 win over Penn State. Prater now has seven career interceptions for 173 yards. The 173 career return yards rank seventh best at Iowa.
  • Sophomore LB James Morris had his first career interception in the second period and had a 52-yard return that led to an Iowa field goal. Morris ended the game with 10 tackles, matching LB Christian Kirksey as Iowa’s tackle leaders.
  • Sophomore PK Mike Meyer made a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 20-yarder in the second period to go with being perfect on PATs (4-4). He has made 16-19 career field goals.
  • Senior punter Eric Guthrie averaged 39 yards on three punts, allowing no returns while dropping two punts inside the 20.
  • Seven true freshmen saw action for the Hawkeyes, including RB Mika’il McCall, RB Damon Bullock, TE Ray Hamilton, WR Marcus Grant, DB Nico Law, DB Jordan Lomax and LB Marcus Collins.
  • Iowa players starting for the first time in their career included OL Matt Tobin, TE Brad Herman, FB Matt Meyers, WR Keenan Davis, DL Lebron Daniel, DL Dominic Alvis, LB Christian Kirksey and DB Collin Sleeper.
  • Hawkeyes who saw the first action of their career, in addition to the seven true freshmen, included QB A.J. Derby, FB Matt Meyers, WR Kevonte Martin-Manley, OL Tommy Gaul, RB De’Andre Johnson, LB Terrance Pryor, OL Andrew Donnal, WR Steven Staggs and DL Mike Hardy.
  • A total of 13 Hawkeye players had their first career statistics in the win over Tennessee Tech, including five on offense and eight on defense.
  • Iowa has held its opponents to two touchdown passes or fewer in 35 straight games.
  • The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 57 of its last 63 games, dating back to 2006.

ISU RALLIES TO WIN
Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz scored on a one-yard run with 40 seconds remaining to lead ISU to a 20-19 win over Northern Iowa last Saturday evening in Ames. The play concluded a nine-play, 60-yard drive for the Cyclones. Jantz made a couple of big plays in the game-winning drive, scrambling for a 17-yard gain on third-and-11 for a first down and later tossing a 32-yard completion to Aaron Horne to set up the winning score. Jantz led the Cyclone offense by rushing 20 times for 80 yards and completing 18-40 passes for 187 yards. Jantz also scored on a one-yard run earlier in the game and had a 26-yard touchdown pass to Josh Lenz. Horne led ISU receivers with 69 yards on seven receptions. Veteran LB Jake Knott led the Cyclone defense with 15 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and DB Jacques Washington added 11 tackles.

IOWA WON A YEAR AGO
Iowa scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions as the Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State 35-7 in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa scored on drives of 71, 71 and 75 yards on its first three possessions, running 26 plays in the first period, compared to three for Iowa State. Iowa’s first score came on a nine-yard pass from QB Ricky Stanzi to WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. and the second came on a two-yard run by Jewel Hampton. A 66-yard completion to McNutt, Jr. set up Iowa’s third score, a two-yard pass from Stanzi to TE Allen Reisner. Stanzi scored on a one-yard sneak to increase the advantage to 28-0. That score was set up by a 75-yard run by RB Adam Robinson. Iowa’s complete domination of the first half included 288 yards total offense and 20:35 in time of possession, compared to 85 yards and 9:25 possession time for Iowa State. The Iowa defense came up with the first of three interceptions to stop ISU’s second drive of the third period and the Hawkeyes quickly drove 97 yards in three plays to take a 35-0 advantage. Stanzi completed a 55-yard pass to Reisner and Robinson followed with a 39-yard scoring run. Stanzi completed 11-18 passes for 204 yards and two scores. Iowa did not have a turnover. Senior LB Jeff Tarpinian, in his first career start, led the Iowa defense with a career-best 11 tackles. DB Shaun Prater, FS Brett Greenwood and OLB Tyler Nielsen had interceptions.

GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
Iowa plays three of its first four games in Kinnick Stadium, returning home the next two weekends. Iowa hosts Pittsburgh (Sept. 17, 11 a.m. ESPN/ESPN2) and Louisiana-Monroe (TBA) to close the non-conference slate. The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play at Penn State Oct. 8. This season marks the 10th time in Kirk Ferentz’ 13 years at Iowa that the Hawkeyes will open the conference season on the road. Iowa returns home to host Northwestern and Indiana before a road game at Minnesota. The second half of the conference slate has Iowa hosting Michigan and Michigan State before traveling to Purdue and Nebraska. Six of Iowa’s 2011 opponents competed in bowl games last season. The Hawkeyes do not face Big Ten opponents Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin in 2011 and 2012.

