Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

• Aug. 30: Miami, Ohio
• Sept. 6: Buffalo
• Sept. 13: at Iowa State
• Sept. 20: Arizona State
• Sept. 27: at Michigan State
• Oct. 4: Michigan
• Oct. 18: at Ohio State
• Oct. 25: Penn State
• Nov. 1: Illinois
• Nov. 8: at Purdue
• Nov. 15: Minnesota
• Nov. 22: at Wisconsin

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa's rise to Big Ten co-champion was meteoric to be sure.

Four years ago, the Hawkeyes were 0-8 in the league. Last season, they went 8-0 in sharing the title with Ohio State, finished 11-2 overall and played in the Orange Bowl.

Now the question: Is Iowa back to where it was in the 1980s, a Big Ten contender almost every year? Or were those Hawkeyes of 2002 nothing but one-hit wonders for whom everything fell just right in a magical season?

"There was a recent publication that said we were a one-year wonder, a one-player wonder," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I took great offense to that because there are an awful lot of people that have helped make our football team better over the years and I don't see that diminishing.

"The foundation is built right now. Our guys expect to have success."

That one player was quarterback Brad Banks, who came from nowhere to become the AP national player of the year and runner-up to Southern Cal's Carson Palmer for the Heisman Trophy.

Banks is gone, and he's not the only one missing.

Dallas Clark, winner of the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, left a year early and was drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts. Ferentz must replace four of five starters in what might have been the nation's best offensive line.

Wide receiver C.J. Jones and defensive standouts Colin Cole, Fred Barr and Derek Pagel also have moved on.

With so many positions to fill, the Hawkeyes are seen as a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team at best, maybe lower.

"I almost think people were more aware of us a year ago than now," Ferentz said. "Quite frankly, I think everybody thinks we're going to stink and that's fine."

Nathan Chandler will have a lot to do with what transpires. Big enough to play in the offensive line at 6-feet-7 and 250 pounds, Chandler will succeed Banks at quarterback.

Chandler played in only five games last fall after transferring from Pasadena, Calif., Community College. He's got a big-time arm, but he's not as agile as Banks. Don't look for the Hawkeyes to be running many quarterback draws.

"If I was going to draw a parallel, I'd say he's closer to a Kyle McCann-style quarterback than Brad," Ferentz said. "We felt like we performed pretty well with Kyle back there two years ago."

McCann led Iowa to a 7-5 record in 2001, including an Alamo Bowl victory over Texas Tech.

Running back Fred Russell returns after rushing for 1,264 yards last season, but he was banged up frequently and there's no experienced back behind him. True freshmen Albert Young and A.J. Johnson both could play this year, though Young will be sidelined for a while with a broken right fibula.

Young rushed for 2,180 yards and scored 32 touchdowns as a high school senior in New Jersey.

Robert Gallery (6-7, 320) is the lone returning starter in the offensive line, but he's a good one to rebuild around and has been named to several preseason All-America teams.

Auburn transfer David Walker is expected to help. The other starters all have been in the program for at least three years.

"I don't think people realize how good we are," junior tackle Pete McMahon said. "Just because last year's O-line was so good, that doesn't make us any less good."

Maurice Brown, the leading receiver last year, has been bothered by back spasms in preseason camp, but Ferentz doesn't think Brown will need surgery.

Seven starters return on defense, led by all-Big Ten safety Bob Sanders. Matt Roth is a potential star at defensive end -- he had 10 sacks last fall as a part-time player -- and the Hawkeyes should be solid at linebacker with Grant Steen, Abdul Hodge and Kevin Worthy.

There's no reason to fret over the kicking. Placekicker Nate Kaeding won the Lou Groza Award. The punting was so effective with David Bradley that opponents averaged only 4.3 yards per return.

"I'm excited," said Brown, who averaged 20 yards on 48 catches last year. "It's the same situation as last season. They're not giving us our props, so we've got to prove them wrong again."

SCHOOL COLORS: Black and gold

FOUNDED: 1847

ENROLLMENT: 29,697

LOCATED: Iowa City, Iowa.

COACH: Kirk Ferentz, eighth season overall, fifth at Iowa (34-47 overall, 22-26 at Iowa).

2002 RECORD: 11-2 (8-0 Big Ten, tied for first).

LAST BOWL: 2002 Orange Bowl, lost to Southern Cal 38-17.

STADIUM: Kinnick Stadium (70,397).

RETURNING STARTERS: 4 offense, 7 defense, placekicker, punter.

KEY PLAYERS: RB Fred Russell, sr.; WR Maurice Brown, sr.; OT Robert Gallery, sr.; PK Nate Kaeding, sr; DE Matt Roth, jr.; LB Grant Steen, sr.; SS Bob Sanders, sr.; P David Bradley, jr.

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Brad Banks; TE Dallas Clark; WR C.J. Jones; OT David Porter; OG Andy Lightfoot; OG Eric Steinbach; C Bruce Nelson; DT Colin Cole; LB Fred Barr; FS Derek Pagel.

HOT TOPICS: Junior college transfer. Senior first-year starter. That describes Brad Banks, last year's quarterback and Heisman runner-up. It also describes 6-foot-7 Nate Chandler, who hopes to perform up to Banks' standards as his replacement. As good as placekicker Mike Nugent was for Ohio State last season, it was Iowa's Nate Kaeding who won the Lou Groza Award by converting on 21 of 24 tries.

COLD FACTS: Whether the Hawkeyes can get another big season out of Russell depends on their ability to replace four-fifths of the offensive line. OSU, which has won six straight over the Hawkeyes, is back on the schedule after a two-year hiatus.

OVERVIEW: Last year Iowa had to replace the quarterback, top rusher and top receiver from its 7-5 2001 bowl team. Led by unknowns Banks and Russell, an awful team on paper turned into a league champion. No one is predicting a repeat, but don't dismiss the Hawkeyes from the bowl picture just yet.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "I understand we don't have the praise and glory of the line from last year. We can't go off that. We're trying to build our own thing and make our own mark." -- Offensive guard David Walker.