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00:00 and better and you get your first shot out of the season.
00:02 - Oh no, that's definitely a goal of ours every week.
00:05 And being a Mike backer, that's a dream come true.
00:10 I mean, I just feel like we played a great game, top down.
00:13 I think we held them to 30 rushing yards.
00:16 I think they were leading the Big 10 or something like that.
00:19 So we knew how explosive their offense was.
00:23 We knew the challenge we were facing.
00:25 I mean, I just felt like we did a great job
00:28 handling their offensive weapons today.
00:31 - How was that really talented running back there?
00:33 What was kind of the key that slowed him down?
00:36 - He was really good.
00:37 It hurt to hit him.
00:40 So hopefully he's feeling a little sore, 'cause I am.
00:43 But he's really getting good at getting downhill.
00:47 And we wanted to make sure that,
00:49 we just trying to make him move his feet in the backfield,
00:52 make some cuts.
00:53 And their offensive line did a great job as well.
00:57 That's what we saw on tape.
00:58 We just didn't want to get turned out of gaps.
01:00 And I feel like that's really our main focus
01:03 is to be gap sound.
01:04 I feel like that's why our defense is successful.
01:06 - You allowed one touchdown last four games,
01:10 combined with one touchdown.
01:11 What is it about this defense
01:12 that's perpetually getting better
01:15 and stronger week by week here?
01:17 - I would say our head coach,
01:19 just what he preaches to us, always get better.
01:22 Then obviously you have coach Parker and coach Wallace,
01:25 who you guys know I'm high on them.
01:29 I mean, they let us know basically how to stop these guys.
01:33 And we come here every Saturday before the game,
01:35 and we're so confident in the game plan.
01:38 It's easy to go out there and play hard.
01:40 'Cause we know if we go out there and play hard
01:42 and do our job, everything should be okay.
01:44 - Jay, I know there's a lot,
01:46 you know, there's been a lot of criticism of the offense,
01:48 but they had no three and outs tonight.
01:50 They put forward 400 yards.
01:51 I mean, you go against these guys every day.
01:53 I mean, how happy are you?
01:54 Do you guys see the offense really get rolling?
01:55 - Yeah, and that Rutgers defense is really good.
01:59 I mean, these dudes were battling
02:00 with Ohio State last week.
02:03 So I just, hats off to the offense.
02:06 I think they did a great job,
02:08 especially to start establishing the run game.
02:11 That can be challenging in itself,
02:12 but I mean, we see these guys,
02:15 I mean, all fall camp, all spring ball.
02:17 I hate stopping the run against our own offense, honestly.
02:21 But it's good to see those guys finally,
02:24 finally get some recognition that they deserve.
02:26 I just feel like they've been doing this the whole time.
02:29 They show up to practice every week.
02:31 They give nothing but their best and I'm happy
02:33 for those guys.
02:34 - Jay, how fun is it as a defense to see, you know,
02:36 how many false starts just from crowd noise
02:39 and disrupting timing and all of that?
02:40 - Yeah, it helps us playing in Kinnick.
02:43 I mean, obviously the fan support.
02:46 And then especially when it comes
02:47 in a third and short situation where a third and two
02:50 turns into a third and seven,
02:52 I mean, that completely changes the play calls.
02:55 That completely changes the percentages of them converting,
02:59 getting that first down.
03:00 And obviously our job is to get off the field
03:03 in every third down.
03:04 So, I mean, I love playing in Kinnick.
03:07 That's kind of one of those things you get
03:09 for playing at home games.
03:10 - Can you explain the, like the mental toughness,
03:13 the resiliency that this team has shown all season?
03:16 - Yeah, we've been playing some really good teams
03:19 and these guys have their ways of hurting our defense
03:22 and just what this locker room has done.
03:26 I feel like we've done a great job of just staying together.
03:29 And that's what you're going to get out of Iowa team.
03:32 I mean, as players, it's our job to follow our leader.
03:35 And with Coach Farris being the leader that he is,
03:38 I don't think there's any surprise
03:41 when it comes to us being as close as we are.
03:43 - What kind of adjustments did you make?
03:46 Because in the first half, it seemed like
03:47 they were getting a little bit more passing yards on you.
03:50 So what adjustments were you able to make
03:52 to one of the passing yards in the second half?
03:55 - I just felt like their game plan kind of switched
03:59 just because the offense success,
04:04 their situations were different.
04:06 The Rutgers, they knew they had to get some points
04:07 on the board.
04:09 So we kind of knew what was going to happen.
04:11 We knew what to expect.
04:13 I mean, that quarterback, with him being a dual threat,
04:17 you got to make sure that you contain him properly.
04:19 Can't just blitz him.
04:21 Then you can't just play covers
04:23 'cause he can leave the pocket as well.
04:24 So I just feel like we did a great job
04:26 making sure our eyes and feet
04:28 and obviously being disciplined.
04:30 - What did you see on Quinn's interception?
04:32 - So happy for Quinn.
04:33 Quinn, Quinn's probably one of my closer friends,
04:37 like away from football.
04:39 So it was happy to see him out there.
04:41 I mean, guys, you're five.
04:43 You know, when you got a Cooper Dejean
04:46 that you guys love to cover,
04:48 so you won't miss a Cooper Dejean story.