DIVISION CHAMPS TO MEET IN TITLE GAME
The Big Ten Conference will stage its first conference football championship game Dec. 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The prime time contest will be televised by FOX to a national audience. The Big Ten’s Legends Division includes Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern. The Leaders Division includes Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.

HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 37 lettermen from 2010, including 17 on offense, 18 on defense and two specialists. The 37 returning lettermen are 11 less than a year ago. The Hawkeyes return five starters on both offense and defense and two specialists. The lettermen breakdown includes six three-year lettermen, 11 two-year lettermen and 20 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 114 players, and includes 18 seniors, 20 juniors, 22 sophomores, 19 redshirt freshmen and 35 true freshmen. Iowa’s depth chart includes 17 seniors, 17 juniors, 11 sophomores and six redshirt freshmen.

STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa’s five returning starters on offense include: center James Ferentz, tackle Riley Reiff, wide receiver Marvin McNutt, Jr., tackle Markus Zusevics and running back Marcus Coker. The returning defensive starters include: end Broderick Binns, tackle Mike Daniels, linebacker Tyler Nielsen and backs Micah Hyde and Shaun Prater. PK Mike Meyer and PK Trent Mossbrucker, also return. Among the returning starters, only Hyde on defense and Ferentz, McNutt, Jr., Reiff and Zusevics started every game in 2010.

IOWAN CALLING THE SIGNALS
Junior QB James Vandenberg started at quarterback in Iowa’s opening win. Vandenberg is a native of Keokuk and the first native Iowan to open the season as Iowa’s starting quarterback since 2001. The most recent Iowa native to hold that position was Kyle McCann of Creston. McCann led Iowa to victory in the 2001 Alamo Bowl, the first bowl win for Coach Kirk Ferentz. Two native Iowans have led the Hawkeyes to Rose Bowl wins, including Kenny Ploen (Clinton) during the 1956 season and Randy Duncan (Des Moines) during the 1958 season. Both were first team All-Americans. St. Ansgar native Matt Sherman led Iowa to a pair of bowl wins (1996 Alamo and 1997 Sun Bowl), while Iowa City native Paul Burmeister was Iowa’s quarterback in the 1993 Alamo Bowl. Additional Iowa natives who passed for over 1,500 yards, but never led Iowa in a bowl game, include Gary Snook (Iowa City, 1963-65), Ed Podolak (Atlantic, 1966-68, who ended his Iowa career as a prolific running back), Phil Suess (Des Moines, 1977-80), Randy Reiners (Ft. Dodge, 1996-99), Tom McLaughlin (Dubuque, 1975-77), Al DeMarco (Mason City, 1947-48) and Glen Drahn (Elkader, 1948-50).

RETURNING WITH HONORS
Iowa returns five players who earned All-Big Ten honors a year ago. Among those returning, DB Shaun Prater was a first team selection by both league coaches and media. WR Marvin McNutt, Jr., and Riley Reiff were second team selections. DT Mike Daniels and DB Micah Hyde earned honorable mention recognition. In addition, Hyde was the Defensive Player of the Game in Iowa’s 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri and RB Marcus Coker was the Offensive Player of the Game. Coker rushed 33 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns, while Hyde scored the winning touchdown on a 72-yard interception return in the fourth quarter and recorded six tackles.

AMONG CAREER LEADERS
Senior WR Marvin McNutt, Jr., ranks third in career touchdown receptions (18) and is 13th in receiving yards and tied for 18th in career catches (94-1,686). Senior DB Shaun Prater has 173 career interception return yards and junior DB Micah Hyde has 142 yards. Prater ranks seventh among Iowa’s career interception leaders and Hyde is 11th. Prater and Hyde each have two touchdown returns. Among Iowa’s career leaders, only Tom Knight (three) and Plez Atkins (two) have more than one touchdown return.

COKER AMONG IOWA’S TOP FRESHMEN
RB Marcus Coker started for the fourth time in Iowa’s Insight Bowl win over Missouri to close the 2010 season. Coker set Iowa bowl records for rushing attempts (33) and rushing yards (219) in the win. He scored on touchdown runs of one and 62 yards and was named Offensive Player of the Game. He had 11 attempts for 41 yards in the opening win over Tennessee Tech last week. His season totals in 2010 included 114 carries for 622 yards and three touchdowns, while playing in just seven games. Coker rushed for over 100 yards in his first career start (22-129) in a win at Indiana. His rushing total in 2010 ranks fourth best for an Iowa freshman.

