Man in the Middle James Morris’ journey to the top of Iowa’s defense started a long time ago. Page 4
Making special teams a snap
Long-snapper Casey Kreiter is glad you haven’t heard of him. Page 16
2B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
REMEMBER WHEN...
STAFF
With two seconds left on the clock going into the play, Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt catches a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Stanzi to win the game against Michigan State on Oct. 25, 2009, in East Lansing. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo)
HAWKS IN THE NFL
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COVER STORY James Morris grew up in the shadow of the Iowa program. Now he’s the leader of its defense
6 8
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16
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POINT-COUNTERPOINT Who should take Hawkeye hand-offs now that Bullock is back?
On The Line Contest
Catch the most extensive weekly Iowa football preview show in the state at www.dailyiowan.com. This week, see a panel of experts including ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg.
INSIDE FEATURE BEHIND ENEMY LINESLong-snapper Casey Kreiter is glad See what a Spartan football reporter from The State News had to say about fans haven’t heard of him. It means he’s doing his job. Michigan State
FEATURED MATCHUP AROUND THE BIG TEN Left tackle Brandon Scherff Check out our conference power will need to win the battle up front with a fierce Michigan State rankings and players to watch pass-rusher
WEB EXTRAS DITV Program
Myers is quietly continuing Iowa’s tradition of producing good NFL tight ends. After his first three games this season, the Oakland Raider was one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, with 15 catches for 206 yards. He only caught one pass in Week 4 as Oakland was trounced by the Denver Broncos. But the 27year old has emerged as one of the Raiders’ best pass-catchers and should play a big role going forward. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bill Casey Publisher Emily Busse Editor-in-Chief Sam Lane Managing Editor Sam Louwagie Pregame Editor Allie Wright Design Editor Adam Wesley and Rachel Jessen Photo Editors
ON THE LINE See who our football staffers picked in some of the NCAA’s biggest games this weekend
CONTACT US
Got a question for the Pregame staff or a story idea for a future issue? Email us at dipregame@ gmail.com.
Go to
dailyiowan.com
for a photo slideshow after the game
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 3B
4B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
Iowa linebacker James Morris tackles UNI receiver Chad Owens in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 15. Morris had 8 tackles in the Hawkeyes’ 27-16 victory over the Panthers. (The Daily Iowan/Adam Wesley)
Morris grows into a leader By Tork Mason tork-mason@uiowa.edu
K
irk Ferentz was down to his last resort. Then-senior linebackers Jeff Tarpinian and Troy Johnson each went down with injuries on Oct. 2, 2010, against Penn State, and Bruce Davis had torn his ACL two weeks earlier. Ferentz needed a middle linebacker. James Morris, then a true freshman, began making his way to the defensive huddle, unsure if he was going in or if the coaches would slide another player over to fill the void. Morris overheard then-linebackers coach Darrell Wilson telling Ferentz there was no one left at the position except for the untested Solon native. Then he saw his head coach’s reaction. “Coach Ferentz’s face just changes all of a sudden,” Morris said. “He turns to Coach Wilson and gives him the big eye. Then he looks at the official and goes, ‘Time-out. Time-out.’ ” Morris said his teammates started coming up to him and telling him he was going in. He said this week that he was excited. But he admitted that wasn’t all he was feeling “I was nervous as hell,” he said. “I got in there, and on the first snap, some guy grabbed me by the breast plate, and I didn’t get off until after the whistle.” Morris has emerged as the Hawkeyes’ defensive leader in 2012. But his ascent to the top of the Iowa defense began long before that early October night.
Raised in a Hawks’ Nest
Morris’ father, Greg Morris, has been with the Iowa football program for 25 years, and he serves as the head equipment manager. James Morris moved in with his father when his mother remarried. He was 11 years old at the time and said he didn’t know much about football and didn’t even have a favorite team. But ever since then, he said, Iowa football has been a big part of his life. “Ever since I was probably 11 years old, it’s been half-time [Solon] Spartans and half-time Hawkeyes,” he said. Greg Morris said his sons helped in the football building in the summer with various projects, as well as with new equipment shipments. James Morris said the orders were sometimes enormous, with hundreds of shoes, jackets, and boxes stacked almost to the ceiling. He and younger brother Jake helped sort it all out and inventoried the new equipment. Greg Morris said his elder son was “just a kid around the building,” and he observed how things worked in the program. As he grew older, James discovered it was something he wanted to be a part of. But he said he occasionally used that inside access for other purposes, too. “In high school, when our team made the playoffs, my dad would come in late on Thursday nights and he’d open up the locker room,” James said. “Then me and some of my friends would go in and we’d use the cold pool to try to get our bodies ready for the games on Fridays.” See morris, 7a
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 5B
6B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
FEATURED MATCHUP
MOLLY IRENE OLMSTEAD mireneolmstead@gmail.com
OFFENSE Name: Brandon Scherff
DEFENSE Name: William Gholston
Scherff is a big reason Iowa hasn’t given up a sack in the last four games and that Iowa is second in the Big Ten in avoiding sacks — even after the Hawkeyes gave up 6 in their season-opener against a “tough opponent.” Scherff appeared to get comfortable after that game and has protected Vandenberg perfectly since. His ability to keep Vandenberg standing has been a factor in the recent improvement of the passing game. The Hawkeyes need to keep their signal-caller protected, and that will fall largely on Scherff’s shoulders against a frighteningly good Michigan State pass rusher.