04:50 But it's those fifth year guys
04:54 that the media kind of forgets about.
04:58 I mean, he's a two-year starter.
05:00 He shows up to work every day, does his job.
05:02 Like guys like that, that's who I appreciate.
05:05 Those are the dudes that I love to play against.
05:08 And just to see him get that moment.
05:11 I told him he should have celebrated a little bit longer,
05:12 but he was trying to run back to the sideline like Cooper.
05:15 So.
05:16 - I think we'll probably talk to you about this
05:18 on Tuesday a little bit, but thanks to other results
05:20 and what you've done,
05:21 you guys can clinch the West next Saturday at Kinnick.
05:24 What does that mean to you,
05:25 to knowing that you get to come back to this home crowd
05:27 with that opportunity?
05:28 - Yeah, it's good that the game's in Kinnick.
05:31 And we knew what was at stake, obviously.
05:35 And it was important to take it week by week.
05:37 So, I mean, now the test is here.
05:40 It's up to us to have a good week of preparation this week.
05:44 And I mean, honestly, it's just a, it's another game.
05:47 Every game's important.
05:48 So, if you've been thinking like that the whole season,
05:51 then everything should be okay.
05:53 - One more question.
05:53 - When you talk about Quinn,
05:54 just what are some things like behind the scenes
05:56 that you've kind of seen from him?
05:59 - Just behind the scenes, the free safety.
06:02 You guys can, I'm sure you'd like to do the history.
06:05 The free safety position.
06:07 The free safety position at Iowa.
06:09 It's not an easy job.
06:12 And that guy at the free safety,
06:15 he has a lot to do with the overall defense,
06:18 the overall coverage.
06:19 And we like to say his job's harder
06:21 than the mic in the building.
06:24 And for him to be able to do that two years in a row,
06:28 I felt like he's been doing a great job.
06:30 It's just when plays like that happen for him,
06:32 you know, it really makes me happy.
06:35 'Cause usually the play caller,
06:37 the guy out there communicating the most
06:39 isn't always the guy making the plays.
06:41 I'm just happy for him,
06:42 the way he communicates out there.
06:44 Him showing up every day.
06:46 And Coach Parker's his position coach.
06:48 So, I mean, you gotta be a tough dude
06:51 to make it to year five with Coach Parker.
06:52 - I mean, to have 400 yards offense,
06:55 you guys were really dictating tempo
06:57 on the offensive side of the ball.
06:59 - Yeah, I mean, that's a great number to see, right?
07:01 I know it's something we haven't seen
07:02 around here all year long.
07:03 But when you see it, you gotta be excited about it.
07:06 Really appreciate that.
07:07 Appreciate all the guys who've been working.
07:09 Everyone on the O-line.
07:10 Everyone on the skill.
07:12 I thought it was a complete team game.
07:13 You know, defense played their tails off.
07:15 Special teams set us up.
07:16 I think it was like five plays there
07:17 where Coop caught at the 50 every time, Fair caught it.
07:19 So, you know, a great team win.
07:22 That's what it's all about.
07:22 And, you know, we've just been working all week at it.
07:25 And finally, you know, it came through at the end,
07:27 but we got more work to do.
07:28 - This is the best we've seen Deacon Hill look all year.
07:30 How good is it to see him have such a game like this
07:32 and really take a step forward?
07:34 - Yeah, it's great.
07:34 I know, you know, maybe going into halftime,
07:36 not all the coaches were pleased with him
07:37 with that last play, but you know, he's been working.
07:40 He's kept his head down.
07:41 I'm really proud of him.
07:42 He just keeps working.
07:42 He's the same guy every day.
07:44 Ton of personality from that guy.
07:46 I mean, he's screaming before we would go out there
07:47 on the field.
07:48 And as we get off, he's screaming too.
07:49 And, you know, he's a really exciting,
07:52 really fun guy to block for.
07:54 You know, we really appreciate him
07:55 because he's been in a position this year.
07:57 I'm not sure if he knew he'd be in.
07:58 And just for him to step up and just work every day
08:02 and understand it's a process.
08:03 And no one expected him to be, you know,
08:05 literally at Cade McNamara's level
08:07 when he first came in there, you know?
08:08 But he's a great player and he's a great worker.
08:10 So over time, he's getting a lot better
08:12 and you guys are starting to see it.
08:13 So we just got to keep that going with him.
08:16 - How would you say the offensive line
08:17 was able to kind of overcome the injuries
08:20 that you guys are all dealing with
08:22 and put out a performance like you did today,
08:23 402 yards?
08:24 - Yeah, I think you have to.
08:26 I think football players, a lot of guys play hurt.
08:28 You know, all those like snap streaks, all this,
08:32 you know, start streaks, everything like that.
08:33 There's stuff that guys got to play through.
08:34 There's tons of guys on our team.
08:36 You know, you guys don't know.
08:38 We don't even know sometimes
08:39 what some guys are going through.
08:41 You know, for us, it's just about staying together,
08:42 staying poised and Coach Burnett did a great job all week.
08:45 And it was just getting some guys back in the fold.
08:47 Myself, Logan, I know Logan finished the game,
08:49 but he's, you know, he's itching to get back in there too.
08:51 And I know he's going to work his tail off.
08:53 He did all week.
08:54 He was in the training room all day
08:55 and Rusty obviously stepped up for us in a big way.
