Walking off a winnner

After 24 seasons as head coach of the Panthers, Mark Farley, ’86, ended his UNI Football career with a triumphant 41-34 win over Indiana State in the UNI-Dome on November 23.

Following the victory, he was carried off the field on the shoulders of his captains before eventually returning to the field for a postgame ceremony where UNI President Mark Nook presented him a framed 46 jersey (his UNI number as a player) as his family and the team looked on, along with former players, coaches and a throng of fans.

In true Farley fashion, he then proceeded to shake virtually every hand, sign every autograph and take every photo that was requested. It was a surreal scene as seemingly no one wanted this feel-good moment to end.

As a student-athlete, the Waukon, Iowa native joined the Panthers as a walk-on linebacker in 1982 and led the team in tackles in his final three seasons, becoming the 1985 MVFC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. The “Walk-on from Waukon,” served three years as a starter as UNI compiled a 27-7-1 record and advanced to the 1985 FCS semifinals.