IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer admitted he was `living like a cowboy' and not always focused on improving as a football player. Hawkeye cornerback Amari Spievey lost concentration while being redshirted.

All that has changed for Angerer and Spievey, who have benefitted from a new beginning on the gridiron.

"Last year wasn't good enough," Angerer told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. "We lost four games. If they wouldn't have scored, we would have won."

There seems to be a renewed drive within these two returning Iowa defensive starters. Neither Angerer nor Spievey is taking anything for granted while they guard against a letdown in 2009.

To read the entire feature on ESPN.com, click HERE.

The Hawkeyes open the season Saturday, Sept. 5, against Northern Iowa inside Kinnick Stadium. Iowa won the last meeting between the schools, 45-21, on Sept. 17, 2005.

2009 Iowa Football Season Ticket Application (v3a)