08:58 So, I mean, it's a revolving door,
09:00 but everyone's got to be ready to go.
09:01 And I'm just really excited to get back
09:02 to work with our guys.
09:03 - It seems like it went from three zero to 22 zero,
09:06 kind of in a hurry.
09:07 What do you kind of attribute
09:08 for that kind of light switch change in production there?
09:11 - So I was thinking about this out there
09:13 'cause I knew someone would ask
09:14 some question like that, right?
09:16 First half looks like Iowa football.
09:18 Second half was like, whoa, what the heck was that?
09:20 And I know some fans are going to be real,
09:24 sorry, upset about that last, that last kneel.
09:27 I might be on Scott Van Pelt's bad beats or whatever it is,
09:30 but hey, no, you know, we have this saying on our team,
09:34 it's called break the rock.
09:35 And what it is, is when I grow tired and weary,
09:38 is the saying, I look at a stone cutter
09:40 and I see him swinging his hammer at a stone
09:42 and he just keeps going and keeps going.
09:44 He doesn't stop.
09:45 He doesn't stop and look for cracks in that rock.
09:48 He doesn't stop, you know, wipe the sweat off his face.
09:50 He just keeps swinging his hammer.
09:52 And that's what this team's all about.
09:53 We don't look up looking for awards or anything.
09:55 We're nose to the grindstone.
09:57 We're swinging the hammer
09:58 and we're not resting until that rock breaks.
10:00 And when it breaks, we know it's not that one swing
10:03 that we did, but it's all the ones that came before.
10:05 So you guys will say, oh, 19 points came from this play.
10:09 This play, no, it came from everything before it.
10:11 Everything attributes to all the points we scored today.
10:13 Offense, defense, special teams,
10:14 everyone played their tails off.
10:15 I'm so happy for these guys.
10:16 - Along those lines, I mean,
10:18 the adversity you guys have faced in so many different ways,
10:20 from injuries to struggling on offense
10:24 for a couple of times, but yet here you are,
10:26 you're tied for the Big 10 West title.
10:29 You just have to clinch it next week.
10:32 What does that mean for this team
10:33 to put itself in this position right now?
10:36 - I don't think we're worried about position, quite honestly.
10:37 I think we're worried about ourselves.
10:38 We're worried about getting better.
10:40 You know, November isn't spelled in Big 10 West
10:43 or Indianapolis or anything.
10:44 It's N-O-V-E-M-B-E-R.
10:47 I got to make sure I spell that right.
10:48 That's how November's spelled.
10:49 That's what we're worried about.
10:50 That's what this team's all about.
10:51 KF's been preaching this stuff.
10:53 He's, I tell you what, guys, he's coaching his tail off.
10:55 Like, he's so happy for this team
10:58 and you just see it every day at practice.
11:00 He's coaching like it's August
11:01 'cause that's how he's wired.
11:03 That's what November's all about for us.
11:04 We're gonna keep chipping away at this thing.
11:06 We're not gonna keep our head up.
11:07 We're gonna just keep going, keep going,
11:09 see what we can get out of the whole thing.
11:11 - With the frustration and the criticism
11:14 that Deacon has faced, how has he not gone backwards?
11:19 What about him has got him going forward?
11:22 - You know, I'd like to say I think Deacon, you know,
11:26 doesn't pay attention to this stuff,
11:27 but I'd say that's pretty hard for college athletes,
11:30 especially ones who want to be really good.
11:31 And, you know, it's hard to keep your head down,
11:35 but for him, he's just been working his tail off.
11:37 And I think he's got a great support system.
11:40 I mean, all of us support him.
11:41 We're never gonna waver on this guy
11:43 and start looking at the other guys
11:46 in the QB room or nothing like that.
11:47 No, whoever runs on that field is our quarterback.
11:51 Don't matter what any of you in here say,
11:52 don't matter what anyone says,
11:53 we're riding with him the whole way.
11:55 You know, I don't hear criticism.
11:57 Maybe he does, but I know one thing,
11:59 he keeps showing up to work and that's all that I care about.
12:02 - Two more questions.
12:03 - I guess with kind of everything facing this team,
12:06 I know you guys have a 24 hour rule,
12:08 but I guess how do you kind of balance
12:11 between kind of relishing the fact
12:12 that you guys accomplished what you accomplished tonight
12:14 and the offense fan took that step forward.
12:16 And what about the way the coaches teach you guys
12:19 to kind of move forward past the 24 hour rule?
12:21 I guess, how do they teach you to really get in the mindset
12:23 24 hours and move on?
12:25 - Yeah, I think with wins, great question.
12:27 I think with wins, it's just about embracing that 24 hours
12:30 and really getting the most out of it.
12:32 You know, Coach Ferencz just told us,
12:33 like celebrate this one more,
12:34 but the 24 hour rule is 24 hour rule.
12:36 So you can do, you can celebrate a little bit more,
12:38 but you gotta be smart, obviously,
12:39 with these guys over the next 24 hours,
12:41 but we're gonna relish those.
12:42 And when it comes time to look at Illinois,
12:45 we're gonna start looking at Illinois,
12:45 but for now we're gonna really enjoy this one.
12:47 - And the saying that you were talking about,
12:49 like who brought that up, how did that come about?
