Rewarding performance for UI kicker Murray

Daniel Murray drilled the Iowa football program's biggest kick in, what, 23 years last November and has finally earned a scholarship.

“They just did put me on this fall,” said Murray, a junior kicker from Iowa City. “It's a nice honor, but I take it as something I have to work even harder to prove they were right.”

Murray connected on 6 of 9 field goals and all 14 extra-point attempts last year. He hit a 31-yard field goal with one second left to beat previously unbeaten Penn State, 24-23, Nov. 8.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz rewarded Murray and backup running back Jayme Murphy with scholarships this off-season. Murphy, a junior from Dubuque, was nicknamed the “Irish Car Bomb” for his reckless style of play. It's also caused him to miss time with concussions.

“He's been one of our most dynamic special teams players that I think we've had certainly in our decade here,” Ferentz said. “Just a tremendous young guy. Great work ethic, great attitude.

“Jayme is going to play this year. It may be in a limited capacity. We're going to try to be protective of his well being for obvious reasons.”

One scholarship opened when freshman recruit Stephane N'goumou did not qualify academically. N'goumou will go to a junior college or a prep school, Ferentz said.

Making the switch

Iowa City native Travis Meade started the first seven games in 2007 at left guard. He's played in only three games since.

So when Meade, a 6-foot, 285-pound senior, was approached by offensive line coach Reese Morgan about moving to the defensive line, Meade jumped at the opportunity.

“Coach Morgan said, ‘We don't want to lose you, but you can help them over there, and if you're willing to do it we'll start you off there in the spring,'” Meade recalled. “I said, ‘Wherever you think I could help the team more.' Everyone was pretty excited about it.”

Meade started as a defensive lineman before moving to offense in 2006. He is listed as a co-second team defensive tackle entering fall drills.

“That's why you came to Iowa, that's why you want to be a Hawkeye, is to play,” he said.

“So that's the ultimate goal. But whatever my job is to be here this season, I'll be happy with it.”

Tickets please

Iowa football seems insulated from the national recession and is just a tad off the 2008 pace for ticket sales.

“I think this is one of the few things people genuinely look forward to and set money aside for,” said Pam Finke, tickets operation director. “Maybe they couldn't afford to go on a great vacation this summer, but they have football to look forward to.”

Iowa has sold about 37,000 public season tickets, about 6,000 student season tickets and about 4,000 faculty tickets, about 96 percent of last year's numbers. Fine said her department was mailing all season tickets and parking passes by Monday.

Trophy watch

Four Iowa players were named to watch lists: tight end Tony Moeaki, punter Ryan Donahue, cornerback Amari Spievey and linebacker Pat Angerer.