The Daily Iowan Pregame - 10.05.18

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 IOWA VS. MINNESOTA TCF BANK STADIUM

Ambition MATT NELSON ISN’T JUST A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST DEFENSIVE LINES - HE’S A HAWKEYE WITH HIS EYES SET ON MEDICAL SCHOOL.

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

REMEMBER WHEN ...

Iowa Starters SE ­ TE LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB PK

12 87 77 59 69 76 74 38 84 4 21 36 91

Brandon Smith Noah Fant Alaric Jackson Ross Reynolds Keegan Render Dalton Ferguson Tristan Wirfs T.J. Hockenson Nick Easley Nate Stanley Ivory Kelly-Martin Brady Ross Miguel Recinos

6-3 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-4 5-11 6-0 6-1

219 241 320 295 307 308 320 250 205 242 221 245 193

SO. JR. SO. SR. SR. SR. SO SO. SR. JR. SO. JR. SR.

LE LT RT RE OLB MLB WLB LC SS FS RC PT

98 90 96 40 35 48 32 8 27 30 11 7

Anthony Nelson Sam Brincks Matt Nelson Parker Hesse Barrington Wade Jack Hockaday Djimon Colbert Matt Hankins Amani Hooker Jake Gervase Michael Ojemudia Colten Rastetter

6-7 6-5 6-8 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1

271 265 295 261 233 238 234 185 210 212 199 213

JR. SR. SR. SR. SO. SR. #FR. SO. JR. SR. JR. JR.

Minnesota Starters

Lindsey Walters/The Daily Iowan Iowa running back Shonn Greene strides into the end zone after a 15-yard run during the third quarter in the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Nov. 22, 2009. The Hawkeyes defeated the Gophers, 55-0.

On Nov. 22, 2009, the Hawkeyes capped off their regular season with a win over the border-rival Gophers. Iowa shut out Minnesota in dominating fashion. The Hawkeyes gained 483 yards of offense, including 144 yards and 2 touchdowns from Shonn Greene. Hawkeye quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw for 255 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Iowa held Minnesota to just 7 yards on the ground and returned one of its two interceptions for touchdowns.

Iowa went on to win the Outback Bowl that season.

Publisher: 335-5788 Jason Brummond Editor-in-Chief: 335-6030 Gage Miskimen Managing Editors: 335-5855 Marissa Payne Katelyn Weisbrod Visual Arts Director: 335-5855 Lily Smith Pregame Editor: Adam Hensley

STAFF

Sports Editors: Pete Ruden, Asst. Anna Kayser Photo Editors: Nick Rohlman, Kat Zentz TV Sports Directors: Lucy Rohden Beau Bowman Copy Chief: Beau Elliot Business Manager: Debra Plath

Classified Ads/Circulation Manager: Juli Krause Production Manager: Heidi Owen Advertising Manager: Renee Manders Advertising Sales: Bev Mrstik Front by Lily Smith

GOT QUESTIONS FOR THE PREGAME STAFF OR A STORY IDEA FOR A FUTURE ISSUE? EMAIL US AT DAILY-IOWAN@UIOWA.EDU

SE ­ TE LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB RB PK

6 42 73 64 62 77 70 80 13 5 24 21 38

Tyler Johnson Ko Kieft Donnell Greene Conner Olson Jared Weyler Blaise Andries Sam Schlueter Jake Paulson Rashod Bateman Zack Annestad Mohamed Ibrahim Bryce Williams Emmit Carpenter

6-2 6-4 6-7 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-0

185 230 345 295 305 313 298 258 185 215 205 200 199

JR. SO. SR. SO. SR. #FR. SO. #FR. FR. FR. #FR. FR. SR.

LE DT NT RE WLB MLB NB LC SS FS RC PT

46 19 99 45 21 41 36 4 2 23 16 47

Winston DeLattiboudere 6-3 Gary Moore 6-4 O.J. Smith 6-2 Carter Coughlin 6-4 Kamal Martin 6-3 Thomas Barber 6-1 Blake Cashman 6-2 Terell Smith 6-1 Jacob Huff 6-0 Jordan Howden 5-11 Coney Durr 5-10 Jacob Herbers 6-2

240 295 309 220 229 240 225 180 205 185 190 215

JR. SR. JR. JR. JR. JR. SR. FR. SR. FR. JR. JR.

For the most extensive weekly Iowa football preview show in the state and photo slideshows after the game go to

DAILYIOWAN.COM

On The Line Contest - WIN FREE FOOD FROM ENTER THE

Go to daily-iowan.com/ontheline and place your college football predictions.

WEB EXTRAS

@DIPregame @thedailyiowan

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 3

4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

ONE ON ONE

WITH MICHAEL OJEMUDIA

Daily Iowan reporter Jordan Zuniga finds out some important off-field information about Hawkeye cornerback Michael Ojemudia.

DI: Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Ojemudia: Yes, I actually always put pineapple on pizza. People hate me for that, but yeah.

DI: What your go-to sports game?

Michael Ojemudia: FIFA, definitely FIFA. DI: Who’s the best FIFA player on the team?

