UNI Panthers heading to the FCS Football Playoffs as an at-large team

UNI makes 18th appearance in the FCS Football Playoffs, coming off a 7-4 season.

Indianapolis, IN -- The University of Northern Iowa (7-4) has been selected as an at-large team for the 2015 FCS Football playoffs. The Panthers will host a first round game on Saturday, with a game against Eastern Illinois (7-4), out of the Ohio Valley Conference.

The field of 24 teams competing for the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. The top eight national seeds will host winners from the first round match-ups.

BRACKET: Interactive | Printable

Jacksonville State University (10-1) tops the bracket as the number one seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks are making their third straight appearance in the championship and sixth overall.

Illinois State University (9-2) is the number two seed after finishing as the co-champion of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds, the runner-up in last year’s national championship game, are making their sixth appearance in the championship.

Four-time defending national champion North Dakota State University (9-2) is the number three seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison are making their sixth straight appearance in the championship.

McNeese State University (10-0) is the number four seed after capturing the Southland Conference automatic berth. The two-time national runner-up Cowboys are making their 16th appearance in the championship.

James Madison University (9-2), the 2004 national champion, will be the fifth seed. The Dukes are making their 12th appearance in the championship.

Portland State University (9-2), making its first appearance since 2000, will be the number six seed. The Vikings are only making their second appearance in the championship.

University of Richmond (8-3), the automatic qualifier from the Colonial Athletic Association, will be the seventh seed. The Spiders, who won the 2008 title, will be making their 10th appearance.

The eighth and final seeded team will be Charleston Southern University. The Buccaneers will be making its first appearance after capturing the Big South Conference automatic berth.

The 2015 championship field consists of 10 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large qualifiers.

UNI is 15-6-1 all-time against the Eastern Illinois Panthers (7-4 this season), a series that dates back to 1975. The last time UNI and the Ohio Valley Conference foe played each other was in 2001 when UNI picked up a 49-43 win on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

UNI has made 18 NCAA FCS playoff appearances, including back-to-back years hosting a first round game, picking up 20 playoff wins in school history. UNI has won at least one playoff game in 13 of its previous 17 playoff appearances, including a playoff win in nine of the last 10 appearances.

Iowa climbs to 1-0, as do all eleven remaining Iowa opponents in Week 1

Did you notice that the only two Big Ten teams to lose in Week 1 will not face the University of Iowa in 2010? Otherwise, the Big Ten Conference went 9-2 in Week 1 of the 2010 College Football season.

• Purdue doesn't play Iowa until 2011. The Boilermakers lost @ Notre Dame on Saturday, 12-23, as Brian Kelly won his debut as the new Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach.


• Coach Ron Zook and Illinois don't play Iowa in 2010. Heck, they will not play in '11 or '12, with the new schedules to accommodate division play and the entrance of Nebraska Cornhuskers into the Big Ten. Missouri beat Illinois 23-13 in St. Louis making Zook's seat a little bit warmer today, after the Fighting Illini played solid in the first half.

#4 Iowa beat Eastern Illinois 37-7 to open the 2010 College Football season at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The Hawkeyes looked good in the opener this season, after last season's 17-16 near upset at the hands of University of Northern Iowa. Highlights of the season opener for Iowa:

• Six true freshman played limited roles on special teams and in reserve roles.


• #2 TE #39 Brad Herman (pictured above), a 6-5 junior, had a solid game with three receptions, including a 35 yard catch on the opening TD drive for Iowa to put Iowa into the Blue Panthers red zone..


• Senior reserve running back Paki O'Meara put Iowa ahead 21-0 with a blocked punt and 42 yard return. Herman later got a hand on a partially blocked punt later in the game.


• Senior QB Ricky Stanzi was 18-23 for 229 yards and one TD. More important, no INTs.


• Sophomore RB Adam Robinson ran 24 times for 109 yards and 3 TDs.


• Overall, there were mistakes made and the coaching staff will likely have some film to get all three areas of the game improving for the second game. It is typically observed in College Football, that teams improve the most from Week 1 to Week 2. This should be no different for Iowa and all 119 FBS programs in 2010.

