Sept. 3, 2012
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Iowa Game Notes and Depth Chart
HAWKEYES HOSTS IOWA STATE IN HOME OPENER
Iowa (1-0) hosts Iowa State (1-0) Saturday in Kinnick Stadium (70,585) in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Game time is 2:42 p.m. The game is sold out. Saturday’s game will be the third event in the ninth annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series. Iowa defeated ISU in women’s soccer, while the Iowa volleyball team plays at ISU Friday evening. The annual series is tied 4-4.
HOME OPENER STORY LINES
? Iowa will be wearing throwback uniforms Saturday in honor of the 1921 and 1922 Hawkeye teams that posted identical 7-0 overall records and perfect 5-0 Big Ten marks. The 1921 Iowa squad was later recognized by researchers as one of five teams to share the title of national champions.
? Saturday will mark Iowa’s third game in throwback uniforms. The Hawkeyes wore uniforms modeled after the 1958 Iowa squad when they defeated Ball State (45-0) on Sept. 25, 2010. Iowa wore uniforms honoring the 1939 Ironmen during its win over Kent State (39-7) on Sept. 4, 2004.
? Iowa holds a record of 93-27-2 when playing its first home game of the season. Following the win over Northern Illinois last weekend, Iowa is now 91-31-2 in season-opening games. Iowa has opened the season with a win in 12 straight seasons and has won its home opener in 11 straight seasons.
? Saturday’s contest marks the 36th meeting between Iowa and Iowa State since the series was resumed in 1977. The teams first met in 1894 but discontinued the series after the game in 1934.
? Iowa has won the last four meetings against Iowa State in Iowa City, dating back to 2004.
| Game 2 | Iowa State vs. Iowa | |
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 8 | 2:42 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | Iowa City, Iowa | Kinnick Stadium |
| TV | BTN |
| Radio | Hawkeye Radio Network |
| Live Coverage | GameTracker | Twitter Game Updates |
| All-Time Series | Iowa leads, 39-20 |
ON THE TUBE
BTN (HD) will televise the contest. Kevin Kugler, former Hawkeye QB Chuck Long, Chris Martin and Jon Jansen will call the action.
RADIO BROADCAST
Iowa games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network. Gary Dolphin handles the play-by-play, with color commentator Ed Podolak and sideline reporter Rob Brooks. The Hawkeye Radio Network includes more than 40 stations throughout the state. The game can also be heard on Sirius channel 117.
ON THIS DATE
Iowa has posted a 3-1 record when playing on Sept. 8, playing all four games at home. Iowa defeated Iowa State (59-21) in 1984, Miami (OH) (44-19) in 1984 and Syracuse (35-0) in 2007. The Hawkeyes lost to Indiana (30-26) in 1979 in the first game of the Hayden Fry era at Iowa.
FRY FEST ACTIVITIES ON FRIDAY
The fourth annual Fry Fest will take place Friday. A complete schedule of events can be found at fryfest.com. Fry Fest attendees will be able to take in a day of panel discussions reliving stories from broadcasters, players and coaches’ perspectives from the intra-state rivalry game.
The “World’s Largest Hawkeye Tradeshow” returns, where fans can interact with Hawkeye retailers, licensees, and other related groups. Frank Fritz from the History Channel’s American Pickers will open the tradeshow at 10 a.m. with an autograph session.
There will also be a Fry Fest car show presented by Carousel Nissan, Fry Fest small Fry zone at Diamond Dreams, and the Fry Fest pep rally, which are all free to the public. Activities will take place throughout the day at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville, concluding with an outdoor concert featuring Sara Evans (8:30 p.m.).
ALL ABOARD TO KINNICK STADIUM!
The Hawkeye Express, the engine and club cars that transport fans from Coralville to Kinnick Stadium, is once again available for those fans traveling to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The Hawkeye Express enters its eighth season. Adults can ride the train for $12, while children (12-and-under) ride for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the UI Ticket Office or on game day at the Hawkeye Express depot. Media credentials are accepted as well.
Free parking is located in lots near the Comfort Suites and Coral Ridge Mall. Fans can begin boarding the train in Coralville four hours before kickoff. Return trips begin at the start of the fourth period and run 90 minutes after the game. The Hawkeye Express is owned by the Iowa Northern Railway Company.
