CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — Latched at his older brother’s side, Jared Farley maneuvered his way down to a front-row seat for his father’s football show, determined to soak up as much of the game as humanly possible. It was still early in Mark Farley’s head-coaching career, his two sons in elementary school when he took over the Northern Iowa program in 2001. But they were instantly dialed in.
Growing up, Jared, four years younger than brother Jake, owned an extensive purple-and-gold wardrobe, constantly roamed the Panther sideline and always offered postgame coaching input. From cheering on monumental plays during deep playoff runs to hollering at referees after officiating blunders, the Farley boys were woven right into the Panther football fabric at a young age.