Will Eastern Illinois win the Ohio Valley Conference in 2010? If so, the Blue Panthers will win a date again in the FCS playoffs, like 2009. How many Iowa fans will be rooting for the Blue Panthers the rest of the way? By the way, the UNI Panthers open the 2010 season this Saturday at home with Missouri Valley Football play vs. North Dakota State, who upset Turner Gill's debut as head coach at the University of Kansas, 6-3. Upsets are popular these days in Lawrence... just ask the Jayhawks basketball fans!

Heck, last year, BYU upset Oklahoma in the season opener 14-13. #18 Oklahoma opened with a team from Utah again in 2010, but Utah State isn't BYU. The Sooners out lasted the WAC's Aggies 31-24 and will host Florida State in Week 2. Are the Sooners really going to be a factor in the 2010 BCS race?

Did anyone catch the highlights of Ole Miss's season opener in Oxford for coach Houston Nutt's team? Well, FCS Jacksonville State, with a true frosh QB at the helm upset the Rebels 49-48 in 2OT. The Rebels defense doesn't look SEC like in 2010.

The 2010 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule

• Sept 4 - Iowa 37, Eastern Illinois 7 - Hawkeyes open 1-0 for the tenth straight season!


• Sept 11 - vs. Iowa State (1-0) - The Cyclones opened the 2010 season with a 27-10 win Thursday night at home over the Northern Illinois Huskies to begin their second season under coach Paul Rhoads. The Cyclones offense looked solid, though the defense is rebuilding for the Cyclones and NIU's young QB didn't perform well in the Huskies loss to the Cyclones.


• Sept 18 - @ Arizona (1-0) - The Wildcats offense rolled on Toledo in Ohio 41-2 Friday night in coach Mike Stoops homecoming to his home state. The Wildcats will tune up for the date vs. Iowa with a home opener vs. The Citadel (1-0), an FCS program. By the way, the Bulldogs won their opener 56 - 14 over the Chowan Hawks.


• Sept 25 - vs. Ball State (1-0) - The Cardinals won Thursday night at home over the SE Missouri State RedHawks 27-10. Ball State will face Liberty and will travel to West Lafayette @ Purdue before a date in Kinnick Stadium in Week 4 vs. the Hawkeyes.


• Oct 2 - vs. #19 Penn State (1-0) for Homecoming - The Nittany Lions started slow in the first quarter, but the debut of promising true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden should lead to a lot of excitement in Joe Paterno's 45Th season at the helm at Penn State. The Nittany Lions went on to beat Youngstown State 44-14 to open the season. Next up: @ #1 Alabama ... nothing like a strong Week 2 test for the true frosh QB? Kent State (1-0) and Temple (1-0) will wrap off OOC play, before the Big Ten opener in Iowa City for the Nittany Lions.


• Oct 9 - Iowa's bye week for the 2010 season.


• Oct 16 - @ Michigan (1-0) for the Wolverines homecoming game - Wow, sophomore QB Denard Robinson's debut as the starting quarterback helped the Wolverines roll 30-10 over UConn. Next up: @ Notre Dame (1-0) - coach Rich Rodriguez is 1-8 at Michigan on the road, with the lone OOC game was the '08 visit to South Bend, where the Fighting Irish won 35-17. Michigan closes OOC play at home vs. UMass (1-0) and Bowling Green (0-1).


• Oct 23 - vs. #10 Wisconsin (1-0) - The Badgers trip to the desert to face Nevada-Las Vegas was mission accomplished. The Badgers defeated UNLV 41-21 unloading the three headed RB trio of John Clay, Montee Bell and James White. Next up: vs. San Jose State (0-1) in home opener. San Jose State lost 3-48 @ #1 Alabama in season opener, before home visits from Arizona State (1-0) and Austin Peay (1-0).


• Oct 30 - vs. Michigan State (1-0) - The Spartans opened with a solid 38-14 win over Western Michigan with two running backs rushing for over 100 yards, including true frosh Le'Veon Bell. The Spartans will travel to Detroit for a game with Florida Atlantic (1-0) this week, with Notre Dame (1-0) and Northern Colorado (1-0) heading to East Lansing, before the Big Ten opener at home with UW. Florida Atlantic edged UAB 32-31 on the road and is making it's second visit to MI, since the '08 game, when MSU won 17-0.


