Daily Iowan Pregame: Iowa vs. Northern Illinois (08.31.18)

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Iowa vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS KINNICK STADIUM

Kirk Ferentz 20th Season Edition

Legend.

Kirk Ferentz is one win away from setting the school record for most wins in Hawkeye football history, but he’s more than just a coach.

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Remember when ...

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

12 87 71 59 69 52 76 38 84 4 21 36 91

Brandon Smith Noah Fant Mark Kallenberger Ross Reynolds Keegan Render Cole Banwart Dalton Ferguson T.J. Hockenson Nick Easley Nate Stanley Ivory Kelly-Martin Brady Ross Miguel Recinos

6-3 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 5-11 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-1

219 241 282 295 307 296 308 250 205 242 200 245 193

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

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

98 90 96 40 49 52 34 8 27 30 11 7

Anthony Nelson Sam Brincks Matt Nelson Parker Hesse Nick Niemann Amani Jones Kristian Welch Matt Hankins Amani Hooker Jake Gervase Michael Ojemudia Colten Rastetter

6-7 6-5 6-8 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1

271 265 295 261 232 238 238 185 210 212 199 213

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

Northern Illinois Starters

On Sept. 18, 1999, Iowa football downed Northern Illinois, 24-0, for Kirk Ferentz’s first win of his Hawkeye career.

The Hawkeyes entered the game on a two-game losing streak, losing to No. 5 Nebraska and Iowa State previously before ending their skid in shutout fashion. Iowa had 337 yards of total offense, including 192 on the ground. Ladell Betts rushed for 174 yards - a career-best mark at the time. Quarterback Randy Reiners finished 13-for-18 with 145 yards and a rushing touchdown. Now, 142 wins later, Ferentz has a chance to make history, knocking down Hayden Fry’s program victory mark against the team he notched his first win against.

Publisher: 335-5788 Jason Brummond Editor-in-Chief: 335-6030 Gage Miskimen Managing Editors: 335-5855 Marissa Payne Katelyn Weisbrod Visual Arts Director: 3355855 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:

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

Debra Plath

Front by Lily Smith

GOT QUESTIONS FOR THE PREGAME STAFF OR A STORY IDEA FOR A FUTURE ISSUE? EMAIL US AT DAILY.IOWAN.NEWSROOM@GMAIL.COM

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

18 Cole Tucker 89 Mitchell Brinkman 73 Max Scharping 61 Benn Olson 64 Luke Shively 65 Nathan Veloz 72 Jordan Steckler 84 Ty Harmston 10 D.J. Brown 15 Marcus Childers 21 Marcus Jones 22 Tre Harbison 13 Andrew Gantz

6-2 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-4 5-9 6-0 5-8 5-11 5-10

193 250 320 298 300 319 306 258 185 222 199 227 178

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

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

12 99 55 15 48 57 37 3 8 11 1 36

6-3 6-3 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-11

251 302 292 237 226 235 211 197 208 201 207 198

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

Josh Corcoran Ben Leroy Weston Kramer Sutton Smith Antonio Jones-Davis Kyle Pugh Lance Deveaux Jr. Jalen Embry Mykelti Williams Trayson Foster Albert Smalls Matt Ferece

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

daily-iowan.com EnTER ThE

On The Line Contest

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

web extras

@DIPregame @dailyiowansports

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 3

1620 Avalon Place, Iowa City | $444,900 5 Bedrooms/4 Baths

Cell: 319-325-7222 Office: 319-625-6427 lee@skogman.com Licensed Realtor In The State Of Iowa

Impeccable modern 2 Story In The Palisades! Beautiful and warm "Sandalwood" stained cherry cabinets, open kitchen with Quartz countertops & Island, zero-step entrance from the garage, main floor bedroom or office, functional living area, gorgeous oak hardwood floors throughout the main and a screened in porch overlooking backyard and greenspace! Upper level offers spacious bedrooms including a master suite, huge walk-in closet and laundry room! And so much more!

4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz poses for a portait in his office in the Hansen Football Performance Center on June 28.

A legacy deeper than football

Kirk Ferentz is one victory away from the school record for most wins in Hawkeye history, but he’s more than just a coach.

By Adam Hensley adam-hensley@uiowa.edu

With a win on Saturday, Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz will become the program’s coach with the most victories in Hawkeye history.

Ferentz sits at 143 wins, the same number that former coach Hayden Fry rolled up in his Hawkeye career. Only four Big Ten coaches can claim more wins than Ferentz and Fry — Amos Alonzo Stagg, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and Joe Paterno. All of these coaches, except Ferentz, are in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The 20-year coach for Iowa has placed himself in the presence of legendary company, and a win against Northern Illinois would cement his legacy among the all-time great coaches in the Big Ten and college-football history.

You’d think that if win No. 144 becomes reality, Ferentz might have some big plans.

“I’ll probably go home, sit around with my family, and knock out a Ben and Jerry’s. Maybe I’ll have two that night, and get up, and go back to work the next morning,” Ferentz told The Daily Iowan during a one-on-one interview this offseason. “My life is really boring after a game. I do nothing, and I like it that way.”

