Tigers prepped for college play early

Tony Moeaki clearly remembers the moment he was welcomed into the world of big-time college football. There were 105,225 fans packed into Ohio Stadium that late September afternoon in 2005. An Iowa true freshman, he was starting at H-back, and Ohio State was on its way to a 31-6 blowout victory.

"My first snap, A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter are breathing down my neck," Moeaki recalled. "Those are two all-Big Ten, all-American players, so that's when I knew this is for real and Big Ten football is for real and everything that comes with it. You have to be ready for it."

First impressions aside, Wheaton Warrenville South historically prepares its athletes to play on Saturdays at that level. Moeaki and offensive lineman Dace Richardson, fifth-year seniors and former high school teammates, are listed as starters on Iowa's preseason depth chart.

Former Tigers are scattered across the Big Ten. Redshirt freshman Will Matte is expected to start along Indiana's offensive line. Dan Conroy, another redshirt freshman, is competing to be Michigan State's kicker. Dan Dierking -- the state's Gatorade player of the year in 2006 -- is a junior running back at Purdue. Kurt Lichtenberg, a sophomore wide receiver, walked on with the Boilermakers.

Dierking has appeared in all 25 games during his first two years at Purdue. A solid blocker and a tough runner, he's been working on catching passes out of the backfield in a new system.

"It doesn't matter what you're doing, whether it's workouts, lifting (or running)," said first-year Purdue head coach Danny Hope. "When you put Dan Dierking in there, you're going to get his very best."

Maybe the Tigers don't have a future NFL prospect like Moeaki on their roster right now. But they're good enough to be ranked No. 1 preseason by the Chicago Sun-Times. They've gone 65-11 over the past six seasons, and they typically don't beat themselves.

"When I was there -- I know they've changed their offense a little bit -- (we) ran a Big Ten offense," Moeaki said. "I don't know, maybe it's just the water. (WW South coach Ron) Muhitch does a real good job teaching fundamentals and being physical and being tough."