• Nov 6 - @ Indiana (1-0) - The Hoosiers won their ninth straight home opener with a 51-17 win over Towson on Thursday night. The Hoosiers have a week off, until a road trip to Western Kentucky (0-1) on September 18Th. WKU lost season opener @ #15 Nebraska 10-49. The Hoosiers can move the Big Ten road record in '10 at Sun Belt schools to 2-0 with a win. The Hoosiers will play Akron (0-1) before the Big Ten home opener vs. Michigan.


• Nov 13 - @ Northwestern (1-0) -The Wildcats won on the road in the SEC with a 23-21 victory @ Vanderbilt Saturday night. The Wildcats lost in the Outback Bowl 35-38 in OT to the SEC's Auburn, so the Wildcats were pleased to pick up a win. Week 2 is a date at home in Evanston vs. Illinois State (1-0), followed by a road game @ Rice (0-1) and Central Michigan (1-0) back in Evanston, before the Big Ten opener @ Minnesota.


• Nov 20 - vs. # 2 Ohio State (1-0) - The Terrelle Pryor show debuted for year 3 with a solid 45-7 win over Marshall on Thursday night in Columbus. Week 2 is a big test for the Buckeyes with #11 Miami-FL (1-0), who defeated Florida A&M 45-0, in Columbus. The Buckeyes follow up the game with the Hurricane, with home dates with Ohio U (1-0) and Eastern Michigan (0-1), before Big Ten opener @ Illinois.


• Nov 27 - @ Minnesota (1-0) - The Golden Gophers under their fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons with head coach Tim Brewster pulled off a solid 24-17 road win over the Sun Belt's Middle Tennessee. Next up: vs. South Dakota (0-1), who lost @ Central Florida 7-38, then home dates with USC and Northern Illinois to wrap up OOC.

By the way, the University of Iowa needs to re-think waiting lines into Kinnick Stadium. If a person has a bottle of water in hand, why does the bottle need to be inspected by the same person and in same line that are looking at fan's purses and diaper bags? Sorry, but a simple review of a Quantitative Methods class would suggest a better procedure for all. By the way, carrying water is legal and a quick check of a cap should assure compliance, rather than making lines longer into Kinnick Stadium.

We hope everyone is enjoying a great Labor Day weekend where ever they may be this holiday weekend in the United States.

Sunday, September 5Th Games

• Tulsa at East Carolina, 1:00 p.m., ESPN2 (HD)


• SMU at #17 Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)

C-USA opener for Tulsa and defending champion East Carolina on Sunday of Labor Day weekend, while coach Tommy Tubberville opens as the new head coach in Lubbock for the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. coach June Jones and the Mustangs of SMU, who had their best season, since 1984.

Labor Day Special Games on Monday, September 6Th

• Maryland at #24 Navy (Baltimore), 3:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)


• Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (Landover, MD), 7:00 p.m., ESPN (HD) / ESPN 3D

Both Labor Day games come from the State of Maryland, with in-state Maryland and #24 Navy squaring off, then the big spotlight game of the holiday weekend, with #3 Boise State facing #6 Virginia Tech, in a classic non-BCS vs. BCS game, from FedEx Field in Landover, MD. The Hokies should take Boise State out, but Boise State should be a tough out.

peace

Game Day: Iowa vs. Eastern Illinois at Kinnick at 11 a.m. on the BTN

The 2010 College Football season has finally arrived in Iowa City today!

The #4 Iowa Hawkeyes will host the Eastern Illinois Panthers, an FCS program from the Ohio Valley Conference in the season opener at Kinnick Stadium. Our Pick: Hawkeyes 40, Panthers 9.

Plenty of other College Football on tap today, after last night games prep and college games...

In Eastern Iowa high school football, we attended the 49-0 whitewash as the Washington Warriors blanked the Jefferson J-Hawks 49-0 at Kingston Stadium on Friday night. The Warrior Band was decked out in new uniforms and performed, as well!

