Game Notes: Iowa vs. Miami, Ohio

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 IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa football team hosts Miami, Ohio, in the 2016 season opener Saturday, Sept. 3, at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is at 2:32 p.m. (CT). 
 

    
    THE RECORDS
    Iowa was 12-2 a year ago, posting a perfect regular season record while winning the Big Ten West Division title.  Iowa lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game and to Stanford in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game.
    Miami, Ohio posted a 3-9 record in 2015, including a 2-6 record in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.

    COACHING RECORDS
    Kirk Ferentz is in his 21st year as a college head coach and his 18th year as Iowa’s head coach. His career record is 139-108 and he is 127-87 at Iowa.  He ranks eighth in the Big Ten Conference in overall coaching victories and is tied for seventh in league wins.
Chuck Martin is in his third season at Miami and his ninth season as a college head coach.  His career record is 79-26 and he is 5-19 at Miami.

    ALL IN THE FAMILY
     Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has two of his three sons involved in the Iowa program again in 2016. Brian, a former Hawkeye letterman and captain (2003-05), is in his fifth season as Iowa’s offensive line coach and second year as running-game coordinator. Steven is an offensive lineman who is in his fifth season as a redshirt senior. James Ferentz was a three-year starter on the Hawkeye offensive line and a team captain before graduating in 2013.
     Kirk and Steven are one of seven father-son head coach-player duos in FBS. The others include Mike and Jay Macintyre (Colorado), Mark and Gunner Hudspeth (UL-Lafayette), Rick and Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Bobby and Derek Wilder (Old Dominion), Butch and Alex Jones (Tennessee), and Kyle and Alex Whittingham (Utah).
 
     FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
     Iowa has nine players on its 2016 roster whose father played for the Hawkeyes. WR Brandon Bishop (Willie in 1986), QB Drew Cook (Marv in 1985-88), 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), DE Anthony Nelson (Jeff in 1990-92), TE Peter Pekar (Jim in 1980-81), and QB Ryan Schmidt (Rick 1984-85).
 
     BACK ON CAMPUS
    Head Coach Kirk Ferentz has four former players on the 2016 staff. His son, Brian Ferentz, was a three-year letterman from 2003-05 and is in his fifth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach. He is also Iowa’s run game coordinator.
     LeVar Woods, a three-year letterman from 1998-2000, is in his ninth year on the Iowa staff. He is in his second season coaching tight ends after coaching linebackers for three seasons. He also assists with special teams. Wood rejoined the program as an administrative assistant in 2008.
     Kelvin Bell joined the Iowa program as a defensive lineman in 2000, but had his career cut short due to injury. He returned to the program as a graduate assistant and recently served as director of on-campus recruiting (2012-13) before being named recruiting coordinator and defensive assistant coach in February, 2016.
     Broderick Binns, a four-year letterman from 2008-11, was named director of player development in April, 2016. Binns previously served as a graduate assistant in 2014 and 2015, working with the Hawkeye special teams.
 
     HAWKEYE HISTORY
     Iowa has played 1,207 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 625-543-39 (.533). That includes a 393-213-16 (.641) record in home games, a 232-330-23 (.413) record in games away from Iowa City, a 314-366-25 (.457) mark in Big Ten games and a 276-177-15 (.600) record in Kinnick Stadium.
 
     THE SERIES
     Iowa is undefeated in three career meetings with Miami, Ohio. The Hawkeyes are 2-0 at Kinnick Stadium and 1-0 on the road. The teams met three consecutive seasons from 2001-03.
     Here are the results:
 
     *9/8/01            W            44-19
     9/7/02              W            29-24
     *8/30/03         W            21-3
     * — at Iowa City
 
