Kirk Ferentz on outside negativity: 'It's crazy, you just keep pushing ahead'

Iowa was a perfect 4-0 to start the year. The Hawkeyes outscored their opponents by a combined score of 134-34.

Then, Iowa lost to Michigan and Penn State while scoring 15 points combined. The offense went into the tank. The defense was playing well, but, you haven’t heard much of that the last two weeks.

It’s all been negative. What the season could have been? Maybe Iowa had a chance to do big things with quarterback Nate Stanley not turning the ball over as a senior leader? But no, two bad performances have led to any comment but a positive one.

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Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz knows this, and on Tuesday, commented about the outside noise:

Ferentz on two-game losing streak: "I think the older guys probably hurt more because they've invested more. They've been at it longer."

— MarkEmmert (@MarkEmmert) October 15, 2019

Ferentz says he does worry about his players hearing the outside negativity. "I understand the mentality. But people who compete can't think like that. It's crazy. You just keep pushing ahead. We have an opportunity to play Saturday and get back in the win column."

— MarkEmmert (@MarkEmmert) October 15, 2019

Ferentz is right. The mindset can’t be a negative one. If negative thoughts consume the minds of Hawkeye players, consider the season done.

If Iowa wins out, it can still have only two losses on its resume. At that point, it would have wins over undefeated Wisconsin and Minnesota. Big things can still be had.

But, Iowa can’t listen to the outside critics.