Sept. 16, 2013
- 2013 Game Day Central
- Read the September issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- 2013 Signing Day Central
- Hawkeyes in the NFL
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/iPad app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
600 DOWN, 300 TO GO
Iowa’s 27-21 win over Iowa State on Sept. 14 was the 600th win in program history. The Hawkeyes’ overall record is 600-531-39 (.529). Iowa is also closing in on a conference milestone. The Hawkeyes enter Big Ten play next week with 297 conference wins. Iowa is 297-359-25 (.454) all-time in Big Ten games.
TICKET UPDATE
Tickets remain for all five remaining Iowa home games. Iowa’s next home game against Western Michigan is a “Youth Ticket” game. Boys and girls high school aged and younger can purchase a ticket at a cost of $25. Current UI students can purchase a single-game ticket for themselves and guests for all five remaining games online at hawkeyesports.com at any time, or in-person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office location in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Single-game general public and student ticket prices for Iowa’s five remaining home games are as follows: Western Michigan ($60/$40), Michigan State ($65/$50), Northwestern ($65/$50), Wisconsin ($70/$55), Michigan ($70/$55).
IOWA/WESTERN MICHIGAN NOTES
? Iowa’s schedule includes four teams with first-year head coaches (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin), plus Ohio State, whose Urban Meyer is in his second year with the Buckeyes. Iowa did not face Ohio State the last two seasons.
? Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck is the youngest head coach in FBS football. Born, Nov. 29, 1980, the 32-year old Fleck is in his first season as a college head coach.
? Western Michigan, who plays in the Mid-American Conference, is 0-2 against Big Ten teams this season with losses at Michigan State (26-13) and Northwestern (38-17).
? Iowa’s lone loss this year was to a MAC team. The Hawkeyes fell in their season opener, 30-27, to Northern Illinois.
? The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 30-7 in the second quarter this season. Western Michigan has been outscored 37-23 in the second quarter this season.
? Iowa LB Anthony Hitchens needs 11 tackles to reach the 200-tackle plateau for his career.
LAST MEETING — Nov. 17, 2007
Western Michigan scored the first 19 points and held on to defeat Iowa, 28-19, at Kinnick Stadium, in the Hawkeyes’ 2007 season finale. The Broncos scored on four of their first five possessions, including their first three, to grab an early 19-0 cushion. The Hawkeyes cut the deficit to six with consecutive touchdowns. WR Trey Stross (11 yards) and FB Tom Busch (3 yards) caught touchdown passes from QB Jake Christensen.
Western Michigan answered Iowa’s scoring drives with an 11-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that consumed 5:23 to stretch its lead to 25-13. TE Brandon Myers caught a 3-yard pass from Christensen, his third scoring strike of the contest, to again cut the Broncos’ lead to six (25-19) early in the final period. Iowa suffered its third turnover with just over five minutes remaining to give the Broncos excellent field position, in which they converted into a field goal. Western Michigan turned three Hawkeyes miscues into 13 points.
Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller completed 26-45 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns. RB Brandon West had a game-high 291 all-purpose yards (116 rushing and 93 receiving). Christensen completed 20-37 passes for 249 yards and three scores. RB Albert Young had 17 carries for a team-high 95 yards. Myers had a career-high six catches for 59 yards and a score. For the second time in 2007, Iowa blocked two field goals in a game (Syracuse). DB Bradley Fletcher and LB Mike Klinkenborg shared game high tackle honors with 13.
ON THIS DATE
Iowa is 5-1 all-time in games played on Sept. 21, with all five wins coming in Iowa City. Iowa’s lone loss on this date was at Tulsa (27-20) in 1996. The last time Iowa played on this date was 2002, a 48-7 win over Utah State.
THROUGH AIR OR BY LAND
Through three games, QB Jake Rudock has completed 54-88 attempts for 609 yards and three touchdowns. He has also rushed 19 times for 63 yards and four touchdowns. With his 1-yard touchdown rush against Iowa State, Rudock became the first quarterback under Kirk Ferentz to rush for a touchdown in three consecutive games. Rudock scored from six yards against Northern Illinois, and added two rushing touchdowns (6, 2) against Missouri State. The four rushing scores, in three games, equals QB James Vandenberg’s 12-game total from a year ago. QB James Vandeberg rushed for four touchdowns in 2012. The last Iowa quarterback to rush for more than four touchdowns in a single season was Nathan Chandler (6 in 2003).