     LAST MEETING – AUG. 30, 2003, IOWA CITY, IOWA
     Iowa scored 21 unanswered points en route to a 21-3 win over Miami, Ohio, at Kinnick Stadium in the 2003 season opener.
     After yielding a 15-play, 77-yard drive that culminated in a 21-yard Miami, Ohio, field goal on its opening possession, Iowa responded with a long scoring drive of its own.  Senior QB Nathan Chandler, in his first game as a starter, engineered a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Mickens. Chandler completed all six of his pass attempts in the drive.
     The Hawkeyes took a 14-3 lead just before halftime when RB Fred Russell scored on a one-yard run. That score was set up by DB Jovon Johnson’s first interception of the game.  Johnson returned the interception to the Miami one-yard line.
     After a scoreless third quarter, Iowa scored its final touchdown on a Chandler to WR Maurice Brown 28-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.  Iowa had only one turnover in the contest.
     Chandler finished the game 12-19 for 129 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions.  Russell rushed 22 times for 167 yards and Brown caught a career-high seven passes for 78 yards and a score.
     Iowa’s defensive unit kept Miami on its heels all day, collecting four sacks and intercepting QB Ben Roethlisberger four times.  Roethlisberger finished the game 27-of-42 for 250 yards. Miami was held to 54 yards rushing on 29 attempts (1.9 average).  Johnson finished with two interceptions and five tackles.    Sophomore LB Chad Greenway led the Hawkeyes with 13 tackles.  Junior DB Sean Considine registered eight tackles and added his first career interception.  As a team, Iowa recorded seven tackles for loss.
     Punter David Bradley (special teams) and Johnson (defense) were named Big Ten Players of the Week. Bradley averaged 48.5 on five punts while Johnson had two interceptions, five tackles, and three pass break-ups.
 
     RETURNING STARTERS
     Based on its usual starting lineup from a year ago, Iowa returns 15 starters in 2016, including seven on offense and seven on defense, plus long snapper Tyler Kluver.
     The returning starters on offense include QB C.J. Beathard, OL Ike Boettger, OL Cole Croston, RB LeShun Daniels, OL Boone Myers, WR Matt VandeBerg, and OL Sean Welsh.
     The returning starters on defense include DL Nathan Bazata, LB Josey Jewell, DL Jaleel Johnson, DB Desmond King, DB Greg Mabin, LB Ben Niemann, and DB Miles Taylor.
 
     HOME GROWN HAWKEYES
     Iowa’s roster of 117 players includes 53 players from Iowa.  The roster includes 18 players from Illinois; seven from Michigan, six from Maryland, five from Missouri and Texas, four from Wisconsin, three from Ohio and South Dakota, two from Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New Jersey, and one from Canada, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
 
     BAND OF BROTHERS
     The Hawkeyes have five sets of brothers on the 2016 roster. No other school in the country has more sets of brothers than Iowa. OL Ryan Ward and younger brother OLB Kevin return for their fourth and final season together. RB LeShun Daniels will run behind OL James Daniels for the second straight year, and twins OL Landan and Levi Paulsen are back after redshirting their freshman year in 2015. They are the sixth set of twins to play football at the University of Iowa. LB Ben Niemann welcomes younger brother LB Nick Niemann to the team this year, as does SS Miles Taylor, whose younger brother LB Kyle is in his first year on campus.
 
     MORE THAN ONE
    Seventeen high schools have contributed more than one player to the current Iowa football roster. Dowling Catholic HS in West Des Moines, Iowa; East English Village HS in Detroit, Michigan; and Providence Catholic HS in Homer Glen, Illinois all graduated three current Hawkeyes. The schools with two current Hawkeyes include Davenport Assumption (Davenport, Iowa), Cedar Falls HS (Cedar Falls, Iowa), Gonzaga College HS (Silver Spring, Maryland), Harding HS (Warren, Ohio), Kennedy HS (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Naperville Central HS (Naperville, Iowa), Pella HS (Pella, Iowa), Regina HS (Iowa City, Iowa), Solon HS (Solon, Iowa), Sycamore HS (Sycamore, Iowa), Waukee HS (Waukee, Iowa), West Branch HS (West Branch, Iowa), West Lyon HS (Inwood, Iowa), and Woodbury Central HS (Moville, Iowa).
 
     THE HAWKEYES, SIZE WISE
    Freshman PK Keith Duncan is the lightest Hawkeyes player at 165 pounds. Freshman DB Manny Rugamba is the lightest position player at 172 pounds. Senior DL Jaleel Johnson and sophomore OL Dalton Ferguson are the heaviest Hawkeyes at 310 pounds. A total of 10 Hawkeye players are listed at 300 pounds or more. The tallest player, at 6-8, is sophomore DE Matt Nelson. The shortest player, at 5-8, is junior WR Jonathan Parker.
 
