When the season is over, the University of Northern Iowa football team may look back and say the best thing that happened to them occured in June. Running back Mark Moothart was granted a sixth year of eligibility in mid-June by the NCAA. Moothart, who will be a sixth-year senior, was a key blocker in UNI’s offense and is credited for a lot of the success Northern Iowa had running the ball last season. Senior running back Adam Benge, who set a UNI single season rushing record last year, has much praise for Moothart. Richard Carter, a junior who picked up almost one thousand yards rushing last year, loves playing with his big-blocking fullback. Carter sayswhen he heard Moothart was coming back, he was filled with job because Moothart — in Carter’s words — “is going to bust his butt 24/7.” With ten starters returning, Moothart expects the Panthers offense to perform well this season. Moothart doesn’t know if he considers himself a running back or a “hog”, a term of endearment for an offensive lineman. He says it depends on the day. Sometimes he’ll hang out with the running backs, and sometimes he hangs out with the offensive line. The extra year of eligibility is another chapter in what’s already been a varied football career for Moothart. He played high school ball at Waterloo Columbus, then began college at Pittburgh. He redshirted his freshman year, and then played one more before transfering. The Panthers are preparing for their season opener August 29th against Wayne State of Michigan.