MEYER EARNS BIG TEN HONOR
Junior PK Mike Meyer was named co-special teams Player of the Week in the Big Ten Conference for his play in Iowa’s 18-17 win over Northern Illinois. Meyer connected on field goals of 34, 29, 22 and 50 yards, while missing a 40-yard attempt just to the right. The 50-yarder ties a career long (at Iowa State, 2011) and the four treys in a game match his career high (at Iowa State, 2011 and at Indiana, 2010). The five attempts ties Iowa’s single-game record, which he also shares.
The 50-yard kick last week came in the fourth quarter and allowed the Hawkeyes to rally for an 18-17 win. The Big Ten honor is the second for Meyer, who is on the preseason Watch List for the Lou Groza Award. Meyer has 171 career points to ranks 11th on Iowa’s career list. He has made 32-42 (.762) career field goal attempts.
CFPA HONORS TWO HAWKEYES
Junior PK Mike Meyer and senior DE Joe Gaglione earned honorable mention honors from the College Football Performance Awards at their respective positions for their play in Iowa’s 18-17 win over Northern Illinois. Meyer, who also shared the Big Ten’s special teams Player of the Week honor, made four of five field goal attempts, including a 50-yard boo that ties as his career longest. Meyer attended Wahlert HS in Dubuque.
Gaglione played a key role for the Iowa defense that held Northern Illinois to just 201 yards of total offense. Gaglione recorded three solo tackles and three assists. He had three tackles for loss and one of Iowa’s two QB sacks. He forced a Northern Illinois fumble that was recovered by Iowa and led directly to a Hawkeye field goal in the third quarter. Gaglione is a native of Novelty, Ohio and attended Lake Catholic HS.
THE SERIES
Saturday’s game will mark the 60th game in the series. Iowa holds a 39-20 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. The Hawkeyes have won 21 of the last 29 meetings, including three of the last four, four of the last six and six of the last nine. The Hawkeyes won 15 straight games in the series (1983-1997). Iowa State snapped a three-game Hawkeye winning streak with a 44-41 triple-overtime win a year ago in Ames. It marked Iowa’s first-ever triple overtime contest.
Iowa holds a 23-12 advantage in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won the last four meetings in Kinnick Stadium. ISU’s last victory in Iowa City came in 2002 (36-16), which was Iowa’s only regular season loss that year. The teams did not meet between 1935 and 1976. Iowa holds a 23-12 advantage since the series resumed in 1977.
CY-HAWK TROPHY
Iowa Corn is the sponsor of the Cy-Hawk Series and the annual football game between the two schools. Saturday’s meeting will mark the first time the teams are competing for a newly designed trophy.
Iowa and Iowa State played for the Cy-Hawk Trophy from the time the series resumed in 1977, with the Hawkeyes holding a 23-12 advantage in those games. That Cy-Hawk Trophy was donated to the series by the Des Moines Athletic Club. The Cy-Hawk Trophy currently resides in Ames as a result of Iowa State’s 44-41 triple-overtime victory in Ames last season.
IOWA STATE HEAD COACH PAUL RHOADS
Paul Rhoads is in his fourth 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 Bowl win over Minnesota. His record as a head coach is 19-20 after ISU opened the season with a 38-23 win over Tulsa. He is the first coach in Cyclone history to take his team to a pair of postseason bowls in his first three seasons as ISU’s head coach.
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). 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
? Former Iowa quarterback Chuck Long is part of BTN’s broadcasting crew for Saturday’s game. Long earned All-America honors as a Hawkeye, leading Iowa to the 1985 Big Ten title and a spot in the 1986 Rose Bowl. Long has also served as a Hawkeye assistant coach.
? Iowa does not play a true road game until it plays Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 13. The Hawkeyes’ opener vs. NIU was played on a neutral field, followed by four consecutive home games (Iowa State, UNI, Central Michigan and Minnesota).
? Iowa’s depth chart has five native Iowans listed as starters on the offensive line: LT Brandon Scherff (Denison), LG Matt Tobin (Dyersville), C James Ferentz (Iowa City), RG Austin Blythe (Williamsburg), RT Brett Van Sloten (Decorah). Ferentz has 27 career starts, followed by Tobin’s 11 starts and four by Scherff. That group started the contest against Northern Illinois, marking the first time under Coach Ferentz the offensive line has consisted of all native Iowans.