12:52 - All that's just, we got rocks all over our weight room.
12:54 We got, you know, there's one in there, it's all over.
12:56 When we go out there on the field and stuff,
12:58 it's just something that's basically blood.
12:59 - Shut out today, one touchdown,
13:01 the last four games combined.
13:03 What is it about this defense that's getting better
13:04 and you guys are just, seem to be escalating
13:07 at the right time?
13:08 - Yeah, I just think we have a bunch of guys
13:09 that just bought in.
13:11 Everyone's bought into the culture,
13:12 bought into Coach Parker, bought into Coach Wallace,
13:15 and we just play for each other out there.
13:17 And we got some heck of a players, man.
13:19 So I'm really thankful to play behind that D line
13:21 and a great secondary, honestly.
13:24 And then the coaches that have just helped me get better.
13:26 And personally, and then the coaches just put us
13:28 in the right spot.
13:29 So really thankful to play in this defense.
13:31 - How are you able to slow them down?
13:33 I mean, I think 127 yards is what they ended up with.
13:36 - Yeah, I mean, I think it starts up front really
13:37 with the defensive line.
13:39 Those guys playing into blocks
13:40 and just really being physical within the run game
13:43 and trying just to get them out of things
13:45 that they really like to do.
13:47 But that's a heck of a football team we just played against.
13:49 And we knew that going in that,
13:50 they have a heck of a quarterback, heck of a running back.
13:52 And that D line just did a great job
13:55 just kind of controlling the line of scrimmage
13:56 and making the job easier for us that can end.
13:58 - Realizing there are still games left.
14:01 Is this season, this year,
14:03 been everything you hoped for, expected, wanted
14:07 when you decided to come here?
14:08 - Yeah, I could not be happier to be a Hawkeye, honestly.
14:10 I mean, anytime you go in the transfer portal,
14:13 you take a risk like that and stuff like that.
14:16 You just, you never know what you're going
14:17 to really get into, just the whole recruiting process.
14:21 And hats off to just Coach Wallace.
14:23 He's preached everything that he told me.
14:24 And I just, I'm really thankful to be a Hawkeye.
14:28 Like I can't, I can't even put into words
14:29 between the guys, the culture,
14:31 everything we go through practice, just working out,
14:34 everything, it just makes everything better.
14:37 And the guys just took me in and these are my best friends.
14:40 So I really appreciate being a Hawkeye and I love it here.
14:43 - Nick, take us through the journey
14:44 for the last maybe six weeks for you.
14:45 I mean, it seems like you were in a lot of coverage
14:47 for the first couple of weeks on campus,
14:49 but it seems like you've really kind of
14:50 been merged week after week.
14:51 What's this journey been like for you
14:53 just to kind of get to where you are now
14:55 and kind of learning the defense,
14:56 which it seems like you're ascending as the year goes on.
14:59 - Yeah, I mean, I'm just thankful for my coaches
15:02 and my players for keeping working with me, really.
15:06 Coach Wallace, he's been diligent
15:07 in just helping me out and just helping me
15:09 within this game.
15:10 I wasn't fortunate enough to have spring ball.
15:12 I had to graduate.
15:13 But no, when I came here in June, just learning with Jay
15:19 and then really getting out there and fall camp and stuff
15:21 and trying to learn the defense.
15:22 And every week just trying to improve.
15:24 And that's really just the mentality that I got to have.
15:27 And just knowing that every single week,
15:29 if we take a stride forward
15:30 and we're going to be in a good spot.
15:31 - You and Jay really rely on Quinn to help you.
15:34 How happy were you for him to get that pick?
15:36 - Oh my gosh, that was awesome.
15:39 I tried to block my butt off for that.
15:41 I ran as fast as I could and I didn't hit anybody.
15:43 So hopefully next time I can make it a little bit better
15:48 of a block for him and he can get in the end zone.
15:50 But I mean, Quinn's one of my best friends
15:53 and I'm really appreciative for everything he's done.
15:56 And that was just a heck of a play.
15:58 And you just love when a guy like that
16:00 makes a play like that.
16:01 - What was the key defensively
16:02 to slow it down in the running game?
16:04 I mean, that was the leading rusher in the Big 10.
16:06 Ran for almost 160 yards last week against Ohio State.
16:10 What were you guys able to do that was so effective
16:12 and shut that down?
16:13 - Yeah, I mean, I really just think it starts
16:14 with those guys up front.
16:16 The D line, I mean, they've just been physical all season,
16:19 day in and day out.
16:20 And whenever they can neutralize an offensive line like that
16:23 and just help us out to be free,
16:26 it makes our job a lot easier.
16:27 And so that D line, I mean, two, three deep in there
16:30 and they just come out and they hit
16:32 and they just make plays.
16:33 And it's really easy and really,
16:35 really thankful to be behind those guys.
16:37 - Two more questions.
16:38 - You can clinch potentially a Big 10 West title next week
16:42 here at Kinnick.
16:43 What would that mean?
16:44 - I mean, that's the objective.
16:46 I mean, back when you start this thing up,
16:48 I mean, that's the objective is you want to win
16:50 a championship, you want to win a title,
16:52 you want to win your division.
16:53 But I think right now we're just focused
16:55 on winning the next game.
16:56 And just, I didn't even know that was at stake really.