That sort of business-as-usual mantra is a staple of Ferentz’s personality and coaching style. If you ask him about the record, he doesn’t like talking about it. The veteran coach goes about his work, a person who shies away from the spotlight, and current and former Hawkeyes alike echo that.

“His characteristics as a person match up pretty well with what we all like to think of ourselves as Iowans, in terms of hardworking, and humble, and respectful — all those things you think of Midwestern qualities, characteristics,” said Nate Kaeding, an All-American Hawkeye kicker from 2000-03.

It’s the grit and grind that has stuck with

him since his days at UConn and resonates today, in those he works alongside of and the athletes he coaches.

“It wasn’t something he learned at Iowa, it was something he brought with him,” said Bill Snyder, the longtime Kansas State head coach who worked with Ferentz in the 1980s as Iowa’s offensive coordinator. “That was one of the reasons I was interested in having him. He was a guy who rolled up his sleeves and went to work.”

First Iowa stint Prior to the 1981 season, Iowa head coach Hayden Fry tasked Snyder with finding the Hawkeyes’ next offensive-line coach.

Snyder went to Pitt offensive-line coach Joe Moore, one of the nation’s biggest offensive-line gurus, and his search didn’t take long. Moore pointed Snyder to a man he coached at Upper St. Clair High School in 1972 and worked alongside with at Pitt in

1980.

“Joe said, ‘The guy you want is Kirk Ferentz,’ ” Snyder told the DI. “We invited Kirk to visit, and Hayden liked him and offered him the job.”

Now, 37 years after his first coaching gig at Iowa, Ferentz has made a name for himself.

That’s obvious. But his success would not likely have occurred without Fry’s tutelage.

Under Fry’s leadership, Iowa went to eight-straight bowl games from 1981-88. Two of those trips were to Pasadena, California, for the Rose Bowl.

Ferentz returns to Iowa City The 1990s featured more success: a 1991 trip to Pasadena, a 10-1 season, and six bowl appearances. But in 1998, Fry’s final season at Iowa, the Hawkeyes finished 3-8 — the worst season since he took over the program. On SEE Ferentz , 6

10

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 5

Lunch 7 Days a Week 11-3pm All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet

$

14

Dinner 7 Days a Week 3-8pm

$

MEDITERRANEAN BUFFET Offering an inviting atmosphere and an inspired menu which blends traditional Middle-Eastern cuisine with local ingredients.

95

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN AVAILABLE

$

10

Happy Hour 3-5pm Fountain Drink Included Take Out Available From The Buffet By Weight.

Mixed $8, All Meat $10, All Seafood $12/lb.

95

95

All You Can Eat Dinner Buffet

Night Owl Special 8pm-close

*10% OFF Regular Dinner Price Senior Citizens & Veterans *10% Off $150 or More

210 2nd St | Coralville | 319.631.3433 Sun-Th 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

CACTUS 1 245 S Gilbert • 319-338-5647 CACTUS II 314 E Burlington • 319-337-2464

OPENING SOON!

CACTUS III • 114 S Clinton St

6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Rebuilding the Iowa program

Ferentz Continued from 4 Nov, 22, 1998, he announced his retirement.

Ferentz says he can still remember that moment.

“I’ll never forget that [day] because you never think your dad is going to die, but the reality is it’s going to happen,” Ferentz said.

“I don’t think any of us ever thought Coach Fry would retire.”

By this time, Ferentz had been away from the Hawkeyes for nine years. He left his offensive-line gig in Kinnick to become the head coach at Maine for two seasons before making the leap to the NFL, working as the offensive-line coach for Cleveland and then Baltimore after the Browns relocated and became the Ravens.

While Ferentz was working as the Ravens’ O-line coach, sitting at his desk constructing a game plan against the Indianapolis Colts, Iowa held a press conference for Fry. Bowlsby “Ozzie Newsome came in and said, ‘Hey, you should come down to my office, we have the press conference on. You might want to watch.’ And it was Coach Fry’s press conference,” Ferentz said. “It was one of those moments you have, and I was like, ‘Jeez, I can’t believe Iowa is going to have a new coach.’ ” Ferentz wasn’t dying to become a head coach, and in fact, returning to college football wasn’t even on his radar. Looking back, he said, the Iowa head-coaching gig was the only opportunity worthy of leaving the NFL, and he and wife Mary had a strong Iowa connection — a main reason that he opted to return to Iowa City.

Not even 24 hours after meeting with the university’s selection committee, UI Athletics Director Bob Bowlsby tabbed Ferentz as the Hawkeyes’ next head coach, on Dec. 2, 1998.

“Many of the greatest achievements in the Hayden Fry years at Iowa were while Kirk was developing and leading our offensive line,” Bowlsby said at the time. “Kirk is widely regarded as one of the best offensive-scheme people in the National Football League.”