WEISMAN AMONG CONFERENCE, NATIONAL LEADERS
RB Mark Weisman ranks second in the Big Ten and third in the country with 425 rushing yards. The native of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is one of two Big Ten players to have rushed for at least 100 yards in every game this season. Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, the Big Ten’s leading rusher (477) is the only other player with three 100-yard rushing games. Weisman’s 141.7 yards per game ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally.
WEISMAN THE BALL CARRIER
RB Mark Weisman has been the Big Ten’s workhorse. His 85 rushing attempts this season lead the NCAA, and are 21 better than the conference’s second leading ball carrier in terms of attempts (Jordan Hall, OSU, 64). Weisman has set career highs in rushing attempts in each of the last two weeks, both Hawkeye wins. He recorded a then-career high 30 rushing attempts in Week 2 versus Missouri State, before besting that with 35 carries against Iowa State. The 35 carries are the most in a single game this season among Big Ten backs. Ohio State’s Jordan Hall is the only other Big Ten player to carry the ball at least 30 times in a single game (30 vs. Cal). Weisman’s 35 rushing attempts against the Cyclones are believed to be the sixth-most in a single game in Iowa program history.
Sedrick Shaw 42 (250 yards) at Michigan State, 1995
Sedrick Shaw 41 (214 yards) at Wisconsin, 1995
Dennis Mosley 39 (229 yards) vs. Iowa State, 1979
Albert Young 38 (202 yards) at Northwestern, 2005
Eddie Phillips 36 (198 yards) vs. Minnesota, 1981
Mark Weisman 35 (145 yards) at Iowa State, 2013
OFFENSE INCREASES TEMPO, CONTROLS T.O.P.
Iowa has run 80-plus plays in all three games this season, marking the first time under coach Kirk Ferentz the Hawkeyes have taken 80-plus snaps in three consecutive games. The Hawkeyes took 80 snaps in Week 1, 85 in Week 2, and 83 in Week 3. Iowa’s 85 plays against Missouri State in Week 2 ties for the second-most by a Big Ten team this season. The last time a Hawkeye team took 80-plus snaps in two consecutive games in the same season was 1992 (81 at Michigan and 98 vs. Wisconsin). Iowa maintained possession for 38-plus minutes in back-to-back games for the first time under Kirk Ferentz (38:18 vs. Missouri State; 38:03 at Iowa State).
TO PAVE AND PROTECT
Through three games, Iowa’s offensive line has paved the way for 718 rushing yards on 160 attempts. In Iowa’s last two games, both victories, the Hawkeyes rushed 118 times for 514 yards. Iowa rushed 60 times for 218 yards in a 27-21 win over Iowa State. The 60 rushing attempts ties for the most in a single game under head coach Kirk Ferentz. The last time Iowa had 60 carries was Sept. 4, 2004 against Kent State.
Iowa rushed for 296 yards in a 28-14 win over Missouri State. The 296 rushing yards are the most for an Iowa team since rushing for 301 yards vs. Illinois on Oct. 1, 2005. Iowa’s 58 rush attempts against Missouri State is Iowa’s third highest single game total under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has rushed 60 times on two occasions, first vs. Kent State on Sept. 4, 2004, and most recently last week at Iowa State. The Hawkeye also rushed 59 times vs. Northwestern on Nov. 10, 2001.
Iowa has rushed for 200-plus yards in three straight games (202 vs. Northern Illinois; 296 vs. Missouri State; 218 at Iowa State) to start the season. It marks the first time the Hawkeyes rushed for 200-plus yards in three consecutive games since the last two games of the 2003 season (201 vs. Wisconsin; 238 vs. Florida) and the first game of 2004 (214 vs. Kent State). The last time Iowa accomplished the feat in the same season was 2002 (222 vs. Iowa State; 300 vs. Utah State; 209 at Penn State).
Iowa’s offensive line has yielded just four sacks against sophomore quarterback Jake Rudock. Additionally, Iowa ranks 22nd in the country in tackles for loss allowed (11). The Hawkeyes’ starters on the offensive line included tackles Brett Van Sloten and Brandon Scherff, guards Jordan Walsh and Conor Boffeli and center Austin Blythe. Junior Andrew Donnal has shared time with Walsh throughout Iowa’s first three games.