Gholston tallied a team-leading 5 sacks for 30 yards last season, in addition to his 16 tackles for loss that robbed 50 yards from the Spartans’ opponents. Gholston has only registered one sack this season, but he remains a focus of opposing blockers. The Spartans pass rush has been slower than expected, having registered only 5 sacks this season compared with the 21 they had through six games last year. Gholston, however, has remained a steady force for the Spartan defense. The junior is a perfect support for the team’s leading tacklers Max Bullough and Isiah Lewis. Gholston has registered 22 tackles this season, and he’s one of eight to manage more than 20 for the Green and White. He is exactly the kind of defensive lineman who could make life miserable for Vandenberg.
Position: Iowa left tackle Year: Sophomore
Position: Michigan State Defensive End Year: Junior
morris
Continued from 4a James Morris said he thought his father liked to have him and Jake around because he wanted to spend time with his sons. But he also said he thinks there was a little more to it than that. “I think he knows it’s a special place in Iowa City,” James Morris said. “And if we can experience some of that, or make that a part of our lives, that would be a benefit for us in the long term.”
Earning his stripes
James Morris was a gifted athlete at Solon High, and Spartan head coach Kevin Miller said he knew he had a special player when Morris was in junior high and impressed Spartan coaches with his strength and speed at a youth camp. But that didn’t keep the Hawkeye-to-be off the junior varsity roster as a freshman. “We brought him along slowly,” Miller said. “He was going to earn his stripes. It wasn’t one of those situations where we just threw him to the wolves — he had to earn the opportunity to play at the varsity level.” Morris said he would often only get to play a quarter or a half in junior-varsity games. One week, he was brought up to practice with the varsity but was still playing games for the junior varsity. He said he was confused, and the next week asked Miller if he should be practicing with the varsity or the junior varsity. “And he gives me some line like, ‘Well do you want to be with the junior varsity?’ ” Morris said. “I was
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 7B
standing by some of my friends and I didn’t want to say anything like I didn’t want to be with them. But I said I’d like to practice with the varsity, and he was like, ‘All right.’ So from there on out, I just practiced with the varsity and played with the varsity.” Morris said years later, he asked Mark Sovers — the junior-varsity coach at Solon — why he didn’t play more for the junior varsity. Sovers told Morris he was trying to show Miller that Morris didn’t belong with the junior varsity at all. Morris went on to win the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year award twice and earned all-state first-team honors three times.
Staying grounded
Greg Morris said his son maintains a strong relationship with the community in Solon, and that’s something he learned early on. “Some of the best advice he ever got from his grandparents, on both sides of the aisle, is don’t ever forget where you came from,” Greg Morris said. “I think he’s got a lot of that in him.” Greg Morris said the kids in Solon admire his son and the things he’s accomplished, but his son isn’t too important to spend time with them. “He always spends time with [the kids],” Greg Morris said. “It doesn’t matter who they are. And when he interacts with the young people, he’s more interested in them than they are in him. And I think that’s important.” James Morris also comes back on Monday nights, when he doesn’t have practice or classes, and helps Miller with practice or studying film. But he doesn’t try to fool people when it comes to his motives. “I’d be lying if I told you I was doing it out of the good of my heart,” he said and laughed. “I get volunteer credit for a class when I do that.”
Miller said the people in Solon are lucky to have an ambassador like James Morris. That kind of well rounded, highly successful person, Miller said, doesn’t come along all that often. Miller recalled a recent conversation he had with James Morris. “I just said, ‘James, there’s just something about you. You’re bound for greatness, because you’ve got that something,’ ” Miller said. “In life, he can do about anything he aspires to do, because he’s got the character, he’s got the intelligence, he’s got the ability to relate to people. I told him a long time ago, he can become whatever it is he wants to become. I don’t know how else to put it, to be honest.”
Leading the way
Now, James Morris leads the Iowa defense each week, and he has come up with several critical plays for the Hawkeyes this year. He picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter to keep Iowa State from scoring a decisive touchdown and almost returned the interception into the Hawkeyes’ field-goal range. He can also often be seen directing other players and getting them in the right position before the snap. His leadership has left a strong impression on his teammates. “James Morris is a tremendous leader,” senior defensive tackle Steve Bigach said. “He’s probably one of the best, if not the best I’ve ever been around as a player. And really, it’s in everything he does in life. He lives a clean lifestyle; he’s very good in the weight room and in practice. He brings a lot of energy and juice to the practice and game fields. As teammates, we feed off of that. “I really couldn’t say enough good things about James Morris.”