15

bowl appearances

Flash back to Ferentz’s first season in 1999, and not many — if any — could have seen it coming. Iowa kicked things off the year with a 35-point loss to Nebraska, followed by a loss to in-state rival Iowa State. A “State of Embarrassment” headline ran across the DI sports page.

Iowa fans, many of whom had wanted the program to hire former Hawkeye player and assistant coach Bob Stoops, were frustrated to the nth degree. The DI even wrote a weekly “Stoops Watch” to see how Hawkeye fans’ first choice was doing at Oklahoma.

Ferentz’s first win in 1999 came against Northern Illinois — Iowa’s opponent on Saturday — 24-0. But the winning stopped there. Iowa finished an abysmal 1-10 that year and averaged 14.7 points per game, ranking 105th out of 114 Division-1 football programs.

One of the 1999 losses included the Wisconsin game. In Madison, the Badgers pounded the Hawkeyes in a 38-point victory to clinch the Big Ten title incite a sea of red as fans to storm the field in celebration.

“That was not a high point, but one positive was I told our guys then, that’s what we’re striving for,” Ferentz said. “That’s what we want Kinnick to be like.”

Victories were still hard to come by in Year 2. That season, Ferentz and the Hawkeyes lost their first five games, including a 20-point loss to Snyder’s Kansas State Wildcats in the Hawkeyes’ opening game.

Ferentz’s first Big Ten win came against Michigan State on Oct. 7 of that season; however, the Hawkeyes then suffered threestraight losses and wound up staring at a 1-8 record.

But then, Iowa won two of its final three games. Iowa’s final victory of 2000 came against No. 12 Northwestern.

The Hawkeyes had improved in 2000 — not in leaps and bounds, but the Iowa program wasn’t a laughingstock.

“There’s a moment where I thought it might not work. We had a rough beginning; the first two years weren’t easy,” Ferentz said. “There was one moment where I went home one night, I allowed myself one night, it was a Wednesday, to think maybe this isn’t going to go. We had an unfortunate injury in practice that day in a place where we couldn’t afford it. And it was like, you

Alyssa Hitchcock/The Daily Iowan Iowa Kirk Ferentz reacts to a call during the Big Ten Championship against Michigan State. on Dec. 5, 2015.

‘Coach Fry pretty much laid the groundwork for the University of Iowa, especially the football program, but I think Coach Ferentz has taken it to another level, locally and nationally. Without a doubt, [there] should be two statues of the [men].’

— Drew Tate, former quarterback know, maybe this isn’t meant to be. But the next morning, that thought was completely washed out.”

It was back to work, and this time, the Hawkeyes enjoyed some well-earned success.

Ferentz’s third year at Iowa featured the Hawkeyes’ first bowl victory in five seasons, and from there, the Black and Gold returned to the relevancy it had enjoyed under Fry. Iowa hadn’t won a bowl game since 1996, and after a five-year trophy hiatus, Ferentz and Company brought an Alamo Bowl trophy back to the football complex, marking the start of the coach’s winning ways.

Setting the standard From 2002-04, Ferentz had three-straight seasons with at least 10 wins. During that

Ferentz by the numbers

10

Consensus All-Americans

4

Big Ten Coach of the Year awards

span, the Hawkeyes had fewer losses (7) than they did in Ferentz’s first season.

Ferentz’s Hawkeyes won two Big Ten titles during that time, including a conference championship run in 2002 that concluded with an unblemished 8-0 Big-Ten record. From the 2002 season to 2006-11, the Hawkeyes only missed the postseason once.

“Coach Fry pretty much laid the groundwork for the University of Iowa, especially the football program, but I think Coach Ferentz has taken it to another level, locally and nationally,” said Drew Tate, a Hawkeye quarterback from 2003-06. “Without a doubt, [there] should be two statues of the [men].”

Since heading the program in 1999, Ferentz won a pair of Big Ten Championships, recorded five 10-win seasons, hauled his SEE Ferentz, 8

2

Big Ten Championships

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 7

8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Joseph Cress/The Daily Iowan Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz shakes hands with U.S. Army Maj.-Gen. Stewart Wallace on Nov. 18, 2017.

Ferentz Continued from 6 players to 15 bowl games, enjoyed an undefeated regular season in 2015, won the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year award four times, and produced 10 consensus All-Americans.

Above all, Ferentz has kept Iowa football competitive in his 20 years in command.

Since that 3-9 season in 2000, he’s finished only two seasons with losing records, and that has not gone unnoticed by other programs.

“After he became the head coach, he had ample opportunities to leave the University of Iowa for maybe bigger pay or etc., etc., but always chose to stay because he loved the people of Iowa,” Snyder said. “He loved the program. He loved the community, loved the university.

He had an immense loyalty to anyone and everyone who had any involvement with the university, Iowa City, or the football program.”

Ferentz has maintained Snyder his position in a world in which coaches are interchangeable. After all, Les Miles, who won a national championship with LSU in 2007, seemed almost untouchable, but he was fired in 2016 just four games into the season.