? After the win over Northern Illinois, Iowa is 15-2 when rushing for 120 yards or more the last two-plus seasons.
? Iowa WR Jordan Cotton is the brother of ISU defensive back Darian Cotton. Both Jordan and Darian wear jersey No. 23. Their father, Marshall, was an Iowa running back from 1985-87.
? PK Mike Meyer scored a career-best 15 points in last year’s triple overtime contest in Ames. He attempted and made all four field goals, including a career-long 50-yarder, along with splitting the uprights on all three PAT attempts. Meyer made 4-5 field goal attempts in Iowa’s opening win, matching his career-long with a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.
? Iowa State won its 500th game in school history with its win over Tulsa last Saturday.
? 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 won three of five games against Iowa State during the time that ISU Coach Paul Rhoads was a Cyclone assistant coach.
IOWA VS. THE BIG 12
Iowa holds an all-time record of 54-32 (.628) against current members of the Big 12 Conference, having met all but Baylor and West Virginia 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 43-165-5 (.214) vs. the Big Ten. The Cyclones have not played Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State or Purdue; the record reflects ISU’s results vs. Nebraska as well.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,156 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 595-522-39 (.531). That includes a 376-202-16 (.646) record in home games, a 219-320-23 (.410) record in games away from Iowa City, a 293-352-25 (.456) mark in Big Ten games and a 259-166-15 (.606) record in Kinnick Stadium.
WINNING AT HOME
Iowa has won 55 of its last 67 games (.821) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season, including a 6-1 record in 2011. Iowa recorded a school-record 22-game home winning streak between 2002-05, which ended with an overtime loss to Michigan. Iowa is 23-5 (.821) at home since the start of the 2008 season and 24-1 (.960) in its last 25 non-conference home games. Iowa has won 12 straight non-conference home games since the final game of 2007.
IOWA RALLIES PAST NIU
Iowa scored nine unanswered points in the fourth quarter to complete an 18-17 comeback win over Northern Illinois at Soldier Field to open the 2012 season. The Hawkeyes trailed, 17-9, heading into the final quarter. Iowa’s first drive of the frame covered 31 yards in 10 plays and was capped by a Mike Meyer 50-yard field goal, tying his career-long. Meyer matched his career best with four field goals and tied Iowa’s single game record with five field goal attempts.
Senior John Weinke’s punt with 5:36 remaining pinned the Huskies at their own one-yard line and the Hawkeye defense forced a three-and-out. Iowa took over on the NIU 24-yard line, trailing by five, with 3:41 left. Sophomore Damon Bullock broke a 23-yard run on third down for Iowa’s only touchdown of the game, giving the Hawkeyes an 18-17 advantage. Iowa would hold the Huskies without a first down on their final drive to seal the win.
Iowa’s first drive of the game was an impressive 14 play, 58-yard march over 6:52 that resulted in the first of Meyer’s four field goals. NIU responded in the second quarter with a Keith Harris seven-yard touchdown run. Meyer’s 29-yard field goal with 4:23 remaining in the second half made the score 7-6, but NIU’s Matthew Sims knocked in a 28-yard field goal for a 10-6 halftime lead.
Joe Gaglione forced an NIU fumble on its first drive of the third quarter, and the Hawkeyes capitalized eight plays later with another Meyer field goal to come within one at 10-9. NIU QB Jordan Lynch gave the Huskies an eight-point cushion with a 73-yard touchdown scamper before Iowa’s fourth quarter comeback. Bullock led Iowa’s offensive attack, registering 30 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. Senior James Vandenberg finished 21-33 for 129 yards, completing passes to six different receivers.
Iowa’s defense held the Huskies to just 54 yards passing and 201 yards total offense. Iowa ran 30 more plays than NIU and dominated time of possession, racking up 38:42. James Morris and Anthony Hitchens each had eight tackles for Iowa, while Gaglione had six tackles, including three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble.
IOWA POSTGAME NOTES
? Iowa outscored Northern Illinois 9-0 in the fourth quarter to beat the Huskies, 18-17, in Chicago. The Hawkeyes improved to 8-0 all-time against the Huskies, and won their 12th straight season opener. The win also snapped Northern Illinois’ nine-game winning streak, which had been the longest in the nation.
