Game Day: Week 2 has Iowa Hawkeyes hosting Missouri State Bears at Kinnick Stadium

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis has found in his 39 years of coaching that teams make the biggest improvements between weeks one and two during the football season.  Many coaches over the years talk about the Week 1 to Week 2 improvement, but can the improved results really be measured this week for Iowa?

After losing the opener to Northern Illinois by a narrow 30-27 margin, the Hawkeyes look to rebound in week two against Missouri State on Saturday.  Iowa has never lost to a FCS program in the modern era.  All five losses were pre-1939, before the FCS criteria was established.

The Missouri State Bears (0-1) will square off against a Big Ten Conference opponent for the first time in the 102-season history of the program Saturday when they meet the Iowa Hawkeyes (0-1). 

Both programs lost eight games in 2012, with Iowa in FBS and MSU in FCS. Both programs have lost seven straight dating back to last season.  So, a streak will end for the second straight week for Iowa or Iowa's opponent. 

Missouri State have played FBS opponents is the past, but usually a Big 12 opponent, or a Tulsa or Arkansas State.  It has been 23 years, since the Bears got their lone FBS win.  Iowa typically takes care of business vs. FCS opponents, but did receive a scare in the 2009 season opener, vs. Northern Iowa.

For Iowa: "it's positive to have a game under our belt," Davis said. "We got to see ourselves against a different opponent, while we also got to see Missouri State on film in their opener and see the guys that are actually playing."

The Hawkeye offense will be going up against a different look defensively from what Northern Illinois employed last week. Missouri State sets up in a 3-4, which is an unusual look on normal down and distances for college defenses.  Wisconsin and Ohio State are using 3-4 base defenses in 2013.

"Everybody has a 3-4 as part of their nickel or dime package, so it creates a little mental gymnastics, but our kids have had a really good week," Davis said. "It also prepares us for later in the season when other teams do it."

Missouri State, who lost 23-17 to Northwestern State in its opener, share the NCAA Division I FCS lead in red-zone defense after limiting the Demons to one score in three red-zone possessions. Finishing red-zone drives with touchdowns has been a point of emphasis for Davis and the Hawkeyes.

"Scoring touchdowns in the red zone is something that we talked about at the very beginning of camp," said Davis. "Part of the reason their defense does a good job in the red zone is that they're a 3-4 team. They have a lot of guys dropping in coverage, the fill gets reduced... you really have to be able to run the ball down there against that style of play. We had two different sessions in today's practice in the red zone, so hopefully we'll be able to finish our drives."

Last week, Iowa scored touchdowns on 2-of-3 red-zone trips, while kicking a field goal on its other possession inside the 20.

One positive vs. Northern Illinois was senior TE C.J. Fiedorowicz' 11 yard touchdown reception from first-year stating quarterback, sophomore Jake Rudock.  The TE corp is Iowa's strongest group of receivers, so the Hawkeyes are looking for production from that unit in 2013.  Could we see more offense from the TE group in Week 2?

Davis went into last week's opener looking for the offense to take at least 80 snaps. The team reached that number (43 rushes and 37 passes) and had opportunities for more offensive plays, but three turnovers cost Iowa additional reps and ultimately nine points for the Huskies.

"I did like the pace of play," said Davis. "We want to be a team that is balanced. Last week, we had over 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing. There were a lot of positives from last week's game from that stand point, but obviously you can't turn the ball over."

Iowa's thorn vs. Northern Illinois was three turnovers (1 fumble, 2 interceptions).  The most costly turnover was Rudock's final interception that ended Iowa's hopeful go ahead drive to break a 27-27 tie in the fourth quarter.  It fueled NIU to a game winning field goal on their final drive of the game.

Iowa looks to make for a bittersweet Homecoming for the Missouri State head coach on Saturday.

The Bears’ first trip of the 2013 season will be a familiar one for eighth-year head coach Terry Allen, whose father, Robert, played for the Hawkeyes in the late 1930’s before serving as UI’s head men’s swimming coach for 16 years.  Allen grew up in Iowa City, before heading off to college at the University of Northern Iowa. 

Since moving to Division I status in 1982 as a FCS program, Missouri State is 1-28 all-time against FBS programs; the Bears’ sole FBS win in that time frame came at UNLV (31-24) in 1990.  Iowa has taken care of business in the past vs. FCS opponents, since 1982.

Eight FCS programs beat FBS programs in Week 1, including Allen's alma mater, Northern Iowa, who beat Iowa's Week 3 opponent, Iowa State in Ames, with a 28-20 win.  Iowa State has a bye week in preparation to hosting Iowa in Week 3.  It should be an interesting eight days.

Three Bears earned preseason All-MVC recognition, as Caleb Schaffitzel (Jr., S, Fair Grove, Mo.) and Dorian Buford (Sr., WR, Florissant, Mo.) picked up first-team honors, while Anthony Grady (Sr., DE, Texarkana, Ark.) was an honorable mention selection. Schaffitzel currently ranks third among active NCAA FCS players in career interception return yardage (216). 