16:58 I mean, we just want to know every week is the mentality,
17:01 not trying to get too far ahead of ourselves,
17:03 enjoy this one tonight,
17:04 and then back to the film room tomorrow
17:06 and go through the preparation this week.
17:08 - What stood out about Quinn since he's been working with him?
17:11 - He's one of the smartest people.
17:13 He's a coach on the field.
17:14 When you have Quinn Schulte on the field,
17:16 you know he can get you in and out of anything,
17:18 and he's going to put you in the right spot.
17:21 One thing about Quinn is he's just going to watch
17:23 as much film as possible.
17:24 He's going to send you clips all throughout the week.
17:27 He's going to know the play better than you know the play.
17:29 And just anytime you have that guy communicating to you,
17:33 you know you're going to be in the right spot.
17:33 - Last week, you were able to have a pretty big catch.
17:36 This week, you were able to get in the end zone.
17:38 What's it been like, these last two games for you
17:40 to be able to make these contributions?
17:43 - It's been great for me, honestly.
17:45 I really can't put into words what it's like to experience.
17:48 It's just been crazy, but it's been easy for me.
17:51 You know what I mean?
17:52 Just go out and be with the guys that I'm always with
17:55 and just have confidence in them.
17:56 So it's been great.
17:58 - What do you feel like the offense did today
17:59 that it hadn't been doing in the first half?
18:02 - I would say just executing when they counted.
18:04 That was all.
18:05 It's just a matter of time, really.
18:07 That's all.
18:08 - Today, it seemed like you got a lot more opportunities
18:12 to make plays, and you made those plays.
18:15 Something different about the game plan today?
18:17 Did you guys see something that was an opportunity
18:21 for you to come in and really impact the game?
18:24 - Yeah, I wouldn't say it's anything like a huge difference.
18:28 Like I said, it was just a matter of time, pretty much.
18:31 Just for the whole thing to get rolling,
18:33 even for myself, it was just a matter of time, I would say.
18:36 - Kofie mentioned trusting the process earlier in the week
18:39 and to get in the end zone
18:41 to get the opportunities you have tonight.
18:43 Going back to high school and your journey so far,
18:45 I guess, how did today feel,
18:47 just when you take a look back at your journey
18:50 up to this point?
18:51 - Yeah, so a lot of emotions, I would say.
18:54 Just coming back to the sideline
18:56 and realizing what's actually going on before me.
18:58 'Cause being on the field, it's just a laser focus.
19:02 You're not really focused on anything else
19:03 but your opportunity, your job.
19:07 So just coming off the field, it was just crazy
19:09 to think about how I worked for this for so long
19:12 and just for it to finally pour out,
19:14 it's just, I would just say real emotional.
19:16 - How have you seen Deacon?
19:17 I mean, he's had ups and downs since he came in for K,
19:20 but how have you seen him just kind of deal with everything?
19:23 - The same way we all do.
19:26 Like it's going to always be a roller coaster.
19:29 You know what I mean?
19:30 I seen him just bounce back from all kinds of different stuff.
19:35 Y'all see what goes on.
19:36 But I just see him with his head up all the time,
19:38 smiling all the time and just trying to make things work
19:40 for what they are.
19:42 - What'd you see on that touchdown?
19:44 - What'd I see on it?
19:46 - Yeah, can you walk us through it?
19:47 - I just saw a guy pretty much more to my inside
19:51 and I knew I could beat him with speed.
19:53 So, you know, I did that
19:54 and it felt great to be in the end zone again.
19:58 - What changed kind of from first two and a half quarters
20:01 or so when things weren't really rolling
20:03 and then that kind of last quarter and a half or so
20:07 where you had kind of that offense outburst?
20:10 - Yeah, I mean, for me personally,
20:12 I can speak for myself, nothing really changed.
20:15 I would say we were like, for myself,
20:17 I was on the DBs, you know, playing and play out.
20:20 Like I said, once again, it was just a matter of time.
20:23 You know what I mean?
20:24 Guys get beat up and, you know,
20:26 they see a whole bunch of different things
20:27 and it was just a matter of time.
20:28 So it came about.
20:30 - How frustrating was it with the, you know,
20:33 two point conversion where you thought you're in,
20:35 goes to replay, it's kind of blurry,
20:38 but they called you short.
20:40 - Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.
20:41 I thought I was in, but, you know,
20:43 I was just looking to the next play.
20:45 You know, it was, that was another,
20:47 I would say emotional part for me.
20:49 It was just, you know,
20:50 it felt good to be in the end zone again.
20:51 It was only a two point conversion, but, you know,
20:53 it felt good and, you know,
20:55 I was just looking to the next play.
20:56 It really didn't matter to me.
20:57 You know, I knew we had time in the game.
21:00 I knew we would get the ball back.
21:00 So I told Deacon, hey, we'll get it again.
21:02 So, two more questions.
21:04 - After not being super productive
21:06 for those first few weeks,
21:07 getting your first catch last week,
21:08 and now today being super productive,
21:11 what does a performance like today do for your confidence
21:15 as a college football player now?
21:17 - It definitely boosts it a whole lot.
21:21 You know, just putting out what I can do.
21:23 Obviously I've done it in practice many times,
21:27 but just to actually be able to go back
21:29 and look at what I've done on film,
21:30 you know what I mean?