     IOWA BOWL NOTES
     Iowa made its 29th Bowl game appearance (14-14-1) at the 102nd Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, California. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Rose (six times), Outback (four), Alamo (four), Holiday (three), Orange (two), Peach (two), Sun (two), Insight (two), Gator/TaxSlayer (two), and the Capital One, and Freedom bowls once.
•   Iowa has played 13 bowl games under Kirk Ferentz (6-7), including nine January bowl games (4-5).
•   Iowa has been bowl eligible 14 of the last 15 seasons under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s 13 bowl appearances since 2001 tie as the 11th best total in the nation.
•   Iowa ranks third in Big Ten bowl appearances. Ohio State has received a conference-best 46 bowl bids, followed by Michigan (44), Iowa (29), and Wisconsin (27).
 
     GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE
     The Hawkeyes open 2016 with three straight home games against Miami, Ohio (Sept, 3), Iowa State (Sept. 10), and North Dakota State (Sept. 17).
     For the first time in program history, Iowa will play a nine-game conference schedule, beginning Sept. 24 at Rutgers. Iowa plays five Big Ten road games and hosts four conference schools, including Northwestern (Homecoming, Oct. 1), Wisconsin (Oct. 22), Michigan (Nov. 12) and Nebraska (Nov. 25).
     The Hawkeyes do not face Big Ten opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, or Ohio State, during the regular season.
     Seven of Iowa’s 12 opponents played in the postseason. Six Big Ten opponents participated in bowl competition (4-2). North Dakota State has won the FCS national championship five consecutive years.
     Iowa has four trophy games on its schedule in 2016. The Hawkeyes will defend rivalry trophies against Iowa State (Cy-Hawk), Wisconsin (Heartland), Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale), and Nebraska (Heroes).
     The Hawkeyes play FCS national champion North Dakota State on Sept. 17. Iowa is 13-0 all-time against FCS opponents. This is the ninth year in a row Iowa has faced an FCS school.
     For the second straight year, and second time in program history, Iowa will play more than one night game at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa hosts Iowa State on Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m., and Michigan Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Iowa also plays under the lights at Penn State on Nov. 5 (6:30 p.m.).
     Iowa’s Homecoming game is Oct. 1 against Northwestern. Iowa is 57-42-5 all-time in Homecoming contests, and has won six of its last seven Homecoming games.
 
     NATION’S TOP DEFENSIVE BACK RETURNS FOR SENIOR SEASON
     DB Desmond King, the Jim Thorpe Award winner and unanimous consensus All-American, announced on Jan. 4 he would return to Iowa for his senior season. King led the Big Ten and ranked second in the country with eight interceptions, tying a school record. He was named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year and a finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year.
     The last time Iowa took the field with a national award winner was 2003, when senior PK Nate Kaeding was the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, presented to the nation’s top kicker.
 
     IOWA LEADERSHIP GROUP
     The University of Iowa football program has 16 players in its 2016 Leadership Group, including nine seniors and seven juniors.  The purpose of the group is to assist in formulating policies, and being involved in team decision-making matters regarding the upcoming season.  Players are selected by a team vote.
     The seniors are DL Nathan Bazata, QB C.J. Beathard, OL Cole Croston, RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., DL Jaleel Johnson, DB Desmond King, TE George Kittle, DB Greg Mabin, WR Riley McCarron, and WR Matt VandeBerg.  The junior class is represented by OL Ike Boettger, LB Bo Bower, LB Josey Jewell, OL Boone Myers, LB Ben Niemann, and OL Sean Welsh.
 