? The one-point victory was Iowa’s first one-point win since defeating Northern Iowa, 17-16, in the 2009 season opener (Sept. 5).
? The Hawkeyes rushed for 139 yards. Since 2010, the Hawkeyes are 15-2 when rushing for more than 120 yards.
? True freshmen who saw action in Iowa’s season opener included RB Greg Garmon, P Connor Kornbrath, DB Sean Draper and DB Kevin Buford.
? Along with four true freshmen, others seeing the first action of their career against Northern Illinois included OL Austin Blythe, DL Darian Cooper, WR Jacob Hillyer, LB Cole Fisher, LB Travis Perry, DL Dean Tsopanides, TE Henry Krieger Coble, TE Jake Duzey and FB Mark Weisman.
? Iowa started an all-Iowa offensive line: LT Brandon Scherff (Denison), LG Matt Tobin (Dyersville), C James Ferentz (Iowa City), RG Austin Blythe (Williamsburg), and RT Brett Van Sloten (Decorah).
? QB James Vandenberg was 21-33 for 129 yards. The senior signal caller connected with six different receivers. Vandenberg had a 16-yard rush in the second quarter, equaling a career long. Vandenberg has completed 305-532 pass attempts for 3,666 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career. His 3,666 yards passing ranks ninth in Iowa career history.
? Sophomore RB Damon Bullock led the team with 150 yards on 30 attempts today. Both were career bests. Bullock’s 23-yard touchdown run with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter was his first career touchdown.
? WR Kevonte Martin-Manley led the team in catches (6) and WR Keenan Davis led the team in receiving yards (41).
? Defensively, DB Tom Donatell had six tackles and forced his first career fumble. Joe Gaglione also added six tackles and his first career forced fumble. Linebackers James Morris and Anthony Hitchens each had a team-high eight stops. DL Joe Gaglione forced his first career fumble, while DL Carl Davis recovered his first fumble on the third play of the third quarter.
? Iowa collected a fumble recovery in the third quarter and turned that takeaway into three points. The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 65 of its last 75 games, dating back to 2006. Northern Illinois did not collect a takeaway.
? True freshman punter Connor Kornbrath punted three times for 124 yards (41.3 avg.), including a long of 51 yards in the first period. John Wienke punted one time for 43 yards on his first career punt, having the punt downed at the one-yard line.
? Iowa was 2-3 in the red zone, making two field goals and missing another. The Hawkeyes have scored on 151 of the last 171 red zone possessions (101 TDs and 50 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 132-152 combined inside the red zone its last 44 games. Northern Illinois was 2-2 in the red zone (1 FG, 1 TD).
? Iowa dominated the time of possession, 38:42-21:18. Iowa’s time of possession of 38:42 is the second most in the Kirk Ferentz era (41:53 vs. Kent State in 2004 is first).
FIRST TIME STARTERS
Iowa players earning the first start of their career in the win over Northern Illinois included OL Austin Blythe, OL Brett Van Sloten, RB Damon Bullock, FB Mark Weisman, DL Darian Cooper, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat, LB Anthony Hitchens, and DB B.J. Lowery. True freshman Connor Kornbrath was Iowa’s starting punter. Hitchens and Van Sloten are juniors, Bullock, Lowery, Trinca-Pasat and Weisman are sophomores and Blythe and Cooper are redshirt freshmen.
BULLOCK LEADS OFFENSE
Sophomore RB Damon Bullock led Iowa’s offense in the opening win, rushing 30 times for 150 yards and his first career touchdown. Bullock scored on a 23-yard run with 2:15 remaining in the game as Iowa rallied for an 18-17 win. He also had three receptions for 26 yards. Bullock started for the first time in his career after collecting just 10 rushing attempts for 20 yards and one pass reception for 11 yards as a true freshman in 2011.
The 150 rushing yards is the most for an Iowa running back in a season-opening game since 2003, when Fred Russell rushed 22 times for 167 yards in a 21-3 win over Miami, Ohio. It is also the most yards gained by a player in their first career start since Russell gained 170 yards on just 14 carries in a 57-21 win over Akron in the opening game of the 2002 season.