8B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Who should get the ball more: Weisman or Bullock? Mark Weisman
I’m a firm believer those who work hard deserve to be rewarded; that you should ride the fastest horse you can ride during a race; that if the machine isn’t broken, you shouldn’t try to fix it. So it would seem obvious, to me at least, to stick with Mark Weisman as Iowa’s starting running back. Weisman has been more than just a feel-good story. He has been the crutch on which the Iowa offense leans for weeks. Those in favor of starting Damon Bullock will argue over his explosiveness, speed, and potential for big play abilities. They’ll say Bullock has a higher ceiling than Weisman. I’d argue that wouldn’t be fair to Weisman, whose big plays spurred Iowa’s offense after it was nearly non-existent for the first two weeks. He’s earned the job. Let him have it until he loses it. The Weisman machine has carried the Hawkeyes this season. He’s the toughest back Iowa has. Why would you try and fix a machine that doesn’t need to be fixed? —by Cody Goodwin
Damon Bullock
Hear me out, okay? I know Weisman is the hot hand right now, but how long is that going to last, especially as he faces tougher defenses? And I know concussions are a real problem — after suffering from several in my glory days as the two-point conversion back for the 9th grade football ‘B’ team, I can attest that they are no fun either. But Bullock has had four weeks to recover. He isn’t Justin Morneau. That’s more than enough time to get back into the swing of things and return to his Northern Illinois-conquering self. Obviously Weisman’s trucking skills help account for his wild success so far. But the offensive line isn’t getting enough credit for his success. If the speedier Bullock had some of the holes to work with that Weisman has had, some of those 35-40 yard runs would become 60-70 yard touchdowns. How long do you think Weisman can last getting the ball 2425 times a game, daring fate to strike during his next end zone celebration? That’s just too much for my little heart to handle. —by Ben Ross
速
10B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa
1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 25 27 28 29 31 31 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 49 50 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 63 65 66 67 68 69
IOWA HAWKEYES
Marshall Koehn Greg Castillo Barkley Hill Greg Garmon Kyle Anderson Tanner Miller Keenan Davis Sean Draper Trent Mossbrucker Don Shumpert Blake Haluska Collin Sleeper Kevonte Martin-Manley Anthony Gair Tom Donatell Kevin Buford John Wienke Jonny Mullings Jake Rudock James Vandenberg C.J. Beathard Jacob Hillyer Micah Hyde B.J. Lowery Cody Sokol Christian Kirksey Nico Law Torrey Campbell Jordan Cotton Ruben Lile Jordan Lomax Maurice Fleming Nick Nielsen Andre Dawson Anthony Hitchens Damon Bullock Jordan Canzeri Adam Cox Nate Meier Gavin Smith Cole Fisher John Lowdermilk Brad Rogers Travis Perry Jack Swanson Jacob Reisen Macon Plewa Jim Poggi James Morris Mark Weisman George Krieger Kittle Melvin Spears Palmer Foster Drew Clark Laron Taylor Quinton Alston James Ferentz Steve Bigach Marcus Collins Faith Ekakitie Tommy Gaul Eric Simmons Conor Boffeli Matt Tobin Casey Kreiter Austin Blythe Jordan Walsh Casey McMillan Jaleel Johnson Brandon Scherff Ryan Kolka
ROS
- Friday, October 12, 2012
6-0/160 5-11/187 6-0/210 6-1/200 6-3/210 6-2/201 6-3/215 6-0/180 5-11/204 6-3/190 6-4/210 6-2/200 6-0/205 6-2/195 6-2/205 5-10/170 6-5/220 6-3/210 6-3/200 6-3/212 6-2/180 6-4/205 6-1/190 5-11/188 6-2/205 6-2/220 6-1/195 5-11/183 6-1/185 6-3/200 5-10/190 6-0/185 6-3/210 6-2/207 6-1/224 6-0/195 5-9/180 5-11/210 6-2/235 5-10/175 6-2/218 6-2/203 5-10/230 6-3/230 5-11/200 6-2/231 6-2/225 6-2/218 6-2/230 6-0/225 6-4/210 6-2/255 6-3/210 6-4/288 6-0/215 6-1/224 6-2/284 6-3/282 6-0/215 6-3/275 6-3/264 6-3/300 6-5/290 6-6/290 6-3/250 6-3/275 6-4/270 6-4/305 6-4/300 6-5/310 6-0/208
PK DB RB RB QB DB WR DB PK WR WR DB WR DB LB DB QB P QB QB QB WR CB DB QB LB DB DB WR DB DB WR WR RB LB RB RB FB RB/LB DB OLB DB FB DB DB FB LB LB LB FB ATH DE OLB OL LB LB OL DL LB DL OL OL OL OL LS OL OL OL DL OL LS
RS FR SR FR FR RS FR JR SR FR SR JR SO SR SO FR SR FR SR SO RS FR SR FR RS FR SR JR JR JR SO RS FR JR FR SO FR SR JR JR SO SO RS FR FR JR RS FR SO JR RS FR SR JR RS FR SO JR SO FR RS FR SO JR FR SO SR SR SO FR SO SO JR SR JR RS FR RS FR SR FR SO RS FR
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE • S Solon, Iowa Mount Laurel, N.J. Denver, Iowa Erie, Pa. Ames, Iowa Kalona, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Mooresville, Ind. St. Louis, Mo. Carroll, Iowa Solon, Iowa Pontiac, Mich. Plano, Texas Duluth, Ga. Canton, Mich. Tuscola, Ill. Canberra, Australia Weston, Fla. Keokuk, Iowa Franklin, Tenn. Somerset, Texas Fostoria, Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio Phoenix, Ariz. St. Louis, Mo. Clinton, Md. Naples, Fla. Mount Pleasant, Iowa Detroit, Mich. Upper Marlboro, Md. Chicago, Ill. Humboldt, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Lorain, Ohio Mansfield, Texas Troy, N.Y. Chana, Ill. Tabor, Iowa North Liberty, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Carrollton, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Urbandale, Iowa Naples, Fla. Iowa City, Iowa Franklin, Wis. Towson, Md. Solon, Iowa Buffalo Grove, Ill. Norman, Okla. Allen, Texas Davenport, Iowa Marion, Iowa Detroit, Mich. Sicklerville, N.J. Iowa City, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Yeadon, Pa. Brampton, Ontario Des Moines, Iowa Madrid, Iowa West Des Moines, Iowa Worthington, Iowa DeWitt, Iowa Williamsburg, Iowa Glendale Heights, Ill. Billings, Mont. Westchester, Ill. Denison, Iowa St. Charles, Ill.