TWO HAWKEYES OUT OF ACTION
Sophomore LB Shane DiBona and true freshman RB Mika’il McCall will miss the remainder of the 2011 season. DiBona suffered an achilles injury during preseason practice. He underwent successful surgery at the UI Hospitals and Clinics following the injury and is expected to make a full recovery. After a redshirt season in 2009, the Duxbury, Mass. native saw action in all 13 games a year ago, with two starts. He recorded six solo tackles and seven assists. McCall suffered a broken bone in his right leg in Iowa’s opening win over Tennessee Tech. He had rushed for 61 yards on nine carries before suffering the injury.

HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
All Iowa football games this season will be televised on either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FSN or the BTN. The last Iowa contest not televised was vs. Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001. Iowa has appeared on television in its last 117 games.

HAWKEYES TO WATCH
A number of Iowa players have been named to preseason all-Big Ten and All-America teams over the summer. Those named to preseason Watch Lists include the following:

OL Riley Reiff

  • First team preseason All-America by Playboy
  • Second team preseason All-America by Consensus Draft Services
  • Third team preseason All-American by Phil Steele’s College Football and Athlon Sports
  • Started at left tackle in season opening win over Tennessee Tech and has started 22 consecutive games

WR Marvin McNutt, JR.

  • Second team All-Big Ten in 2010
  • Fourth team preseason All-America by Phil Steele’s College Football
  • 53 receptions for 861 yards and eight touchdowns in 2010, averaging 16.2 yards per catch. Receiving yardage ranks 10th-best for single season
  • 18 career touchdown receptions third on career list. Career totals include 94 receptions for 1,686 yards to rank 13th in career yards and tie for 18th in career receptions
  • Had eight touchdown receptions in both 2009 and 2010

DB Shaun Prater

  • First team All-Big Ten in 2010 by both league coaches and media
  • Second team preseason All-America by Lindy’s, Athlon Sports and GoDaddy.com
  • Tied for second in the Big Ten and tied for 40th nationally with four interceptions
  • Ranked fifth on the team with 68 tackles, while playing in 12 of 13 games
  • Has 89-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Tennessee Tech, the second of his career
  • Has seven career interceptions and ranks seventh at Iowa with 173 career interception return yards

DT Mike Daniels

  • Honorable mention All-Big Ten
  • Second on team in tackles for loss (11-56) and QB sacks (4-31)
  • Named Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week for his play vs. Ball State. Also named national Defensive Player of the Week by College Football Performance Awards
  • Recorded five tackles in opening win, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB sack

DB Micah Hyde

  • Defensive Player of the Game, 2010 Insight Bowl
  • Recorded three tackles and a pass break-up in opening game after moving from cornerback to safety

RB Marcus Coker

  • Offensive Player of the Game, 2010 Insight Bowl
  • Preseason selection for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated
  • Rushed 11 times for 41 yards in opening win over Tennessee Tech

RETURNING STAT LEADERS
Iowa returns just two players who led the team in statistical categories in 2010. PK Mike Meyer led the team in scoring with 73 points, hitting 14-17 field goal attempts and 31-33 PAT attempts. WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. led the Hawkeyes in receptions (53), receiving yards (861) and touchdown receptions (8).

DEPTH CHART INCLUDES 10 WALK-ONS
Iowa’s depth chart includes 10 players who originally joined the program as a walk-on. That includes four on offense (OL Matt Tobin, FB Matt Meyers, RB Jason White, WR Steven Staggs), three on defense (DL Thomas Nardo, OLB Tom Donatell, DB Collin Sleeper), and three specialists (P Eric Guthrie, PK Mike Meyer and LS Casey Kreiter).

COLLECTING INTERCEPTIONS
Iowa’s defense has ranked among national leaders in causing turnovers in recent seasons. Over the last three-plus seasons Iowa has collected 65 interceptions, a total that ranks second in the nation over that span (Florida, 68). The Hawkeyes have had an interception return for a touchdown in each of the last four years, including four last season. Iowa has had an interception return for a score in nine of the last 11 seasons and 9-13 seasons under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa had six non-offensive touchdowns in 2010 and had an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown in the opening win. In addition, in each of the last four seasons, Iowa has had more interceptions than touchdown passes allowed.

