Still more questions than answers for UNI football

CEDAR FALLS — It's game week. Finally.

Yet, there are still more questions than answers for Northern Iowa football headed into its season opener at Iowa State on Saturday.

That's concerning both on paper and for Coach Mark Farley, but he's been forced into patience throughout fall camp with new pieces in so many places and specifically at quarterback, where he feels he has four capable players. Answers are coming, but not right away.

'The quarterback thing is, we've got Thing 1 and Thing 2. No, it's going well to a point. There's been some hiccups in it,' Farley said. 'We still don't have a starter. I think I know the direction it's leaning towards, but it's not a clear enough picture where I could say what we're going to do today. There's things to be worked out this week, and we'll make that decision — whether it's right before game time or if there's still things to work out.'

And when Farley means right before game time, he means right before game time.

In all likelihood, a starter — or at the very least the top two contenders — will be named in-house by Wednesday or Thursday, but who takes the first snap won't be known until the players trot out onto the field for their first offensive series.

'There's been times when I've gone into a football game with a new player at a position, and if I didn't feel they warmed up in a way they've looked confident, I've made a change. Not necessarily at quarterback, but other positions,' Farley said. 'It may go to that point to see the comfort zone of the (quarterbacks) as they warm up, who looks the most prepared and who looks the most confident in that situation. I doubt it will, but it's been done before. I'm just going to let it play out as it may and try to get our team in the best position.'

Farley isn't just paying lip service to the quarterback battle at this point, either. Practices have been open, and as recently as last Wednesday, reps were split evenly among each quarterback — though Illinois transfer Bailey had to sit out with a minor hamstring injury. Bailey returned to practice Monday, which Farley said will help make the picture a little clearer.

It stands to reason, then, that Bailey is being heavily considered as a front-runner to start given Farley's reluctance to narrow it down to two while he was hurt.

The 15th-year head coach was pressed multiple times during the Monday press luncheon, but wouldn't budge.

'I don't know if I could weed out a guy, which means no one has stood out enough to say that's the guy. There's a downside to this whole thing, too, that no one can say, 'That's the guy,' and let him run with it. On the other side of it, they've all competed very well,' Farley said. 'When we go out to practice today, there will probably be two guys who get more reps than the other two today, but that doesn't mean that's the final two. But I think I'll be able to make some decisions after today using the two that are out there.

'There's a plan. Wait until game time.'

Beyond the major question at quarterback, more wait at other positions and within the scheme on offense.

The Panthers had a scrimmage last week that Farley was not at all happy with on either side of the ball, and still is searching for the right combination at defensive line and wide receiver. He said on offense, rhythm improved as the week went on. He and offensive coordinator Joe Davis continue to search for the right pieces to play to their strengths.

Defensively the test will be to find enough guys to keep up with the demands of a no-huddle spread offense in Iowa State. Proving they can handle it will earn them a spot.

'I think we found out a little bit about some people, both good and bad,' Farley said. 'We need to go back and share with them and if they encounter that type of atmosphere again they can handle it. I was not happy with the scrimmage at all.

'It seemed to smooth itself out and we started looking like a good football team midweek last week.'

UNI and Iowa State kick off at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com