MSU brings a seven-game losing streak against teams from the state of Iowa into Saturday’s game, with its last win coming at home vs. UNI (24-21) on Oct. 8, 2005; the Bears have not won a game on Iowa soil since defeating the Panthers (also by a 24-21 score) in Cedar Falls on Oct. 3, 1998.

Over the last three seasons, MSU is 0-14 when scoring 20 points or less; the Bears are 5-4 when topping the 20-point barrier over the same span.

Bears’ quarterback Kierra Harris (Jr., Texarkana, Ark.) scored both MSU touchdowns vs. Northwestern State and ranks 16th nationally in scoring as a result. 

The Hawkeyes and Bears will kickoff at 11:01 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium on the Big Ten Network.

Iowa should win vs. Missouri State.  Our Pick: Iowa 39, Missouri State 10, as the next real test for Iowa will be next Saturday at Iowa State (0-1) in Ames.

Better numbers in the Season Opener for Iowa, but still ends with a Loss, seventh in a row!

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- In many areas Saturday, the University of Iowa football team won the numbers game. Now it's time to claim the letters game as well -- in the form of a large capital W.

Against Northern Illinois, the Hawkeyes had more first downs, yards, red zone scores and time of possession. The Huskies ended with two more turnovers and three more points.

"The next step is, you have to learn how to win," said UI head coach Kirk Ferentz at his weekly news conference Tuesday in the Hayden Fry Football Complex. "Looking back, there were a couple opportunities (against Northern Illinois) where I felt we were close to turning the game, but we couldn't quite get it done."

As an example, Ferentz pointed to the first five possessions of the second half that combined to gain 47 yards and ended with four punts and an interception. There was also a false start penalty on third-and-1, and incomplete pass down field on third down, and a pass interception.

"Those little things add up and that's the next step that we have to take," Ferentz said.

Iowa attempts to get in the win column Sept. 7 when Missouri State (0-1) comes to Kinnick Stadium for the first meeting between the schools. Kickoff is 11:01 a.m. (CT). The Bears are coached by Terry Allen, a native of Iowa City, who played and coached at Northern Iowa.  He left UNI for a major BCS job, when he landed the Kansas job.  After an unsuccessful run at KU, Allen landed a new job at Missouri State.

"That (Northern Iowa) program has been good for a long, long time and Terry is a big part of that," Ferentz said.

Missouri State is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and since joining the Division I FCS ranks, the Bears are 1-28 against Football Bowl Subdivision competition. Even with that lopsided ledger, Missouri State will have the Hawkeyes' undivided attention, especially since eight FCS teams defeated FBS programs during the opening week.

"It's pretty awakening for everybody," Ferentz said. "We have played FCS tams before and there is nothing easy about winning at any level."

The Bears offer a 3-4 alignment on defense, similar to what is run at Ohio State and Wisconsin. Iowa plays at Ohio State on Oct. 19 and hosts Wisconsin on Nov. 2.

"Blocking is still blocking, but the communication is different against a 3-4 team and it causes a few adjustments," Ferentz said. "There is some benefit and we'll keep getting more of that as we go along."

Iowa ran 80 plays against Northern Illinois, more than 11 plays above its average in 2012. Ferentz said the offensive tempo for the Hawkeyes could fluctuate week-to-week.

"For the most part we operated well (against Northern Illinois)," Ferentz said. "Communication was pretty good and it was fairly effective, but we still want more points. Yardage is one thing, but when you have turnovers and come up short on points, that's tough."

When it comes to steps, Ferentz said sophomore quarterback Jake Rudock had a positive one for his first collegiate start. Rudock completed 21-of-37 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown. He rushed four times for 20 yards and another score.

"He handled things well," Ferentz said. "His demeanor on the sideline was good; he was calm, confident. The feedback we got from him was accurate, so his awareness was good. We wanted to win the football game, but there are good things that happened in (Rudock's) neighborhood."

The Iowa-Missouri State game will be televised by BTN with Steve Physioc and former Hawkeye Danan Hughes calling the action.

Ferentz sees truth in the statement that teams make the most improvement from the first to second week.

"But it's not just going to happen," he cautioned. "You have to make it happen. Can we push forward this week? If we do, we should see improvement, but we have to go out and do it. It starts in practice."

Tuesday: Kirk Ferentz with meet with media to discuss Iowa vs. Missouri State at Kinnick Stadium

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz will meet with media Tuesday at approximately 12:45 p.m. (CT) in the Player's Auditorium in the Hayden Fry Football Complex.

The briefing with local, regional and national media will be available live from start to finish on Hawkeye All-Access, the multi-media portal inside hawkeyesports.com, the official worldwide website of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Fans can also follow the Hawkeyes on hawkeyereport.com, on the Rivals Network.

Iowa will meet Missouri State for the first time in football. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for Missouri State coach Terry Allen, who grew up in Iowa City, including his high school playing days.

Both teams are looking for their first win of the young season. Missouri State lost to Northwestern State, 23-17, on Aug. 31, and the Hawkeyes fell to Northern Illinois, 30-27. Game time is set for 11:01 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium.