IOWA LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started on offense in 125 of its last 144 games, including the opening win over Tennessee Tech. Iowa games vs. Minnesota (11/27/10), Wisconsin (10/23/10), Ohio State (11/14/09), Indiana (10/31/09), Purdue (11/15/08), Penn State (11/08/08), Wisconsin (10/10/08), Minnesota (11/10/07), at Northwestern (11/3/07), vs. Michigan State (10/27/07), at Penn State (10/6/07), 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 13 of those 19 games. Iowa has started the game on offense in 127 of 150 games under Kirk Ferentz, including 12 of 13 games in 2010 and 11 of 13 games in 2009. Iowa scored on its first possession in eight games and Iowa’s opponents scored on their first drive in seven games in 2010.

DOMINANT AT HOME
Iowa has won 50 of its last 61 games (.820) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. Iowa recorded a school-record 22-game home winning streak between 2002-05, which ended with an overtime loss to Michigan. Iowa is 18-4 at home since the start of the 2008 season and 22-1 in its last 23 non-conference home games.

IOWA FOOTBALL AND THE NFL

  • For the second straight year, Iowa had six players selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, and for the second straight year that list included a first round selection (DE Adrian Clayborn).
  • Iowa was one of eight schools to have as many as six players selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.
  • Only two schools, USC (16) and Florida (13), have had more players selected in the past two seasons.
  • As of Sept. 5, the Iowa football program was represented by 41 players on NFL rosters, while another three Hawkeyes with previous NFL experience were listed as free agents.
  • All 11 members of Iowa’s starting defensive unit in 2008 were either drafted in the last three NFL drafts or signed to NFL free agent contracts following the drafts.
  • Over the past 12 years, 98 of 114 (86%) of Iowa’s senior starters have been drafted in the NFL or signed NFL free agent contracts.

HAWKEYES POST 8-5 RECORD IN 2010
Iowa concluded the 2010 season with a 27-24 win over 12th-ranked Missouri in the Insight Bowl. The Hawkeyes earned their second straight bowl victory over a top-15 opponent and have won three consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history. Iowa improved its bowl record to 14-10-1. The Insight Bowl win over the Tigers marked Iowa’s fourth 2010 victory over a ranked opponent, the most by an Iowa team since 2003. Iowa played seven ranked opponents in 2010, the most for the Hawkeyes under Kirk Ferentz. Eight of Iowa’s 2010 opponents competed in bowl games, with Iowa compiling a 4-4 record against those teams. Iowa’s record came against one of the toughest schedules in the nation. In each of Iowa’s five losses, the Hawkeyes were either tied or leading in the fourth quarter. Iowa’s five losses came by a total of 18 points and the four league losses were by a collective 11 points. Iowa’s most impressive wins were a 37-6 win over Michigan State, which shared the Big Ten title while posting an 11-2 overall record, and the Insight Bowl win over Missouri (10-3), which tied for the North Division title in the Big 12 Conference.

IOWA VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Iowa posted a 4-3 record while facing seven ranked opponents in 2010, the most for a Kirk Ferentz coached Hawkeye team. Iowa played six ranked teams in 1999 and 2003. The four wins over ranked teams are the most for Iowa since posting a 4-2 record vs. six ranked opponents in 2003. Three of Iowa’s seven opponents were ranked in the top 10, while Missouri was 12th. Iowa lost to No. 10 Wisconsin (31-30), defeated No. 5 Michigan State (37-6) and lost to No. 7 Ohio State (20-17), all in Kinnick Stadium. In 2009, Iowa defeated No. 4 Penn State and No. 9 Georgia Tech, while losing at No. 8 Ohio State in overtime. With the 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State (10/30/10), Iowa has recorded a victory over a top-five ranked team in each of the last three seasons. Iowa defeated fourth-ranked Penn State (21-10) on the road in 2009 and defeated the third-ranked Nittany Lions (24-23) in Kinnick Stadium in 2008. Along with defeating Michigan State, Iowa defeated Missouri (#12), Penn State (#20) and Michigan (#24). Along with losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State, Iowa lost at No. 18 Arizona. In Big Ten play, Iowa’s eight opponents posted an overall record of 62-34 during the regular season. Iowa did not play Illinois and Purdue.