Ojemudia: It’s actually me — Miguel [Recinos] is pretty good … probably me and Miguel.

DI: Best movie to throw on for a movie night?

Ojemudia: There are a couple: Scarface, this movie called Four Brothers. I’d probably say Scarface is my favorite movie.

DI: Favorite place to play other than Kinnick?

Ojemudia: Penn State was pretty fun; Penn State was a good atmosphere, I want to go back there.

DI: What’s your favorite part about being a Hawkeye?

Ojemudia: The swarm. Just the feeling of the swarm, that’s the best part.

DI: What’s your dream car?

Ojemudia: An Audi R8.

DI: Who wins a team dance off?

Ojemudia: Dang, I’d probably say Daviyon [Nixon]. He’s pretty good.

DI: Who’s the best-dressed player?

Ojemudia: Oh, it’s me, by far. I feel like everybody would say it’s me.

DI: Favorite musical artist?

Ojemudia: I would probably say J. Cole.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 5

BOTH LOCATED AT 517 S. RIVERSIDE DR., IOWA CITY

Delivery or Carry Out!

319-337-6677 thewedgepizza.com

Open 11am to midnight daily

IT’S UP. . .

Delivery or Carry Out!

319-337-5270

redpepperdeliandgrill.com Breakfast 7am-11am Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm Sat & Sun Deli Open Every Day 10:30am-9pm

AND IT’S GOOD!

6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

BY THE NUMBERS: MINNESOTA

By ANNA KAYSER | anna-kayser@uiowa.edu

Iowa goes on the road for the first time in the 2018 season to face a Minnesota team that has had more luck than anything.

The Gophers opened up their season by sweeping their nonconference slate against New Mexico State, Fresno State, and Miami (Ohio).

Despite opening up the season strong, numerous facets of the team on both sides of the ball have faltered too much for the rest of the season.

On Sept. 22, Minnesota showed that standing up to the Big Ten would be a different story, losing to Maryland, 42-13.

If Iowa’s running game can stay on top of its production, its first game away from home shouldn’t be a problem.

123

Joseph Cress/The Daily Iowan

Minnesota running back Rodney Smith gets tackled by Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell and Jake Gervase during the Iowa/Minnesota game in Kinnick on Oct. 28, 2017. The Hawkeyes defeated the Gophers, 17-10.

Rushing yards lost

Throughout the season, the running game has weakened against stronger defenses. To begin the season against New Mexico State, Minnesota recorded 295 total yards on 47 carries. As the number of team carries stayed the same, the yards dropped dramatically.

Against Fresno State, the Gophers collected 132 yards on 45 carries. Even taking away a season long 74-yard run from the game before, the drop in yards is significant. In the first two games combined, only 30 yards were lost on the run game.

Despite getting the win against Miami (Ohio), the 55 lost rushing yards on the game was staggering from the first two weeks.

613

Rushing yards allowed

The 613 yards allowed compared with Minnesota’s 762 yards gained doesn’t seem like a big sacrifice, but just as the running game has faltered, the defensive line has also.

Against strong defenses, Minnesota falters, and against strong offenses, as seen from Maryland, it can’t hold its own, either.

In the first three weeks, no team could surpass 100 yards on the ground against the Minnesota defense. Then, in the Gophers’ home-opener, the Terrapins took over the field as though it was their own.

Maryland had a season-high 37 carries for 315 yards. The 6 yards it lost didn’t make a difference.

4

Interceptions

The Minnesota pass defense racked up 4 interceptions in the first three games, with 2 coming against Fresno State.

As defending the running game has gotten more difficult, taking away the passing option hasn’t.

New Mexico State threw for 233 yards and Fresno State for 212 before finally, the defense stepped up all together against Miami (Ohio), which had fewer than 200 yards of total offense.

Maryland stepped up its running game, which accounted for the majority of its touchdowns, and the passing game only contributed 117 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Terrapins only threw 10 passes in the game, with a long coming in at 54 yards.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 7

MINNESOTA GOPHERS

CF BANK STADIUM | 2:30 PM | BTN

MINNESOTA

1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 11 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 33 34 34 35 36 37 38 38 39 40

Smith, Rodney Huff, Jacob Morgan, Tanner Autman-Bell, Chris Gibson, Jerry Brooks, Shannon Smith, Terell Annexstad, Zack Guthrie, Trenton Johnson, Tyler Williamson, Chris Estes, Rey Edmonds, Nolan Rush, Thomas Otomewo, Esezi Manns, Jornell Winfield, Antoine Devers, Tai'yon Bateman, Rashod O'Brien, Casey Oliver, Braelen Smith, C.J. Durr, Coney Santaga, Jon Green, Seth Geary, Clay Moore, Gary Pickerign, Samuel Huff, Julian Martin, Kamal Williams, Bryce Sapp, Benjamin Howden, Jordan Ibrahim, Mohamed McDonald, Bishop Howard, Phillip Jordahl, Payton Harris, Justus Thompson, True Gossage, Paul Swenson, Calvin Femi-Cole, Jonathan Leius, Jack Reigelsperger, Alex London, Dominik Thomas, Kiondre Russell, Joe Ryerse, Grant Shenault, Antonio Walker, Brock Anderson, Danny Cashman, Blake Mack, John Carpenter, Emmit Jelen, Preston Vojvodich, Michael Strazzanti, Alex

