Iowa and Iowa State open a season of lofty expectations with home games on Saturday. The Hawkeyes are ranked tenth in the pre-season coaches poll and host a Ball State team that finished 2-9 a year ago. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz wants the Hawkeyes to win and look good in the process. He says their attitude and tempo are important and playing a clean game with consistency.Ferentz says Mid-American Conference teams have a history of posting upsets and the Hawkeyes need to avoid mistakes and foolish penalties.Drew Tate returns after an All Big Ten campaign in 2004 and Ferentz enjoys the luxury of having an experienced quarterback. He says it’s a different feeling as they haven’t had a returning q-b in the past.The Cyclones open under the lights against Illinois State. ISU is coming off a 7-5 season which included a victory in the Independence Bowl and is confident heading into the season. McCarney says it’s a lot of fun and they want the team to be excited but not too excited that they make mistakes.The Cyclones are heavily favored against Illinois State but McCarney says they won’t take their one-double-a opponent lightly. He says they want in the end to have a tougher, more physical and more talented team, but they expect a four-quarter game.
