Mark Farley puts players first in final game as UNI football coach

CEDAR FALLS — The finality that’s poised to arrive at the end of this week hasn’t made its presence felt yet on Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley.

Set to retire after Saturday’s regular season finale against Indiana State at home, Farley is hopeful this week will feel as normal as possible.

“It’s only Monday,” Farley said with a laugh. “It is a normal week, to me. You still get up, you watch the film (and) you try to get them prepared.”

While it remains to be seen how much different things end up feeling and being for Farley this week, what remains unchanged is putting the players first — particularly 14 graduating seniors — as they’ll be seeking to end an otherwise rough season on a bright note.

“To me it’s more about the players,” Farley said Monday, starting the final week as head coach. “It’s always about the players, so they get to finish how they want to finish, because I remember my last game. For them, this last game, you hope it syncs up for them.

“I’m looking forward to that, for them, more than anything else.”

Hoping to play spoiler to the Panthers and Farley this Saturday, the Sycamores (4-7, 3-4) have endured nearly as much adversity as UNI this season.

Despite a narrow, 39-38, overtime loss at Youngstown State on Saturday, Farley remains encouraged about his team after witnessing yet another example of them facing adversity.

“It’s how they respond to adversity,” Farley said of what he’ll remember about his last team. “It’s (through) adversity is when people really show off who they are and this is a great locker room. We got good guys, good men, that’ll do good things.”

Saturday’s overtime loss to Youngstown State included the Panthers playing with backup quarterback Aidan Dunne after starter Matthew Schecklman was ruled out last Thursday for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

Dunne finished with a career-high three touchdown passes against the Penguins and completed 16 of 26 attempts for 197 yards. He also led the UNI offense on a game-tying drive that ended with Caden Palmer’s 32-yard field goal to force overtime.

“I thought (Dunne) did a great job taking that role,” Farley said. “I thought he played well. I thought he commanded the offense well. He’s been the backup now for probably a month, month and a half, and to take that role and own that role says something about (Dunne).”

Indiana State at UNI kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+).