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Iowa players discuss morale after losing two straight games: ‘We have to prove people wrong’
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Iowa was off to a phenomenal start to the 2019 season.
The Hawkeyes were 4-0, had beaten their rival in Iowa State and had outscored their opponents 134-34. All was well. Then, though, Iowa traveled to Michigan and lost 10-3.
The Hawkeyes’ offense struggled mightily.
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Following the seven-point loss to Michigan, Iowa hosted Penn State. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 10 in the country and Iowa had a chance to right its wrong from a week ago.
The Hawkeyes lost that game too, though, 17-12. Again, the offense never got going.
On Tuesday, the players spoke with the media about where the team’s morale is now that it is a 4-2 football team:
🗣 Michael Ojemudia on facing Purdue:
“It’s definitely going to be a bounce-back game for us. We have to prove people wrong.” #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) October 15, 2019
Stanley on staying confident and positive during tough times:
“We put in so much time with each other in the offseason. I know what all my teammates have invested. In those moments, I know my teammates are counting on me.” #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) October 15, 2019
Iowa's Michael Ojemudia: “The morale in the locker room, I think dudes are still hungry. There’s going to be a lot of motivation and a lot of hunger this week.”
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) October 15, 2019
There’s no question that Iowa needs and is hungry for a win. At 4-2, if it wants to do any serious damage in the Big Ten, it can’t lose another game.
The Hawkeyes host Purdue for a noon ET kickoff on Saturday and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.