RB DB QB WR DL RB DB QB LB WR DB DB RB LB DL WR DB DL WR TE LB CB DB QB WR WR DL QB LB LB RB CB DB RB DB WR LS DB WR WR DB RB DB DE RB DB LB K DB K LB LB K K RB LS DB

5’11” 5’11” 6’2” 6’1” 6’3” 6’0” 6-1” 6-3” 6-3” 6-2” 5’11” 6’0” 5’11” 6’3” 6’6” 5’11” 5’10” 6’4” 6’2” 6’1” 6’0” 6’1” 5’10” 6’1” 6’4” 5’10” 6’4” 6’4” 6’0” 6’3” 6’0” 6’1” 5’11” 5’10” 6’0” 5’11” 6’2” 5’10” 6’4” 6’3” 6’1” 6’0” 6’0” 6’4” 5’9” 6’0” 6’2” 6’2” 5’11” 5’10” 6’0” 6’2” 6’0” 6’0” 5’10” 6’3” 6’2”

210 210 210 200 260 215 180 215 220 200 191 175 200 225 240 190 204 240 200 175 225 180 190 192 240 190 300 224 225 235 200 180 185 205 190 195 230 180 200 185 209 225 200 255 205 188 194 203 192 190 220 235 195 200 200 215 194

SR SR #FR #FR SR SR FR FR #FR JR JR #FR FR FR #FR FR SO JR FR #FR FR FR JR #FR SO SO SR #FR SR JR FR FR FR #FR JR SO SR SO SO JR SO JR SO FR #FR SO #FR #FR SR FR #FR SR SO SR FR FR #FR

Jonesboro, GA Bolingbrook, IL Union, KY Kankakee, IL Theodore, AL Atlanta, GA Snellville, GA Norseland, MN Northville, MI Minneapolis, MN Gainesville, FL East St. Louis, IL Alpharetta, GA Marysville, OH Indianapolis, IN Mansfield, OH The Woodlands, TX Pompano Beach, FL Tifton, GA Saint Paul, MN Douglasville, GA Neptune Beach, FL Baton Rouge, LA Green Bay, WI Woodbury, MN Lakeville, MN Mobile, AL Minneapolis, MN Bolingbrook, IL Burnsville, MN Sarasota, FL Eden Prairie, MN Murrieta, CA Olney, MD Oakdale, MN Minneapolis, MN Perham, MN Roswell, GA Plymouth, MN Mokena, IL Kaukauna, WI Vaughan, ON Plymouth, MN Dayton, OH Woodbury, MN Fort Smith, AR Shoreview, MN Woodbury, MN Roselle, IL Sioux Falls, SD Eden Prairie, MN Eden Prairie, MN Hartland, WI Green Bay, WI Prior Lake, MN Annandale, VA Chaska, MN

41 42 43 44 45 46 46 47 48 49 51 52 53 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 69 70 71 73 74 75 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Barber, Thomas LB Kieft, Ko TE Schoenfelder, Bailey LB Beebe, Colton TE Coughlin, Carter LB DeLattiboudere, Winston DL Melvin, Alex P Herbers, Jacob P Gelecinskyj, Anders K Aune, Josh DB Dunlap, Curtis G Teague, Jamaal DT Piche, Owen LB Sori-Marin, Mariano LB Barron, Ty LB Oseland, Quinn OL Roane, Micah DL Schmitz, John Michael OL Dovich, Bronson OL Weyler, Jared OL Beier, Austin OL Olson, Conner OL Ruschmeyer, Axel OL Boe, Nathan OL Kern, Jack DL Mafe, Boye DL Schlueter, Sam OL Davis, Ben OL Greene, Donnell OL Norton, Grant T Robinson, Malcolm DL Sassack, Kyle OL York, Jack T Andries, Blaise OL Faalele, Daniel T Dickson, Jason OL Paulson, Jake TE Annexstad, Brock WR Douglas, Demetrius WR Van Dyne, Harry WR Gibson, Erik WR Witham, Bryce TE Witherspoon, Clayton TE Umlor, Nate DE Van Dyne, Yale WR Spann-Ford, Brevyn TE Morse, Matt WR Renner, Sam DL Hickcox, Noah DL Ahanotu, Mayan DL Novak-Goar, Connor DL N-Okinji, Abi DL White, Victor DL Bursch, Nathan TE Silver, Royal DL Janes, Max TE Smith, O.J. DL

6’1” 6’4” 6’3” 6’3” 6’4” 6’3” 6’4” 6’2” 6’2” 6’2” 6’5” 6’3” 6’3” 6’3” 6’0” 6’6” 6’4” 6’4” 6’5” 6’4” 6’4” 6’5” 6’4” 6’4” 6’2” 6’4” 6’6” 6’4” 6’7” 6’8” 6’3” 6’7” 6’6” 6’5” 6’9” 6’6” 6’4” 6’2” 6’0” 6’5” 6’3” 6’4” 6’4” 6’5” 6’3” 6’7” 6’1” 6’4” 6’4” 6’4” 6’2” 6’3” 6’4” 6’5” 6’3” 6’3” 6’2”