Friday Night College Football

• The Arizona Wildcats knocked out the Rockets of Toledo in Ohio

• Temple nearly got upset by the Villanova Wildcats, the pride of the FCS

Other games for Saturday, September 4Th (Central Time)

• Miami (Ohio) at Florida, 11:00 a.m., ESPN (HD)


• Samford at Florida State, 11:00 a.m., ESPNU (HD)


• Western Michigan at Michigan State, 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 (HD)


• Youngstown State at Penn State, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)


• Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network / ESPN-GP


• Illinois vs. Missouri (St. Louis), 11:30 a.m., FSN (HD)


• Colorado vs. Colorado State (Denver), 1:00 p.m., MTN (HD)


• Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, 2:30 p.m., ALT / MASN / ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable)


• Connecticut at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., ABC / ESPN2 *7


• Jacksonville State at Ole Miss, 2:30 p.m., ESPN-GP / CSS (cable) / CSMA (j.i.p.)


• Kentucky at Louisville, 2:30 p.m., ABC / ESPN-GP *2


• Purdue at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m., NBC (HD)


• North Texas at Clemson, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)


• Texas at Rice (Reliant Stadium), 2:30 p.m., ESPN (HD)


• UCLA at Kansas State, 2:30 p.m., ABC / ESPN2 *7 / ESPN-GP *2


• UC Davis at California, 3:00 p.m., CSCA


• UT-Martin at Tennessee, 5:00 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (TN)


• Sacramento State at Stanford, 5:30 p.m., CSNB (HD)


• Arkansas State at Auburn, 6:00 p.m., (FSS / SUNa) (HD) / ESPN-GP *2


• Lehigh at Drake, 6:00 p.m., FCS (DirecTV - 617) / FCSA (cable) in FCS play


• Memphis at Mississippi State, 6:00 p.m., ESPNU (HD)


• North Dakota State at Kansas, 6:00 p.m., FCS (DirecTV - 623) / FCSC (cable)


• San Jose State at Alabama, 6:00 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (AL, CA)


• Stony Brook at South Florida, 6:00 p.m., SNY / ESPN-GP *2


• Tennessee Tech at Arkansas, 6:00 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / PPV (AR, TN)


• Washington at BYU, 6:00 p.m., CBSC (HD)


• Washington State at Oklahoma State, 6:00 p.m., FSN (HD)


• Western Kentucky at Nebraska, 6:00 p.m., PPV


• Utah State at Oklahoma, 6:00 p.m., PPV


• Northwestern at Vanderbilt, 6:30 p.m., CSCA (HD) / CSNCa / ESPN-GP / CSS (cable)


• Oregon State at TCU, 6:45 p.m., ESPN (HD)


• LSU vs. North Carolina (Atlanta), 7:00 p.m., ABC (HD)


• Cincinnati at Fresno State, 9:00 p.m., ESPN2 (HD)


• Portland State at Arizona State, 9:15 p.m., FSAZ (HD) / FCSP (cable)


• Wisconsin at UNLV, 10:00 p.m., Versus (HD)

Games not selected for nationally available networks:

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff at UTEP, 8:05 p.m.,


• Army at Eastern Michigan, 6:00 p.m.


• Bowling Green at Troy, 6:00 p.m., Troy/ISP Network / FCSP (cable)


• Elon at Duke, 6:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Grambling at Louisiana Tech, 6:00 p.m.


• New Mexico at Oregon, 2:30 p.m., Comcast OR & WA (cable)


• Nicholls State at San Diego State, 7:00 p.m.


• Northwestern State at Air Force, 1:00 p.m.


• Richmond at Virginia, 5:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Sam Houston State at Baylor, 6:00 p.m.


• South Carolina State at Georgia Tech, 12:00 p.m., espn3.com


• South Dakota at Central Florida, 5:00 p.m., BHSN


• Southern Utah at Wyoming, 8:00 p.m.


• Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M, 6:00 p.m.


• Syracuse at Akron, 5:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Texas State at Houston, 7:00 p.m.