70 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 98 99
Brett Van Sloten Carl Davis Ryan Ward Mitch Keppy Dean Tsopanides Nolan MacMillan Reid Sealby Andrew Donnal Dominic Alvis Henry Krieger Coble Tevaun Smith Ray Hamilton Steven Staggs Zach Derby C.J. Fiedorowicz Jake Duzey Greg Mabin Cameron Wilson Louis Trinca-Pasat Daumantas Venckus-Cucchiara Jonathan Gimm Nathan Lyman Riley McMinn Drew Ott Mike Meyer Darian Cooper Connor Kornbrath Mike Hardy Joe Gaglione
6-7/292 6-5/310 6-5/275 6-5/290 6-2/240 6-6/290 6-4/250 6-7/302 6-4/265 6-4/235 6-2/190 6-5/248 6-3/195 6-3/240 6-7/265 6-4/235 6-2/190 6-1/195 6-3/270 6-5/230 6-3/240 6-3/280 6-7/245 6-4/245 6-2/185 6-2/280 6-6/240 6-5/270 6-4/264
OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL DL TE WR TE WR TE TE TE WR WR DL DL FB DL DE DL K DL P DL DL
JR SO FR FR RS FR JR FR SO JR RS FR FR SO SR SR JR RS FR FR FR SO FR SR JR RS FR FR JR RS FR FR SO SR
Decorah, Iowa Detroit, Mich. New Lenox, Ill. Port Byron, Ill. Torrington, Conn. Toronto, Ontario Byron, Ill. Monclova, Ohio Logan, Iowa Mount Pleasant, Iowa Toronto, Ontario Strongsville, Ohio Oskaloosa, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Johnsburg, Ill. Troy, Mich. Plantation, Fla. Dublin, Ohio Chicago, Ill. Weston, Fla. Houston, Texas Grundy Center, Iowa Rochester, Ill. Trumbull, Neb. Dubuque, Iowa Elkridge, Md. Bridgeport, W.V. Appleton, Wis. Novelty, Ohio
Keenan Davis WR #6
Johnny Adams CB #5 Marcus Rush DE #44 R.J. Williamson FS #26
Brett Van Sloten RT #70
Chris Norman LB #10
Micajah Reynolds DT #60
Mark Weisma RB #45
Andrew Donnal RG #78 James Vandenberg QB #16
Anthony Rashad White DT #98
Max Bullough LB #40
James Ferentz C #53
Denicos Allen LB #28 William Gholston DE #2
Brad Rogers FB #38
Matt Tobin LG #60
Isaiah Lewis SS #9 Brandon Scherff LT #68
C.J. Fiedorowicz TE #86
Darqueze Dennard CB #31 Kevonte Martin-Manley WR #11
STER
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 11B
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012
an
2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 13 14 15 16 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 26 27
William Gholston Macgarrett Kings Jr. Mike Sadler Dan Conroy Kyle Kerrick Johnny Adams DeAnthony Arnett Paul Andrie Mylan Hicks Demetrious Cox Tyler O’Connor Lawrence Thomas Evan Fischer Isaiah Lewis Andrew Maxwell Chris Norman Juwan Caesar Jamal Lyles Peter Badovinac Bennie Fowler Tony Lippett Trae Waynes Aaron Burbridge Tommy Vento Kevin Muma Connor Cook Danny Folino AJ Troup Nick Hill Andre Sims Jr. Larry Caper Jairus Jones Le’Veon Bell Kyle Artinian Keith Mumphery RJ Williamson Kurtis Drummond
6-7 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-3 6-3 5-10 5-10 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-3 5-8 5-9 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1
Aaron Burbridge WR #16
278 183 180 186 194 177 170 180 192 195 215 295 170 205 212 233 212 230 220 218 190 175 190 192 190 222 206 205 190 182 222 207 244 196 208 205 200
JR FR SO SR FR SR SO FR SO FR FR FR FR JR JR SR FR FR SR JR SO FR FR FR JR FR JR FR SO FR SR JR JR FR SO FR SO
DE WR P K WR CB WR QB CB S QB DE K S QB LB WR LB QB WR WR CB WR QB K QB LB WR RB WR RB S RB S WR S S
Detroit, Mich. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Grand Rapids, Mich. Wheaton, Ill. Coatesville, Pa. Akron, Ohio Saginaw, Mich. Valparaiso, Ind. Detroit, Mich. Jeannette, PA. Lima, Ohio Detroit, Mich. Holt, Mich. Indianapolis, Ind. Midland, Mich. Detroit, Mich Miami, Fla. Southfield, Mich. Inverness, Ill. Bloomfield, Mich. Detroit, Mich. Kenosha, Wis. Farmington Hills, Mich. Farmington Hills, Mich. Troy, Mich. Hinckley, Ohio Okemos, Mich. Minneapolis, Minn. Chelsea, Mich. Snellville, Ga. Battle Creek, Mich. Tampa, Fla. Reyboldsburg, Ohio Grand Blanc, Mich. Vienna, Ga. Middletown, Ohio Masury, Ohio
Micah Hyde CB #18
Anthony HItchens WLB #31 Tanner Miller FS #5
Dan France LT #59 Lawrence Thomas FB #8
Joe Gaglione DE #99
Jack Allen LG #66
Steve Bigach DT #54
Le’Veon Bell RB #24 Andrew Maxwell QB #10
Ethan Ruhland C #68