235 250 225 265 245 250 205 215 200 205 370 295 225 235 220 305 235 286 300 296 285 300 281 285 300 250 298 280 320 260 290 283 300 315 400 315 258 200 190 185 195 257 235 285 205 245 195 259 285 250 285 250 290 255 292 230 309

JR SO SO JR JR JR JR JR SO FR FR FR FR FR FR JR FR #FR JR SR FR SO #FR FR FR #FR FR SO SR FR #FR #FR FR #FR FR JR #FR #FR #FR #FR FR JR #FR SO SO FR JR JR #FR FR SO FR SO #FR JR FR JR

Plymouth, MN Sioux Center, IA Huron, SD Kansas City, KS Eden Prairie, MN Baltimore, MD Burnet, TX Battle Creek, MI Sartell, MN St. Paul, MN Jacksonville, FL South Holland, IL Naperville, IL Mokena, IL Minnetonka, MN Springfield, IL Chaska, MN Flossmoor, IL Chaska, MN Dayton, OH Toledo, OH Monticello, MN Hutchinson, MN Lakeville, MN Eau Claire, WI Minnetonka, MN Victoria, MN Elk Grove, CA Marietta, GA Camdenton, MO Massillon, OH Pontiac, MI Dallas, TX Marshall, MN Melbourne, Australia Corona, CA Louisville, KY Norseland, MN Portland, OR Stilwell, KS Detroit, MI Grand Rapids, MI Eden Prairie, MN Allendale, MI Overland Park, KS St. Cloud, MN Apple Valley, MN Maple Grove, MN Rockford, IL Tampa, FL Eden Prairie, MN Snellville, GA St. Paul, MN Woodbury, MN Cedar Rapids, IA Shoreview, MN Bossier City, LA

8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

Hawkeye defensive lineman Matt Nelson (96) looks into the backfield during the game against Northern Iowa at Kinnick on Sep. 15,. The Hawkeyes defeated the Panthers, 38–14.

David Harmantas/The Daily Iowan

Speaking dreams into existence Matt Nelson grew with a desire to play football and pursue a career in the medical field. Years later, he’s doing both.

BY ADAM HENSLEY adam-hensley@uiowa.edu

M

att Nelson isn’t just a central piece in one of the country’s best defensive lines — he’s a smart and driven biology and human physics major who spent his summers in the classroom and a UI research laboratory. So, in terms of where the 6-8 Hawkeye’s future may take him, this year is especially important: Come spring, the UI senior may have to choose between enrolling in medical school or, if the stars so align, suiting Nelson up for NFL boot camp.

Nelson loves playing football, and he admits that if the NFL ever comes calling, he will certainly pick up the phone. But Nelson is a dual threat: He hopes to become a surgeon one day, and his vision is to become the NFL doctor who sees the most crucial cases.

But those goals to pursue medicine didn’t stem from playing football. When Nelson was in fifth grade, growing up in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, his grandfather, Lowell Palmer, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“At first, I really didn’t understand what it was,” Nelson said. “Sympathies out to everybody who has someone in their family with dementia or Parkinson’s, something like that, because it’s a truly dreadful disease.”

Before his diagnosis, Palmer was the type of grandfather who went sledding with his grandchildren, even at age 70. He had 15 grandchildren, but Palmer shared a unique bond with Nelson.

According to his mother, Nelson was the type of boy who was highly curious, moved 110 mph, and always held a fascination for science. For Christmas, he’d request science books, and he and the rest of his family would often conduct chemistry experiments at home for fun.

Palmer had the ability to hone in Nel-

son’s widespread inquiries and capture his attention.

“I think more than anything, my dad had the ability to be able to really get Matt to focus,” Julie Palmer, Nelson’s mother, said. “It was interesting to watch Matt because he and my dad would converse, and Matt would just stop in wonderment, in terms of whatever my dad was telling him.”

As Lowell Palmer’s battle with Parkinson’s continued, Nelson, along with his three siblings, struggled to watch their grandfather become emotionless.

“Parkinson’s is so crappy because it basically takes away somebody’s facial expressions,” Julie Palmer said. “Here, he lost his very animated grandpa laugh and do all those sorts of things with him, and all of a sudden, toward the end of those last couple of years, he would not be able to show on his face that he had joy; he could not express on his face that he was feeling joy or if he was angry. He just had this flat sort of aspect on his face all the time. That

was hard for the boys.”

As the years went on, Lowell Palmer’s condition worsened, and he died on May 13, 2011.

He left Nelson not only the memory of having been a wonderful grandfather, he also became the impetus for Nelson to pursue his dream of helping others through medicine.

“He’s an inspiration for me to go into the medical field,” Nelson said. “Seeing something like that happen to a person you love so much, it really kind of drives you.”

Since then, he has balanced playing football full-time at Iowa while also pursuing a future in the medical field, majoring in biology and human physiology.