ISU RALLIES TO WIN
Iowa State rallied from a 16-7 deficit to post a 38-23 win over Tulsa last Saturday in Ames. Iowa State took advantage of a Tulsa fumble to change momentum as the Cyclones scored 24 straight points. The visitors scored to cut the deficit to 31-23 in the fourth quarter before a final Cyclone touchdown secured the win.
Quarterback Steele Jantz led ISU’s offense by completing 32-45 attempts for a career-best 281 yards. He had scoring passes of 43 and seven yards and also scored on a five yard run. Nine Cyclones had at least one reception, led by Josh Lenz with eight catches for 96 yards. RB Shontrelle Johnson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts. Linebacker Jake Knott forced the Tulsa fumble that changed the momentum. Knott had 11 tackles and two pass break-ups as well.
LAST MEETING
Iowa drove 80 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 5:50 remaining, but could not get a defensive stop in the final minutes and eventually dropped a 44-41 contest in three overtimes at Iowa State. The loss snapped Iowa’s three-game winning streak in the series.
Iowa drove 82 yards for a touchdown on its first drive of the game and added a 42-yard field goal from Mike Meyer in the second for a 10-0 advantage. A 12-yard Iowa State touchdown drive following an Iowa fumble and a 54-yard field goal late in the second period left the teams tied at 10-10 at the break.
Meyer connected on field goals of 20 and 50 yards in the third period to give Iowa a 16-10 advantage. The 50-yard field goal marked a career best for Meyer. ISU answered with a five-play touchdown drive to take its first lead with two minutes remaining in the third period.
Following a missed field goal attempt by ISU in the final period, the Hawkeye drove 80 yards in 11 plays, taking the advantage on a 1-yard run by Marcus Coker. QB James Vandenberg connected with WR Keenan Davis on the two-point conversion and Iowa led 24-17 with 5:50 remaining.
Iowa State tied the score with 1:17 to play on a 4-yard touchdown pass as the Cyclones converted three times on third down and a fourth and one.
Coker scored on a 4-yard run in the first overtime, but ISU answered. The Cyclones scored a touchdown in the second overtime, but Iowa answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Vandenberg to Davis. Iowa was held to a 34-yard Meyer field goal in the third extra period before ISU scored the winning points on a 4-yard run. Coker led Iowa’s rushing attack with 140 yards and two scores. Vandenberg completed 16-28 passes for 207 yards and two scores, with no interceptions. Davis led Iowa receivers with five receptions for 95 yards.
LB Christian Kirksey led Iowa’s defense, recording 13 tackles (11 solo), two tackles for loss, one QB sack, a pass break-up and a caused and recovered fumble.
RETURNING RUSHING YARDS
Iowa has the third fewest returning total rushing yards returning from a year ago in the nation. Florida Atlantic is first (101), followed by Idaho (184) and Iowa (202). If you factor in Jordan Canzeri’s injury, the Hawkeyes return 88 total rushing yards (numbers do not reflect team rushes).
COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Iowa’s coaching staff has undergone several changes from a year ago. Phil Parker is the new defensive coordinator after coaching the Iowa secondary for the past 13 seasons. Reese Morgan moves from offensive to defensive line coach and Darrell Wilson has moved from coaching linebackers to coaching the defensive backs. LeVar Woods is in his first season as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson will assist Morgan with the defensive line.
On offense, coordinator and quarterbacks coach Greg Davis joins the staff for his first season with the Hawkeyes. Brian Ferentz is in his first season as Iowa’s offensive line coach and graduate assistant David Raih has added the duties of coaching the Hawkeye tight ends. Lester Erb continues to coach the running backs and will again work with Wilson in coaching the Hawkeye special teams. Both Ferentz and Woods are former Hawkeye players.
HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 39 lettermen from 2011, including 19 on offense, 17 on defense and three specialists. The 39 returning lettermen are three more than a year ago. The Hawkeyes return six starters on offense, five on defense and one specialist. The lettermen breakdown includes five three-year lettermen, 14 two-year lettermen and 20 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 118 players, and includes 18 seniors, 20 juniors, 25 sophomores, 19 redshirt freshmen and 36 true freshmen.
