I'm always in on the action. That's what I like. Coming out of Hudson High School five years ago, Pedersen may have been the least-heralded of a talented threesome that led the Pirates to the 1994 state championship. Big Bill Marsau was considered a blue-chip recruit, and went to Iowa State. Justin Urbanek quarterbacked that Hudson team and joined Pedersen at UNI before transferring to Wartburg.
Some kids play 'Transformers' or whatever when they're little.
All we did is play football. It would be hard to beat the overall unity we had on that team. Over the last three years, UNI's defense has developed a similar bond. Many of the current Panther starters, including Pedersen, got their chance when Mike Dunbar became head coach three years ago. We've grown by leaps and bounds.