Coaches jump from team to team frequently as well: James Franklin from Vanderbilt to Penn State, Urban Meyer from Florida to Ohio State, Scott Frost from Central Florida to Nebraska, and P.J. Fleck from Western Michigan to Minnesota. During Ferentz’s time as the Hawkeyes’ head coach, other Big Ten programs have gone through 63 head coaches, an average of 4.85 per school.

“In this day and age, a lot of people, they’re jumping off to the next thing as soon as they

can, or taking an NFL job or a bigger college-football job, whatever it may be,” Kaeding told the DI. “I think Coach Ferentz has found a profession that’s been rewarding for him and challenging for him. He’s created a much deeper, meaningful legacy catered by staying the course here at Iowa.”

Embracing the community Attempting to sum up one’s legacy can be challenging, especially factoring in all the variables. Winning is a major point in determining a coach’s legacy in any sport, but offfield actions speak volumes.

For Ferentz, that means giving back to the community that loves him.

In this past year alone, he donated $1 million to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and it’s clear that although most people believe the hospital and the football program are separate entities, they’re intertwined.

“You think about football, it’s a lot of bravado, it’s a tough game, physical, and you got to be mentally tough and all that stuff, but until you go over to the hospital, especially the Children’s Hospital, that’s where you really see what toughness is, optimism is, and great attitudes,” Ferentz said. “There’s just something about young people that is amazing, and when they’re challenged, it can bring the best out of them. It’s inspiring.”

In 2017, a new tradition took Iowa City, and eventually the nation, by storm. The Wave, in which fans, players, and coaches all turn to the Children’s Hospital following the conclusion of the first quarter and wave to the patients and their families, instantly found its niche with the Iowa program.

“The Wave is the all-time best tradition in sports. And the best part about it is it was just totally organic,” Ferentz said. “I’m the head coach right now, and we still do The Swarm. That was Coach Fry’s. Certainly, that’s my choice to keep that alive. At some point, there’s going to be a new head coach

David Harmantas/The Daily Iowan Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz places his hand on his heart for the national anthem on Oct. 7, 2017. here, and The Swarm may or may not be a part of the routine, but I feel confident The Wave will never go away, no matter who’s coaching here. That’s going to be a part of Iowa football and Iowa [forever].”

Generating and maintaining those connections, football-related or not, is what Iowa football has been about under Ferentz.

A legacy deeper than football The wins are good for something, yes, but according to most former players and coaches, it’s the human aspect of football that makes Ferentz stand out above all. The wins are “just a byproduct of him doing things the right way,” Kaeding said.

After graduating from Connecticut in 1978, Ferentz split time as the defensive co-

teacher, and those sort of things. Clearly, you have this very tangible thing in the number of wins, but he’s also a winner in terms of intangibles.”

For Miguel Merrick, who played safety for Iowa from 2004-06, Ferentz’s impact on him had nothing to do with football. It was about life after the game and building relationships.

“That’s one thing [he] always said, ‘If we can’t trust you on the football field, what are you going to do? Forget football, take football out of the equation. What are you doing to do when you have a family that depends on you?’ And that really resonated with me,” Merrick said. “Screw football; even the best guys only play football 15 years of their lives.

You have the rest of your life to be a spouse and a dad much longer than your football

‘At some point, there’s going to be a new head coach here, and The Swarm may or may not be a part of the routine, but I feel confident The Wave will never go away, no matter who’s coaching here. That’s going to be a part of Iowa football and Iowa [forever].’

— Kirk Ferentz ordinator at Worcestor Academy and as an English teacher, where his compassion for people and desire to educate blossomed.

“I found him to be, in a variety of circumstances, someone who cares an awful lot about people,” Kaeding said. “The human side of the game and what he does as a head coach, it’s a very admirable quality to have.

He prioritizes the human element over the wins and losses.

“It’s sort of ironic: He’s setting the school record for wins, but he’s also this exemplary human being and leader of young men, and

career will be.”

In 1999 or 2000, not many people would have guessed Ferentz’s career at Iowa would have lasted this long.

But with Northern Illinois (his first Iowa win in 1999) coming to Kinnick to kick things off for the 2018 season, Ferentz is one victory away from doing something not many people ever thought anyone would accomplish.

He’s also one win away from a double portion of Ben and Jerry’s. Of course, then it’s back to work the next day.

The Daily Iowan

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

IOWA HAWKEYES vs. NORT

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 | K

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 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

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

DB P QB DB PK WR QB DB WR QB P DB RB DB RB DB QB WR DB WR LB WR DB RB 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

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 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

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

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

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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 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

45 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

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

LB 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

6-0 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

233 245 230 210 242 225 235 244 232 240 238 280 306 245 230 285 265 290 295 230 205 296 290 270 280 305 270 305 307 250 282 290 260 275 320 270 308 320 315 250 203 235 170 180 205 232 250 230 241 191 275 193 272 245 250 277 179 295 295 272 271