Chris McDonald RG #62
James Morris MLB #44
Christian Kirksey OLB #20 Louis Trinca-Pasat DT #90
Paul Lang TE #83 Skyler Burkland RT #70
Tony Lippett WR #14
Dominic Alvis DE #79
Greg Castillo CB #2
Tom Donatell SS #13
28 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 45 47 48 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 54 55 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 65 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 87 88 89 89 91 92 92 93 94 96 97 98 99
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS Denicos Allen Tony Fant Spencer Elliott Mark Meyers Riley Bullough Darqueze Dennard Nick Tompkins Mitchell White Jeremy Langford Taiwan Jones Chris Laneaux Arjen Colquhoun Trevon Pendleton Ezra Robinson Niko Palazeti Jermaine Edmondson Max Bullough Kyler Elsworth Marcus Horne Denzel Drone Ed Davis Marcus Rush Jeff Bobek Darien Harris Jeremy Gainer Ty Hamilton Pat Rhomberg TyQuan Hammock Steve Gardiner Fou Fonoti Taybor Pepper Kyle Lints Steve Moore Connor Kruse Corey Freeman Adam Brown Jordan Sanders Dan France Micajah Reynolds Chris McDonald Travis Jackson Blake Treadwell Doug Curtis Michael Dennis Jack Allen Zach Higgins Ethan Ruhland Shawn Kamm Skyler Burkland Leland Ewing Nate Klatt Arthur Ray Jr. Jack Conklin Benny McGowan Donavon Clark Henry Conway Kodi Kieler Dion Sims Josiah Price Paul Lang Derek Hoebing Evan Jones Matt Macksood Tres Barksdale Brandon Clemons Monty Madaris Shilique Calhoun John Jakubik Tyler Hoover Andrew Gleichert Joel Heath Damon Knox Jamare Mills David Fennell Mark Scarpinato Anthony Rashad White James Kittredge
5-11 5-8 6-0 6-0 6-2 5-11 5-9 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-6 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-5 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-7 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4
225 176 195 175 225 188 185 185 205 230 192 192 248 170 250 175 252 220 197 260 220 250 240 210 232 233 225 245 224 296 185 296 220 318 256 284 305 315 318 298 280 300 240 309 295 307 290 305 315 215 290 300 300 315 302 330 316 285 238 255 270 247 175 182 275 190 240 188 310 250 266 278 275 270 278 330 272
LB RB WR S LB CB RB CB RB LB S CB FB DB FB DB LB LB RB TE LB DE FB LB DE LB LB LB LB OT LS C LS G DE G DT OT DT G C G DT OT OL OL G OT OT LS G G OL OL G OT OL TE TE TE TE TE WR WR DL WR DE WR DT TE DE DT TE DT NT NT DT
JR FR FR FR FR JR FR SR SO SO FR FR FR FR SO FR JR JR FR JR FR SO SR FR JR SO FR JR SR SR FR FR JR SO SR FR SO JR JR SR SO JR SR SO FR FR SR SO SO FR JR SR FR FR FR JR FR JR FR FR JR FR FR FR FR FR FR SO SR SO FR FR SO FR FR SR SO
Hamilton, Ohio Detroit, Mich. Ada, Mich. Toledo, Ohio Traverse City, Mich. Dry Branch, Ga. Snellville, Ga. Livonia, Mich. Wayne, Mich. New Baltimore, Mich. Kalamazoo, Mich. Windsor, Ontario Lucasville, Ohio Sarasota, Fla. Northville, Mich. Canton, Ohio Traverse City, Mich. Goodrich, Mich. Milwaukee, WI Plant City, FL Detroit, MI Cincinatti, OH Palatine, IL Silver Spring, MD Detroit, MI Fenton, MI Columbus, OH Fort Wayne, IN Dublin, OH Lakewood, CA Saline, MI Traverse City, MI Pinconning, MI Lowell, MI Cleveland Heights, OH
Columbia, MD Rochester, MI North Royalton, OH Lansing, MI Sterling, MI New Albany, OH East Lansing, MI Weston, CT Carey, OH Hinsdale, IL Alliance, OH Lake Orion, MI Saginaw, MI Sunbury, OH Jackson, MI Clinton, OH Chicago, IL Plainwell, MI Centreville, MI Cincinatti, OH Shaker Heights, OH Rockwood, MI Detroit, MI Greentown, IN Pittsburgh, PA Vermilion, OH West Lafayette, OH Lansing, MI Solon, OH Milford, PA Cincinatti, OH Middletown, NJ Plymouth, MI Novi, MI Ann Arbor, MI Cincinatti, OH Muskegon, MI Columbus, OH Portland, OR Milwaukee, WI Battle Creek, MI Ramsey, NJ
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 13B
Spartan cautiously predicts win
The Daily Iowan got in touch with Jesse O’Brien, who covers Michigan State football for The State News, for some insight on the Spartans. O’Brien talked about running back Le’Veon Bell’s emergence, fan reception of quarterback Andrew Maxwell, and more.