• Weber State at Boston College , 12:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Western Carolina at North Carolina State, 5:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Wofford at Ohio, 6:00 p.m.

It should be a great opening weekend of College Football this Labor Day weekend. The weather in Iowa City is cool and will be pleasant for all!

On Iowa!

peace

Not many surprises Day 1 in College Football, but more games to come this Labor Day weekend

Congratulations to Iowa State University on your 27-10 win over Northern Illinois on Thursday night at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones offense did some good things and the defense didn't hurt you, though there is plenty of work to do and clean up in the coming games. ISU will travel to Iowa City to face the University of Iowa in the Cy-Hawk series on Saturday, September 11Th. Look for the Hawkeyes to be a double digit favorite.

Recap of Thursday, September 2, 2010

• #2 Ohio State rolls on Marshall


• #13 Utah beat #22 Pitt in OT 27-24


• #11 Miami-FL blanks Florida A&M


• Minnesota and Indiana win to raise Big Ten OOC record to 3-0


• USC out paces Hawai'i


• South Carolina rolls over Southern Miss in opener!

Games, Friday, September 3, 2010

• Villanova at Temple, 4:00 p.m., espn3.com


• Arizona at Toledo, 7:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)

Temple should roll on Villanova, but Arizona's trip East to Toledo, to play a MAC squad could get interesting.

Will two Wildcat teams (Villanova and Arizona) both get knocked down Friday night? Arizona has had some challenges outside Tucson in the OOC under coach Mike Stoops. There is an excellent opportunity for a non-BCS program to pick up a win tonight. We will go with Arizona by 6, but upset alert warnings could be on the horizon.

Live coverage of week 2 of high school football - The Gazette

Washington (1-0) vs. Jefferson (0-1) @ Kingston Stadium tonight

The East Side vs. West Side match up should be a good one. Senior RB Alex Carr rolled in Week 1 and it should be interesting to see how sophomore QB A.J. Puk performs in his second outing with the Warrior varsity.

Nothing like a rivalry in Week 2 of high school football!

Saturday, September 4Th
Eastern Illinois at # 4 Iowa
11:00 a.m.
BTN (HD)

Iowa will not be at 100%, with four starters likely out, but look for the Hawkeyes to roll on the Panthers from the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday in Kinnick Stadium.

Our Pick: Iowa 40 Eastern Illinois 9

Full Schedule of upcoming TV game in College Football

peace

Iowa 2010 kicks off in one week from Kinnick Stadium, as the Hawkeyes host the Eastern Illinois Panthers to open season

The season approaches in one week for Iowa Hawkeye fans and college football. The 2010 college football season will officially kick off on Thursday, September 2Nd. Iowa will open on Saturday, September 4Th in the first of seven home games at Kinnick Stadium in 2010.

Prep Football in Eastern Iowa opened the season on Friday night, with Mississippi Valley Conference play. At Kingston Stadium, Washington defeated Prairie 41-21 to open play, in a game that was closer than the score may show. Alex Carr had an explosive game running the ball with over 240 yards rushing and 4 TD runs. Defense sparked the Warriors in the second half with a couple of interceptions, including a pick 6.

Hawkeyes Open at Home: Our #4 ranked Iowa (0-0) hosts Eastern Illinois (0-0) Saturday, Sept. 4 in Kinnick Stadium (70,585) to open the 2010 season. Game time is 11:01 a.m. The game is sold out. Eastern Illinois is a FCS program from the Ohio Valley Conference and were one of 16 FCS schools to make the 2009 playoffs. This is Iowa's first meeting ever between Eastern Illinois or a team from their conference.

The Big Ten Network (HD) will televise the contest to a national cable audience that includes over 75 million households throughout the United States and Canada. Tom Hart, Anthony Herron, a former Iowa DE during the Fry and Ferentz era, and Lisa Byington will call the action.

The 2010 season will kick off with FryFest activities on Friday in Iowa City and Coralville and with a Reunion Weekend for the 1960 and 1985 Big Ten Championship teams from Iowa.