HITCHENS LEADS DEFENSE
College Sports Madness named senior linebacker Anthony Hitchens as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his play in Iowa’s 27-21 win at Iowa State. Hitchens recorded 10 tackles, including a shared tackle for loss, as the Iowa defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards and held ISU to seven points until midway through the fourth quarter. Hitchens leads the defense through three games with 31 tackles, including three tackles for loss and one QB sack and a pass break-up. He ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles per game and has 189 career tackles.
KING BECOMES THE FIRST
CB Desmond King has seen action in all three games this season. He made his career debut in the season opener against Northern Illinois, appearing at defensive back and recording four tackles. King recorded three tackles and one fumble recovery in his first career start against Missouri State. He became the first Iowa true freshman to start on defense since James Morris (vs. Michigan State, Oct. 30, 2012), and the first rookie to start at defensive back since Jovon Johnson (2002). He made a career-high six tackles in Iowa’s 27-21 win at Iowa State, including one tackle for loss and one pass break-up.
ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
Sophomore QB Jake Rudock has completed a pass to 15 different Hawkeyes this season, but Kevonte Martin-Manley has emerged as Iowa’s premier receiving threat. Martin-Manley has 19 receptions for 163 yards, more than three times the amount of catches and receiving yards of Iowa’s No. 2 target, C.J. Fiedorowicz. The 19 receptions rank second in the Big Ten, four behind Big Ten leader Allen Robinson (23) of Penn State. Rudock spread the ball around the Iowa offense in the first two weeks, connecting with nine different receivers in Week 1, and 10 different receivers in Week 2, but against Iowa State in Week 3, Martin-Manley hauled in half of Rudock’s 14 completions. Rudock has completed 54 pass attempts this season, 34 to wide receivers, 12 to tight ends, and eight to running backs.
REMOVE THE REDSHIRT
True freshmen RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., DB Desmond King, and WR Matt VandeBerg are the only true freshmen to see action for Iowa this season. Daniels carried six times for 30 yards, while VandeBerg caught two passes for 17 yards, against Missouri State. Freshman DB Desmond King is the only Iowa true freshman to see action in each of Iowa’s three games to date. His 13 total tackles tie for seventh best on the team. He is also credited with two pass break-ups and one fumble recovery.
RUDOCK YARDAGE TOTAL TIES FOR 4TH IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Sophomore QB Jake Rudock completed 21-of-37 passes for 256 yards, including two touchdowns (one rush and one pass) and two interceptions, in his Hawkeye debut Aug. 31. The 256 yards ties for the fourth highest by a Hawkeye quarterback making his first career start. Jake Christensen also threw for 256 yards in his first career start; also against Northern Illinois. Christensen finished the game 19-30 with two touchdowns and one interception.
Rudock spread the ball around, connecting with nine different Hawkeyes. He also rushed four times for 20 yards and a score. Rudock was the first starting quarterback in 19 years to makes his debut in a season opener; Ryan Driscoll was the last Hawkeye to do it. Driscoll made his college debut at starting quarterback in Iowa’s 1994 season opener.
MEYER CONTINUES TO CONNECT
Senior PK Mike Meyer has made a school-record 91 consecutive PAT attempts, the eighth longest streak in Big Ten Conference history. That active streak ranks fourth in the nation (Baylor’s Aaron Jones, 125; Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien 116; Michigan’s Brendan Gibbons, 114). Meyer’s last PAT miss was in a 37-6 win over Michigan State on Oct. 30, 2010, in Iowa City. As a team, Iowa has gone 33 consecutive games without a missed or blocked PAT.
MEYER GETTING HIS KICKS
Senior PK Mike Meyer is 4-for-5 on field goal attempts and perfect on 10 PAT attempts this season. He has connected on field goals of 27, 28, 38 and 44 yards. His miss was from 33 yards versus Missouri Stat.. He ranks fourth all-time in career field goals (49) and fifth all-time in career scoring (257 points). He trails Kyle Schlicher in career field goals (51) and scoring (260).
Meyer’s 50-yarder against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1, 2012 tied his career long (at Iowa State, 2011). In 2012, he made four treys against NIU and Michigan State, which matches his career high (at Iowa State, 2011 and at Indiana, 2010). His five attempts vs. NIU ties Iowa’s single-game record, which he also shares (at Indiana in 2010).