DI: It’s still early in the season, but the Spartans have seemed vulnerable this year. What’s the mood about the team like around campus? Jesse O’Brien: Michigan State’s biggest problem this season has been finding a balance in the offense. The Spartans can’t continue to rely on Bell or the passing game to get by. They need to do both. They’ve also struggled to get going early. In five out of their six games this season, the Spartans have entered halftime trailing their opponent. It’s going to become a real problem when they play tougher teams that can maintain a
lead throughout the game. Most of the students are a little pessimistic, although fans have to keep in mind the season is young. DI: Le’Veon Bell is among the national leaders in rushing. How important is he to the Michigan State offense? O’Brien: Short and simple — as Bell goes, so do the Spartans. In the Notre Dame and Ohio State games, he was a nonfactor, forcing the offense to turn toward its less-experienced passing game. Bell’s main strength is his ability to make things happen. We’ve all seen the highlight hurdles, but he also has a strong stiff arm and
can squeeze between the tackles when he needs to. He keeps his legs churning and can push forward after you think he’s been stopped. DI: Have fans embraced quarterback Andrew Maxwell, or is there some skepticism about him as a replacement for Kirk Cousins? O’Brien: When you have a player like Cousins leave the program, there’s always going to be some skepticism on the guy replacing him. After a few shaky performances from the passing game early on, there was a lot of blame unfairly heaped on Maxwell, as it tends to go when you’re the starting quarterback. Still, he’s begun to find a
rhythm with his receivers, and the criticism has waned — for now. DI: Finally, a score prediction? O’Brien: My predictions have been wildly off this season, because you can never really tell what performance you’re going to see with this Spartan team. Historically, Michigan State has struggled against Iowa, but I saw the offense finally click this past weekend in Bloomington, and I would expect that momentum to carry forward against the Hawkeyes. I think the Spartans will come to play before their Homecoming crowd and escape with a victory. MSU, 24-21.
14B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
AROUND THE BIG TEN
BEN ROSS BENJAMIN-D-ROSS@UIOWA.EDU
POWER RANKINGS
1. Ohio State Ohio State is the only team giving the Big Ten an ounce of credibility, and the Buckeyes can’t even appear in the postseason. I’m genuinely afraid for when Urban Meyer settles into to Columbus and gets a few of his Florida-laden recruiting classes under his belt. Tim Tebow doesn’t have a brother, does he? 2. Michigan This ranking might be a little generous for the Wolverines, but the Big Ten really is that bad. Illinois shouldn’t play the role of spoiler here, though. Denard Robinson is too good. And the Illini are just too bad. 3. Michigan State So here’s where the Big Ten more or less drops off from “standard Big Ten talent” to “I can’t believe the Big Ten is an automatic qualifier conference” standing. The Spartans did only lose to Ohio State by 1. But they also just squeaked out a win against Indiana. INDIANA. 4. Penn State Penn State fans now can rest at ease knowing that the monster of Happy Valley can rot behind bars for the next 30-60 years. Also, this Penn State squad has the potential to be pretty good. Too bad they’re barred from postseason play. 5. Northwestern Turns out the Kitties aren’t that deserving of that top-25 ranking after giving up an 11-point fourth-quarter lead to Penn State. Cain Kolter is awesome, but he should not be doing what he’s doing in his role as quarterrunningreceiverback. 6. Nebraska Did you see that crazy formation where Rex Burkhead lined up under center, Taylor Martinez was at wide receiver, and Ameer Abdullah took the handoff from fellow running back this weekend? That was awesome. Too bad the Huskers got demolished by Ohio State. Nebraska has a bye this week, so there’s nowhere to go but up from here. Except down.
