University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Athletics Media Guides Athletics 2007 2007 Panther Football Media Guide University of Northern Iowa Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright ©2007 Athletics, University of Northern Iowa Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/amg Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation University of Northern Iowa, "2007 Panther Football Media Guide" (2007). Athletics Media Guides. 260. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/amg/260 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Athletics at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Athletics Media Guides by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNI in the FARLEY ERA The BEST of the BEST • Three Top-5 FCS national rankings, five Top 25 rankings overall • UNI has competed in three playoffs, advancing to national title game in 2005 • Steady climb in home attendance, culminating in 2005 with the 12th highest average in FCS • The Panthers have had one Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, two GFC Newcomers of the Year, one GFC Freshman of the Year, and head coach Mark Farley has received one league Coach of the Year honor • UNI has had 23 first team all-conference honorees since 2001 • Thirty Panthers have been named to conference All-Academic teams since Coach Farley’s arrival, nine to various academic all-star teams • Forty-nine players have received league Player of the Week honors since 2001 • Thirty-three Panthers have received various all-America honors during the Farley era, two to various other all-star teams • Seven Panthers have been invited to various post-season all-star games • Coach Farley set league records in 2001 for all-game victories (11) and Gateway victories (6) for a first-year coach and won AFCA Region IV Coach of the Year honors and was the Gateway Coach of the Year in 2001 • UNI’s offense produced five consecutive 1,000-yard rushers from 2001-2005 • The 2006 Panthers ended the season ranked 12th in the Gridiron Power Index, the fifth time in the last six years to finish in the top 20. UNI was fourth in 2001, fifth in 2003, 20th in 2004 and 2nd in 2005 ONE OF FCS’S BEST The NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) now will be used to describe schools that participate in the NCAA championship postseason structure (one of 88 NCAA national championships that formerly was described as the I-AA football championship). CONSIDER THESE FACTS: • UNI played in the 2005 FCS National Championship game. UNIVERSITY • The two highest Gateway Conference NFL picks played at UNI. • UNI had 10 active players in the NFL heading into the 2007 season. • Quarterback Kurt Warner earned NFL MVP honors in 1999 and 2001 and played in the XXXIV Super Bowl versus Tennessee, when he was named the game’s MVP. He also has played in three Pro Bowls. • Linebacker Bryce Paup spent 10 years in the NFL, earning all-Pro honors four OU times. He was the 1995 NFL Defensive Player of the Year while playing with Buffalo. • Wide receiver Mike Furrey (Detroit Lions) led the NFC in receptions (98) in the T 2006 season. LOOK • Dedric Ward eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier for receiving yards for the third consecutive year in 1996, the first Gateway player to do so. • UNI defensive back Ty Talton is the only Gateway player to win first team all-conference honors all four years. S • UNI placekicker Brian Mitchell holds the FCS (Football Championship P TAFF Subdivision - formerly I-AA) record for consecutive field goals made in a Linebacker Bryce Paup played professionally 10 years, earning all-Pro honors season, connecting on 21 in a row in 1990. four times. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1995. • UNI had 12 players either selected to the first team or honorable mention Gateway All-Decade Team in 1994. • UNI had 1996, 1999, 2000 & 2003 Walter Payton Award finalists. • UNI had 1999 & 2001 Buck Buchanan Award finalists. L • UNI has several NCAA career leaders – in passing yards per attempt, highest O AYERS average gain per reception, most TDs scored on punt returns, TDs scored on kick returns, highest percentage of PATs made and consecutive PATs made, and consecutive field goals made. • UNI has a 154-40-1 (.792) overall mark at home in the Dome. • UNI has the best home field winning percentage in the Gateway at 56-13 PPO (.812). • UNI attained the league’s first No. 1 national ranking in 1992, a spot held for NENTS five weeks. • UNI has the league-record 96 consecutive poll appearances from 1990-97. Since joining the Gateway, UNI has been ranked 219 weeks total, by far the conference’s best. • UNI boasts five Gateway Offensive Players of the Year, six Defensive Players R of the Year, two Freshmen of the Year, two Newcomers of the Year and eight EVIEW Coaches of the Year. • UNI has had 54 Associated Press all-Americans since 1985. • UNI has a 87-45-1 non-league record since 1985. • The Panthers have won 24 Gateway games when both teams have been ranked in the top 25. RE • Since 1974, UNI has had 69 academic all-conference members. CO R D BOOK P Wide receiver Mike Furrey led the NFC in receptions (98) during the 2006 season for the Detroit Lions. • A Gateway Conference member has reached the FCS playoff semifinals R in eight of the past 11 years and 12 times overall. UNI has six of those OG appearances and has 12 playoff appearances overall. RA • Gateway teams have posted 25 wins against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS M – formerly I-A) teams – UNI has won eight of those games, most notably five against Big Eight Conference foes. UNI is 8-15 against FBS teams since 1985. • UNI is 104-38 (.732) against Gateway Conference opponents, leading the league in wins. • UNI has won or shared 12 conference titles in 22 seasons. • The Panthers had four players honored by the Gateway Conference for Quarterback Kurt Warner was the NFL MVP in both 1999 and 2001. academics in 2006. 1 CONTENTS/QUICK FACTS TABLE OF coNTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION Location ...........................................................................................................................................Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614 THE UNIVERSITY Founded ...........................................................................................................................................................................1876 Administration........................................................................4 Enrollment ....................................................................................................................................................................12,260 Director of Athletics ...............................................................5 Nickname ..................................................................................................................................................................Panthers Athletic Dept. Staff ................................................................6 Colors ....................................Purple and Old Gold (Purple 2617/Gold 7406 (uncoated), 124 (coated), 123 (four-color build) Panther Head Coaches ...........................................................7 Stadium...................................................................................................................................................................UNI-Dome Traditions ................................................................................8 Capacity........................................................................................................................................................................16,324 Academics ..............................................................................9 Surface ...................................................................................................................................................................... Artificial Strength & Conditioning ......................................................10 UNI-Dome Record................................................................................................................................................... 154-40-1 Sports Medicine ...................................................................11 Press Box Phone............................................................................................................................................. 319-273-6311 Facilities ..........................................................................12-13 NCAA Affiliation........................................................................................NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) UNI-Dome.............................................................................14 Conference...........................................................................................................................Gateway Football (23rd season) 2007 OUTlook All-Time Gateway Conference Record ..................................................................................... 101-36, .737 (since 1985) Quick Look ............................................................................16 Conference Titles ............... 12 (1985-1987-1990*-1991-1992-1993-1994-1995*-1996-2001-2003*-2005*/*shared title) Preseason Depth Chart ........................................................17 Alphabetical/Numerical Roster ......................................18-19 DEPARTMENTAL PERSONNEL 2007 Preview...................................................................20-22