Last season, Meyer ranked eighth in Big Ten kick scoring (6.3) and ranked 27th in the country in field goals made per game (1.42). He has made 49-63 (.778) career field goal attempts. Meyer is 36-42 (.857) from kicks 39 yards and closer; 11-17 (.647) from attempts 40-49 yards; and 2-4 (.500) from kicks 50 yards or farther. His 49 made field goals rank No. 4 in school history. The native of Dubuque, Iowa, has made a school-record 91 consecutive PAT attempts, which ranks eighth best in conference history. His four PAT’s against Central Michigan a year ago put him past All-Pro Nate Kaeding’s previous record of 60 straight. Meyer’s last PAT miss was in a 37-6 win over Michigan State on Oct. 30, 2010 in Iowa City.
Yardage Made-Att.
19-29 25-27
30-39 11-15
40-49 11-17
50+ 2-4
WEISMAN HITS ANOTHER 100
RB Mark Weisman recorded his seventh career 100-yard game last week, carrying a career-high 35 times for 145 yards against Iowa State. Weisman has rushed for 100 yards in each of Iowa’s three contests, becoming the first running back since Shonn Green (2008) to rush for 100 or more yards in the first three games of the season. His 425 rushing yards are the highest total through three games since Fred Russell ran for 471 yards in the first three games of the 2002 season. Weisman had four straight 100-yard efforts as a sophomore in 2012.
RECEPTION STREAK HITS 21 GAMES
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz and WR Kevonte Martin-Manley have each recorded at least one reception in 21 consecutive games. Martin-Manley has 83 receptions for 849 yards during the streak, and leads Iowa with 19 catches and 163 yards in 2013. Fiedorowicz has 65 catches for 620 over the last 21 games, and has caught all five career touchdowns during the streak.
MARTIN-MANLEY CLIMBS THE CHARTS
WR Kevonte Martin-Manley passed the 100 career receptions mark and 1,000 career receiving yards mark in Week 3 against Iowa State. Martin-Manley caught seven passes for 60 yards against the Cyclones, and now has 101 career receptions and 1,057 career receiving yards. He is the 20th Iowa player in program history with at least 100 career receptions and the 36th Hawkeye to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards. He had a 5-yard scoring reception for the first points of the game in Iowa’s win at Iowa State.
LEADING LINEBACKERS
Senior LBs Anthony Hitchens and Christian Kirksey rank second and fourth, respectively, among Big Ten leading tacklers. Hitchens ranks No. 2 among conference tacklers, averaging 10.3 tackles per game. Kirksey averages 9.3 tackles per game. His career best 14 tackles against Northern Illinois is the second highest single game total among Big Ten players this season. Both linebackers are on the Butkus Award Watch List. LB James Morris has been credited with double-digit tackle games 15 times, which ranks first among Big Ten active players, while Kirksey has 10 double-digit tackle games to rank third and Hitchens has nine to tie for fourth.
IOWA’S BALL HAWKS
WR Kevonte Martin-Manley ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten, and 36th nationally, with 19 receptions. QB Jake Rudock has completed passes to 15 Hawkeyes this season. Against Iowa State last week, WR Tevaun Smith and WR Jacob Hillyer both recorded career long receptions. Smith’s 25-yard reception on Iowa’s first scoring drive was the longest reception of his career, and gave Iowa a first-and-goal at the ISU 2-yardline. Hillyer’s 26-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was his first career touchdown reception, and the longest reception of his career. TE Ray Hamilton caught a career-high two passes for a career-best 34 yards against Iowa State. His 21-yard reception in the third quarter was a career long.
MORRIS CLIMBS TACKLES LIST
Senior LB James Morris recorded four tackles last week to raise his career total to 309. Morris ranks No. 16 on Iowa’s career tackles list, trailing Mike Wells (313) for No. 15 on the all-time list. Morris has been a starting linebacker since his true freshman season in 2010. He is on watch lists for the Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Nagurski Award, and the College Football Performance Awards Linebacker Trophy watch list. In addition, he garnered preseason second team All-Big Ten honors from Athlon, Phil Steele and College Sports Madness.