GAMES TO WATCH
7. Purdue This is the only time all season where I have felt bad about calling Purdue a sleeper team in the Big Ten. Don’t make me wrong again, you egg-headed, engineering, boilermaking pariahs. What I’m saying here is, don’t lose to Wisconsin this week. 8. Iowa So, things are looking okay for Iowa, right? It can’t be that bad when you have a bronzed pig encased in your locker room. Iowa may be 10-point underdogs at Michigan State this weekend, but the Spartans don’t have Mark Weisman. You know what rhymes with Heisman? Geno Smith. 9. Wisconsin Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing Wisconsin rated near the bottom of these completely official and scientific Big Ten power rankings. Montee Ball did look like his Heisman-hopeful self for the first time all season this past weekend. Then again, it was against Illinois. So don’t look too far into that. 10. Minnesota The Gilded Rodents are back in the bottom of the Big Ten, and all is right with the world. And with Northwestern coming to the Bank this weekend, it looks like the floor is the limit for this Minnesota squad. 11. Indiana I never ever thought that the Hoosiers would be unseated from their No. 12 Big Ten ranking this season. But Illinois just went out and found new ways to impress me in the worst way possible. And with an admirable performance against Michigan State, the Hoosiers have earned my respect, however brief it may be. 12. Illinois At the beginning of the year, I thought Illinois would be halfway decent this season. That was the first and only time I have ever been wrong in my entire life. After looking at the upcoming schedule for the Illini, I would be surprised if they didn’t lose the rest of their remaining Big Ten games. And that includes a game against Indiana at home.
Wisconsin vs. Purdue
Northwestern vs. Minnesota
Illinois vs. Michigan
Key Highlights I would love more than anything in the world to see Wisconsin get trounced by the Boilermakers. And coming off its worst loss at home since 1990, Purdue will come out swinging in hopes of not embarrassing itself for the second week in a row. Coachin’ Danny Hope just won’t let that happen to his student-athletes.
Key Highlights Remember when this matchup was ALWAYS when these two teams resided in the bottom of the Big Ten? I do. It was glorious. Word on the street is Minnesota will get its starting field general in MarQueis Gray back this week though. On the downside, that changes absolutely nothing in terms of the outcome of this game.
Key Highlights This will probably be a bloodbath. That’s neat. I wonder where Denard Robinson will get drafted in the offseason. I bet whichever team drafts him makes him play receiver and he gets all pouty and quits. And remember Tate Forcier? I wonder what happened to him. Wikipedia just told me he got released from a Canadian Football League team. That’s too bad. He had a cool name.
Time: 11:00 a.m. Saturday Location: West Lafayette, Penn. Where to watch: Big Ten Network
Time: 11:00 a.m. Saturday Location: Minneapolis, MN Where to Watch: ESPN2
Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. Where to Watch: ESPN
OFFENSIVE IMPACT Name: Cain Kolter Position: Quarterback/Running back/Wide receiver Year: Junior Colter is talented, don’t get me wrong, but what is he doing for this Northwestern team? He lines up at running back, quarterback, and wide receiver consistently throughout every game. He does lead the team with 9 touchdowns, though. Despite his searching for a true role in his team, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said that Colter is a talent like none he’s ever seen before as a coach. “Kain is Kain. He’s unbelievable,” Fitzgerald told the Daily Northwestern. “He is the most dynamic young man, I think, in this conference. We are just getting started.”
DEFENSIVE IMPACT Name: Kawann Short Position: Defensive tackle Year: Senior Short is leading the Big Ten in tackles for a loss with eight stops behind the line of scrimmage. His play didn’t make much of a difference against Michigan last weekend, though, when the Wolverines stomped all over the Boilermakers at home. Still, if Short has a big day against the Badgers this week, Purdue could come out with a win, seeing as how all Wisconsin can really do is run the ball. When talking about his performance against Michigan last week, Short stated he was not only unhappy with his play, but the play of all the veterans on the Boilermaker defense. “This all falls on the seniors and the leaders right now,” Short told the Chicago Tribune. “We’re way better than that.”
