(phil parker) my biggest thing that i think we need to improve on is giving up big plays. i think right now we have a total of 5 big runs over 15 yards which is not good enough. (greg davis) you know we are constantly looking for better ways in that third and two to three, whether or not that's a throw, whether or not that's a run. i think that's an area that we can improve in as we continue down the stretch. (giaimo) right now iowa is ranked twelth in the nation. they are coming off a 40-10 road win thrashing of northwestern and are sitting pretty at the top of the big ten west. (phil parker) this team has a chemistry and a togetherness that reminds me of some o f the team back in the early 2002, 2004 teams that are collectively they understand they are in the room and they are taking. and it's really important to each other. (giaimo) all season long the hawkeyes have battled injuries, but greg davis says its made them stronger as a whole. (greg davis) well one of the things that happens with injuries in general is if you can survive them you end up with more depth. (alex

december -- now the bye week means we don't get to talk to captian kirk, but defensive coordinator -- phil parker -- let us in on what makes the hawks -- the nation's 12th best defense. : this team has a chemistry... and togetherness that reminds me of some of the teams back in 2002 and 2004... teams that collectively they understand they're in the room... they're talking... and it's really important to each other... i think the chemistry of the team is probably the most important thing.. that's really impressed me... i question nobody's toughness on that field... with basketball season just around the corner -- the next spot on the media day train -- is cedar falls -- for u-n-i women -- last season tayna warren's group finished 4th in the valley -- winning 17 games gamesthis season they've got their leading scorer back in madison weekley along with jen kietel -- who's recovered from her a-c-l injury and 6 talented freshman -- which has got the panthers excited for the season. "if this group can stay healthy and they can understand this thing, keep the right mind frame. and understand the "we," t

phil parker's group's been nothing short of excellele this season... they're giving up just over 14 points per game... and they're third in the big ten in total defense... even *after* losing a key cog like drew ott... and the voice of the hawkeyes wouldn't be surprised to see more of the same against maryland this weekend... "this defense has feasted in points off turnovers, not only plus 7 in turnovers but 56 points off those turnovers they had 34 points, 35 points all of last year. if you want to point to one or two differences in this iowa football team it's an opportunistic defense and i think that will show itself again on saturday." since 20-12... sawyer kollmorgen has started... and won... a bunch of games for the u-n-i panthers... but a head injury might end his senior season... and his career... earlier than expected... kollmorgen suffered a concussion in the october 17th game against western illinois... it was his second concussion of the season... & and fourth of his career... on tuesday... the senior told reporters that he has a doctor's a

but coach phil parker says the team is giving up too many big plays. "i think right now we have a total of five big runs over 15 yards and then we have 22 passes over 20 yards. anytime we've been a real good football team around here, we're usually about 30-35 big plays a year." in iowa city, josh christensen tv9 sports. with the iowa success comes a lot of awards and coach kirk ferentz is in line for a big one. coach ferentz has been named to the paul bear byant coach of the year award one of 22 coaches on the watch list and the winner will be announced january 13th. it was a good week for the iowa wrestling team getting verbal commits from 3 time state champion carter happel of lisbon and two time bettendorf state champ jack wagner. happel is ranked as the 25th best senior prospect by flowrestling. he has won 118 straight matches and has a chance to break the iowa all-time win mark this year. two time ncaa champ mark ironside is excited to see what happel can do in a hawkeye uniform. i think carter happel going to iowa is huge. you get a guy as domin

bye week--so today the coordintaors--offe nsive coordinator greg davis and defensive coordinator phil parker got a chance to meet with the e edia today. the hawkeyes have put up incredible numbers the past couple of weeks despite injuries..iowa has had two different 200 yard rushers on offense--while the defense has been solid--giving up the second lowest number of points in the big ten. defensive coordinator says its hard to pick out a defensive mvp for the hawks. the hawkeyes play maryland on halloween at kinnick.. kinnick.. one day after crashing his car.. former coe college star fred jackson has been cleared to play for the seattle seahawks tomorrow night against the san ffancisco 49err police say there was no e eidence jackson was drag racing teammate marshawn --when the crash occured as was reported by t-m-z. and waterloo columbushas hired a new head basketball coach... ben barnett has been picked to replace troy ersland who left for a teaching job in kuwait city. barnett is a columbus graduate--who received degrees from central college and upper let's go to storm rack seven who's toug

"i think we're back just to fundamental fofoball," said defensive coordinar phil parker. "it's a simple game. you just got to leverage the ball. a lot of time our guys were running and didn't know where the ball was at, giving great effort, but you always got to make sure you know where the ball's at and what angle you need to take to make the play. i think our guys have been in tune to that." on offense, the hawkeyes have been very balanced. iowa averages 214 yards rushing per game and 206 yards passing. qb c-j beathard has completed 61 percent of his passes and has thrown for nine td's, with just three interceptions. "i"ihink c.j. is seeing opportunities to take the ball down the field and taking them," said offensive coordinator greg davis. "he will take those shots." hawkeye head coach kirk ferentz is one of 22 men on the bear bryant, coach of the year, watch list. iowa is one of just two schools in theheountry, with two road wins against ranked teams. iowa's next game is on halloween against maryland, in iowa city at 2- 30. briar cliff has trotted out some young men'

december -- now the bye week means we don't get to talk to captian kirk, but defensive coordinator -- phil parker -- let us ion what makes the hawks -- the nation's 12th best defense. : this team has a chemistry... and togetherness that reminds me of some of the teams back in 2002 and 2004... teams that collectively they understand they're in the room... they're talking... and it's really important to each other... i think the chemistry of the team is probably the most @ important thing.. that's really impressed me... i question nobody's toughness s that field... speaking of that iowa defense -- desmond king found himself on 2 mid-season all america teams --- cbs-sports dot com and s-a today dot com -- the hawks lead the big 10 witit15 takeke-ways -- king has 6 of them -- and sits second in the nation with 6 interceptions. the pantrs have dropped three straight games -- the last two by a total of 8 points -- which has northehe iowa at the bottom of the valley saturday they head to brookings to take on south dakota state -- and the big question for mark farley -- how do you stop the slide and get