The Iowa Hawkeyes open the season at home against Kent State. In honor of the 75th anniversary of Kinnick Stadium the Hawks will wear uniforms that look like the 1939 Ironman team. Sophomore Drew Tate gets his first start at quarterback and coach Kirk Ferentz says he is ready, and says it he’d had to start last year they would’ve adjusted things. But he says with a year of experience, he’s ready and they always tweak the offense each week anyway. Running back Jermelle Lewis will be out serving a one-game suspension. Marcus Schnoor and Albert Young will get the carries. He says they’re both doing a great job, especially Schnoor who he says they know what he can do.Ferentz says there are a lot of question marks on the offensive line which makes him uneasy along with the other new players on the offense.Iowa State and UNI open their season in Ames. The Cyclones are determined to bounce back from a 2-10 record in 2003 and coach Dan McCarney says an improved running game will help.Redshirt freshman Bret Meyer gets the start at quarterback and McCarney says he will need to get comfortable. McCarney says with senior Tom Petrie at quarterback the Panthers have an advantage in experience. UNI coach Mark Farley says the Panthers are confident but realize they are underdogs.Farley says the Panthers expect to meet a motivated opponent that has a sense of urgency to get a win.