STARTERS RETURNING
Iowa’s projected returning starters on offense include: center James Ferentz, left guard Matt Tobin, quarterback James Vandenberg, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, fullback Brad Rogers and wide receiver Keenan Davis. The returning defensive starters include: lineman Dominic Alvis, linebackers Christian Kirksey and James Morris and defensive backs Micah Hyde and Tanner Miller. PK Mike Meyer also returns. Among the returning starters, only Kirksey and Hyde on defense and Ferentz and Vandenberg started every game in 2011. Ferentz and Hyde have each started 26 consecutive games over the past two seasons.
Iowa’s preseason depth start includes 14 seniors, but just seven of those 14 are projected as starters. That is the fewest number of projected senior starters in the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa. The previous low was 10 in both 2007 and 2009. Just seven seniors are listed as starters on the preseason depth chart. That is the lowest number in the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa.
RETURNING STAT LEADERS
Iowa returns the following players who led the team in statistical categories in 2011:
? QB James Vandenberg started all 13 games in 2011, completing 237-404 pass attempts for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions.
? PK Mike Meyer was second on the team in scoring with 86 points, hitting 14-20 field goal attempts and all 44 PAT attempts. He has made 56 consecutive PAT attempts (Nate Keading holds the school record with 60 set in 2001-02) and ranks 14th in career scoring with 159 points in two seasons.
? Junior linebackers Christian Kirksey and James Morris shared the team lead with 110 tackles. Kirksey started all 13 games, recording 62 solo tackles, three pass break-ups and two caused fumbles. Morris, who missed one contest due to injury, had 52 solo stops. They both recorded one pass interception.
? Senior Micah Hyde and junior Tanner Miller shared the team lead with three interceptions. Hyde also handled the majority of punt returns, averaging 8.2 yards on 13 returns, and shared the team lead with eight pass break-ups.
DEPTH CHART INCLUDES NINE WALK-ONS, 4 TRUE FRESHMEN
Iowa’s depth chart includes nine players who originally joined the program as a walk-on. That includes five on offense (OL Matt Tobin, TE Zach Derby, RB Michael Malloy, WR Steven Staggs and FB Mark Weisman), two on defense (OLB Tom Donatell and LB Travis Perry), and two specialists (PK Mike Meyer and LS Casey Kreiter). True freshmen on the depth chart include defensive back Kevin Buford, punter Connor Kornbrath, and running backs Greg Garmon and Michael Malloy.
AMONG CAREER LEADERS
Senior QB James Vandenberg tied for third in single-season touchdown passes (25) in 2011. He is fourth in season passing yards (3,022), ninth in career passing yards (3,666) and eighth in career passing touchdowns (28). Vandenberg passed for 399 yards in a win over Pittsburgh last season, a total that ranks seventh best in a single game. His 391 yards total offense in that contest ranks eighth best for a single game. His completions (31) in that contest rank fourth best for a single game and his attempts (48) ties as seventh best.
Sophomore PK Mike Meyer is 11th in career scoring with 171 points (32-42 FGS, 75-77 PATs). His 86 points in 2011 ties as 14th best in single-season scoring. Senior DB Micah Hyde holds the eighth (72) and 10th (66) longest interception returns in school history.
COLLECTING INTERCEPTIONS
Iowa’s defense has ranked among national leaders in causing turnovers in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2008 season, Iowa has collected 72 interceptions, a total that ties as fifth best in the nation over that span, heading into this season. Iowa had nine interceptions in 2011, with two of those being returned for touchdowns (89 yards by DB Shaun Prater and 98 yards by DB Tanner Miller). LB James Morris also has a 52-yard return that led to a field goal.
The Hawkeyes have had an interception return for a touchdown in each of the last four years, including four in 2010. Iowa has had an interception return for a score in nine of the last 11 seasons and 9 of 13 seasons under Kirk Ferentz.
IOWA AMONG TOP 20 IN WINS, 2002-12
Iowa has posted 86 wins since the start of the 2002 season, which ranks as the 17th highest total in Division I football. The list includes the following: Boise State (117); USC (110); Oklahoma (109); LSU (107); Ohio State (106); Texas (104); TCU (103); Virginia Tech (102); Georgia (99); Florida (96); West Virginia (96); Wisconsin (95); Auburn (94); Utah (93); Alabama (92); Oregon (91); IOWA (86); Florida State (86); Texas Tech (85); Boston College (84); Hawaii (84); Miami, FL (84); Nebraska (83) and Michigan (82).