     THE STREAKS
     The Hawkeyes have a Big Ten best eight game regular season conference winning streak. Iowa was 8-0 in the Big Ten last year, including a 4-0 mark at home and a 4-0 mark on the road. The eight-game winning streak is Iowa’s largest since winning eight in a row between the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Iowa has not won nine consecutive Big Ten regular season games since stringing together 10 straight from 2001-02. The school record for consecutive Big Ten regular season wins is 13, set between the 1920 and 1923 seasons.
     The Hawkeyes have won six consecutive road games (the final road game at Illinois in 2014, and all five road games in 2015). It’s their longest road winning streak since winning six straight from 2002-03. The school record for consecutive road wins is eight, set from 1920-23.
 
     DEFENDING THE CASTLE
     The Hawkeyes will defend five trophies in 2016 including the Big Ten West Division championship trophy and four rivalry trophies. It is the first time in program history (the Heroes Trophy was introduced in 2011) that Iowa has owned all four trophies They include the Cy-Hawk Trophy (Iowa State), Floyd of Rosedale (Minnesota), Heartland Trophy (Wisconsin), and Heroes (Nebraska).
 
     WE’LL GO FIRST
     In 17 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff in 172-of-214 games (104-68). Iowa has started the game on defense in 42-of-214 games under Ferentz (23-19).
 
     FIND THE NFL-ER
     Austin Blythe, a seventh-round selection of the Indianapolis Colts in 2016, became the 15th offensive linemen selected in the NFL draft since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as UI head coach. In each of Ferentz’s 17 seasons, the Hawkeyes have had a future NFL player start on the offensive line. This week’s depth chart includes offensive linemen Cole Croston, Boone Myers, Sean Welsh, James Daniels, and Ike Boettger.
     From 2007-14, an eventual NFL first-round draft pick started on the Iowa offensive line. Brandon Scherff, selected by the Washington Redskins fifth overall in 2015, was Iowa’s left tackle from 2012-14. Riley Reiff, selected 23rd overall by the Detroit Lions in 2012, started at left tackle from 2010-11. Bryan Bulaga, selected 23rd overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2010, started at left guard in 2007 before moving to left tackle in 2008-09.
     From 2005-06, Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Marshal Yanda shared time at tackle and guard for the Hawkeyes. Mike Elgin, a seventh round selection of New England, was Iowa’s starting center in 2004. Pete McMahon, drafted by Oakland in 2005, was Iowa’s right guard in 2003. Oakland’s first round pick in 2004, Robert Gallery, was Iowa’s left tackle from 2001-03. Eric Steinbach (Cincinnati) started at guard for Iowa from 2000-02, and Bruce Nelson (Carolina) was a four-year starter from 1999-02. Steinbach and Nelson were second round draft picks in 2003.
 
     FERENTZ CAPTURES NATIONAL AWARDS SEASON
     Head coach Kirk Ferentz returns to the Iowa sideline for an 18th season as the reigning national coach of the year. Ferentz was named Woody Hayes Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year by the FWAA, and winner of the 2015 Dodd Trophy presented annually by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He was named American Football Coaches Association Region 3 Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year and George Munger Coach of the Year awards.
     Ferentz was also named Dave McClain and Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015), being recognized by both league coaches and media.  Only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (6) has more conference coach of the year awards. Iowa’s Hayden Fry and Penn State’s Joe Paterno both won the award three times. 
     Ferentz led Iowa to a school record 12 wins in 2015. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten West Division title (8-0) and advanced to the Big Ten title game for the first time in the game’s five-year history. The Hawkeyes reclaimed all four of their rivalry trophies in 2015, and reached as high as third in the Associated Press poll (Nov. 22).
 
     FERENTZ TOPS IN LONGEVITY
     Kirk Ferentz completed his 17th season as Iowa’s head football coach in 2015, and is tied with Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops as the longest active FBS head coaches. Ferentz was named Iowa head coach on Dec. 2, 1998, one day after Stoops was named head coach at Oklahoma. Stoops was a Hawkeye letterman from 1979-82.
 
     IOWA AT THE HEAD OF CLASS IN COACHING LANDSCAPE
     The University of Iowa has produced four  active FBS head coaches, tied with Alabama for most in the country. Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Bob Diaco (UCONN), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Mark Stoops (Kentucky) all earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa. Bielema, Diaco, Bob Stoops, and Mark Stoops played for former UI head coach Hayden Fry. All four head coaches served as assistants under Fry. Bielema was an assistant coach on Kirk Ferentz’s staff from 1999-2001.
     KIRK FERENTZ RADIO SHOW
     Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is featured on “Hawk Talk with Kirk Ferentz” each week during the regular season. The radio call-in show is hosted by Gary Dolphin, the play-by-play voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  The show airs live each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from Applebee’s in Coralville.
 
