Coach Kirk Ferentz becomes Iowa's all-time leader in wins

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Kirk Ferentz's record-setting 144th win at Iowa could not have been more emblematic of his tenure in Iowa City. There were times when every play on offense looked like a struggle, especially early on. But they kept grinding, finally breaking through with a win powered by mental toughness, the running game and a punishing defense. Nate Stanley threw for 108 yards and a touchdown, Ferentz passed mentor Hayden Fry as Iowa's all-time leader in wins, and the Hawkeyes rolled past Northern Illinois 33-7 in the season opener on Saturday. Fry, who counted Ferentz among his assistants for nearly a decade, went 143-89-6 in 20 seasons before Ferentz took over in 1999. The often stoic Ferentz couldn't hold back his emotions as the seconds ticked down, sharing a tearful embrace with his son, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. "I've just enjoyed coaching ...