IOWA/MSU NOTES
• Saturday's game is the first football meeting between the two schools.
• Iowa junior RB Mark Weisman is 85 yards shy of reaching 1,000 career rushing yards. He enters the game with 179 careers carries for 915 yards (5.1 avg.).
• Senior LB Christian Kirksey and senior PK Mike Meyer earned CFPA honorable mention performer of the week honors at their respective positions following last week's game against Northern Illinois. Kirksey recorded a career best 14 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown, while Meyer connected on two field goals and three PAT attempts.
• Missouri State head coach Terry Allen is 0-1 all-time against Iowa. Allen lost as head coach of Northern Iowa, 34-13, in Iowa City in 1995.
• Terry Allen is in his eighth season at MSU. He was named MSU's 19th head football coach on Dec. 20, 2005, and has a 28-50 (.359) record leading the Bears. Allen was head coach at UNI (1989-96) and Kansas (1997-2001), and was associate coach at Iowa State (2002-05) prior to taking the head coaching job at MSU in 2006.
• Terry Allen was a prep quarterback at Iowa City West High School before starter at quarterback for UNI from 1976-78.
• Terry Allen's father, Robert, was a football letterman at Iowa from 1937-38 and a member of the men's swimming team. Robert Allen was a two-time national champion as a member of Iowa's 300 medley relay. He later served as Iowa's men's swimming head coach for 16 years.
• Missouri State assistant Ben Barkema is a native of Muscatine, Iowa. His brother, C.J. played for the Hawkeyes is a three-year Hawkeye football letterman.
• There are five players on the Iowa roster from Missouri and three Iowans on the Missouri State roster.

TO PAVE AND PROTECT
Iowa's offensive line yielded no sacks for rookie quarterback Jake Rudock, and paved the way for 202 rushing yards. Iowa is one of five Big Ten teams not to allow a sack in week one. Iowa's starters in the offensive line included tackles Brett Van Sloten and Brandon Scherff, guards Jordan Walsh and Conor Boffeli and center Austin Blythe.

FIRST TIME STARTERS
Six Hawkeyes made their first career starts in the season opener against Northern Illinois -- two on offense and four on defense. First time starters included QB Jake Rudock, WR Don Shumpert, DE Drew Ott, DT Carl Davis, SS John Lowdermilk and CB Jordan Lomax.

REMOVE THE REDSHIRT
Freshman DB Desmond King was the only Iowa true freshman to see action in the season opener. King appeared at defensive back and recorded four tackles -- two solo and two assisted.

RUDOCK YARDAGE TOTAL TIES FOR 4TH IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Sophomore QB Jake Rudock finished his Hawkeye debut 21-37 for 256 yards, including two touchdowns (one rush and one pass) and two interceptions. 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.

The end result in the 2013 Season Opener reminded us of Iowa's 1987 Season Opener vs. Tennessee in the Meadowlands in New Jersey for the Kickoff Classic.  Both games were last second field goals by Iowa's opponent sealing Iowa's fate.

Iowa has lost seven straight games, dating back to October 2012, and home game vs. Penn State.  Iowa beat Northern Iowa last year, the last FCS opponent and MVC member to play the Hawkeyes.

Like in Basektball in 2006, the University of Minnesota dismiss football coach Tim Brewster in the middle of the season

The University of Minnesota forced out a basketball coach after five straight losses in 2006 and now after six straight losses in football... Tim Brewster is out at the U!

Monson resigns as coach at Minnesota - Men's College Basketball - ESPN
Nov 30, 2006 ... MINNEAPOLIS -- Dan Monson resigned as the men's basketball coach at Minnesota on Thursday, one day after the Gophers' fifth straight defeat ...

Tim Brewster out as Minnesota coach ‎ - Associated Press
Tim Brewster, who arrived as coach at Minnesota in 2007 promising to take the Golden Gophers back to the Rose Bowl, was fired Sunday, one day after his ...

Rand's list includes these fine coaches.
1. Chris Petersen -- Boise St. head
coach. Doubtful he would come, but may need a new and BIGGER challenge.
2. Leslie Frazier -- close second, current Viking Associate Head Coach and
Defensive Coordinator GREAT CHOICE
3. Jerry Kill -- Northern Illinois
University Head Coach
4. Mark Farley -- University of Northern Iowa head
Coach
5. Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas football coach. He is a good one with a
bright and bigger future. - Michael Rand

Mid-day talker: 5 candidates to replace Brewster -- one reader's opinion - Star Tribune
Tim Brewster is out. That decision -- while one that shouldn't be taken lightly -- was the easier part of the equation ...

Look at the University of Kansas, when they hired Terry Allen from UNI in 1997. Jumping from FCS to FBS is a tall step from FCS to a BCS school. Jerry Kill would be a better choice than Mark Farley. By the way, Farley went with Allen to KU, before returning to UNI to replace Allen's unsuccessful successor. Kill was at Southern Illinois, a FCS school, a couple of years ago and has done a nice job at Northern Illinois the past two and half years.

Who sees Boise State coach Chris Petersen at Minnesota next season?

Leslie Frazier does have prior head coaching experience at the college level, as well a brief stint at Illinois as an assistant coach. Does the University of Minnesota want to go with a defensive minded coach?

peace