IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Game week is officially upon the University of Iowa football team, and head coach Kirk Ferentz is both eager and anxious heading into the season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field. Iowa finished 7-6 in 2011, while Northern Illinois won the MAC title and finished 11-3. The Hawkeye coach meet with media on Tuesday to discuss the season opener on Saturday.
"You're always anxious, excited, but anxious," said Ferentz during Tuesday's press conference inside the Hayden Fry Football Complex. "That's probably where we're at right now. I'm sure Northern feels the same way.
"It's going to be interesting, but that's why you work. That's why you practice. Now we'll see how things start to come together."
Ferentz says the Hawkeyes closed the preseason with strong workouts, and the team is ready for the next challenge.
"They've done a great job the last couple of years. They've beaten Big Ten teams in recent history, and there's no saying it couldn't happen again this week. That's our No. 1 thing, focusing on them." - UI head coach Kirk Ferentz
"We've had a productive preseason," he said. "The past three weeks the guys have worked hard, had a good attitude and gotten some things done. Now it's another step for us with it being the first game week."
The Hawkeyes head to the Windy City to face a Huskie team that has won nine consecutive games, the longest winning streak among Football Bowl Series teams in the country. NIU has won 22 games over the past two seasons and 15-of-its-last-16 Mid-American Conference games.
"They've done a great job the last couple of years," said Ferentz. "They're an excellent football team. They're very experienced on defense and special teams."
"They've beaten Big Ten teams in recent history, and there's no saying it couldn't happen again this week. That's our No. 1 thing, focusing on them."
Iowa is 7-0 all-time against Northern Illinois. The series began in 1985, and the Hawkeyes defeated the Huskies, 16-3, in 2007 -- the last meeting that was also played at Soldier Field.
Following the season-ending injury to freshman running back Barkley Hill on Aug. 18, Ferentz said all three running backs -- sophomore Damon Bullock and freshmen Greg Garmon and Michael Malloy -- will see action Saturday.
"We're down to three guys we can envision going into the ball game," he said. "Damon is the most experienced, and he has played, but he's hardly a seasoned player. All three of those guys will be in there and we'll go from there."
Ferentz is hopeful that the Hawkeyes can get off the "rollercoaster" when it comes to the Iowa special teams, but he realizes there could be some bumps in the road with true freshman punter Connor Kornbrath.
"That's one of our goals," said Ferentz. "There's going to be some in the punting game. Probably no different than when Eric Guthrie started a year ago and Donnie (Ryan Donahue) four-or-five years ago. We think Connor has that kind of potential to end up being a really good player."
Kornbrath is one of four true freshmen who are expected to play Saturday, along with Garmon, Malloy and defensive back Kevin Buford.
During the course of camp, Ferentz has seen progress from his inexperienced defensive line, and he expects it's going to be a collective effort against Northern Illinois and throughout the season.
"The guys are working hard and have a good attitude," said Ferentz. "I would envision us playing six, seven, eight guys during the course of the game. I'm not sure we have somebody that can go out there and play 70, 75, 80 snaps right now. It's going to be a collective effort."
Ferentz says it is a win-win situation for both the players and fans when playing a neutral site game in Chicago.
"Our fans seemed to enjoy it and embraced it, which is good," said Ferentz of the previous meeting in 2007. "I don't want to say it is a convenient game, but at least it's a lot better than going to the West Coast in my mind."
"You're playing in a pro stadium, which is exciting to the players. They like that opportunity based on some of the bowl games we've played in pro stadiums. To me, it just makes sense."
Ferentz announced that the leadership group selected senior quarterback James Vandenberg, senior center James Ferentz, senior defensive back Micah Hyde and junior linebacker James Morris as this week's¬¬ team captains.
Saturday's game is set to begin at 2:32 p.m. (CT) inside Chicago's Soldier Field. The game will be televised live on ESPNU with Tom Hart and John Congemi calling the action
Iowa appears have a very young team from a standpoint of seniors and seniors starting. However, with only four true freshmen likley playing on Saturday, it doesn't appear that Iowa is going to draw upon the freshmen class at the same rate as other seasons under Kirk Ferentz.
- WR Marvin McNutt has departed, after a record setting season in 2011. Look for senior wide receiver #6 Keenan Davis to step up from the #2 spot at WR, into that top spot.
- DT Mike Daniels lead Iowa in sacks and tackles for loss last season. During Spring Drills, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle #90 Louis Trinca-Pasat to step up as a new starter on the new defensive line for Iowa.
- CB Shaun Prater was a three-year starter and was twice recognized as a first-team all-Big Ten performer. Junior CB #19 B.J. Lowery will be the new starter, but senior #18 Micah Hyde returns as the top corner for Iowa. He is a returning second-team all-Big Ten performer.
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