Big Ten Football: Week 1 (Times are all Central Time)

• Sep. 2: Towson @ Indiana at 6:30 pm on the Big Ten Network


• Sep. 2: Marshall @ Ohio State at 6:30 pm on the Big Ten Network


• Sep. 2: Minnesota @ Middle Tennessee at 6:30 pm on ESPNU


• Sep. 4: Western Michigan @ Michigan State at 11:00 am on ESPN2


• Sep. 4: Youngstown State @ Penn State at 11:00 am on the Big Ten Network


• Sep. 4: Eastern Illinois @ Iowa at 11:00 am on the Big Ten Network


• Sep. 4: Missouri vs. Illinois in St. Louis at 11:30 am on Fox Sports Net


• Sep. 4: Connecticut @ Michigan at 2:30 pm on ABC/ESPN2


• Sep. 4: Purdue @ Notre Dame at 2:30 pm on NBC


• Sep. 4: Northwestern @ Vanderbilt at 6:30p on ESPN3.com


• Sep. 4: Wisconsin @ UNLV at 10:00 pm on Versus

The University of Iowa returns a strong base from their 2009 squad that finished 6-2 in the Big Ten, one game behind Ohio State, and 11-2 overall. The Hawkeyes defeated ACC champion Georgia Tech 24-14 in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl win raised Iowa to 13-10-1 in bowl games.

Kirk Ferentz, entering his 12Th season as head coach, has named Iowa's Leadership Group for the 2010 season. The group includes seven seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen (redshirt). A member of the incoming freshman class will be this in the fall. As in past seasons, permanent team captains are named at the conclusion of each season. The Leadership Group for this season includes seniors Adrian Clayborn, Brett Greenwood, Karl Klug, Brett Morse, Ricky Stanzi, Jeff Tarpinian and Julian Vandervelde; juniors Broderick Binns, Marvin McNutt, Tyler Nielsen and Tyler Sash; sophomores Greg Castillo and James Vandenberg; and redshirt freshmen Shane DiBona and Brett Van Sloten.

Iowa returns 47 lettermen from 2009, including 21 on offense, 22 on defense and four specialists. The 47 lettermen are one less than the number from 2009. The Hawkeyes return six starters on offense, eight on defense and their kicker and punter. The lettermen breakdown includes 15 three-year lettermen, 13 two-year lettermen and 19 one-year lettermen. The total roster has 122 players, and includes 26 seniors, 22 juniors, 25 sophomores, 16 redshirt freshmen and 33 true freshmen. The first game depth chart includes 19 seniors, 18 juniors, 12 sophomores, five redshirt freshmen and two true freshmen. Just two Division I programs, Hawaii (31) and Louisville (27), have more returning seniors than Iowa, while Texas-El Paso also returns 26 seniors and Ohio State returns 25.

The Hawkeyes have won 44 of its last 53 games (.830) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. The nine Hawkeye losses came to Western Michigan (28-19 in 2007), Indiana (38-20 in 2007), Michigan (23-20 in overtime in 2005), Ohio State (38-17 in 2006), Northwestern (21-7 in 2006, 22-17 in 2008 and 17-10 in 2009), Wisconsin (24-21 in 2006) and Iowa State (36-31 in 2002). Iowa recorded a school-record 22-game home winning streak between 2002-05, which ended in the overtime loss to Michigan. Iowa's 44-9 (.830) home record from 2002 thru 2009 is the 11Th-best winning percentage in the nation and ranks second in the Big Ten to Ohio State. Iowa was 6-1 at home in 2009, with wins over Northern Iowa, Arizona, Arkansas State, Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota and a loss to Northwestern. Iowa is 12-2 at home the last two seasons.

Iowa returns 11 players who earned all-Big Ten honors a year ago. Among those returning, DE Adrian Clayborn and DB Tyler Sash were first team selections by both league coaches and media. WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and DB Brett Greenwood were second team selections. Those earning honorable recognition included DT Christian Ballard, DT Karl Klug, P Ryan Donahue, RB Adam Robinson, DE Broderick Binns, QB Ricky Stanzi and PK Daniel Murray. In addition, Clayborn was the MVP of Iowa's FedEx Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech and was named national Defensive Performer of the Year by College Football Performance Awards. Clayborn and Sash are two of four returning defensive players who earned first team all-Big Ten honors a year ago.