FR 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

Middleton, WI 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

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 11

THERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES

KINNICK STADIUM | 2:40 PM | BTN

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

1 1 1 2 3 6 7 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39 39 40

Jaden Huff Albert Smalls Dale Brown Andrew Gantz Jalen Embry Rodney Hall Ryan Graham Tifonte Hunt Mykelti Williams Jauan Wesley D.J. Brown Trayshon Foster Anthony Thompson Josh Corcoran Jiya Wright Joe Bonds Leon Payne Spencer Tears Marcus Childers Sutton Smith Amir Brummett J.D. Harris Dennis Robinson Kewan Parker Cole Tucker Jyran Mitchell Zhamaine March Jordan Rowell Marcus Jones Dillon Thomas Tre Harbison Justin Hall Trequan Smith Cortez Hogans Antwain Walker Maalik Todd Jordan Nettles Adam Buirge Rahveon Valentine Devin Haney Brianjay Ross Danny Walker Reggie Jennings Erick Doke Matt Ference Brett Bostad Lance Deveaux Jr. Jaquis Covington Joshua Earl John Richardson Drequan Brown

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

5-7 6-1 6-3 5-10 5-11 6-2 6-1 5-9 5-11 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-5 5-11 6-2 5-11 5-7 6-1 5-8 6-2 5-11 5-9 5-11 6-2 6-1 5-6 5-9 6-0 5-7 6-1 5-10 6-3 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-2

210 207 300 178 197 219 214 183 208 182 185 201 214 251 198 217 174 198 222 237 189 165 214 198 193 194 168 203 199 188 227 183 186 224 190 162 181 207 187 172 179 223 225 227 198 241 211 161 227 190 230

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

Bolingbrook, IL Miramar, FL Lee's Summit, MO Dayton, OH Detroit, MI Detroit, MI Wheaton, IL Harvey, IL Indianapolis, IN Markham, IL North Little Rock, AR Tuscaloosa, AL Chicago, IL Lakeville, MN Fort Wayne, IN Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Adairsville, GA Saint Charles, MO Decatur, IL Columbus, IN Hollywood, FL Miami, FL DeKalb, IL Matteson, IL Detroit, MI Elmhurst, IL Chicago, IL Kansas City, MO Shelby, NC Homewood, IL Boynton Beach, FL Palatine, IL Oswego, IL Evanston, IL Romeoville, IL Minneapolis, MN Lena, IL Kansas City, MO DeKalb, IL Wheaton, IL Milwaukee, WI Kenosha, WI St. Louis, MO Kennedale, TX Pompano Beach, FL Plainfield, IL Naperville, IL Orland Park, IL Chicago, IL

41 42 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 77 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 98 99

Matt Lorbeck Andrew Gregory Liam Soraghan Corey Lersch Jordan Cole Rayshawn Gay Michael Kennedy Antonio Jones-Davis Jalen McKie Vinny Labus Nathan Harman Quintin Wynne Austin Warner Weston Kramer Ryan Roberts Kyle Pugh Brayden Patton Hayden Sak Alex Schlee Benn Olson Christopher Perez Jr. Ezekiel Gueths Luke Shively Nathan Veloz Vincent Hughes Owen Rozumalski Nolan Potter Marques Cox Isaac Hawn Jordan Steckler Max Scharping Calvin Dassow Cole Webster Mike DeHaan Matt Pollack Fotis Kokosioulis Jawon Denton Ty Harmston Ryan Gibbons Lucas Segobiano Maximilian Thrower Daniel Crawford Mitchell Brinkman Caleb Wright Jeffrey Griffin Jr. A.J. Taylor Erik Abrell Devin Webster Marcus Kelly Jack Heflin Ben LeRoy

DE LB TE TE LB LB DE LB CB LB LB DE OL DT OL LB OL LS OL OL OL OL C OL DT OL OL OL OL OL OT OL OL TE WR WR WR TE WR WR TE TE TE DL DL DT LS DT DT DT DT

6-3 6-1 6-7 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-11 5-7 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-6 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-6 6-5 6-0 5-9 6-2 6-4 5-11 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3

247 226 259 244 213 219 215 226 169 223 215 240 291 292 297 235 306 254 293 298 290 312 300 319 287 271 280 300 303 306 320 313 300 232 193 170 204 258 187 198 238 245 250 222 263 290 220 294 274 284 302

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

Green Bay, WI Normal, IL Dearborn, MI Mchenry, IL Ferguson, MO Maywood, IL Chicago, IL Vero Beach, FL Gurnee, IL Park Ridge, IL Monticello, IL St. Louis , MO Oswego, IL Naperville, IL Northville, MI Chicago Heights, IL Ellettsville, IN Aurora, IL Germantown, WI Burnsville, MN Shawnee, KS Shawano, WI Tipton, IN Oak Creek, WI Franklin, WI Oak Creek, WI Cedar Rapids, IA Peoria, IL Saint Charles, IL Two Rivers, WI Green Bay, WI Menomonee Falls, WI Bettendorf, IA Tinley Park, IL Mokena, IL Park Ridge, IL Chicago, IL Stockton, IL Park Ridge, IL Saint Charles, IL Royal Oak, MI Macomb, MI Council Bluffs, IA Brookfield, WI Homewood, IL Chicago, IL Aurora, IL Sun Prairie, WI Waukesha, WI Prophetstown, IL Wilmette, IL

