Kirk Ferentz, Pat Angerer, and Julian Vandervelde all made news on Thursday.

Ferentz was named one of 15 semifinalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award. He earned the national honor in 2002 after guiding the Hawkeyes to an 8-0 Big Ten record, which helped earn Iowa an invitation to the 2003 Orange Bowl.

Angerer was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented at season’s end to the top defensive college football player. The Bettendorf native currently has 89 tackles, which leads the Hawkeyes through nine games.

Vandervelde was honored for an off-field feat. The junior offensive lineman was named a second team Academic All-American in District Seven by ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

It is the second time Vandervelde has garnered the accolade; he currently has a 3.47 GPA majoring in religious studies and English.

— by Brendan Stiles