     IOWA PROGRAM NOTES
•   The Hawkeyes have earned bowl eligibility in 14 of the last 15 seasons.
•   Iowa played in the Big Ten title game for the first time in program history on Dec. 5, 2015. Iowa earned Big Ten Conference championships in 2002 and 2004 and placed second in 2009. Iowa (8-0, 2002; 8-0, 2015) is one of three Big Ten teams to post a perfect mark in conference play since 1998 (BCS era), joining Michigan State (1) and Ohio State (5).
•   Iowa has ranked in the top 10 in the final Associated Press and CNN/USA Today coaches polls five times since 2002, including a ranking of seventh in both polls at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Iowa ranked eighth in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Hawkeyes finished 2015 ranked ninth in the AP poll and 10th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. In the Big Ten, only Ohio State has more top 10 finishes since 2002.
•   Since 1936 when the first AP poll was released, Iowa has appeared in the poll 308 times, the fifth highest total in the Big Ten (Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and MSU). Iowa has been the top-ranked team in the country 11 times.
•   Iowa set a school record with 12 wins in 2015. The Hawkeyes won 11 games in 2002 (11-2), and 2009 (11-2).  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.
•   Kirk Ferentz has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015) and was named National Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2015. Only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (6) has more conference coach of the year. Iowa’s Hayden Fry and Penn State’s Joe Paterno both won the award three times. 
•   Desmond King became the seventh Hawkeye to earn a national player of the year award under Kirk Ferentz. He won the Jim Thorpe award in 2015, honoring the nation’s top defensive back. 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); Brandon Scherff (2014 Outland, Top Lineman), Desmond King (2015 Jim Thorpe).
•   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 Hawkeyes’ long term success is due to the stability in the program. 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 18th season. Ferentz also served as Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 under Fry.
 
     IOWA FOOTBALL AND THE NFL
•   Since 1999, Kirk Ferentz’s first year as head coach, 120 former Hawkeyes have played in the NFL.
•   At least one Iowa Hawkeye has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1978.
•   Since 2010, Iowa has had 26 players drafted in the NFL. Among Big Ten teams, only Ohio State has had more draft picks in that same time span (39). Nebraska and Penn State have also had 26 players drafted since 2010.
•   Iowa has had four first round picks in the last seven NFL drafts — OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015. Only Ohio State (7) and Wisconsin (5) have more among Big Ten schools.
•   Iowa had 23 players drafted from 2010-16, including four first round picks (OL Bryan Bulaga, 2010; DE Adrian Clayborn, 2011; OL Riley Reiff, 2012; OL Brandon Scherff, 2015).
•   Iowa and Alabama were the only two college football programs to have a first round draft selection following the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. 
•   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.
•   Former Hawkeye Marshal Yanda (Baltimore OL) is a five-time Pro-Bowler (2011-15) and was named NFL All-Pro in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
•   In NFL 2011 regular season statistics, former Hawkeye linebackers Chad Greenway (Minnesota) and Pat Angerer (Indianapolis) finished third and fourth, respectively, in tackles. Greenway was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and 2013.
•   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 fourth year as Iowa’s offensive line coach, was New England’s tight ends coach.
•   Former Iowa DB Sean Considine and OL Marshal Yanda won Super Bowl rings with the 2012 Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 Super Bowl.
•   Former Iowa LB James Morris (injured reserve) earned a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots in 2015. Former TE Tony Moeaki played for the Seattle Seahawks in the same game.
•   Former center James Ferentz was a member of the 2016 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
•   Entering the 2016 season, every Iowa senior starting tight end (11) under Kirk Ferentz has been drafted in the NFL or made an NFL team.
•   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 15 years, 140-of-157 (89 percent) of Iowa’s senior starters have been drafted in the NFL or signed NFL free agent contracts.