HAWKEYE NOTES FROM 2010

  • Iowa ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.0), sixth in rushing defense (101.5), 25th in total defense (332.1) and 24th in pass efficiency defense (115.1). The Iowa defense was the last unit in the nation to allow a rushing touchdown last season, that coming in Iowa’s sixth game.
  • The Hawkeyes ranked seventh in the nation in turnover margin (+1.0) and tied for 11th with 19 pass interceptions. Iowa had four interception returns for touchdowns.
  • Iowa’s defense has had at least one pass interception returned for a touchdown in each of the last three seasons and in six of the last seven years.
  • Six Iowa opponents scored one touchdown or less, including two who scored no touchdowns. For the second straight season, eight of Iowa’s 12 regular season opponents scored 17 points or less.
  • Iowa has gone 34 straight games in holding its opponent to two touchdown passes or fewer.
  • For the third straight season, in 2010, Iowa allowed only one individual opponent to rush for over 100 yards.
  • Iowa ranked 11th in the nation in pass efficiency (155.72) and the Hawkeyes were 50th in scoring offense (28.9). The Hawkeyes were 49th in passing offense (234.5), 57th in total offense (382.9) and 70th in rushing offense (148.4). Iowa scored 30 or more points in three consecutive Big Ten Conference games (Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State) for the first time since 2005. Iowa scored 30 or more points in six games overall, matching the second highest number of games under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa scored 30 or more points in nine games in 2002.
  • Iowa had just 11 turnovers (five lost fumbles, six interceptions), which ranked second in the nation. Iowa lost just two fumbles in eight Big Ten games, both in the regular season finale at Minnesota.
  • Iowa was 8-0 in 2010 when rushing for over 120 yards and 0-5 when the rushing total was less than 120 yards.
  • Iowa ranked sixth in fewest penalty yards per game (37.4) and tied for 19th in fewest penalties per game (4.9).
  • On special teams, Iowa ranked sixth in the nation in punt return defense (3.9 average on 21 returns) and 12th in KO returns (25.3).
  • Iowa’s opponents had 142 possessions, and just seven started in Iowa territory. Arizona and Minnesota had two possessions start in Iowa territory and Iowa State, Northwestern and Ohio State started one possession on Iowa’s end of the field.
  • Iowa’s 100 first half points in 2010 led the Big Ten Conference.

IOWA TO MEET NEBRASKA ON FRIDAY
Iowa’s regular season finale will be played on Friday, Nov. 25 at Nebraska, the day after Thanksgiving. That contest will be televised by ABC (11 a.m. CT) to a national audience. Iowa and Nebraska will also meet in Kinnick Stadium on the Friday following Thanksgiving to end the 2012 regular season.

IOWA ADDS TROPHY GAME WITH NEBRASKA
When Iowa and Nebraska resume their series in November, the two teams will be playing “The Heroes Game”, with the winner claiming the Heroes Trophy. The trophy game between the Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers is the latest trophy game for the Hawkeyes, who also play trophy games with Iowa State (Cy-Hawk Trophy), Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale) and Wisconsin (Heartland Trophy).

HAWKEYE FOOTBALL NOTES

  • Dating back to 2008, Iowa has won 10 of its last 14 games away from Iowa City, with two of the four losses coming at the hands of ranked teams. A six-game streak was snapped in the overtime loss at eighth-ranked Ohio State in November, 2009. The road winning streak was the longest for Iowa since winning all five of its road games during the 2002 regular season. That streak was six straight games away from home, including the 2001 Alamo Bowl.
  • Iowa had won 10 straight trophy games over the last four seasons before splitting four trophy games in 2010. Iowa kept the Cy-Hawk Trophy with a win over Iowa State and earned the Insight Bowl trophy with a win over Missouri. Iowa lost the Heartland Trophy to Wisconsin and Floyd of Rosedale to Minnesota. The 10-game win streak in trophy games began with a win over Minnesota in 2007 for possession of Floyd of Rosedale. Iowa also won the battle for Floyd in both 2008 and 2009 and the Cy-Hawk (Iowa State) the last three years. Iowa won the Heartland Trophy (Wisconsin) in 2008 and 2009. The streak included wins in the 2009 Outback and 2010 FedEx Orange bowls.
  • Iowa’s 2009 win at No. 4/5 ranked Penn State marked Iowa’s first road win over a team ranked in the top five since 1990. That season the Hawkeyes scored a 54-28 win at fifth-ranked Illinois. Iowa concluded the 2009 season with a neutral site win over ninth-ranked Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Iowa has defeated a team ranked in the top five in each of the last three seasons.