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Nelson doesn’t keep track of his hours spent studying, but he studies to the point where he feels comfortable for whatever tests or homework he has in the upcoming week.

That studying often gets in the way of a social life.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 9

Left: Matt Nelson (right) stands with his grandparents, Mary Palmer (middle) and Lowell Palmer (left). Right: Matt Nelson, age 8, sits with his three brothers and a football.

“You don’t have to be buried in a book every single night,” fellow defensive lineman Parker Hesse joked during Big Ten media days.

Hesse and Sam Brinks are the two leading the teasing, Nelson said, but it’s all in good fun.

“I always have some homework or some test coming up, and I end up studying and not hanging out with them, so I get a little bit of flak from them,” he said.

On top of having summer classes, Nelson also spent his summer working in a research lab for the second year in a row, focusing on developing breakthroughs and conducting experiments in the orthopedic and neurosurgery area.

But when it comes to football, Nelson can’t get enough of it.

The defensive tackle made an immediate impact before his first season even started, something head coach Kirk Ferentz took note of.

“What I remember distinctly was he showed up at our camp like two weeks later and couldn’t get enough coaching,” Ferentz said. “Like he kept getting in the front of the line. He wanted to get in here and be coached, and I’m thinking, boy, this is unusual for this day and age, for a quote-unquote big recruit. He wasn’t trying out, he

just wanted to get better as a football player.

That’s how he operates. He’s a really sharp guy, great teammate, and then he just continually improves.”

Last season, Nelson made the switch from defensive end to defensive tackle, a position that doesn’t see production necessarily reflective in the box score. He finished 2017 with 23 tackles, 2 for a loss, 1 sack, and 2 pass deflections. During his sophomore season, he had 42 tackles (6 for a loss), 5 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.

So far in 2018, the senior has 9 tackles, including 1 sack, and he’s a key cog in a Hawkeye front four allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game in the country. * * * * * ust as he’s busy balancing research, classes, and football, Nelson also deals with the process of applying to medical school, and it isn’t a free run at the quarterback by any means.

Nelson explained that the first step in applying is filling out the American Medical College Application Service and sending it to desired medical schools.

The schools that like Nelson’s application will get in touch with him and have him fill out a secondary application, which can lead

J

to an interview and more. But it’s a tedious and time-consuming process.

“They want to know everything about you, so they try to look at you [with] a holistic approach to admissions and that sort of stuff,” Nelson said.

Nelson won’t hear back for sure until the spring on how he did.

“It kind of leaves you anxious,” he said. “‘Did I say the right thing? Did I write the right thing? Did I do well enough?’ It just kind of leaves you on edge for a long time.”

Nelson said that he’s looked at a mostly schools in the Midwest, including a few in Chicago, but ultimately, he estimated he applied to anywhere in the neighborhood of eight to 10 different institutions.

He joked that realistically, he would attend whichever school would accept him, but he did have one specific program in mind.

“Iowa would be a dream school for me,” he said.

But at the same time as when he’d be hearing about his medical-school applications, the Iowa football program will host its Pro Day, an event in which NFL scouts and personnel venture to Iowa City and watch Hawkeye draft prospects go through various drills.

Football is an unpredictable sport, but in

Julie Palmer/contributed

the event that Nelson would have to make a choice between enrolling in medical school right out of college or going to the professional leagues, he would have a tough decision to make — both options are on his radar.

“I’d like to go to the NFL if they gave me a shot, and then I’d give that one go-around,” Nelson said. “If that doesn’t work, I’ll focus solely on the medical-school aspect. I’ve been training so long for the NFL, so I might as well give it a shot while I’m here.”

Some might think the NFL aspirations are out of Nelson’s reach, but not many people could have predicted his track to where he stands now.

His dream, to make it in the NFL or to repair player injuries, becomes even more tangible each day.

“I will say this over and over again: the greatest gift a parent gets is to watch their kid chase after their dreams,” Julie Palmer said. “I have a front-row seat watching Matt chase after his dream, just like I do with my other sons. There is nothing more rewarding than that.”

For an accompanying video on Matt Nelson by DITV Sports Director Lucy Rohden, visit dailyiowan.com/ditv

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

IOWA HAWKEYES vs. M

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018 | TC

IOWA 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 27 28 28 30 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 45

Dvorak, Wes Gersonde, Ryan Mansell, Peyton Creamer, Trey Duncan, Keith Tracy Jr., Tyrone Stanley, Nate Turner, Josh Smith-Marsette, Ihmir Petras, Spencer Rastetter, Colten Hankins, Matt Stillmunkes, Kordell Stone, Geno Sargent, Mekhi Ojemudia, Michael Kapisak, Connor Smith, Brandon Johnson, D.J. Marchese, Henry Evans, Joe Groeneweg, Kyle Craddieth, Dallas Roberts, Terry Schmidt, Ryan Cook, Drew Milani, John Cooper, Max Timm, Mike Brents, Julius Kelly-Martin, Ivory Evans, Samson Dafney, Dominique Snyder, Jaden McDonald, Jayden Merriweather, Kaevon Hooker, Amani Koerner, Jack Young, Toren Gervase, Jake Geil, Henry Mends, Aaron Colbert, Djimon Moss, Riley Welch, Kristian Wade, Barrington Ross, Brady Riggs, Mitch Hockenson, T.J. Pottebaum, Monte Wieting, Nate Carlson, John Hesse, Parker Pallissard, Turner Dinsdale, Colton Thomas, Drew Beyer, Shaun Doyle, Dillon Benson, Seth Campos, Ben Ludwig, Joe