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 13

1801 2nd St | Coralville, Iowa 52241 (319) 337-3340 | www.threesamuraisushi.com

Lunch Food Specials: Tuesday-Sunday: $4 Basic Rolls, $8 Specialty Rolls, $10 Bento Lunch

Dinner Food Specials: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat: $4 Basic Rolls, $8 Specialty Rolls Tues/Thurs/Sun: Happy Day Menu (up to 20% off)

Drink Specials:

Monday/Wednesday: $4 Moscow Mules & Mimosas Tuesday/Thursday: $4 Martinis & Margaritas Friday/Saturday: $4 Mimosas $2.50 Sake Bombs Sunday: $2 Off Draft Beer 1/2 Off Wine By The Glass Hours: Monday: 4pm-9pm Tues - Fri: 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm Saturday: 11am-10pm Sunday: 11am-9pm

14 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Prepped for the next level Iowa doesn’t land highly touted prospects, yet the Hawkeyes boast a plethora of current NFL players.

Mike Daniels

Christian Kirksey

(John Klein/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)

By Adam Hensley adam-hensley@uiowa.edu

There are certain teams in college football that consistently grind out NFL-caliber talent. Alabama had a record-setting 12 players picked in the 2018 NFL Draft, for instance. The Crimson Tide have a mind-boggling 59 former players currently on NFL rosters. Ohio State has 53. Miami has 55. Florida has 52. The list goes on and on.

But the Iowa football program is a dark horse when it comes to sending players to the next level. Currently, there are 36 former Hawkeyes in the NFL — all of whom are products of Kirk Ferentz’s system.

Kaeding To put that number into perspective, that’s three players fewer than Clemson and Notre Dame and one player fewer than Wisconsin, Stanford, and Texas have in the NFL. Iowa has more players on NFL rosters than seven AP Top-25 teams (No. 6 Washington, No. 16 TCU, No. 17 West Virginia, No. 18 Mississippi State, No. 20 Virginia Tech, No. 21 Central Florida, and No. 22 Boise State).

66

NFL Draft picks

C.J. Beathard

Bryan Bulaga

(Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS)

(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS)

(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS)

“General managers throughout the NFL say, ‘Hey, this is a Coach Ferentz kind of guy,’” said Nate Kaeding, a third-round pick in the 2004 Draft. “You know what you’re going to get out of him, and [there are] a lot fewer unknowns during the draft process [than what] might come out of other programs.”

Such teams as Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State — the usual suspects atop the college-football world — consistently reel in historic recruiting classes. Ferentz’s bread and butter has been finding diamonds in the rough — under-the-radar recruits — and developing them into NFL-caliber individuals.

“If you notice, Iowa doesn’t get any five-star recruits, but they get guys drafted every year,” said Drew Tate, who had a brief stint with the St. Louis Rams before a nine-year Canadian Football League career (which included the 2014 Grey Cup championship win). “The way that they do things — the commitment and the development part, no one does it better in the country. It’s a mindset, and that starts with Coach Ferentz.”

From 2010-2018 (nine recruiting classes), Iowa has never had a class rank higher than 26th in the country (2011), according to 24/7

Sports. In that nine-year recruiting period, Iowa’s average class rank has been 51.6.

Iowa has landed one 5-star recruit during that same time, while getting commitments from 198 3-star recruits, 24/7 Sports says.

“I don’t know how they do it, but they have an amazing way of finding guys that have some publicity to them — most of the guys are average rank as far as national [rankings] are concerned — and developing them into unbelievable players,” said Erik Jensen, a former-Hawkeye tight end drafted by the thenSt. Louis Rams in 2004.

At some universities, coaches and other football staff are with players 24/7, monitoring them and making sure they’re up-to-date on grades, making meetings and practices on time, and meeting their goals.

The transition to the NFL can be a major shock, because it’s a different beast from college. But at Iowa, Ferentz and his staff engrain this sort of hard work ethic into the Hawkeyes, and NFL teams have taken note.

“Once you get dropped off, and you get drafted, and you end up at the doorstep of the NFL, no one’s there to hold your hand and tell you when to show up, or where to be, or how

hard to work, or how much you need to study your playbook, or how to handle adversity, and all those sort of things,” Kaeding said. “You have to figure that out on your own, and that’s a hallmark of an Iowa football player — someone who can come in and be a really valuable, high-character guy. That word spreads quickly to the NFL.” Sean Considine, an eight-year NFL vet, was one of the many Hawkeyes to play at the next level. He seconded Kaeding’s notion of word spreading quickly about Ferentz; he said general managers in the NFL regard the Iowa coach highly.

“One of the things I learned as I carved out my eight-year NFL career was just how respected Coach Ferentz is by all general managers in the NFL,” Considine said. “Almost every general manager I was around for my eight-year career would go out of his way to come up and ask how Coach Ferentz was, and to tell me how impressed they were with how he runs his program, and how his guys come out of the University of Iowa ready for the NFL … everybody knows that Coach Ferentz does not cut corners — he holds his guys accountable.”

