Joe Paterno has gotten to know a lot of people in his 36-plus years as the head coach of the Nittany Lions. Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz is no exception.

The Penn State football coach was so impressed with how Ferentz has turned the Iowa program around that he said at Big Ten Media Day that the Hawkeyes might be a major sleeper in the Big Ten.

Paterno might be right.

Although Ferentz is only in his third season as head coach of the Hawkeyes, he has already become one of the most respected young coaches in the country. It is obvious to coaches across the country that Ferentz is quickly rebuilding an Iowa program that has struggled the past few seasons.

Ferentz hasn't had an easy go with the Hawkeyes either. In his first season, Iowa went an awful 1-10, and in the 2000 campaign had only three wins, one of which came against Penn State in double overtime.

But the Iowa coach already has his team close to surpassing last season's victories, only three games into the schedule. The Hawkeyes have convincingly pounded Kent State and Miami (OH), outscoring their opponents 95-19.

Paterno said the Hawkeyes have talented players at every position. The coach said he's impressed with their quarterbacks, running backs and receivers and although it might seem like opponent-worship, it is far from it. The Iowa of old has returned and Hawkeye fans are proud.

"He had patience and didn't panic last year when they were losing some games earlier in the year," Paterno said of Ferentz. "He stayed with some people who ended up being very fine football players."

And most of those players are back for another go around in the Big Ten. Running back Ladell Betts returns. So does wide receiver Kahlil Hall, quarterback Kyle McCann and 14 other starters from last season.

With a 2-0 start and getting the winless Lions on their home turf at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, trouble might be brewing again for Penn State this week. But the Penn State players haven't forgotten about last season's double overtime loss to Iowa in Beaver Stadium.

Senior tailback Eric McCoo, who is expected to see more playing time tomorrow, said he couldn't believe the game was finished but said the Big Ten is such a strong conference that any team could win at any time.

"Their record had nothing to do with it, they work hard every week just like we do," McCoo said. "You can't base their record on their performance because everyone comes to play, everyone is competitive."

Ferentz has made Iowa football a competitive program again. He has begun to restore a sense of pride and grit in the Hawkeyes that was last seen during the legendary Hayden Fry era. And his players are regaining confidence that they don't have to be a bottom of the barrel conference team.

"He's done a great job since the day he walked in here," McCann said. "He's done a good job of keeping things moving forward."

Paterno has been so impressed with Ferentz that he has contemplated hiring him as an assistant coach. He said that Iowa has turned itself into a program that was a sleeper in the conference to a team that is a contender to win the whole thing. And in a weak Big Ten season, a few lucky plays and a couple big wins, the Hawkeyes could be right there at the end of the season.

"I thought they would be a sleeper," Paterno said. "I don't think you can call them a sleeper anymore, but a contender in the conference."

Especially since Kirk Ferentz is on the sideline.