VIDEO: Farley spends media day touting UNI's support

Mark Farley sent about a hundred thank you cards Tuesday morning without having to lick a single stamp.

The University of Northern Iowa football coach praised his school's administration during media day in the UNI-Dome and couldn't say enough about his program's boosters. The Black Hawk Gaming Association was prominently mentioned, as was other great local support.

Then it was back to the administration.

“The faces of the program, our players, are who you are dealing with today, but surely why we've had the success we've had here is (because) our administration has been awesome backing and supporting this,” Farley said. “This is a lucky team. These freshmen are lucky to have the resources they have right now as they go through our program. The future of UNI football is very bright because of the resources. And I think this football team this season is a very good football team.”

The expressions of gratitude were plentiful because of a $3 million athletics-only weight room that's being built. Add that to a remodeled football locker room and $800,000 worth of turf, and you'd be happy, too.

The turf hasn't completely been installed, and UNI won't be able to practice on it until next week. It's officially called Mondoturf Ecofill Star and replaces 17-year-old artificial turf.

The Mondoturf was paid for with private donations and a $500,000 grant from the Black Hawk Gaming Association.

“It's late, we're out a week (of practice),” Farley said. “But I tell you what, we are ahead by five years in getting this surface. The program is ahead. We started talking about this surface in January, I think. To turn this thing around and have this surface in August took a lot of work from a lot of people.”

Back to the on-field part of things because it is equally as impressive as off-field improvements.

Northern Iowa won its second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2008, finished 12-3 and advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals, where it lost a home heartbreaker to Richmond. A senior class of 20 has compiled a 31-8 record and includes all-American defensive end Johnny Ruffin.

“That's all good and dandy, but it's all about where you end up at,” Ruffin said. “Football is a sport of what have you done for me lately. I always say that to myself.”

Pat Grace was second-team all-MVC and gives the Panthers a dual-threat quarterback. Nine offensive starters are back, which means this team should score points.

“The offense, we're really clicking well right now,” said Grace. “When I came in last year, we had some young guys that didn't know where to go in formations, which routes to run. Things like that. This year, the chemistry is there.”

The only true question mark for the Panthers is the secondary, which will be all new and very young. Look for red-shirt frosh Terrell McBride of Cedar Rapids Jefferson at one of the corner spots.

“Whatever the team wants, I'm going to do it,” McBride said.

“You need a little bit of luck, and you need a lot of talent,” said Farley, when asked how you win a national championship. “And you need resources to build that talent. We have those things.”

UNI Panthers

Coach: Mark Farley (9th season, 75-28)Last year: 12-3 (7-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference, 1st), lost in FCS semifinals, 21-20, to RichmondReturning starters: WR Josh Collins, RG Jason Fiacco, QB Pat Grace, LG Nate Herrig, WR D.J. Hord, LT Austin Howard, FB/TE Ryan Mahaffey, C Austin Steichen, WR Maurice Turner, DL Chuck Kinney, D Wes Lane, LB Josh Mahoney, DL James Ruffin, LB Jamar ThompsonSchedule: Sept. 5 - at Iowa, 11:05 a.m. (Big Ten Network); Sept. 12 - South Dakota, 4:05 p.m.; Sept. 19 - Saint Francis (Pa.), 4:05 p.m.; Sept. 26 - at Missouri State, 1 p.m.; Oct. 3 - Indiana State, 4:05 p.m.; Oct. 10 - at North Dakota State, 3:07 p.m.; Oct. 17 - Southern Illinois, 4:05 p.m.; Oct. 24 - at South Dakota State, 2 p.m.; Nov. 7 - Youngstown State, 4:05 p.m.; Nov. 14 - Western Illinois, 6:35 p.m.; Nov. 21 - at Illinois State, noon

UNI Panthers

Coach: Mark Farley (9th season, 75-28)

Last year: 12-3 (7-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference, 1st), lost in FCS semifinals, 21-20, to Richmond

Returning starters: WR Josh Collins, RG Jason Fiacco, QB Pat Grace, LG Nate Herrig, WR D.J. Hord, LT Austin Howard, FB/TE Ryan Mahaffey, C Austin Steichen, WR Maurice Turner, DL Chuck Kinney, D Wes Lane, LB Josh Mahoney, DL James Ruffin, LB Jamar Thompson

Schedule: Sept. 5 - at Iowa, 11:05 a.m. (Big Ten Network); Sept. 12 - South Dakota, 4:05 p.m.; Sept. 19 - Saint Francis (Pa.), 4:05 p.m.; Sept. 26 - at Missouri State, 1 p.m.; Oct. 3 - Indiana State, 4:05 p.m.; Oct. 10 - at North Dakota State, 3:07 p.m.; Oct. 17 - Southern Illinois, 4:05 p.m.; Oct. 24 - at South Dakota State, 2 p.m.; Nov. 7 - Youngstown State, 4:05 p.m.; Nov. 14 - Western Illinois, 6:35 p.m.; Nov. 21 - at Illinois State, noon