IOWA PROGRAM NOTES

  • Iowa was bowl eligible in 2010 for the 10th straight season. The Hawkeyes played in their ninth bowl game since 2001. Iowa played in the 2001 Alamo Bowl, 2003 Orange Bowl, 2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl, 2006 Outback Bowl, 2006 Alamo Bowl, 2009 Outback Bowl, 2010 Orange Bowl and 2010 Insight Bowl.
  • vIowa has posted a 6-3 bowl record under Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz is tied for third on the all-time list of Big Ten coaches with six bowl victories. Iowa’s .667 (6-3) winning percentage in bowl games in the BCS era ranks as the best in the Big Ten Conference.
  • Four of Iowa’s six bowl wins under Kirk Ferentz have been in January. Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have bowl wins over teams from the Southeastern (three), Big 12 (two) and Atlantic Coast conferences.
  • Iowa is one of four programs in the nation to win a bowl game at the conclusion of each of the last three seasons, with two of the three being January bowl wins. Among Big Ten teams, only Penn State (1993-96), Michigan (1997-2000) and Ohio State (2002-2005) have won four straight bowl games in as many seasons.
  • Iowa has defeated a team ranked in the top five in the nation, in the Associated Press rankings, in each of the past three seasons (Penn State in 2008 and 2009, Michigan State in 2010).
  • Iowa earned Big Ten Conference championships in 2002 and 2004 and placed second in 2009. Iowa (8-0, 2002) is one of two Big Ten teams to post a perfect mark in conference play since 1998 (BCS era).
  • Iowa has ranked in the top 10 in the final Associated Press and CNN/USA Today coaches polls in four of the past nine seasons, including a ranking of seventh in both polls at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Iowa ranked eighth in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the Hawkeyes were also 20th in 2008.
  • Iowa established a school record with 11 wins in 2002 (11-2) and matched that record in 2009. In 2009, Iowa won 10 regular season games for just the fourth time in school history.
  • Iowa won 10 or more games in three consecutive years (2002-04) for first time in school history.
  • Iowa compiled an eight-year record of 78-36 (.684), 2002-10, third best in the Big Ten. The 78 victories rank as the 18th best total in the nation.
  • Iowa posted a 46-26 Big Ten record from 2002-10, which ranks second among league teams over that span.
  • Kirk Ferentz has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year three times (2002, 2004 & 2009) and he was named National Coach of the Year in 2002. Ferentz joins Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (four), Iowa’s Hayden Fry (three) and Penn State’s Joe Paterno (three) as the only coaches to be honored in more than two seasons.
  • Iowa has had national award winners in: 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 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 PLAYS THEM CLOSE
Iowa has not lost a football game by more than nine points in its last 44 games, a streak that currently ranks as the longest in the nation (31-6, at Purdue, 10/20/07. In addition, The Hawkeyes have not lost a game by more than a touchdown in their last 40 games (28-19, Western Michigan, 11/17/07).

IOWA AMONG TOP 20 IN WINS, 2002-10
Iowa has 79 wins since the start of the 2002 season, which ranks as the 18th highest total in Division I football. The list includes the following: Boise State (107); USC (101); Ohio State (100); Oklahoma (99); Texas (96); LSU (93); TCU (92); Virginia Tech (92); Florida (89); Georgia (88); Auburn (87); West Virginia (86); Utah (85); Wisconsin (82); Boston College (80); Alabama (80); Texas Tech (80); IOWA (79); Miami, FL (76); and Penn State (75).

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.

AMERICA NEEDS FARMERS
The University of Iowa Athletics Department is working with the Iowa Farm Bureau on efforts to help consumers understand the challenges and opportunities today’s farmers embrace, and to do so under the banner, “America Needs Farmers,” the initiative undertaken by former UI football coach Hayden Fry during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s and embraced by the Hawkeyes’ current head coach Kirk Ferentz. To learn more, visit AmericaNeedsFarmers.org.

AFTER THIS
Iowa returns home to host Pittsburgh (11 a.m. ESPN/ESPN2) Sept. 17 and Louisiana-Monroe (TBA) Sept. 24 before an open week. Iowa opens Big Ten play Oct. 8 at Penn State (TBA).

AMERICA NEEDS FARMERS
The University of Iowa Athletics Department is working with the Iowa Farm Bureau on efforts to help consumers understand the challenges and opportunities today’s farmers embrace, and to do so under the banner, “America Needs Farmers,” the initiative undertaken by former UI football coach Hayden Fry during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s and embraced by the Hawkeyes’ current head coach Kirk Ferentz. To learn more, visit AmericaNeedsFarmers.org.

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