University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Football Names Five Captains for 2006 Season
8/14/2006 8:00:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa head coach Mark Farley announced the five captains for this year's UNI football squad on Monday. The captains feature four seniors and a junior.
The two defensive captains are senior linebacker Dave Schratz (Garfield, N.J.) and senior safety Matt Tharp (Webster City, Iowa). The three offensive captains are senior wide receiver Curt Bradley (Columbia, Mo.), senior wide receiver James Lindgren (Odebolt, Iowa) and junior quarterback Eric Sanders (Oelwein, Iowa).
Schratz played in all 15 games for the Panthers in 2005 and ranked No. 9 on the team in total tackles (43). Schratz transferred to UNI from Iowa Central Community College prior to the 2005 season.
Tharp was a part-time starter at safety in 2005. Tharp played in all 15 games in 2005 despite playing with a broken bone in his hand at the end of the season. Tharp's interception in overtime against Texas State clinched UNI's 40-37 victory and put the program into its first-ever NCAA I-AA national title game. Tharp has been credited with 54 career tackles.
Bradley has seen action in 39 career games entering the 2006 season. In 2005, Bradley logged a career-best 14 receptions for 176 yards. Bradley has 36 career receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns.
Lindgren has notched 39 career receptions for 495 yards and four touchdowns. Lindgren has played 33 games and has drawn eight starting assignments for the Panthers. In 2005, Lindgren tallied 27 receptions for 336 yards and a touchdown.
Sanders is the lone junior among the 2006 captains. Sanders has passed for 4,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in his first two seasons as the Panthers' signal-caller. Sanders owns a 16-4 mark as the Panthers' starting quarterback.
The Panthers will open the 2006 season at Drake on Aug. 31. UNI will open the home season on Sept. 9 against North Dakota.