University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Football Camp Update #1 Presented by Koch Construction
8/4/2014 1:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Northern Iowa football program opened its fall camp today with their first practice. Catch up with the Panthers and find out what they are most excited about heading into the 2014 season.
About Koch Construction
Koch construction builds and remodels homes in the Cedar Valley. Known for elegant, quality designs, Koch is your contractor of choice for roofing, kitchen and bath remodels, and other home projects in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, and Waverly. Koch Construction proudly supports the UNI Panthers. Go cats!
Head Coach Mark Farley | 14th Season at UNI
Q: What are you most excited about for this first day of camp?
A: “Just to see the new guys. You like to see how they fit in and what they are capable of. We get to watch them live and see them instead of what we think they are. We'll find out today who they are.”
Q: All the offseason training has brought you to this point, what do you think your team has gained the most from this offseason?
A: “The consistency in training has been great this summer. We had 105 guys come in and work this summer. They worked hard. I think that what we gained in confidence and chemistry has been critical in the weight room this summer. I think we maximized it.”
#8 Evan Williams | RB | JR | Minneapolis, Minn.
Q: First day of camp, what's your favorite part about it?
A: “Just the excitement. Being out here with the guys, we've been waiting. Lost a couple of guys towards the middle of the season last year so we've been getting ready to go.”
Q: Least favorite part about camp?
A: “The heat. Definitely the heat.”
Q: First game is against Iowa. Is that the first thing you guys are talking about?
A: “Honestly we're just focused on us right now. We're just focused on getting our young guys ready."
#42 Griffin Gaeta | DL | SO | Muscatine, Iowa
Q: We know you guys work hard in the offseason, what do you think is the biggest payoff for you guys at the start of camp?
A: “I think our team has gained a lot of strength overall. We're a lot stronger this year at this point than we were last year and we brought back a lot of experience. We worked a lot on building our leadership as well in the offseason.”
Q: Most exciting part about check-in yesterday?
A: “All the new guys coming in. They finally got to move in yesterday so there's a lot of new faces around.”
Wide Receivers Coach Todd Blythe | 3rd Season at UNI
Q: What is going through your mind on the first day of camp?
A: "Excited to be back on the grass. We've been in staff meetings for months now working and getting stuff hammered out for this year. I am excited to get back out here with the guys and watch them run around and compete a little bit."
Q: What are you most looking forward to about the in-state rivalry game against Iowa?
A: "Being an Iowa guy myself, being from this state, playing down the road and playing against them a few times in college, it's a big game. It's a great atmosphere. Their fans are right on top of you at Kinnick, it's one of the great venues in college football. I am just excited for our guys to get in there and see what we can do against them."
Q: What is a coach's role during check-in day?
A: "We are not allowed to talk any football on that first day due to the compliance and NCAA rules. You kind of have to bite your tongue. As soon as you see the guys you want to start talking X's and O's, but we know we can't. We're really just trying to get through that first check-in day and get to where we can start talking some ball."