21:31 And in a real game situation,
21:33 it just brings a whole lot of confidence
21:34 knowing that I could put it on the field when I need to.
21:37 - Do you remember your last touchdown,
21:39 I guess, in high school?
21:40 - Last touchdown?
21:43 I don't even remember it.
21:47 That's crazy.
21:48 Yeah, honestly, I don't even remember it.
21:50 Remember my last touchdown,
21:51 but it felt good to be back in the end zone again,
21:54 though, for sure.
21:55 - When you look at Deacon's performance,
21:57 statistically, it's well beyond what he's done before.
22:02 He looked more comfortable out there.
22:04 Obviously the production showed it.
22:06 What was he like out there?
22:08 Was he different than he was in the past,
22:10 or was just the production and numbers that were different?
22:14 - No, I would say it was just the production.
22:16 I wouldn't say I've seen anything different from him.
22:21 Just coming locked in the same way he is,
22:23 and just hungry and ready to execute
22:26 the opportunities that we have.
22:27 So I wouldn't say I've seen anything different from him.
22:31 What I can do as far as just giving him confidence in me
22:33 and everything like that, you know what I mean?
22:35 But I haven't really seen anything.
22:37 - Nico, questions for Nico?
22:38 Welcome back.
22:41 It's good to see you again.
22:42 - It's good to see you guys.
22:43 - Very productive day for the offense.
22:47 Are there any kind of explanations
22:50 on how this came about,
22:51 especially against a really good defense?
22:53 - Yeah.
22:54 I don't know.
22:56 I think this whole year we've been working hard,
22:59 and obviously the beginning part of the year
23:01 didn't go how we wanted to with the offense,
23:03 but Coach Ferenc and all the other coaches
23:06 and everyone on our team knows
23:07 that it's just gonna take us getting in rhythm.
23:10 And today I felt like we found some rhythm in our offense,
23:14 and now we just gotta keep it going.
23:16 Could we stack this on next week?
23:18 And could we stack it on at practice,
23:20 continuing to work hard every single day
23:22 and get better every single day?
23:24 Just the typical stuff I always say,
23:26 we just gotta keep focusing on the little things,
23:28 and it'll take care of itself.
23:31 - Tell me at halftime, after you marched down there
23:33 and you threw the pick,
23:35 it's only three nothing, could've been a lot better.
23:37 What was it like at half?
23:38 How do you explain what happened in the second half?
23:41 - Yeah.
23:42 I feel like that drive right there,
23:44 it gave us life almost.
23:46 We drove the ball down the field.
23:49 A bunch of different guys were making plays for us,
23:50 getting it down the field,
23:51 and I felt something on that drive
23:55 that we almost turned the page a little bit.
23:57 Even with the mistake at the end,
23:59 it was something that we could build confidence on.
24:01 And I think we all saw that in the second half,
24:03 and that's pretty much what happened.
24:05 - Do you feel Deacon kind of growing,
24:07 developing in the second half?
24:11 - Definitely.
24:12 I mean, one thing, when Deacon first got here,
24:14 so obviously I'm old,
24:16 so I expect some guys to be my age,
24:19 and I asked him, like, "How old are you?"
24:20 "Like 22," and he was like 19 or 20 at that point.
24:23 So you gotta remember, guys are young,
24:26 and he's definitely growing in the past few weeks.
24:28 I'm proud of him, how he played today,
24:30 and that was definitely our best game as a unit,
24:32 and like I said, we just gotta keep going off of today,
24:35 keep building.
24:36 - Caleb Brown, no touches until last week,
24:39 and then today, super productive, gets that touchdown.
24:43 What's it like to see him finally
24:45 start to be part of the offense?
24:47 - Yeah, definitely.
24:47 I mean, that's one thing Coach Ferentz hammers on
24:49 all the time,
24:50 especially what Desmond King is our honorary captain today.
24:53 If you guys don't know, back when he played,
24:56 somebody got hurt, he got thrown out there,
24:58 and then never came out again.
25:00 So it's pretty, I can't think of the word,
25:03 but for Caleb to step in when Vines is down,
25:06 it's just another Iowa story that happens,
25:09 and I'm proud of Caleb.
25:10 He works hard every single day, all the time.
25:13 He was locked in this whole entire week, like he always is,
25:15 and it was no surprise to me that he made some plays today.
25:18 - How much of a confidence boost is a game where,
25:21 you know, 400 two yards?
25:23 - Definitely a pretty big confidence boost.
25:27 I feel like this was the best game we've played as a team.
25:31 The defense does what they do every single week.
25:33 Special teams did what they do every single week,
25:35 and the offense got it going today.
25:36 So if we could keep doing this,
25:38 obviously super confident in our team going forward.
25:42 - Last time you guys had 400, believe it or not,
25:44 was that 2021 game of Maryland.
25:46 So it's been 32 games.
25:48 I mean, is it a little exhale to have something like this
25:51 happen where you reach that?
25:53 I guess to get defense too.
25:54 - Yeah.
25:55 - I mean, I guess so.
25:58 It feels good for sure.
25:59 Today felt good, 100%.
26:01 It's a, I don't know.
26:04 It was a good feeling walking off the field today,
26:06 without a doubt.
26:07 - You guys have had to face a lot of adversity
26:10 and a lot of tough situations, especially on offense.
