UNI tabs Aidan Dunne QB1 ahead of season-opener

CEDAR FALLS — Mark Farley wasn’t trying to headfake Valparaiso when he said Aidan Dunne was Northern Iowa’s front-runner to be starting quarterback at media day two weeks ago.

At Monday’s typical game week news conference the 24th-year coach confirmed that the former Dubuque Hempstead standout has been named QB 1.

Farley also described how Dunne wasn’t the favorite when the competition began in the spring, but his competitiveness proved to be a difference-making trait.

“Aidan had to get better to win the starting position,” Farley said. “He wasn’t the starter coming into this. Wasn’t even projected as (the) starter. But every time he stepped on the field when you brought somebody in to compete with him he just got better.

“Competition brings out the best in a lot of people.”

First-year wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator Joel Filani also was named the play-caller of UNI’s new “Air Raid” offense by Farley on Monday.

Filani joined the Panthers shortly after Luke Falk resigned in late June due to a family illness.

Filani’s experience with the “Air Raid” goes back to Texas Tech where he played wide receiver for the late coach Mike Leach from 2002-2006.

“What’s been great about (sharing play-calling) is the camaraderie that’s been developed between the offensive staff because they’ve all had their hands and their thoughts used in the game planning,” Farley said. “At the same time (Filani) — why he was chosen — he’s got the balance of some of the things that we’re doing in the run game as much as the balance in the throwing game that carried over from what we had been doing (with Falk).”

Saturday’s season-opener at the UNI-Dome against Valparaiso will be the Panthers’ first Week 1 home game since 2010 — excluding the 2020 season, which was delayed to the spring of 2021 by COVID-19.

Asked if there’s a lot to gain by the rare instance of playing at home in Week 1, Farley pointed out a number of positives with early-season home games.

“I think it’s critical to have a game within the first two weeks at home,” Farley said. “I say that because all the energy is on football, all the media is on football, everything is about football this week. Going back to school and going to football games — they go hand in hand.

“To have a home game, it’s important for your fans and your players and your state to see the home game because everybody is excited and everybody is reading about it. It’s sad it’s been 14 years to be honest with you.”

While the quarterback and play caller are now known, it remains to be seen who will provide depth on UNI’s defensive line.

Preseason All-MVFC honorees Cannon Butler (second team) and Carter Hewitt (honorable mention) are likely to be joined by Jack Kriebs and Bradley Vislisel in the starting group. Malik Stewart and North Texas transfer Rodney Green were the only other two names Farley offered.

Despite what may be a lack of depth on the defensive line, the Panthers enter Saturday’s game healthy.

Wide receiver Grant Larkin, linebacker Caleb Frazer and defensive back Mo Olowo all are out with undisclosed injuries against the Beacons.

“We’ll get (them) back, but (they) will not play this particular game,” Farley said.