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 15B
16B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
Snappy reports are his business You might not have heard of Casey Kreiter. And Iowa’s long-snapper hopes it stays that way. By Sam Louwagie samuel-louwagie@uiowa.edu
C
asey Kreiter did not pretend to throw a game-winning touchdown pass when he played backyard football in junior high. He didn’t make diving catches or Heisman stiff-arm poses. He snapped a football into a trash can. “My dad long-snapped in college. He just grabbed me in the backyard one day and said, ‘Try snapping the ball between your legs,’ ” Kreiter said. “It kind of came naturally for me. It stuck with me.” Kreiter’s father, Kurt, was a high school coach at the time. He knew how valuable — and uncommon — a good long-snapper was. He told Casey how rare it was to find a young player who could accurately snap the ball 10 yards back to a punter or holder while a defensive lineman tries to knock him over. Long-snapping became Kreiter’s ticket to college football and, eventually, a Division I scholarship. But it will likely never get him much credit or recognition. On the rare occasion when Kreiter makes a tackle on a punt return — he has 3 in his career — his name gets called out on the Kinnick Stadium loudspeakers. He said it’s “a really cool thing for my family and me.” But otherwise, the name stays out of the ears and minds of Hawkeye fans. He’s OK with that. Because the reason fans aren’t familiar with him is that, in a season and a half of snapping the ball on Hawkeye punts and kicks, he’s never failed to get the ball where it needs to go. “I tell all my friends and family who come watch the games, if you don’t hear my name, that’s a good thing,” the
Iowa long-snapper Casey Kreiter works on his snaps during Kid’s Day in Kinnick Stadium in August. (The Daily Iowan/Adam Wesley)
‘I attribute a lot of my success to just repetition. You’ve just got to be innovative and find a way to hone your craft.’ — Casey Kreiter, long-snapper junior said. “If I’m doing my job, you won’t hear my name.” Kicker Mike Meyer has made 67-consecutive extra-point attempts — an Iowa record. Everyone sees the ball sail through the uprights and takes note of who kicked it there. But a lot has to go right before that happens. “Casey does a good job. He always snaps it right where it has to go,” Meyer said. “And wherever it does go, [holder] John Wienke will get it down. I don’t have to worry about much.” Defensive tackle Steve Bigach doubles as the Hawkeyes’ emergency long-snapper. He said playing the position requires an acceptance that “nobody notices a good long snap.” Bigach
marveled at Kreiter’s ability and said he just hopes he never has to take over for him. “Hopefully, I never have to do it,” the senior said. “I’d be a little nervous because I haven’t snapped in a football game in five years … It’s a tough job. It’s not very easy to do, but Casey does it well.” Bigach said he tries to practice the skill every week in case he ever needs to do it. But, he said, in a contest, “Casey would kick my butt.” Kreiter spends practice snapping the ball into trash cans, into foam dummies, and into a wall. “I attribute a lot of my success to just repetition,” he said. “You’ve just got to
be innovative and find a way to hone your craft.” Kreiter spent his redshirt year splitting his time between the defensive line — where he called himself badly undersized — and long-snapping. He saw an opening at snapper and felt that was his best chance to contribute to the team. So he approached the coaching staff and asked if he could do it full-time. More than two years later, Kreiter is still an unknown to many Hawkeye fans. Only now, it’s a good thing. “Every snap is a one-time deal, and it’s got to be perfect,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest challenge. And I like challenges.”
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 17B
18B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012
ON THE LINE
Matchups Iowa at Michigan State No. 3 South Carolina at No. 9 LSU
No. 17 Stanford at No. 7 Notre Dame No. 15 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma
Wisconsin at Purdue
Molly Olmstead
Ian Martin
Sports Editor (12-13)
Asst. Sports Editor (16-9)
Iowa
Good defense vs. good defense, Weisman vs. Bell, but Vandy has a better pass rhythm right now.
LSU
Baton Rouge will be too hostile of an environment for the Gamecocks.
Notre Dame Now that the Irish have beaten up on the Big Ten, they can move on to the Pac-12.
Oklahoma
Iowa
Mid-level football A better matchup during Basketball season
LSU
Football Reporter (18-7)
Iowa
The Hawkeyes will ride Weisman, that great hope of a Clydesdale, to victory all season long. Or until he transfers, tears an ACL, or spontaneously combusts.
South Carolina
Tigers maul the Cocks Life’s certainties: Death, taxes, Death Valley night wins
It takes stones to show up my Dawgs like that on national TV. It’s hard to not cheer for the ol’ ball coach.
Notre Dame
Stanford
Did you know Notre Dame has Luck of the Irish Steve Bartman’s alma mater the best defense in country? I didn’t. Did you know I hate Tops Herbert Hoover’s Notre Dame? I did.
Oklahoma
I just hate everything about the state of Texas.
Battle of red states Winner allowed to secede Both overrated
Purdue
Purdue can’t run ball Good game between bad teams in Ross-Ade Stadium
Kawann Short will have yet another sack, just watch.
Ben Ross
Wisconsin
Texas
It takes a lot to hang with West Virginia that late in a game. And a ‘neutral’ location in Dallas only helps the ‘Horns.
Purdue I will probably go 0-5 in On The Line this week. But better dead than red, right?
Tork Mason
Football Reporter (16-9)
Iowa
Sam Louwagie Pregame Editor (13-12)
Michigan State
Just a gut feeling.
I don’t think Iowa has enough here.
LSU
LSU
I know the offense looked inept against Florida, but Death Valley is downright scary at night.
Notre Dame Screw it, the Irish look legit, and I can’t keep throwing picks when they’re involved.
Oklahoma I’ve got more faith in the Sooners’ defense than the Longhorns’.
Purdue Neither team is very good, so take home field advantage.
Gamecocks run ends in Baton Rouge.
Notre Dame Time to start taking the Irish seriously.
Texas Coin flip.
Wisconsin The Badgers are starting to slowly wake up.
Sam Lane
Fans’ Picks
Managing Editor (18-7)
Iowa
Iowa
Hyde yo kids, Hyde yo wife.
Hoping for some more 7 got 6 magic
LSU SC can’t overcome Death Valley — despite the “different” unis.
Notre Dame The Irish seem kinda unstoppable right now.
South Carolina If we ever get rid of Ferentz we should get Steve Spurrier to replace him.
Stanford I hate Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Sooners own the Red River this year.
Another emotional choice
Wisconsin
Purdue
The Badgers win the Leaders division.
Can’t wait to see who gets fired next.
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012 - 19B
20B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 12, 2012