DB P QB DB PK WR QB DB WR QB P DB RB DB RB DB QB WR DB WR LB WR DB DB QB TE DB WR LB DB RB WR WR DB LB DB DB DB RB DB RB LB LB DB LB LB FB LB TE FB TE LB DE FB DB WR TE LB LB LB LB

6’0” 6’4” 6’2” 6’0” 5’11” 6’0” 6’4” 5’11” 6’1” 6’5” 6’1” 6’1” 5’9” 5’11” 5’10” 6’1” 6’5” 6’3” 6’0” 6’3” 6’2” 5’10” 6’0” 5’10” 6’5” 6’5” 6’0” 6’0” 6’1” 6’2” 5’11” 6’1” 6’2” 6’1” 6’1” 6’2” 6’0” 6’0” 5’11” 6’1” 6’1” 6’0” 6’1” 6’0” 6’3” 6’1” 6’0” 6’1” 6’5” 6’0” 6’4” 6’3” 6’3” 6’1” 5’11” 6’0” 6’5” 6’3” 6’1” 6’1” 6’0”

197 198 210 190 180 187 242 188 175 227 213 185 180 209 210 199 195 219 170 195 210 186 197 171 235 250 201 185 220 180 200 205 225 205 220 195 210 200 221 212 215 228 234 185 238 233 245 230 250 210 250 200 261 220 215 189 240 227 205 225 233

JR SO #FR #FR SO FR JR #FR SO FR JR SO FR SO SO JR FR SO FR #FR FR SR FR FR JR JR JR SO FR FR SO FR JR FR FR FR JR #FR SO SR FR SR #FR FR JR SO JR FR SO FR JR FR SR FR JR #FR SO FR FR #FR FR

Parkston, SD Milwaukee, WI Belton, TX Cartersville, GA Weddington, NC Camby, IN Menomonie, WI Delray Beach, FL Newark, NJ San Rafael, CA Guttenberg, IA Lewisville, TX Hazel Green, WI New Castle, PA Key West, FL Farmington Hills, MI South Windsor, CT Lake Cormorant, MS Indianapolis, IN Vernon Hills, IL Ames, IA Inwood, IA St. Louis, MO Erie, PA Marion, IA Iowa City, IA Iowa City, IA Waukesha, WI Delafield, WI Indianapolis, IN Plainfield, IL Crystal Lake, IL West Des Moines, IA Larchwood, IA Suwanee, GA Belleville, MI Minneapolis, MN Des Moines, IA Madison, WI Davenport, IA Green Bay, WI Kansas City, MO Shawnee Mission, KS Ankeny, IA Iola, WI Skokie, IL Humboldt, IA West Des Moines, IA Chariton, IA Larchwood, IA Rockford, IL Bondurant, IA Waukon, IA Frankfort, IL Reinbeck, IA Humboldt, IA Shellsburg, IA Iowa City, IA Sioux Falls, SD West Des Moines, IA Middleton, WI

46 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 50 52 53 54 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 64 65 66 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 84 85 86 87 89 90 91 91 92 93 94 94 95 96 97 98 99

Kelly, Austin Kujawa, Tommy Klemp, Logan Akre, Lane Anderson, Nick Hockaday, Jack Schulte, Bryce Niemann, Nick Subbert, Jackson Jones, Amani Jansen, Garret Nixon, Daviyon Fagan, Matt Empen, Luke Sadler, Brian Golston, Chauncey Newborg, Jake Reynolds, Ross Nelson, Nathan Morrison, Jake Banwart, Cole Schott, Kyler Linderbaum, Tyler Jacobus, Dalles Paulsen, Levi Duwa, Levi Paulsen, Landan Render, Keegan Sorenson, Kyle Kallenberger, Mark Kirkpatrick, Coy Ince, Cody Schulte, Austin Wirfs, Tristan Jenkins, Jeff Ferguson, Dalton Jackson, Alaric Winters, Trey Plumb, Jack Young, Devonte Subbert, Ben Lockett, Calvin Brooks, Blair Easley, Nick Spiewak, Austin Vejvoda, Nate Feldman, Noah Fant, Noah Ragaini, Nico Brincks, Sam Recinos, Miguel Reiff, Brady Waggoner, John Simon, Brandon Epenesa, A.J. Shudak, Caleb Lattimore, Cedrick Nelson, Matt Kallenberger, Jack Nelson, Anthony Shannon, Noah

FB TE LB FB LB LB TE LB LS LB DL DT OL TE OL DE OL OL DE DE OL OL DL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR WR WR LS TE TE TE WR DE PK DL DL DE DE PK DL DE DL DE DL

