Game Report: Pregame edition

HELPING HAND

In an emotional moment, former All-American linebacker Pat Angerer and Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle helped honorary captain Brett Greenwood walk on to the field before Saturday's game against Pittsburgh. The players walked in a traditional swarm behind them.

Greenwood suffered cardiac arrest because of heart arrhythmia in 2011 while training for the NFL. He was in a medically induced coma for 27 days and has made progress in daily increments.

'It's amazing, everybody along the way has been, all the experts, all the doctors have given them every reason not to succeed,” Angerer said. '‘You can't do this, there's no way he's going to do this,' and every step of the way him and his family have proved them wrong.”

Angerer played four seasons in the NFL and retired after the 2013 season. He's now living in the Quad Cities and has helped Greenwood with his therapy.

Angerer now works as a trainer and hopes to open his own business. He trained about 50 athletes - both male and female - this summer at Augustana (Ill.) College. He'd like to get athletes away from specialization at a young age.

'So many people do it wrong,” Angerer said. 'Everyone's into all this crossfit and all this stuff and there's some good parts about that. But I want the well-rounded athlete. It's just something I'm very passionate about.

'If you're good at math when you're 7 years old, you don't just take math classes your whole life. You want to be the most well-rounded person you can be. Sports shouldn't be any different. If you're just going to play baseball, then have an off-season and let me work your other muscles.”

PREGAME SCENE

A carnivallike atmosphere was staged outside Kinnick Stadium's south side for most of the afternoon. A band played at Krause Plaza and a large crowd welcomed the team to the stadium at 5 p.m.

The Hawkeye Marching Band performed a drum line and fans took pictures with former Iowa and Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Robert Gallery, who was the 'America Needs Farmers” honoree. Getting caught inside the mass of humanity were Pitt's cheerleaders and mascots. They were greeted with lighthearted booing before they entered the stadium.

SCOUTING

Representatives from Florida Citrus Sports and the Orange Bowl were attendance for Saturday's game. Florida Citrus Sports comprises both the Citrus Bowl and the Russell Athletic Bowl. The Citrus Bowl has the first selection of both the SEC and Big Ten conferences after the New Year's Six bowls. The Russell Athletic Bowl selects from the ACC and Big 12.

An NFL scout from the Kansas City Chiefs also attended the game.

INJURY TIME

Neither Iowa defensive end Drew Ott (elbow) nor running back LeShun Daniels (ankle) started Saturday after suffering game-ending injuries at Iowa State last week. Ott did enter the game on pass-rushing downs and Daniels ran the ball six times for eight yards in the first half.

TV SWITCH

The Pitt-Iowa game was supposed to have second billing on BTN to Rutgers and Penn State. But the network switched it to the primary game to about 97 percent of the country.

There also was a switch at analyst. Former Iowa quarterback Chuck Long was scheduled as BTN's color analyst but it was switched to former Minnesota Coach Glen Mason in midweek. Mason flew into the state late after attending a funeral.

UP NEXT

Iowa faces North Texas (0-2) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) in the Hawkeyes' non-conference finale. North Texas Coach Dan McCarney is an Iowa City native and coached under Hayden Fry in the 1980s. He guided Iowa State's football program from 1995-2006. North Texas quarterback Andrew McNulty played high school football at Iowa City High.

The Mean Green lost 38-24 to Conference USA foe Rice.

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