IOWA PROGRAM NOTES
? Iowa defeated a team ranked in the top five in the nation, in the Associated Press rankings, in 2008 (Penn State), 2009 (Penn State) and 2010 (Michigan State), along with defeating 13th-ranked Michigan in 2011.
? 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 10 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 85-42 (.669), 2002-11, including a 50-30 Big Ten record. The 85 victories tie as the 17th best total in the nation. HAWKEYES HOSTS IOWA STATE IN HOME OPENER
Iowa (1-0) hosts Iowa State (1-0) Saturday in Kinnick Stadium (70,585) in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Game time is 2:42 p.m. The game is sold out. Saturday’s game will be the third event in the ninth annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series. Iowa defeated ISU in women’s soccer, while the Iowa volleyball team plays at ISU Friday evening. The annual series is tied 4-4. ? 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 has appeared in the final Associated Press poll 21 times in its program history, a total that ranks 25th best in the country.
IOWAN CALLING THE SIGNALS
Senior QB James Vandenberg started all 13 games a year ago and 16 overall in his career after Iowa’s opening win. Vandenberg completed 237-of-404 pass attempts for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011. He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (232.5), fourth in total offense (237.2) and fifth in pass efficiency (138.5). Vandenberg (6-foot-3, 212) was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Vandenberg is on four preseason watch lists (Davey O’Brien, Maxwell Award, Manning Award and CFPA Quarterback Trophy) and was also ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the Big Ten by ESPN.com. He completed 21-33 passes for 129 yards and had no turnovers in Iowa’s opening win.
Vandenberg is a native of Keokuk and is the second quarterback from the state of Iowa under Coach Kirk Ferentz. Kyle McCann (Creston) 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).
QB James Vandenberg
? Named to 2012 preseason watch lists for Davey O’Brien, Manning Award and Maxwell awards, and the CFPA Quarterback Trophy.
? Named to Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team in 2011 ? Completed 237-404 (.587) passes for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2011, with seven interceptions.
? Thirteen of 25 touchdown passes in 2011 covered over 20 yards ? Ranks third for touchdown passes in a season (25) and fourth in passing yards in a season (3,022) in 2011.
? Ranks ninth in career passing yards (3,666) and eighth in career touchdown passes (28)
? Named Big Ten Conference offensive Player of the Week after reaching career high marks in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdowns in win over Pittsburgh in 2011. Also scored on a one-yard run and completed 17 of his last 20 passes in the second half.
? Leads all returning Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yards and only 17 returning players in the FBS threw for more yards in 2011.
? Had 18 TD passes and two interceptions in seven wins in 2011. He had seven TD passes and five interceptions in six defeats.
? Iowa is 8-1 in the games that QB James Vandenberg has completed at least 60 percent of his passes the last two seasons.
? Iowa is 6-1 over the past two years when Vandenberg throws for 219 yards or more.
? Threw only three interceptions in seven home games in 2011.
DB Micah Hyde
? Second team all-Big Ten by league media and honorable mention by coaches in 2011.
? Defensive Player of the Game, 2010 Insight Bowl.
? Has seven career interceptions.
? Earned defensive back honorable mention recognition from College Football Performance Awards for his play in win over Pittsburgh and in loss at Penn State.
MEYER GETTING HIS KICKS
PK Mike Meyer was one of 20 semifinal candidates for the 2011 Lou Groza Award, presented each year to the top place kicker in the nation. The junior in 2011 made 14-20 (.700) field goal attempts and was a perfect 44-44 in PAT kicks (has made 56 straight PATs over two seasons). Three of his six missed field goals hit the upright, while another attempt was blocked. The school record for consecutive PATs made is 60 established by All-Pro Nate Kaeding. Meyer ranked fifth in the Big Ten in kick scoring (6.6) for the season.
Meyer matched his career-long with a 50-yard field goal in the win over Northern Illinois (at Iowa State, 2011). Meyer made four field goals in a game for the third time in his career vs. Northern Illinois (at Iowa State, 2011 and at Indiana, 2010). Meyer is tied for 14th in single-season scoring with 86 points in 2011 and is 11th in career scoring with 171 points. He has made 32-42 (.762) career field goal attempts. He has twice tied the Iowa record for field goal attempts in a game (Northern Illinois, at Indiana, 2010).