26:13 Yet here you are, you clinched a share
26:15 of the Big Ten West today.
26:17 If you win next week, you're going back to Indianapolis.
26:20 What does it mean, just the perseverance you guys have
26:22 showed, even though it's been a real grind this year
26:26 to put yourself in this position?
26:27 - Yeah.
26:29 It definitely has been a crazier year than most, for sure.
26:33 But Coach Ference has us locked in like he always does.
26:35 And all the guys know that that's how it's going to be.
26:39 Like, it's not always going to be a straight path.
26:43 You know what I'm saying?
26:44 It's going to be a rocky road sometimes.
26:46 Got to keep pushing it through.
26:48 And when the ball comes your way, make the play,
26:49 stuff like that, all that good stuff.
26:51 So just keep pushing, working hard.
26:54 - What's Kirk been like to get you guys to navigate through?
26:57 Can you kind of speak--
26:58 tell us what that's like?
26:59 - He's the same Coach Ference I've known for the past six
27:05 years.
27:05 I've been hearing the same things over and over.
27:07 At the beginning of my career, he
27:09 used to go in one ear, out the other ear.
27:11 But now being older, I realize that when he speaks,
27:14 it's like listening to the smartest guy you're ever
27:18 going to listen to.
27:20 So I don't know what I could give you that he says.
27:24 The same stuff, though.
27:25 He's always got us ready.
27:27 I don't know, he gets emotional all the time, which is cool.
27:30 That's one thing that I'll miss for sure,
27:33 coming to a close in my career.
27:34 So just taking everything in, enjoying it,
27:40 all that good stuff.
27:41 - Two more questions.
27:42 - What is next week going to be like?
27:44 One last run out of the tunnel for you?
27:46 - Yeah.
27:48 I don't know.
27:49 It just started hitting me.
27:51 My mom texted me a couple days ago,
27:53 or it might have been before the bye,
27:56 that there's 35 days until Thanksgiving.
27:59 And I was like, 35 days, and then I won't play in Iowa City
28:03 anymore?
28:04 It's just crazy.
28:07 I love being here.
28:09 It's the best decision I ever made,
28:10 even though it was the only decision I could have made,
28:13 because I had no offers.
28:14 But I'm glad it went that way.
28:16 So--
28:17 - Ben, what's this day kind of mean to you,
28:22 knowing all the work that you've put in over the past several
28:25 months and years leading up to this?
28:27 - Yeah, I think the biggest thing
28:28 is just trying to grow each week.
28:30 I felt I've gotten a little bit better each week
28:32 that we've been playing.
28:33 The same goes for the offense.
28:35 We've all been trying to work, and we
28:36 feel like we've been growing each and every week.
28:39 I think that really just showed today as a whole.
28:42 Not just me, I wouldn't be able to do it without the guys
28:44 around me, especially Caleb.
28:46 That offensive line played great today.
28:48 Running backs, everybody's all around.
28:50 After I thought Brian called a great game,
28:52 they put a great plan together.
28:54 And so I think it just shows what, as an offense,
28:56 how much we've grown.
28:58 - You look at that drive right before halftime.
29:01 Obviously, the end result wasn't what you wanted.
29:03 But the way to go from--
29:05 I think it was a minute 23 left in the half,
29:06 and it goes 70 yards, and you seem to really connect
29:10 with everybody.
29:11 What was that drive like, and how did maybe it
29:14 pull over in the third quarter?
29:16 - Yeah, regardless of how it ended, obviously not the way
29:19 I wanted, not the way we wanted it to end,
29:21 I think that it built momentum.
29:23 And it was like, all right, guys, let's just keep doing this.
29:25 We know we can do it.
29:27 We just did it.
29:28 So let's just keep it rolling in the second half.
29:30 I think we did a great job with that.
29:32 - Does the game feel like you needed just a confidence boost
29:35 going into your last couple of games of the regular season?
29:37 - I think so.
29:38 I mean, like I said, growing each week,
29:41 and I thought I took a good step forward today.
29:44 But the biggest thing is just continuing
29:45 to take a step forward next week and the following after that.
29:48 - What's the biggest thing that you
29:50 think you've learned over these last five or six games
29:54 or you've been at UB won?
29:56 - It's just how I carry myself, maturing as a player
29:59 and as a person.
30:00 I know there's a lot that comes with being a starting
30:03 quarterback at Iowa.
30:05 And obviously, having Spence around me to uncage,
30:07 to do that with me, has been really nice.
30:09 And so I think that's the biggest thing I've seen
30:11 myself is just maturing and handling myself better.
30:14 - As the game went on, I think you had eight straight
30:17 completions at one point.
30:19 Do you feel your confidence growing as that goes on
30:22 and as you keep making these positive plays
30:24 or are you just locked in from the get-go?
30:26 - Yeah, I think it's just a rhythm that you get into.
30:29 You kind of just black out.
30:31 And it's kind of just like, OK, I know what I'm doing.
30:34 Trust your fundamentals.
30:35 Trust your base.
30:37 And I think it's just building a rhythm within it.
30:39 And so--
30:40 - Was this the first week that you really
30:41 trusted your fundamentals and felt that rhythm?
30:44 - Yeah, I think today was a big--
30:47 I really felt and trusted myself and what I was saying,
30:50 trusting what the coaches have been telling me.