Ferentz and the NFL

36

Current NFL players

9

Pro Bowl selections

7

First-round draft picks

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 15

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

Delivery or Carry Out!

319-337-6677 thewedgepizza.com

Open 11am to midnight daily

Above Ground Across the street and above The Dublin Underground BREWERY • BRATS • BURGERS • SANDWICHES

We make good food & fresh beer!

guildwursttavern.com 53 2nd St, Coralville Tues 4pm-11pm Wed-Sat 11am-10pm Sun 9am-8pm, Brunch til 2pm

Home to Boot ‘n Flute Brewery

t our Check oueer game b garden & inside projector

1 mile from Kinnic k on the Coralville Strip

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

16 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

In their own words Kirk Ferentz doesn’t like talking about himself. Luckily, his former players do. From discussing his legacy to sharing their personal anecdotes, the consensus remains that Ferentz is one of the best in the business.

Sean Considine

Bill Snyder

Iowa safety 2002-2004

Iowa Offensive Coordinator 1979-1988

“With the environment of college football and the NFL -- and I was fortunate to play years in the NFL -- you kind of find out when there’s a lot of money and a lot of pressure, a lot at stake to win, win, win, you find out that genuine, trustworthy people are few and far between.”

“I think that’s why Coach Ferentz has the impact he has on his players and why his players have the loyalty and trust and commitment to who he is and how he does things.”

“He got along well with the players, the players had great respect for him and wanted to do right for him, and not just on the field.”

“They were young guys that didn’t get themselves in trouble, went to class, carried out the responsibilities, and a major part of it was -- and they were good young guys -- but they did not want to embarass or let Kirk down. He had that kind of an impact on them.”

Kevonte Martin-Manley

Erik Jensen

Drew Tate

Iowa receiver 2011-2014

Iowa tight end 2000-2003

Iowa quarterback 2003-2006

“He’s one of the all-time greats.

Just simply put like that.”

“His track record speaks for itself.”

“He’s about his business. He’s sort of like Belichick in a sense. He models his game a lot, his coaching style, his demeanor.”

“Taking over a team after a great Hayden Fry legacy -- they were not great, but he turned the ship around quickly, and year in and year out, competed for Big Ten [Championships] ... he’ll have a statue alongside Hayden Fry one day.”

“Coach Ferentz protects the logo better than anyone. What I mean by that, when anyone sees the Tigerhawk logo, anywhere in the world, there’s class. It’s known, ‘Oh wow, it’s Iowa. They do everything first-class. They’re very well-respected. They treat other people and everyone the way they should be treated.’ ” “I know when I was on the team and we would travel, and we would take charter flights, that the airlines would always write a letter or an email talking about how well and how professional we were compared to all the other teams that they chartered, that they enjoy chartering the Iowa football team more than any other team in the country.”

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 17

Where Iowa Students & Hawkeye Fans Shop Largest selection of Hawkeye souvenirs in Iowa

• Books on Iowa • Baseball Hats • Sweatshirts • T-Shirts

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

18 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

Kirk Ferentz’s top wins power rankings Ferentz has 143 wins, so narrowing the victories down to a top-10 group was difficult, but The Daily Iowan has you covered.

1) 2005 Capital One Bowl: Iowa 30, LSU 25 The Catch. A 56-yard strike from Drew Tate to Warren Holloway as time expired for Holloway’s first and only career touchdown to beat the defending national champions. The game was like the ending to a Hollywood flick, only better.

6) 2016: Iowa 14, No. 3 Michigan 13 The Wolverines got out to a 10-point lead in the second quarter, and it seemed as if a predictable Michigan win was inevitable. After 11 unanswered points, the momentum in the stadium shifted. After freshman kicker Keith Duncan knocked through a 33-yard game-winner, you could not see a patch of green on the field as fans stormed it.

2) 2004: No. 25 Iowa 6, Penn State 4 In what doesn’t seem to be an obvious situation, Ferentz thought it was, and Iowa decided to take a safety instead of punting out of its end zone.

That decision helped the Hawkeyes grind out a win the week after Ferentz’s father died. Ferentz has said his dad was a baseball guy, so the 6-4 score could not have come at a better time.

7) 2009: Iowa 15, Michigan State 13 After Iowa hit a field goal to break a 6-6 stalemate, the Spartans scored to take the lead with under two minutes to go. Ricky Stanzi came to the rescue and led Iowa to the red zone, then hit Marvin McNutt on a fourth-and-goal slant route as time expired for the walk-off win. Classic.

3) 2010 Orange Bowl: No. 10 Iowa 24, No. 9 Georgia Tech 14 Iowa’s first BCS Bowl win, over the Yellow Jackets, emphasizes a big part of the Hawkeyes’ identity today: a grit-and-grind defensive team. The Hawkeyes used their top-10 defense to stop Georgia Tech’s 10th-ranked triple-option offense.