5’11” 6’3” 6’3” 6’0” 6’2” 6’1” 6’3” 6’4” 6’3” 6’0” 6’2” 6’3” 6’5” 6’5” 6’1” 6’5” 6’3” 6’4” 6’3” 6’2” 6’4” 6’2” 6’2” 6’0” 6’5” 6’3” 6’5” 6’4” 6’6” 6’6” 6’4” 6’5” 6’4” 6’5” 6’4” 6’4” 6’7” 6’5” 6’8” 6’0” 6’3” 6’2” 6’2” 5’11” 6’1” 6’5” 6’4” 6’5” 6’0” 6’5” 6’1” 6’3” 6’5” 6’0” 6’5” 5’8” 6’3” 6’8” 6’5” 6’7” 6’1”

245 230 210 242 225 235 244 232 240 238 280 306 245 230 285 265 290 295 230 205 296 290 270 280 305 270 305 307 250 282 290 260 275 320 270 308 320 315 250 203 235 170 180 205 232 250 230 241 191 275 193 272 245 250 277 179 295 295 272 271 300

SR #FR FR JR JR SR #FR SO JR JR JR SO FR FR FR SO JR SR FR FR SO #FR FR SO JR #FR JR SR FR #FR FR FR SO SO FR SR SO FR FR JR FR FR FR SR SO JR #FR JR FR SR SR JR FR SO SO SO JR SR JR JR FR

Hickory Hills, IL Greendale, WI Jewell, IA Geneseo, IL Waukee, IA Forsyth, IL Cedar Rapids, IA Sycamore, IL Williamsburg, IA Chicago, IL Pella, IA Kenosha, WI Council Bluffs, IA Clinton, IA Jesup, IA Detroit, MI Inwood, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Ottosen, IA Coggon, IA Solon, IA Palo, IA Moville, IA Kalona, IA Moville, IA Indianola, IA Waukee, IA Bettendorf, IA Madrid, IA Luck, WI Pella, IA Mount Vernon, IA Crystal Lake, IL Solon, IA Detroit, MI Ankeny, IA Green Bay, WI Waldorf, MD Williamsburg, IA Largo, FL Cedar Rapids, IA Newton, IA Rolling Meadows, IL Homer Glen, IL West Liberty, IA Omaha, NE East Haven, CT Carroll, IA Mason City, IA Parkston, SD West Des Moines, IA Newark, NJ Glen Carbon, IL Council Bluffs, IA Redford, MI Cedar Rapids, IA Bettendorf, IA Urbandale, IA Montgomery, IL

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 11

12 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

BIG TEN

POWER RANKINGS

It might be October, but football season > spooky season.

PETE RUDEN

pete-ruden@uiowa.edu

1) Ohio State (5-0):

Dwayne Haskins? Yup. Win over Penn State? Yup. Playoff bound? Yup.

2) Penn State (4-1):

One play call away from being No. 1 on my coveted power rankings.

3) Wisconsin (4-1):

I think the loss to BYU was a fluke still. I just can’t wait for Penn State-Wisconsin.

4) Michigan (4-1):

Michigan’s real test comes after this week, and we’ll see if the Fighting Harbaughs can handle it.

5) Iowa (3-1):

The game against Wisconsin might not have been a win in real life, but it doesn’t hurt in my coveted power rankings.

6) Michigan State (3-1):

The Spartans lost to Eno Benjamin. I think Iowa would be too mad to let that happen.

7) Maryland (3-1):

Maryland’s got 99 problems, but a Big Ten loss ain’t one.

BIG TEN SCHEDULE No. 15 Michigan (-17.5) vs. Maryland 11 a.m. | ABC

Michigan’s loss to Notre Dame is a lot better than Minnesota’s loss to Temple. One of these teams will have its first conference loss after the weekend, and I don’t think it will be the Wolverines.

8) Indiana (4-1):

I’m going to Bloomington in a week, and I can’t wait to go to Buffalouie’s.

9) Purdue (2-3):

David Blough and Jeff Brohm — the Big Ten’s best power couple — are on the rise.

No. 20 Michigan State (-10.5) vs. Northwestern 11 a.m. | FS1

10) Minnesota (3-1):

The Spartans have had a better offense and defense this year, and the Wildcats have struggled since Week 1. If Michigan State can play as well as Akron, it’s a wrap.

11) Northwestern (1-3):

Rutgers vs. Illinois (-5.5)

Minnesota has approximately nothing going for it right now.

The Wildcats lost to a school with a kangaroo mascot named Zippy. Big Zippy guy here.

12) Illinois (2-2):

Lovie Smith lost to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI, and I will never get tired of typing that sentence.

13) Rutgers (1-4): Ahead of Nebraska. Lol.

14) Nebraska (0-4):

I can’t get over that Rutgers and Illinois have a combined three more wins than the Huskers.

K.J. Hill, Ohio State wide receiver

11 a.m. | BTN

Fun fact: According to VividSeats, you can find tickets to this game for as low as $3. That should tell you all you need to know about this game.

