[bears9]

Overthrown and bullet passes aside, Jake Christensen is about average.

Statistically, the sophomore ranks around the middle when comparing his statistics to the 12 other first-season full-time starting quarterbacks at Iowa in the past 20 seasons.

A win against Western Michigan during Saturday's 2:35 p.m. game at Kinnick Stadium would make him the sixth rookie passer to lead the Hawkeyes to a winning record since 1987.

An average day gives him the sixth-best yardage total, and his 14 touchdown passes is the fifth-best total of a Hawkeye first-season, full-time starter.

"I would rather have a quarterback that can win a Big Ten championship and complete 50 percent of his passes than have an all-American, Heisman Trophy candidate that goes 7-5," said Chuck Hartlieb, a first-time Hawkeye starter in 1987.

"The way Jake and the team have improved — three straight (wins) and four of the last five — they're starting off the work week in a very good frame of mind.

"The future, I would say, looks good, considering where they were not so long ago

Iowa football: Really, Christensen is on target