Ad Disclosure
What Kirk Ferentz said at presser ahead of Iowa’s matchup with Indiana
Published:
The shortened 2020 B1G Conference season was actually a good one for Iowa, with the Hawkeyes posting one of the more impressive records, and particularly finishes, in the league.
Despite their 0-2 start, Kirk Ferentz and his squad rattled off six straight wins to finish the season with a 6-2 record, earning a spot in the 2020 Music City Bowl. Unfortunately, the bowl game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues.
The Hawkeyes have one of the more exciting season openers in the country facing off against one of last year’s biggest success stories, the Indiana Hoosiers, coming to Iowa City to kickoff the 2021 campaign.
The top-25 showdown features the No. 17 Hoosiers against the No. 18 Hawkeyes, and is certain to be one of the better games of the weekend.
Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz took to the podium to meet with the media on Tuesday afternoon, giving some strong praise of the Hawkeyes QB, naming the team captains and talking about some player issues.
Here is more of what Ferentz had to say.
🗣 KF: "We are coming off a productive camp. We have seen a lot of growth both individually and collectively. This is an exciting time for all of us." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
🗣 KF: "Captains this week will be Linderbaum, Hankins, Koerner, Petras." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
🗣 KF: "Spencer went into last season cold with no spring practice or fall camp. His experience has allowed him to play faster and be more accurate. We are eager to see him play on Saturday." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
🗣 KF: "We are playing a good football team on Saturday that is good in all three areas and is extremely well-coached." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
🗣 KF: "I feel good about our four running backs. We have some depth. If we are going to be good, we have to run the ball effectively." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
🗣 KF: "Tyler Linderbaum is a model of consistency on and off the field. He is quality. Tyler takes a lot of pride in what he does." #Hawkeyes
— HawkeyeFBNotes (@HawkeyeFBNotes) August 31, 2021
Kirk Ferentz said that Luke Lachey is 'firmly' the No. 2 tight end behind Sam LaPorta. #Hawkeyes
— Sean Bock (@SBock247) August 31, 2021
Ferentz says Iowa’s QB depth chart has cleared up over the offseason:
1. Spencer Petras
2. Alex Padilla
3. Deuce Hogan— Daily Iowan Pregame (@dipregame) August 31, 2021
Ferentz says Spencer Petras is operating “quicker and more decisively,” in practice
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) August 31, 2021
Ferentz says the vaccination rate of his team is in the “upper 90%”
Players told us today that maybe less than 10 of them aren’t vaccinated.
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) August 31, 2021
Expect to see some freshman on the field Saturday. Coach Ferentz says Bruce Arland IV and Keagan Johnson are going to be in the WR rotation.
— Zack Winiecki (@zackwiniecki) August 31, 2021
#qctimes OG Kyler Schott will be out "for a couple more weeks" per coach Kirk Ferentz
— Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) August 31, 2021
“It’s a night and day comparison.” Coach Ferentz on the strides made by QB Spencer Petras from last season. Says he made a couple “wow” throws last week.
— Zack Winiecki (@zackwiniecki) August 31, 2021
“Pretty sure Linderbaum will be at center….We’ll get to learn more about those guys Saturday.” Coach Ferentz adds they could play up to 8 o-linemen on Saturday.
— Zack Winiecki (@zackwiniecki) August 31, 2021
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.