IOWA CITY — The roll call of former Iowa tight ends is impressive: Dallas Clark, Marv Cook, Jonathan Hayes and Tony Moeaki, among others.
If Brad Herman one day joins that group, he'll remember Saturday as his coming-out party.
With one career catch entering Saturday, the 6-foot-5, 247-pound junior out of Metamora, Ill., made an impact in his first meaningful game action in three years. Herman caught three passes for 57 yards and partially blocked a punt in Iowa's 37-7 win over Eastern Illinois.
“Tony finally left!'' Herman said, referring to Moeaki, an All-Big Ten performer last season and a current member of the Kansas City Chiefs. “Finally I got to go out there and get my feet wet. And it was fun.''
On Iowa's first possession, Ricky Stanzi found a wide-open Herman, who was hauled down on the EIU 2 after a 35-yard reception.
“I've just got to (score) next time,'' Herman said. “The end zone just seemed so far away. I was trying as hard as I could, but I fell short.''
Midway through the second quarter, Herman said he got two fingers on Kevin Cook's punt that ended up traveling 41 yards.
“If I would have closed my hands, I probably would have gotten it, but lesson learned,'' Herman said. “I'll try to get one next week.''
Herman said he needed to improve his blocking to get on the field and be a productive player.
“To be an Iowa tight end, you have to block,'' he said. “My blocking held me back the previous two seasons. Once I accepted that, learned how to block and really focused on blocking, it freed me up in the pass game, too.''
O'Meara stands out on special teams
Iowa's Paki O'Meara did get a full-fledged block of a Cook punt. He sprinted in from the perimeter, blocked it, picked it up and completed the 42-yard score.
“I tried to up-and-under the outside guy that was blocking me, and I got in there pretty clean,'' said O'Meara, a 5-11, 211-pound senior from Cedar Rapids Washington. “I watch a lot of film, and I'm definitely trying to do that.''
It was the first Iowa blocked punt since Adrian Clayborn had a memorable block and touchdown return against Penn State last year.
“He took my shine,'' said a smiling Clayborn of O'Meara. “I called him a couple names. But no, it was pretty nice.''
O'Meara also carried four times for 34 yards on the day.
Tidbits
Six true freshmen played for the Hawkeyes: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, LB James Morris, LB Christian Kirksey, DB B.J. Lowery, DB Tanner Miller and K Michael Meyer. ... Seven Iowa players made their first starts: OL James Ferentz, OL Nolan MacMillan, OL Markus Zusevics, DL Mike Daniels, DB Micah Hyde, LB Bruce Davis and LB Tyler Nielsen. ... Iowa has now won 10 straight season openers. ... Iowa has 26 seniors, third most in Division I behind Hawaii (31) and Louisville (27). ... Iowa's 1985 Rose Bowl team was honored in a pregame ceremony. ... Iowa fans on Friday in Coralville set a world record with more than 7,000 people doing the Hokey Pokey at once. Guinness World Records officials were there to verify it. Former Iowa coach Hayden Fry famously had his team do the Hokey Pokey after important victories.
— Kevin White
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