Hawkeyes report: Notes, quotes

March 26, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant

SPRING OBJECTIVES
Even with the tailback tandem of Albert Young (968 rushing yards) and Damian Sims (499), the Hawkeyes still ranked 10th in the Big Ten and 92nd in the nation with 126.2 rushing yards per game. The replacement candidate pool is deep, with incumbent Jevon Pugh battling junior Shonn Greene, Juco transfer Nate Guillory and incoming freshmen Jeff Brinson and Jewel Hampton.

BUILDING BLOCKS
Only six of first-year starter Jake Christensen's 370 passes were picked off last season, a major reason why Iowa set a school record with 13 turnovers and led the Big Ten in turnover margin (plus-eight). Mitch King anchors a defense that didn't allow a touchdown for the first 13 quarters last season and finished 12th in the country in scoring defense (18.8).

SCHEDULE SITUATION
A second consecutive season without a bowl bid would be a shocker with a schedule that doesn't include Ohio State or Michigan and has Wisconsin and Penn State both coming to Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have seven games at Kinnick Stadium, where they are 32-7 (.821) dating back to the 2002 season.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We didn't have as good a season on the field, and we didn't have as good a season off the field as we all would have liked. We're spending a lot of time making sure everything we do is going to help make us better, and that includes off the field." -- Iowa athletic director Gary Barta to the Des Moines Register.