Dan McGwire Says He Is Leaving Iowa, Wants to Transfer to San Diego State

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Quarterback Dan McGwire on Tuesday said he will not return to the University of Iowa for the spring semester because of dissatisfaction with the Hawkeye football program.

“I’m just very unhappy back there, and I’m just glad to get out,” McGwire said by telephone from his home in Claremont, Calif.

McGwire, a sophomore, said he wants to transfer to San Diego State, where he would have to sit out a year before being eligible.

“I made contact with SDSU. SDSU made no contact with me. I want that understood,” McGwire said. “I’ve had a verbal release from the University of Iowa.”

He said SDSU officials were trying to obtain a written release.

McGwire is the younger brother of Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics. He was Iowa’s first-string quarterback after spring drills last season and was rated No. 1 by Iowa Coach Hayden Fry after fall practice but waged a three-way battle for the starting quarterback spot with Tom Poholsky and eventual No. 1 Chuck Hartlieb through the early part of last season.

“I never felt I had a clear-cut shot like everybody else did,” McGwire said.

He started against Tennessee and Michigan State last season and completed 41 of 72 passes for 506 yards and 4 touchdowns. Iowa lost to Tennessee, 23-22, in the Kickoff Game and lost to champion Michigan State, 19-14, at home.

Fry was in Atlanta and could not be reached for comment.