TOUCHDOWN IOWA! TOUCHDOWN Christian Kirksey
Senior LB Christian Kirksey forced and recovered a fumble in the second quarter against Northern Illinois, returning it 52 yards for his third career touchdown. The 52-yard fumble return ranks as the third longest fumble return in school history and gives Kirksey two of the six longest in school history (45 yards vs. Penn State in 2012). Kirksey returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2012 (vs. Minnesota, at Indiana). He was one of eight players nationally with two touchdowns on interception returns. With his third career touchdown in the opening game against Northern Illinois, Kirksey is believed to be one of three Iowa players to score three career defensive touchdowns, joining former defensive backs Tom Knight and Micah Hyde.
IOWA LIKES STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa has started the game on offense in 144-of-177 games under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa is 18-15 in the games it has started on defense under Ferentz. In 2013, the Hawkeyes started on offense against Northern Illinois (L, 30-27), and started on defense against Missouri State (W, 28-14) and Iowa State (W, 27-21).
CLOSE GAMES THE NORM FOR IOWA
One season after leading the country in games decided by three points or less, the Hawkeyes opened 2013 with a game decided by a field goal in the final seconds. Northern Illinois defeated the Hawkeyes 30-27 with a field goal in the closing seconds (:04) of the season opener.
Dating back to last season, three of Iowa’s last five defeats have been decided by three points (Indiana, 24-21; Purdue, 27-24; Northern Illinois, 30-27). The Hawkeyes’ games against Iowa State in 2011 and 2012 were decided by a field goal (L, 44-41, 3OT, in 2011; L, 9-6 in 2012) before Iowa won 27-21 last weekend in Ames.
Iowa led the country with six regular season games decided by three points or less (2-4), including two contests decided by one point (1-1) a year ago. Three of the losses the last two seasons have come on a field goal on the final offensive play of the game (Central Michigan, Purdue, Northern Illinois).
Iowa has played 18 games decided by three points or less since 2009. The Hawkeyes went 4-1 in those games in 2009, 1-3 in 2010, 0-2 in 2011, 2-4 in 2012, and 0-1 in 2013. Three of Iowa’s losses in the last two seasons have come on the last offensive play of the game.
Iowa ranks among the nation’s best in fourth quarter comebacks since 2009. The Hawkeyes mounted their ninth comeback when trailing in the fourth quarter, since 2009, at Michigan State on Oct. 13, winning in double overtime. Michigan State leads the nation with 10 comeback wins, while Iowa ties Minnesota, Ohio and Wyoming with nine wins after trailing at any point in the fourth period, since 2009.
LINEBACKING TRIO NAMED TO BUTKAS AWARD WATCH LIST
Seniors James Morris, Christian Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens are on the Butkus Award Watch List, which honors the top linebacker. Iowa joins Notre Dame, BYU and UCLA as the only four schools in the country to have a trio named to that watch list.
In addition to his selection to the Butkus Award Watch List, Hitchens was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. Hitchens earned honorable mention recognition from the Big Ten coaches and media after starting 11 games last season, missing one game with an injury. He ranks second in the Big Ten with 10.3 tackles per game this season. A year ago, he led the team with 124 tackles, while collecting 56 solo stops and 68 assists. He has 189 career tackles.
Morris has been a starting linebacker for the Hawkeyes since his true freshman season in 2010. Last season, he ranked third in the Big Ten and 31st in the nation in tackles per game (9.4). He ranks 16th in career tackles (309). He was named a Permanent Team Captain in 2012 while earning the Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award and the Players Choice Award on defense. Morris earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore and junior after being named Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com as a freshman.
The Solon, Iowa, native is also on the watch lists for the Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Nagurski Award, and the College Football Performance Awards Linebacker Trophy watch list. In addition, he garnered preseason second team All-Big Ten honors from Athlon, Phil Steele, and College Sports Madness. His third career interception at Iowa State last weekend led to an Iowa field goal and a 13-0 advantage.
Kirksey ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 9.3 tackles per game. He collected 95 tackles as a junior, ranking ninth in the conference in tackles per contest (7.5). The St. Louis, Mo., native ranked first in the Big Ten and second in the nation with four recovered fumbles. He was one of eight players in the nation with two interception returns for touchdowns in 2012. Kirksey was named a Permanent Team Captain and winner of the Next Man in Award in 2012. Kirksey has 239 career tackles to rank 35th in career stops. He is also present on the College Football Performance Awards Linebacker Trophy Watch List, and was named preseason fourth team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele.
COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Iowa’s coaching staff has four new faces in 2013. Assistant coaches Bobby Kennedy (wide receivers), Jim Reid (linebackers), and Chris White (running backs/special teams), and graduate assistant D.J. Hernandez, are in their first season on the Iowa sideline. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker has added the responsibility of instructing Iowa’s defensive secondary. Parker coached the secondary for 13 seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2012. He will handle both assignments this season. Iowa has made six changes to the coaching staff since 2012, matching its combined total from the previous 13 years. Iowa had a total of six changes on its coaching staff from 1999-2011.
FERENTZ FOURTH IN LONGEVITY
Now in his 15th season as Iowa’s head football coach, Kirk Ferentz ranks fourth in longevity among FBS head coaches. Ferentz is first among Big Ten coaches and nationally ranks behind Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, Larry Blakeney of Troy and Mack Brown of Texas. Ferentz is tied for fourth with Bob Stoops of Oklahoma.
GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
? The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play at Minnesota on Sept. 28. This marks the 11th time in Kirk Ferentz’s 15 years at Iowa that the Hawkeyes have opened the conference season on the road.
? Nine of Iowa’s 11 FBS opponents played in bowl games a year ago, while Ohio State posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record (OSU was not eligible for postseason play).
? The Hawkeyes do not face Big Ten opponents Illinois, Penn State and Indiana this season.
? Iowa’s Homecoming game against Michigan State is Oct. 5. Iowa is 55-41-5 all-time in Homecoming contests, including a 6-0-1 mark versus the Spartans. The Hawkeyes have won their last four Homecoming games, including last season’s 31-13 win over Minnesota to regain possession of Floyd of Rosedale.
? Speaking of Floyd of Rosedale, Iowa has four trophy games on its slate in 2013: Iowa State (Cy-Hawk; W, 27-21), Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale), Wisconsin (Heartland), and Nebraska (Heroes).
? Iowa’s schedule includes four teams who have first-year head coaches (Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin), plus Ohio State, whose Urban Meyer is in his second year with the Buckeyes. Iowa did not face Ohio State the last two seasons.
? Start times to a number of Iowa games were announced prior to the season. Iowa has three games remaining on its schedule that will have 2:30 p.m. or later kickoffs. Iowa’s season opener against Northern Illinois was at 2:42 p.m., and future road games at Minnesota and Ohio State kickoff at 2:30 p.m. (CT). Iowa’s contest at Iowa State began at 5:05 p.m.
HAWKEYES BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa returns 39 lettermen from 2012, including 19 on offense, 17 on defense and three specialists. The Hawkeyes return six starters on offense, eight on defense and two specialists. The lettermen breakdown includes eight three-year lettermen, 12 two-year lettermen and 19 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 125 players, and includes 15 seniors, 23 juniors, 25 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 39 true freshmen. The 15 seniors ties for 18th nationally as the fewest number of seniors on a roster, including both scholarship and walk-on players.
COLLECTING INTERCEPTIONS
The Hawkeyes have recorded three interceptions through three games. SS Tanner Miller, LB James Morris, and DB B.J. Lowery each have an interception to their credit. Iowa’s defense has ranked among national leaders in causing turnovers in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2008 season, Iowa has collected 86 interceptions, a total that ranks among the best in the nation over that span. Iowa had 10 interceptions in 2011, with two of those being returned for touchdowns (89 yards by DB Shaun Prater and 98 yards by DB Tanner Miller). Iowa’s defense also registered 10 interceptions in 2012. The 10 passes intercepted ranked 65th in the country. Two of the 10 thefts were returned for touchdowns, both by linebacker Christian Kirksey (68 -yarder vs. Minnesota and 18 yards at Indiana). The interception return against Minnesota is the third longest in school history.
The Hawkeyes have had an interception return for a touchdown in each of the last five years, including four in 2010. Iowa has had an interception return for a score in 10 of the last 12 seasons and 10 of 14 seasons under Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes had a fumble return for a touchdown (Christian Kirksey, 52 yards) in the season-opener.
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 fans are known for their support of Hawkeye athletics, and the attendance figures from 2012-13 support that claim. Iowa was one of four programs in the nation to rank among the top 25 in attendance for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball events in 2012-13. In addition, Iowa was the only program in the nation to rank among the top 25 in attendance a year ago in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and wrestling.
? Iowa earned Big Ten Conference championships in 2002 and 2004 and placed second in 2009. Iowa (8-0, 2002) is one of three 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 11 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 started 9-0 and 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 the 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 tied as the 17th best total in the nation.