Eight Hawkeye players have been named to 18 different preseason "Watch Lists" for individual national awards. Those players include junior DE Broderick Binns (Ted Hendricks), senior DE Adrian Clayborn (Walter Camp, Ted Hendricks, Chuck Bednarik, Rotary Lombardi, Bronko Nagurski), senior punter Ryan Donahue (Ray Guy), senior WR Johnson-Koulianos (Paul Hornung, Fred Biletnikoff), senior DT Karl Klug (Outland Trophy), senior PK Daniel Murray (Lou Groza), junior DB Tyler Sash (Jim Thorpe, Chuck Bednarik, Lott Trophy, Bronko Nagurski) and senior QB Ricky Stanzi (Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Manning). Iowa is one of three programs (joining Oklahoma and Texas) to have five different individual players earn national Player of the Year honors at their position since 2002.

College Football is one week away from what could be one of the better Iowa football seasons in the program's history, if expectations can be achieved and surpassed. We have Iowa at #4 in the FBS, as we enter the 2010 season.

peace

Kick off of College Football less than one month away

The 2010 College Football season kicks off on Thursday, September 2Nd. The Iowa Hawkeyes open vs. Eastern Illinois on Saturday, September 4Th at 11 a.m. Central Time from Kinnick Stadium. The game will be on the Big Ten Network.

peace

August 2, 2010: Big Ten Media Day with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz

Listening to Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz address Media in Chicago on the Big Ten Network rebroadcast of the 2010 Big Ten Media Day. Coach Ferentz begins with a little joke about his off season ...

"It's been a good month." ~ Kirk Ferentz about his off season

First up, Iowa has three outstanding defensive players to replace. But, Iowa has outstanding returning starters, as well as experienced reserves filling those remaining spots as the Hawkeyes enter the 2010 season.

The strength is the returning defensive line for Iowa, all four starters back.

On offense, Iowa must replace three starting offensive linemen and an outstanding TE. The offense is lead by senior QB Ricky Stanzi. Iowa returns outstanding skill players. Senior TE Allen Reisner was like a starter, as the second TE in Iowa's offense in '09.

Iowa returns just about everyone in special teams, which is usually a strength of a Kirk Ferentz team.

The Hawkeyes have a solid schedule in 2010.

It's great to see Nebraska coming to the Big Ten in 2011. We agree with Coach Ferentz. It should be a good rivalry game and Nebraska will enjoy some other solid match ups as well in the Big Ten.

The national prospective of the Big Ten Conference. Coach Ferentz was an offensive line coach under J. Hayden Fry from 1981 to 89. He was hired to replace Fry in November 1998 and is entering his 12Th season as head coach at Iowa.

"I just think the Big Ten is fantastic in all regards. I don't think we have to
defend ourselves to anybody. And let the results speak as they may, and that's
really what football's all about anyway. But things are going to swing back and
forth, and that's just how it works." ~ Kirk Ferentz

The team to beat is Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been the most consistent team the past five seasons, winning a share or outright championship. We agree Ohio State has been very solid throughout the Ferentz era as an offensive line coach and as a head coach.

"Ohio State has done a tremendous job the last five years, and, really, since I
go back to 1981, ever since I've been really paying attention to the Big
Ten. And I know there's more than 13 years prior to that."
"But they've traditionally been an outstanding program. And one thing for sure, if
you're going to try to win a Big Ten Championship, you're going to have to find
a way to compete with them and beat them. And not many people have had
much luck doing that." ~ Kirk Ferentz

The game in the desert with Arizona in Tucson in Week 3. Arizona coach Mike Stoops has yet to win a game vs. a FBS program during his tenure in Tucson during Week 3. As Coach Ferentz mentioned, he has been to Tucson twice as an assistant at Iowa in the 1980s. By the way, Iowa picked up important wins each time.

