University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
Panther football to host Valparaiso in Hall of Fame Weekend matchup
8/29/2024 4:09:00 PM | Football
UNI opens 126th season inside the UNI-Dome for the first time in 14 years in White Out game.
UNI football (0-0 / 0-0 MVFC) vs. Valparaiso (0-0 / 0-0 PFL)
- 4 p.m. CT | Aug. 31, 2024
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (16,324)
- Panther Sports Network (CFU Ch. 15 / ESPN+) | (Brad Wells: Play-by-Play / Justin Surrency: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network | (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Scott Peterson: Analyst)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI Panther football team gets ready to kick off the 2024 season with the program's first fall season opener inside the UNI-Dome in 14 years as it welcomes the Beacons of Valparaiso to town for UNI's Hall of Fame weekend game.Â
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT inside the UNI-Dome with live coverage available on CFU Channel 15 and ESPN+, as well as the Panther Sports Radio Network. Fans are also encouraged to wear white as part of the team's White Out Game.
After a long offseason, the Panthers are back in action inside the UNI-Dome and will open the fall season at home for the first time since a 2010 victory over No. 21 North Dakota State. This will also be just the 12th time since 1996 that the Panthers will compete in the month of August. UNI is 7-4 in those 11 previous contests and 4-0 inside the UNI-Dome. Valparaiso will be the first-ever Division I opponent to visit the UNI-Dome in the month of August, in what will be the first all-time meeting between the Panthers and Beacons on the gridiron.
The Panthers welcome several new faces to the 2024 football roster including 26 freshmen, ten transfers and six coaches who will step onto the field in UNI gear for the first time. Of the ten transfers, seven come to the Panthers as upperclassmen including one graduate transfer and four senior transfers. As always, the state of Iowa is well represented amongst the Panther ranks including 62 of the 106-man roster. Of the 62 athletes, 21 are newcomers to the UNI roster this season.
In head coach Mark Farley's first 23 seasons at the Panther helm, the Panthers have recorded over 400 yards in total offense in the season opener eight times. The three highest game-one totals came in 2002, 2005, and 2007 when the Panthers went over 500 yards in total offense (521 yards in 2002, 528 yards in 2005, and 503 yards in 2007). Northern Iowa has only recorded less than 280 total yards of offense seven times in week one under Farley.
In 21 of Farley's 23 seasons, the Panthers have had a positive scoring margin. The Panthers have had six 10+ point scoring margin seasons under Farley (2003-04, 2007-09, 2014). Eight times in the last 23 seasons the Panthers have averaged over two and a half sacks per game. In those eight seasons, the Panthers have made the postseason six times. On the flip side, in seven of the last 23 years, the Panthers have averaged less than two sacks per game. Of those seven years, the Panthers made the playoffs in just one of the seven seasons.
The Panthers have recorded back-to-back seasons of greater than 0.4 points per play defended (the two highest seasons since 2013). In UNI's last four wins last season, the Panthers' points per play defended was less than 0.2. In the three seasons prior to 2022, the Panthers averaged less than 0.27 points per play defended. The Panthers finished the 2023 season with the best first-down defense in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). They also finished the season as the only team in the MVFC to allow fewer than 200 first downs.
Wide receiver Desmond Hutson has recorded the highest career reception-to-touchdown percentage in program history heading into the 2024 season. 28% of all of Hutson's receptions end up in the endzone (7/25). The next closest Panther is Dedric Ward who recorded a 24% reception-to-touchdown percentage (50/208). In 1992, Kenny Shedd recorded the highest single-season reception-to-touchdown percentage with 38% of all of his season's receptions ending up in the end zone.
The Beacons finished the 2023 season with a 3-8 overall record including a 2-6 record in Pioneer Football League (PFL) play. Valparaiso finished tenth in the 11-team PFL after ending the season with a 10-16 loss to St. Thomas. The Beacons' special teams led the PFL in both blocked kicks and punts with five blocked kicks and four blocked punts. Their blocked kicks mark was fifth in the nation while their blocked punt mark was fourth. The Valparaiso special teams also led the conference with 23.16 yards per kickoff return and 38.33 yards per punt. The Valparaiso run defense led the conference with 123.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
Valparaiso's Max Samuel led the PFL with three blocked kicks last season. That mark was the third-best in the nation. Jashon Butler led the PFL with 30.8 yards per kickoff return. Micah Mackay's punt return touchdown was one of just three in the conference last season. That conference-leading mark was seventh in the nation. Evan Matthes led the Pioneer League in punting with an average of 43.2 yards per punt.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Following a formal induction ceremony on Friday night, the 2024 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame Class will be honored at halftime of Saturday's game. This year's class includes a pair of legendary Panther football players in running back David Johnson and placekicker Brian Mitchell. Other inductees include softball standout Deena Chipp, track and field multi-event athlete Dani Stipe, the 1964 men's cross country team, Merlin Taylor Academic Award winner Mat Clark and Dr. Jitu Kothari Meritorious Service Award recipient Dr. James Kelly.
HY-VEE FAN ZONE
The first of two Hy-Vee Fan Zone tailgate events this season will take place prior to kickoff of the UNI-Valparaiso game in the northwest corner of the west UNI-Dome parking lot. The hassle-free tailgate experience features live music and free food samples, drinks and beer for sale. Fans can arrive at the Fan Zone at 1:00 p.m. and stay until 3:30 p.m. CT.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, UNI Athletics will implement a clear bag policy for spectators for ticketed home events, as well as non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.
Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC that do not exceed a 12 x 6 x 12 inch size will be permitted, as well as one-gallon, resealable, clear plastic storage bags. Small bags that are not clear but do not exceed a size 4.5 x 6.5 inches will also be allowed.Â
UNI branded clear bags can be purchased at the UNI Bookstore, as well as any other store that sells.
Prohibited bags include purses, backpacks, printed pattern plastic bags, tinted plastic bags, duffle bags, fanny packs, reusable grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, large totes and cases (for camera, binoculars, etc.). An exception may be made for some prohibited items for medical necessity after proper inspection at the gate.
Additional information for fans about game day policies and procedures can be found online HERE.
STUDENT TICKET CLAIMS
UNI students will once again be able to attend all Panther home games for free during the 2024 season. Students will be asked to secure their free ticket through UNITIX prior to arriving at the UNI-Dome by following these steps:
- Visit the UNITIX website at unitix.evenue.net
- Click "Student Login With CatID" on the top bar of options
- Select the "Student Login With CatID" and enter your CatID
- Click on "Athletics"
- Select the sport and game(s) would you like to attend
- Click "Add To Card," then "Checkout"
- Scroll down and click "Place My Order)
All student tickets will be emailed out and will be available on mobile devices.
For any questions regarding student tickets, please contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-48949 or at tickets@uni.edu.
PARKING
All regular parking for Panther home football games will be available for Saturday's game. Public parking will be available for fans in the lots north and south of the UNI-Dome, with Panther Scholarship Club (PSC) lots located just to the west of the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center. Click HERE for additional parking information and a parking map.
UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