8) 2001 Alamo Bowl: Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16 Following two losing seasons, a 1-10 record in 1999 and 3-9 in 2000, Ferentz led Iowa to its first winning season since 1997. It was the Hawkeyes’ first bowl win since 1996 and showcased how fast Ferentz could turn things around.

4) 2017: Iowa 55, No. 6 Ohio State 24 The implications may not have meant a lot, but this game did incredible things for Iowa and its fans. Almost a year later, 55-24 jokes are made and shirts with the score are still worn.

9) 2004: No. 17 Iowa 30, No. 9 Wisconsin 7 Iowa started the year 2-2 and despite injuries and a decimated running game, the Hawkeyes rattled off seven-straight wins, including the regular-season finale over the Badgers to take home a share of the Big Ten title.

5) 2008: Iowa 24, No. 3 Penn State 23 Iowa beating a top-10 opponent in Kinnick with a game-winning field goal? Sounds familiar. Kicker Daniel Murray ended Penn State’s national-title hopes, hitting a 31-yarder with one second left.

10) 2015: No. 4 Iowa 28, Nebraska 20 This is less about the game itself and more about it being the culmination of a historic season. Iowa went from getting demolished by Tennessee in the Taxslayer Bowl, 45-28, to an undefeated regular season and the cusp of the College Football Playoff.

Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson makes a leaping one-handed interception during Iowa’s game against Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 4, 2017.

John Theulen/The Daily Iowan Iowa wide receiver Matt VandeBerg attempts to stay in-bounds during the Iowa-Nebraska game at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 27, 2015.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018 - 19

ON THE LINE Matchups

Northern Illinois at Iowa

No. 6 Washington at No. 9 Auburn No. 14 Michigan at No. 12 Notre Dame Louisville at No. 1 Alabama No. 8 Miami at No. 25 LSU

Adam Hensley

Pete Ruden

Anna Kayser

Jordan Zuniga

Lucy Rohden

Beau Bowman

Jason Brummond

PREGAME EDITOR (0-0)

SPORTS EDITOR (0-0)

Asst. SPORTS EDITOR (0-0)

FOOTBALL REPORTER (0-0)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (0-0)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (0-0)

PUBLISHER (0-0)

Iowa Kirk is getting 144. Next.

Iowa Kirk deserves as much Ben and Jerry’s as he wants after win No. 144.

Iowa Let’s hope the vote for an easy non-conference opponent for the opener pays off.

Iowa Should be a fairly easy game for Iowa, and Kirk should end up with the most wins in Hawkeye football history.

Iowa In 2012, I flew to Chicago to see the game at Soldier Field, and I deserve some sort of reward for that disaster.

Iowa N-I-U? More like N-I-POO.

iowa Hayden Fry took a chance on a new assistant coach in 1981. I’d say that one worked out.

Auburn It’s 2018. Somewhere, Cam Newton is kicking back, still cashing checks from his Tiger days.

Auburn Bo Jackson is my guy, so I feel obligated. Go Royals.

Auburn A Week 1 Top 10 matchup?

Who doesn’t love college football?

Washington Auburn is good, but Washington’s defense should be better.

Auburn I can vouch that Auburn has the best lemonade in the world, and it deserves to win for that fact alone.

Auburn The movie Balto was really just about a dog trying to get some tail.

Washington New Year’s Day feeling in September.

Michigan Khakis vs. Catholics. Let’s get ready to rumble.

Michigan I feel like this is as bad of a top-15 matchup as you can have.

Notre Dame The Fighting Irish against the Big Blue, a true fight between two of the weirdest fan bases ever.

Michigan The past few years, it seems like Notre Dame has lost a big early season prime-time game.

Michigan How lucky are we to have a game between the two most overrated teams in college football in Week 1?

Michigan Manti Te’o’s girlfriend was the Mayan calendar’s Playmate of the Year.

Notre Dame Michigan players stop at Chick-fil-A before kickoff.

They’re overcome with nervousness.

Alabama Family trees can be a little fuzzy in Alabama, but this win won’t be.

Alabama As the defending On the Line champion, I have learned to pick Bama. Especially when it’s a 24-point favorite.

Alabama I’m surprised they haven’t given Alabama an outright bid to the College Football Playoffs yet.

Alabama The real question is how much will it win by.

Alabama Am I allowed to pick both Alabama and Auburn for these On The Line picks?

Alabama I don’t always talk to Louisville fans, but when I do, I order a McChicken.

alabama Ferentz is .500 all-time against Saban, which is actually pretty impressive.

Miami One time my TA asked the class who listened to 2 Live Crew, and I was the only person to raise a hand.

Miami Anyone know if they sell Turnover Chains on Amazon?

Miami I don’t know why I picked Miami, but here we are.

Miami The Canes are on their way back to their early 2000s form; the Tigers won’t slow them down.

LSU I feel the same way about the Miami Turnover Chain as Paul Chryst does.

Miami The last time the hurricanes came to Louisiana ... it didn’t end well.

Miami Perfect preview for who Alabama and Clemson will beat up later in the year.

20 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, August 31, 2018

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

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