North Texas' McNulty recalls City High roots

[Harry]

IOWA CITY — North Texas quarterback Andrew McNulty never has seen the pink locker room, but he’s spent hours of his life cleaning up Kinnick Stadium.

Like all athletes in the Iowa City Community School District, McNulty cleared sections of cups, peanuts and garbage on Sunday mornings after Iowa football games. That was part of the responsibility for playing football at Iowa City High.

“I just remember pulling up and hearing the noises of the leaf blowers and being really early in the morning,” he said.

McNulty, a senior, will dress in Iowa’s famous visiting locker room this Saturday as he leads the Mean Green (0-2) against the Hawkeyes (3-0). It’s a challenge he never expected when he left Iowa City to play for Coach Dan McCarney, but it’s one for which he’s prepared.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” McNulty said. “We know that we have a tough opponent, and they’re off to a really great start this year. We have a lot of work in front of us.”

It’s an unusual journey from Iowa City High to North Texas, but McNulty has made it work. In high school, McNulty backed up A.J. Derby on the Little Hawks’ 2009 Class 4A title team and then led City High to the 4A title game the following year. As a senior, McNulty was a first-team all-state utility player, passing for 1,438 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 1,137 yards and 14 scores.

But there was more to McNulty than just statistics. He had qualities that enabled players to follow him.

Iowa junior offensive lineman Steve Ferentz competed alongside McNulty at Iowa City High. In a game against Cedar Rapids Xavier, Ferentz recalled how McNulty completed five of six passes on a 70-yard drive lasting 63 seconds in a last-second victory.

“Just the way he orchestrated everything, it was incredible,” Steve Ferentz said. “For a high school quarterback, we didn’t throw the ball very often but at a time we really needed it, he was right on target the whole way down the field. He managed the clock, he managed everything and got everyone in the right places. It was really impressive.

“I’d say even to this day, he’s one of the best guys I played with, just as a leader. It really is a privilege to play with a guy like Andrew McNulty. It was awesome.”

Read more:  http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/north-texas-mcnulty-recalls-city-high-roots-20150923

 

Edited September 25, 2015 by Harry

[Christopher Walker]

Oofda.

[Army of Dad]

Oofda.

ish

 

 

(for those who don't know this is a northern Midwest term of disgust, kind of like 'ick'. -not directed at you Chris, just raising the Midwestern slang bar)

[Quoner]

It’s a challenge he never expected when he left Iowa City to play for Coach Dan McCarney, but it’s one for which he’s prepared.

Really? The game that's been on the schedule for like six years in his home state snuck up on him after he signed? That's good sports writing.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Quoner