Iowa (-7.5) vs. Minnesota 2:30 p.m. | BTN

Iowa is going to learn from the mistakes it made against Wisconsin. What better way to bounce back after a loss than against an unproven Minnesota team?

No. 3 Ohio State (-25) vs. Indiana 3 p.m. | FOX

Ohio State is an offensive powerhouse. As long as the Buckeyes have Dwayne Haskins under center, they won’t have much trouble.

No. 16 Wisconsin (-17.5) vs. Nebraska 2:30 p.m. | BTN

Wisconsin is good. Nebraska is not. I might not be a mathematician or scientist, but I can figure this one out.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/TNS

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 13

14 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

ON THE LINE Matchups

Adam Hensley

Pete Ruden

Anna Kayser

Jordan Zuniga

Lucy Rohden

Beau Bowman

Jason Brummond

PREGAME EDITOR (13-7)

SPORTS EDITOR (13-7)

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR (12-8)

FOOTBALL REPORTER (13-7)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (15-5)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (16-4)

PUBLISHER (15-5)

Iowa at Minnesota

IOWA I bet Minnesota would trade one of its 10,000 lakes for a Super Bowl win.

IOWA Minnesota is just full of a bunch of snowflakes.

IOWA Minnesota can row its boat to the bottom of the Big Ten.

IOWA Look for the Hawkeyes to go full whack-a-Gopher.

IOWA Please forgive me for this one, P.J., I still love you more than the world.

IOWA Gophers? More like Opossums. They play dead at home and get killed on the road.

IOWA Minnesota fans: “We hate Iowa.” Minnesota players: “We hate winning Big Ten games.”

KENTUCKY Fun fact: there are more barrels of bourbon in Kentucky than there are people.

TEXAS A&M No Johnny Football, no problem (maybe).

TEXAS A&M Jimbo Fisher is a great name for a head coach.

TEXAS A&M This is the week Kentucky starts going back to just being good at basketball.

KENTUCKY I bet John Calipari pays Kentucky football players, too.

KENTUCKY

No. 13 Kentucky at Texas A&M

TEXAS A&M But former Hawkeye Mark Stoops has it rolling in Lexington.

Illinois at Rutgers

ILLINOIS The loser should get a catfish, signifying it’s the bottom feeder of the Big Ten.

ILLINOIS I saw you could buy tickets for this game for as little as $3. That’s a little high, I think.

ILLINOIS 2018 Big Ten Toilet Bowl.

ILLINOIS Rutgers will blow its last chance to win a Big Ten game.

RUTGERS Best of the worst, baby.

Navy at Air Force

NAVY When I visited the Air Force Academy, I saw more churches than I did planes. That didn’t add up.

NAVY Either way, America wins.

NAVY Surprisingly, this game will be a ground war.

NAVY So when will the new Space Force have a team?

NAVY Ocean > sky, duhhhhh.

Iowa State at No. 25 Oklahoma State

OKLAHOMA STATE Zeb Noland has the name of someone who lives in the woods and believes in witchcraft.

OKLAHOMA STATE One day, I just want to witness a press conference rant like Mike Gundy’s.

IOWA STATE Cyclones touch down more often in Oklahoma than Iowa.

OKLAHOMA STATE At least one group of Cowboys is looking good.

OKLAHOMA STATE “I’m a man, I’m 40.”

Do you ever think about how “High School Musical” and “Breaking Bad” take place in the same town?

ILLINOIS Ahhh, the Big Ten matchup we’ve all been waiting for … Up next, Salami State vs.

Turkey Tech.

ILLINOIS This was selected to be an 11 a.m. kickoff on BTN in 2015.

NAVY

NAVY The real winner in this one: America.

I can’t wait for the year 2045, when we’ll be picking between Space Force and Neptune State.

OKLAHOMA STATE Tornadoes are the only thing that messes with Oklahoma. That and poverty, police abuse, record prison rates, and education cuts.

OKLAHOMA STATE Clones will be banking on win over Incarnate Word on Dec. 1 to become bowl eligible.

WATCH THE GAME HERE! in Iowa City

Corner of Gilbert & Prentiss

in Coralville

on the Coralville Strip

• 31 TVs!!!

• BEST PLACE TO WATCH HAWKEYE GAMES • OUTDOOR PATIO • GREAT FOOD • NFL SUNDAY TICKET • DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS • ESPN GAMEPLAN • NIGHTLY DRINK SPECIALS

BEST WINGS & COLD BEE R

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018 - 15

16 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 5, 2018

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA’S BIG 3 Now Renting For Fall 2019

The Telluride 278 E Court St

• First Floor Lounge Area • Fully Furnished • Cable & Internet Included

Whistler 416 E Iowa Avenue • First Floor Lounge Area w/Full Wet Bar • Roof Top Grilling Area • Fully Furnished • Big Screen Smart TV Included • Cable & Internet Included

Breckenridge Coming Soon - Dubuque Street

• First Floor Lounge Area • Roof Top Grilling Area • Big Screen Smart TV Included • Cable & Internet Included

J Michael Real Estate 608.233.4440 | www.iowa-city.apartments