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Your Michigan two deeps
Marc Morehouse
Oct. 5, 2009 12:51 pm
-- Who's not there: No surprises. TE Tony Moeaki not listed, but that doesn't mean he won't play.
-- Who's there: OT Bryan Bulaga, WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos listed. So is CB Shaun Prater, who missed Arkansas State with a hyperextended/sprained knee.
-- TV: National ABC with Musburger and Herbstreit. Saturday's game will mark the fi fth straight Iowa-Michigan game that will be televised by ABC.
-- Next week: At Wisconsin next week is 11 a.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.
-- Streak breaker: The last Wolverine win in Iowa City was in 2005, 23-20 (OT). It stopped a 22-game Iowa home winning streak. The last Hawkeye win in the series came in 2003 (30-27), at Iowa City.
Iowa has won 41 of its last 49 games (.830) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. The eight Hawkeye losses came to Western Michigan (28-19 in 2007), Indiana (38-20 in 2007), Michigan (23-20 in overtime in 2005), Ohio State (38-17 in 2006), Northwestern (21-7 in 2006 and 22-17 in 2008), Wisconsin (24-21 in 2006) and Iowa State (36-31 in 2002).
-- Rankings: The current ranking is the highest for the Hawkeyes since they were eighth in the AP rankings on Sept. 6, 2005. Iowa is ranked ninth in the latest Sagarin Ratings. Iowa's strength of schedule is rated 35th toughest and Iowa is one of fi ve teams that has registered two wins against top 30 opponents.
-- Current streak: Iowa's nine-game winning streak ranks second best in the nation. Florida holds the longest win streak at 14 games. The Hawkeyes are one of 13 unbeaten Division I teams and one of eight teams with a 5-0 record.
The nine-game winning streak is the third for Iowa under Ferentz. Iowa won nine straight in 2002 and the Hawkeyes won their fi nal eight games in 2004 and their opening game in 2005. Iowa has not opened the season with six straight wins since opening the 1985 campaign with seven straight.
Iowa has not gone undefeated in 10 straight games since 1956 and 1957. The Hawkeyes won their final four games in 1956 and the first five games of 1957 before a tie at Michigan. Iowa won the following week over Minnesota before losing at Ohio State. Iowa has not won 10 straight games since winning 20 straight from Nov. 6, 1920 to Oct. 20, 1923. That streak began with a home win over Northwestern and ended with a 9-6 loss to Illinois in the 1923 homecoming contest.
-- Night lights: This is the seventh night game at Kinnick Stadium, with Iowa holding a 3-3 record in the six previous games. Iowa lost the fi rst night contest played in Kinnick Stadium to Miami, FL (24-7) on Sept. 5, 1992. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Illinois (24-0) on Sept. 18, 1999, Arizona State (21-2) on Sept. 20, 2003 and Syracuse (35-0) on Sept. 8, 2007. Iowa also lost to Iowa State (36-31) on Sept. 14, 2002 and to Ohio State (38-17) on Sept. 30, 2006.
Iowa has only played three true night games in Kinnick Stadium, as games vs. Northern Illinois, Iowa State and Arizona State began at 5 p.m. CT. The Miami, FL, Ohio State and Syracuse games were 7 p.m. starts.
Iowa has three night games in 2009. Iowa won at Penn State (21-10 on ABC national) in its fi rst night contest. The Hawkeyes play their fi nal night game at Michigan State (6 p.m. CT, Oct. 24, BTN).
-- Tickets: Tickets remain for all Iowa home games except Saturday's Homecoming contest vs. Michigan. Tickets averaged $336 Monday on eBay.
-- Iowa-Michigan rankings/close games: This season marks the first time since 1985 that Iowa is ranked higher than Michigan the week of the game. In 1985, top-ranked Iowa defeated second-ranked Michigan 12-10 in Kinnick Stadium. In the 17 meetings since 1985, Michigan has been ranked 15 times and Iowa has been ranked seven times.
Five of the last eight games in the series have been decided by six points or less. Iowa is 4-1 all-time in overtime games, with the lone loss being a 23-20 decision to Michigan in 2005 when the Wolverines last played in Iowa City. That loss ended a 22-game home winning streak for the Hawkeyes. In other overtime games, Iowa owns two wins over Penn State and single wins over Syracuse and Michigan State.
-- Michigan DC: Greg Robinson is in his fi rst season as Michigan's defensive coordinator. Robinson was the head coach at Syracuse when Iowa defeated the Orange in 2006 (20-13, 2 OT) and 2007 (35-0). The 2007 contest marked Iowa's most recent night game in Kinnick Stadium.
-- Iowa coach Campbell: Erik Campbell, in his second year as Iowa's wide receiver coach, is a Michigan graduate and a four-year letterman (1984-87). Campbell was on the Michigan coaching staff from 1995-07 after serving as a student assistant coach in 1988.
-- Fumble free: Iowa did not have a fumble in wins over Arizona, Penn State and Arkansas State. The Hawkeyes lost both of their fumbles in the opening win over Northern Iowa and did not lose possession of their only fumble in the win at Iowa State.
-- Sharp special teams: Iowa has not been fooled in the kicking game this season, as two opponent fakes have failed to gain a fi rst down. Arkansas State failed to convert a fake punt in the third period of its 24-21 loss at Iowa. Arizona attempted a fake field goal in a 27-17 loss at Iowa. • In addition, three opponents have tried an onside kick, with Iowa recovering in wins over Iowa State, Arizona and Arkansas State.
Iowa has blocked three kicks. That included back-to-back field goal attempts by Northern Iowa in the closing seconds of a 17-16 win. • Iowa blocked a punt in the win at Penn State, with DE Adrian Clayborn blocking the kick and scoring on a 53-yard return.
-- First down fun: Iowa averaged 8.6 yards on 28 fi rst down plays, 5.5 yards on 18 second down plays and 5.6 yards on 14 third down plays against Arkansas State. For the season, Iowa is averaging 5.7 yards on first down, 4.5 yards on second down, 6.5 on third down and one yard on fourth down.
-- Where the coaches are exactly: Iowa's coaches in the press box are Lester Erb (running back and special teams), along with quality control Scott Southmayd and graduate assistant coaches Dan Clark and Charlie Bullen. That leaves Norm Parker (defensive coordinator), Ken O'Keefe (offensive coordinator), Erik Campbell (receivers and tight ends), Phil Parker (defensive backs), Reese Morgan (offensive line), Darrell Wilson (linebackers and special teams), Rick Kaczenski (defensive line) and Eric Johnson (assistant linebackers) on the sidelines.
Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki takes a hit and loses the football from Wisconsin's Joe Stellmacher during the second half of their game at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, in Iowa City. Wisconsin won, 24-21.

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