? 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 22 times in program history, a total that ranks 25th best in the country.
? Three former Hawkeyes are broadcasters on BTN in 2013. Chuck Long, the Hawkeyes’ all-time leading passer and the 1985 Heisman Trophy runner-up, will serve as a game color broadcaster and in-studio analyst. Iowa City native Paul Burmeister, who guided Iowa to the 1993 Alamo Bowl, will call play-by-play. Former wide receiver Danan Hughes returns as an in-studio and game analyst. Hughes also worked for the network during baseball season.
? The Hawkeyes have had at least one former player on a Super Bowl roster for 10 consecutive seasons, the eighth longest streak of any program in the country. Nebraska has had a former player on a Super Bowl roster for 20 consecutive years, followed by Purdue (14), Ohio State (12), LSU (12), Georgia (12), Illinois (12), Florida (11), Iowa (10), and Texas (8).
IOWA AMONG TOP 25 IN WINS, 2002-12
Iowa has posted 91 wins since the start of the 2002 season, which ranks as the 22nd highest total in Division I football. The list includes the following: Boise State (130); Oklahoma (121); Ohio State (120); LSU (119); USC (118); Texas (113); TCU (111); Georgia (111); Virginia Tech (110); Florida (107); Alabama (106); Oregon (105); Wisconsin (104); West Virginia (104); Auburn (100); Utah (99); Florida State (99); Texas Tech (95); Nebraska (94); Michigan (93); Miami, FL (92); Iowa (91); Hawai’i (87); Boston College (87).
HAWKEYES GOOD ON THE POINT AFTER
The Hawkeyes have converted on 91 consecutive PATs without a miss or block, and 33 consecutive games without a missed or blocked PAT, the seventh longest streak of any school in the nation
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will have two of his three sons involved in the Iowa program this season. Brian, a former Hawkeye letterman (2003-05), is in his second season as Iowa’s offensive line coach. Steven is an offensive lineman who is in his second season in the program as a redshirt freshman. His other son, James, was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line before graduating in May, 2013.
FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
Iowa has eight players on its 2013 roster whose father played for the Hawkeyes. WR Jordan Cotton (Marshall in 1984-87), OL Cole Croston (Dave in 1984-86), OL Mitch Keppy (Myron in 1986-87), LS Tyler Kluver (Todd in 1986-87), TE George Kittle (Bruce in 1977-80), TE Peter Pekar (Jim in 1980-81), OL Richard Pryor (Richard in 1984-86) and DB Sean Skradis (Bryan in 1977-81). Additionally, freshman linebacker Luke Lindahl’s grandfather is former Hawkeye Wally Hilgenberg.
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 14 seasons. Ferentz also served as Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 under Fry.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,168 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 600-531-39 (.529). That includes a 379-208-16 (.642) record in home games, a 221-323-23 (.409) record in games away from Iowa City, a 297-359-25 (.454) mark in Big Ten games and a 262-172-15 (.601) record in Kinnick Stadium.
TROPHY GAMES
The Hawkeyes won the first of four trophy games this season with a 27-21 win over Iowa State last week. Iowa has taken ownership of the Cy-Hawk Trophy 24 times in 37 meetings. The Hawkeyes will defend the Floyd of Rosedale trophy against Minnesota on Sept. 28, attempt to reclaim the Heartland Trophy against Wisconsin on Nov. 2, and win its first Heroes Trophy at Nebraska on Nov. 29.
IOWA, UNI, IOWA STATE PARTICIPATE IN MENTOR PROGRAM
As a project of Volunteer Iowa, The Iowa Mentoring Partnership is the state’s support organization for Iowa’s 80+ certified youth mentoring programs. Volunteer Iowa is proud to have the support of all three regents’ university football coaches and dozens of private college and high school coaches across the state; promoting the difference that a positive role model can make in a child’s life through mentoring. To find a certified mentoring program in your area and take the 2013 Coaches Challenge please visit www.volunteeriowa.org/coaches-challenge. Any new mentor application that is received between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30, 2013 will count toward the “score” of the respective state. By signing up to be a mentor, fans can not only show their state/team pride, but can help improve the life of a child! The overall winner of the 2013 “Coaches Mentoring Challenge” will be announced the week of Dec.13. During the 2012 Coaches Challenge, the states of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska recruited over 7,000 new mentors. With the addition of Michigan and Minnesota it is hopeful to be able to exceed all previous numbers to achieve the goal at the core of all of our missions – to serve more kids.
HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
Iowa’s roster of 125 players includes 48 players from Iowa. The roster includes 15 players from Illinois; 11 from Ohio; six from Michigan and Texas; five from Maryland and Missouri; four from Minnesota; three from Florida, Nebraska and Wisconsin; two from Georgia and New Jersey; one from Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia; and three from Canada.
IOWA FOOTBALL AND THE NFL
? Since 2006, Iowa has had nine players start at cornerback, and seven of those nine are currently in the NFL. ? Iowa leads the Big Ten with 19 NFL Draft picks the past four years. Three of the 19 have been first round selections, which tie for second among Big Ten schools.
? For the third straight year, Iowa had six players selected in the 2012 NFL Draft, and for the third straight year that list included a first round selection (OL Riley Reiff).
? Iowa and Alabama were the only two college football programs to have a first round draft selection in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
? Iowa had six players drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, which tied for the most in the Big Ten and tied for fourth in the country.
? Iowa was the only program to have three defensive linemen selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, and all three were on NFL rosters in 2012.
? In NFL 2011 regular season statistics, former Hawkeye linebackers Chad Greenway (Minnesota) and Pat Angerer (Indianapolis) finished third and fourth, respectively, in tackles.
? Former Hawkeyes Marshal Yanda (Baltimore OL) and Chad Greenway (Minnesota LB) were named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in their respective NFL careers in 2012.
? Three former Hawkeyes were involved in the 2012 Super Bowl. DB Tyler Sash played for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, while LB Jeff Tarpinian was on the injured reserve roster of the New England Patriots. Former Iowa center Brian Ferentz, now is his second year as Iowa’s offensive line coach, was New England’s tight ends coach.
? Former Iowa defensive back Sean Considine won a Super Bowl ring with the 2012 Baltimore Ravens.
? Every Iowa senior starting tight end (nine) under Kirk Ferentz has been drafted in the NFL or made an NFL team in his first year as a rookie.
? The Iowa football program is represented by 26 players on 2013 NFL active rosters and practice squads (as of Sept. 1).
? Iowa tied for ninth nationally (second among Big Ten teams) in number former players active in the NFL in 2012, behind Miami (FL), USC, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia and LSU.
? All 11 members of Iowa’s starting defensive unit in 2008 were either drafted or signed to NFL free agent contracts following the drafts.
? Over the past 11 years, 106 of 119 (89%) of Iowa’s senior starters have been drafted in the NFL or signed NFL free agent contracts.
? At least one Iowa Hawkeye has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1978.
IOWA BOWL NOTES
? Iowa has been bowl eligible 11 of the last 12 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff.
? Iowa ranks third in Big Ten bowl appearances. Ohio State and Michigan have received a conference-best 42 bowl bids, followed by the Hawkeyes (26) and Wisconsin (24).
? The Hawkeyes have appeared in 10 bowl games since 2001. Iowa won the Outback Bowl over South Carolina following the 2008 season, concluded the 2009 campaign with a win over Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl and defeated Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl. Iowa’s three-game bowl win streak (2008-10) is an Iowa record. The streak was snapped in a loss to Oklahoma in the 2011 Insight Bowl.
? The Hawkeyes have posted a 6-4 record in bowl games under Ferentz, including wins in four of six January bowl games.
? Since the 2001 season, no Big Ten team has won more bowl games or has a higher winning percentage in bowl games, than Iowa.
? Overall, Iowa has posted a 14-11-1 (.558) record in 26 bowl games. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Rose (five times), Alamo (four), Holiday (three), Outback (three), Orange (two), Peach (two), Sun (two), Insight (two), and the Capital One, Gator and Freedom bowls once.
? Iowa (14-11-1, .558), Penn State (27-15-2, .636) and Purdue (9-8, .529) are the only Big Ten teams with a winning percentage in bowl games.
? Since the inception of the BCS in 1998, the Big Ten has qualified 26 teams for BCS bowls, more than any other conference. Seven different Big Ten programs have played in BCS bowl 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
The Hawkeyes open conference play at Minnesota on Sept. 28. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. (CT) inside TCF Bank Stadium. The game will be televised on ABC.