MORRIS SHARES TACKLE LEAD
LB James Morris earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors from both league coaches and media in 2011. He tied for the team lead in tackles (110 in 12 games) and ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 37th in the nation. Morris recorded 52 solo stops and 58 assists, along with one pass interception, in 12 games. Morris began the 2012 season with eight tackles in the win over Northern Illinois, including one tackle for loss.
KIRKSEY SHARES TACKLE LEAD
LB Christian Kirksey recorded 110 tackles (62 solo) in 13 games a year ago to share the team lead. The junior ranked seventh in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.5). He also had five tackles for loss, one QB sack, three pass break-ups, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. He collected his first career interception in Iowa’s win over Michigan, stopping a Michigan red zone possession.
BEST DECADE FOR IOWA FOOTBALL
Iowa’s football record in the 2000 decade was 80-45 (.640), a record that ranks as the best decade in Iowa football history, based on total wins. Iowa posted a record of 77-40-4 (.652) during the 1980’s and the Hawkeyes were 62-53-2 (.538) in the 1990’s.
Part of the Hawkeye success is due to the stability in the program, as Iowa has had just two head coaches since 1979. Hayden Fry took over prior to the 1979 season and coached through the 1998 season, posting a record of 143-89-6. Current Coach Kirk Ferentz replaced Fry, leading the program for the last 13 seasons. Ferentz also served as Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 under Fry.
FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
Iowa has seven players on its 2012 roster whose father played for the Hawkeyes. WR Jordan Cotton (Marshall in 1984-87), OL Cole Croston (Dave in 1984-86), TE Zach Derby (John in 1988-91), QB Dan Hartlieb (Chuck in 1986-88), OL Mitch Keppy (Myron in 1986-87), ATH George Krieger Kittle (Bruce in 1977-80) and DB Sean Skradis (Bryan in 1977-81).
DAD IN THE NFL
The fathers of DB Tom Donatell and DB Greg Castillo are coaches in the NFL. Ed Donatell is the defensive secondary coach for the San Francisco 49’ers and Juan Castillo is the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.
BIG PLAY HAWKEYES
Iowa had one pass play and one rushing play, along with two KO returns and four field goals, of at least 20 yards in its opening win. Iowa’s first opponent had one passing play, one rushing play, one KO return and one field goal of 20 yards or more last week.
AVERAGE SCORING DRIVES
Iowa’s five scoring drives against Northern Illinois averaged 6.4 plays, 34.2 yards and 4:08 in elapsed time. Iowa had one scoring drive that covered 50 yards or more. Iowa’s first opponent had three scoring drives, averaging eight plays, 66.7 yards and 2:56 in elapsed time.
IOWA IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa was 3-4 (75%) in the red zone in its opening game, making three of four field goal attempts. Iowa has scored on 151 of the last 171 (.883) red zone possessions (101 TDs and 50 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 132-152 (.868) combined inside the red zone its last 44 games. Iowa’s opponent last week was 2-2 in the red zone, collecting one field goal and one rushing touchdown.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
Iowa scored three points following a fumble recovery in the win over Northern Illinois. The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 66 of its last 76 games, dating back to 2006. Iowa had no turnovers it the opening win.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY
Iowa and Nebraska will meet for the second straight year on the Friday following Thanksgiving. The 2012 “Heroes Game” will be played Friday, Nov. 23 in Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium. The teams met on Friday following Thanksgiving last season in Lincoln in the inaugural battle for the “Heroes Game” trophy.
HAWKEYES AT NIGHT
Iowa will once again host a night game in Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes will host Penn State at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 20. The game will be televised on BTN. Iowa is 6-3 in night games in Kinnick Stadium, including a 41-31 win over Northwestern a year ago.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE
All Iowa football games in 2011 were televised on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FSN or the BTN. Eight of Iowa’s 12 games this season are already scheduled for television, with the remaining four games expected to be selected as well. The last Iowa contest not televised was vs. Minnesota on Nov. 17, 2001. Iowa has appeared on television in 129 consecutive games.
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 remains in Iowa City next week when it hosts Northern Iowa on Saturday (2:42 p.m., BTN). In fact, the Hawkeyes will remain in Iowa City through September, entertaining Central Michigan (Sept. 22) and Minnesota (Sept. 29, 11 a.m.).