Future looks good for UNI football program, too
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- On the depth chart, they are second-stringers.
Saturday afternoon, Northern Iowa's offensive reserves gave a first-rate effort, and that told Mark Farley something about all of his Panthers.
"They were focused when they hit the field," said Farley Monday. "That kind of represents the whole team instead of just the ones. It represents the kind of mindset of the whole team right now."
With a 42-7 victory over Missouri State secured in the second half, Farley went to his bench. Offensively, the Panther backups produced a touchdown when quarterback Jared Lanpher hit Kevin Vereen with an 11-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
Farley said Lanpher's 6 of 7 effort "stood out," and added, "I was just pleased with how consistently smooth our offense ran with those players because they really didn't miss a beat."
As far as the starters, Farley noted that the Panthers made a few mistakes in the first half at Plaster Field.
Overall, though, UNI is going the right way, said Farley.
"We're playing good football right now," he said. "To play four quarters of football, things are going to happen. I'm pleased with where we're at. I know we are playing good, but we can play so much better."
Farley said that Indiana State, UNI's homecoming opponent Saturday, is also playing a good brand of football. Since losing its opener at Penn State, the Sycamores have won four in a row, including a victory over South Dakota State Saturday.
In other words, the 6-5 record produced by Trent Miles' team last year was no fluke.
"Indiana State has gone to another level," said Farley. "They're playing exceptional.
"They're one of those teams that gets better and better as you continue to watch them on film."
TO TALK OR NOT TO TALK? Over the years, UNI's players have rarely kept their national championship aspirations secret. This season has been no exception.
Over the years, Farley has rarely deviated from the "one game at time" mantra. This season has been no exception.
When asked about it Monday, the UNI head coach discussed the difference in approach, albeit with a little reluctance.
"Our football team has expectations," he said.
"That's for them to talk about. I don't talk about it. It's our job to get them ready so they can play week in and week out. All I want them to do is just worry about Indiana State."
But he smiled when asked what he told his players in private about long-term goals and used another line of thought that's become prevalent in recent weeks.
"I'm not going in the trap this go-round," Farley said. "We're going to line up and play Indiana State. We've got enough traps to deal with."
TEN YEARS AFTER: As part of UNI's homecoming festivities, the 2001 football team will be honored at halftime Saturday. During Farley's rookie year as head coach, the Panthers posted an 11-3 mark and reached the Football Championship (then Division I-AA) semifinals, losing at Montana.
Farley won his Missouri Valley Football Conference opener that year, beating Youngstown State, 30-11. A decade later, he has 55 league victories, the most in MVFC history.
"I think about all the players and coaches who were a part of that," Farley said. "A lot of people did a lot to get those wins. It wasn't just one person."
Farley said UNI's 2001 team was senior-dominated and marked by good leadership.
"They did a nice job of accepting us, but also leading the juniors and sophomores who were probably wondering what was going on," he said.
Farley added, "That was a good football team, though. They were fun guys."
AWARD WATCH: UNI senior defensive lineman Ben Boothby has been named a candidate for the National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Awards and a semifinalist for the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy.
Boothby is one of 127 candidates across all levels of college football, and he is the fourth student-athlete to represent UNI as a semifinalist in the last six years. James Lindgren and Chad Rinehart were named semifinalists in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and Josh Mahoney earned finalist recognition in 2009.
Boothby graduated with a B.A. in movement and exercise science in May 2011, posting a 3.89 cumulative GPA, and he is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology. He was named to ESPN's Academic All-America second team in 2010.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- On the depth chart, they are second-stringers.
Saturday afternoon, Northern Iowa's offensive reserves gave a first-rate effort, and that told Mark Farley something about all of his Panthers.
"They were focused when they hit the field," said Farley Monday. "That kind of represents the whole team instead of just the ones. It represents the kind of mindset of the whole team right now."
With a 42-7 victory over Missouri State secured in the second half, Farley went to his bench. Offensively, the Panther backups produced a touchdown when quarterback Jared Lanpher hit Kevin Vereen with an 11-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
Farley said Lanpher's 6 of 7 effort "stood out," and added, "I was just pleased with how consistently smooth our offense ran with those players because they really didn't miss a beat."
As far as the starters, Farley noted that the Panthers made a few mistakes in the first half at Plaster Field.
Overall, though, UNI is going the right way, said Farley.
"We're playing good football right now," he said. "To play four quarters of football, things are going to happen. I'm pleased with where we're at. I know we are playing good, but we can play so much better."
Farley said that Indiana State, UNI's homecoming opponent Saturday, is also playing a good brand of football. Since losing its opener at Penn State, the Sycamores have won four in a row, including a victory over South Dakota State Saturday.
In other words, the 6-5 record produced by Trent Miles' team last year was no fluke.
"Indiana State has gone to another level," said Farley. "They're playing exceptional.
"They're one of those teams that gets better and better as you continue to watch them on film."
TO TALK OR NOT TO TALK? Over the years, UNI's players have rarely kept their national championship aspirations secret. This season has been no exception.
Over the years, Farley has rarely deviated from the "one game at time" mantra. This season has been no exception.
When asked about it Monday, the UNI head coach discussed the difference in approach, albeit with a little reluctance.
"Our football team has expectations," he said.
"That's for them to talk about. I don't talk about it. It's our job to get them ready so they can play week in and week out. All I want them to do is just worry about Indiana State."
But he smiled when asked what he told his players in private about long-term goals and used another line of thought that's become prevalent in recent weeks.
"I'm not going in the trap this go-round," Farley said. "We're going to line up and play Indiana State. We've got enough traps to deal with."
TEN YEARS AFTER: As part of UNI's homecoming festivities, the 2001 football team will be honored at halftime Saturday. During Farley's rookie year as head coach, the Panthers posted an 11-3 mark and reached the Football Championship (then Division I-AA) semifinals, losing at Montana.
Farley won his Missouri Valley Football Conference opener that year, beating Youngstown State, 30-11. A decade later, he has 55 league victories, the most in MVFC history.
"I think about all the players and coaches who were a part of that," Farley said. "A lot of people did a lot to get those wins. It wasn't just one person."
Farley said UNI's 2001 team was senior-dominated and marked by good leadership.
"They did a nice job of accepting us, but also leading the juniors and sophomores who were probably wondering what was going on," he said.
Farley added, "That was a good football team, though. They were fun guys."
AWARD WATCH: UNI senior defensive lineman Ben Boothby has been named a candidate for the National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Awards and a semifinalist for the 2011 William V. Campbell Trophy.
Boothby is one of 127 candidates across all levels of college football, and he is the fourth student-athlete to represent UNI as a semifinalist in the last six years. James Lindgren and Chad Rinehart were named semifinalists in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and Josh Mahoney earned finalist recognition in 2009.
Boothby graduated with a B.A. in movement and exercise science in May 2011, posting a 3.89 cumulative GPA, and he is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology. He was named to ESPN's Academic All-America second team in 2010.