Coach Ferentz recapped the exciting 2009 season, which Iowa nearly missed out of the gate vs. Northern Iowa. But, they pulled out the win and won nine straight, until QB Stanzi's injury stalled Iowa (2 losses). The Hawkeyes pulled out a very good BCS win at Miami in the Orange Bowl over the ACC champion, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Iowa kicks off the 2010 College Football Season on September 4Th vs. Eastern Illinois, an FCS program out of the OVC.

peace

A Transition Weekend: July 31 to August 1

Well, Summer has hit the "dog days" for sure!

It has been a busy seven months in 2010. We haven't been able to post as often as one would like on our two blogs.

NFL camps are opening up and NCAA football camps will be opening soon with plenty of talk going on! Ohio State doesn't want to talk 2011! Even prep football will begin in August!

By Labor Day weekend, the 2010 college football season will kick off. Followed by the NFL in the following week.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will kick off the 2010 season vs. Eastern Illinois. Back to back seasons opening with a FCS opponent nicknamed the Panthers, after the exciting finish in 2009 opener vs. UNI.

peace

Gerry DiNardo: It's the schedule that costs Iowa, but really... Penn State in '09?

The one thing that separates the three of them is the schedule. Iowa
has the worst schedule. If all three are contenders, Iowa plays both Ohio State
and Penn State away. Penn State is the opposite. It has the best schedule, and
plays Ohio State and Iowa at home. Ohio State plays one at home, one away.

If I'm pressed to pick one, I'll take Penn State, based on having a
returning quarterback (Daryll Clark) and the Big Ten schedule. We still don't
know what (OSU quarterback) Terrell Pryor is going to be like, what the offense
is going to look like.

Iowa, if (quarterback Ricky) Stanzi is going to continue to grow, and I
think they can replace those two middle guys on defense (Mitch King and Matt
Kroul) and if not, with the other nine back, they'll be all right. They have to
replace (Doak Walker winner) Shonn
Green, but with Jewel Hampton and Jeff Brinson, and with Stanzi in the
backfield, that combination can be productive." - Gerry DiNardo of
Big Ten Network

Gerry DiNardo: Penn St. looks to be superior in Big Ten - The Detroit News

It's hard to go against Ohio State, even if you like Penn State, since the Buckeyes have won a share or outright Big Ten title for four straight seasons. The Big Ten Conference returns the Top 4 quarterbacks from '08 in passing efficiency rating. The Top 4 come from Ohio State, Illinois, Penn State and Iowa. Ohio State sophomore Terrelle Pryor lead the Big Ten in passing efficiency in '08.

The bigger question one should ask DiNardo is: What about the O-Line and D-Line at the top schools? Further, defense wins championships more times than not in the Big Ten. While having a quality quarterback, with experience is vital, doesn't the Buckeyes fit that with Pryor coming into his sophomore season too?

Who's off the schedule in 2009 for Big Ten teams:

Penn State: Wisconsin and Purdue

Ohio State: Michigan State and Norhwestern

Illinois: Iowa and Wisconsin

Iowa: Illinois and Purdue

Michigan State: Indiana and Ohio State

Michigan: Minnesota and Northwestern

Northwestern: Michigan and Ohio State

Wisconsin: Illinois and Penn State

Minnesota: Indiana and Michigan

Indiana: Michigan State and Minnesota

Purdue: Penn State and Iowa

Certainly, Penn State is a team that has a nice schedule in 2009 with all four OOC games (Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois) at home. But, is this really the best team in the Big Ten in '09? They must replace six starters on offense, 7 starters on defense and will break in a freshman placekicker on special teams for '09.

Hey Gerry, is Darryll Clark really the top quarterback in the Big Ten in '09?

peace

#3 Creighton blanks #24 Drake in College Soccer

On the gridiron, the Hawkeyes came up short in Champaign. But, the seniors shined in Omaha, as #3 Creighton defeated #24 Drake 2-0 in MVC soccer.

Will see how the Cornhuskers -Sooners game goes on ESPN, but the big game is #1 Texas @ #8 Texas Tech in Lubbock on ABC tonight.

The Creighton Bluejays will hit the road next Saturday at Eastern Illinois to close the regular season and MVC play.

The State Farm Missouri Valley Tournament will be November 12, 14 and 16th in Evansville, Indiana.

peace