30:53 And it worked out.
30:55 - It wasn't just a big game for you, but for Caleb Brown, too.
30:59 What does that mean for you to have a weapon like that?
31:02 And now, I don't know, you guys build some cohesion,
31:05 not just in practice, but on the field.
31:08 - Yeah, I think we all know what Caleb was capable of
31:11 and how he was going to do it.
31:12 I think it was just a matter of when it was going to happen.
31:15 It just happened to be this game.
31:16 And so I think I'm really happy for him.
31:19 He came up to me just outside right here,
31:21 and he's like, let's just keep this thing going.
31:23 And so I'm excited.
31:25 - In those short yard situations,
31:27 they're calling your number a lot to go in and sneak the ball.
31:29 How does it feel hearing that?
31:31 And do you like getting in there with the big guys
31:33 and getting that one yard?
31:34 - Yeah, I'm a fan of the QB sneak.
31:37 I don't think that's a secret.
31:38 But yeah, I mean, short yardage, I kind of
31:42 know it's coming in.
31:44 But yeah, it's fun to get in there a little bit.
31:46 - You like sneaking deacon?
31:48 - Yeah, I've been called that a lot recently.
31:51 So yeah, I like to get in there, do some dirty work.
31:57 - When you look at the defense you guys faced,
31:59 one of the better ones in the country,
32:01 certainly stopping the run and being very physical.
32:04 Yet the offensive line, as patchwork as it's been,
32:06 as banged up as it is, kept you pretty much dry, I guess.
32:12 Really did a good job there.
32:13 What is it about this unit and on the offensive line
32:16 that's been able to really take these steps forward?
32:19 - I think it's how close knit they are.
32:21 They travel everywhere together.
32:23 Hotel, when we go to the hotel, they have a huge table for all
32:26 of them to sit together.
32:28 I think they're playing iPhone games.
32:30 You walk into one of the rooms and it's
32:32 just the entire offensive line sitting on the beds
32:35 and the ground playing iPhone games together.
32:38 But I think this is a testament to them.
32:40 They hold each other accountable really well.
32:43 Yeah, I think it's just a testament
32:44 to how close they are.
32:45 They've done a great job with that, being super tight knit.
32:49 Next man up, that whole saying and all that.
32:52 But yeah, they've done a great job
32:53 just being close knit and holding
32:54 each other accountable.
32:55 - What have you done mentally as this thing
32:58 has gone along this year?
33:00 How have you kept positivity in your game?
33:04 And what have you done to help yourself?
33:06 And what have others done to help you?
33:09 - Yeah, I think kind of looking back at the tape.
33:12 And if you go back to Michigan State when this first happened,
33:17 I think there's been growth.
33:18 And I think that's the biggest thing,
33:20 is just seeing that growth is what gives me confidence.
33:24 And then just talking to Spence, Nkade, Coach Budd, Brian,
33:29 they've all been there.
33:30 So talking to them, talking through everything.
33:35 Then trusting that Coach Budd always
33:36 tells me you're here for a reason, so trust that.
33:40 And so I think it's just the biggest thing
33:41 is just trusting myself and that growth
33:43 that I've seen over the past month or so, whatever it is.
33:48 - When you talk about trusting yourself, is that hard to do?
33:51 Is that something you've kind of had a bit of process to do?
33:55 - Yeah, sometimes it can be tough,
33:57 especially before Michigan State.
33:59 I hadn't played real meaningful snaps or football
34:03 since high school, I want to say.
34:04 So trying to get back into that rhythm
34:07 and trying to understand what I'm trying to do
34:11 and what the team needs me to do.
34:13 And just get back on the field and get into that flow,
34:15 I think can be tough at times.
34:17 But staying level throughout all of it is the biggest thing.
34:22 - What's been Spencer's message to you?
34:24 - Yeah, he's just like, keep pushing forward.
34:27 Ignore everything else.
34:28 The only guys that matter are in the building.
34:31 And that's been the biggest thing for me,
34:32 is just really only talking to the guys in the building.
34:36 I'll talk to my family, too.
34:37 Don't get me wrong.
34:39 I love my family.
34:39 But my family knows not to text me during the week,
34:43 just because I'm pretty focused.
34:45 But I think it's the biggest thing
34:46 is just making sure there's no need to explore the outside.
34:50 Just be within the group, be within the team.
34:53 - How difficult is that mentally?
34:54 I mean, not to go to social media,
34:56 not to even talk to people outside the building.
35:00 But then you have Spencer who dealt with it.
35:02 Kate dealt with it a little bit here,
35:04 but certainly at Michigan, and John at Wisconsin.
35:08 I mean, how much do you draw on that?
35:10 And how much mentally do you just
35:11 kind of have to avoid things, triggers that could really
35:16 kind of mess you up?
35:17 - Yeah, I think it's just taking it away completely.
35:22 There's no need to look at it or be anything.
35:26 I'll text my friends from back home, like my best friend.
35:29 I'll talk to him all the time.
35:30 And it's really just talking to the people
35:32 that you know, you love and trust,
35:34 and what they want what's best for you.
35:36 So just making sure you talk to those people the most
35:37 is the biggest thing.
35:38 - Two more.
35:39 - Longest last play of the year is now to Zach Orworth.
35:42 Walk us through that play and just what it's taken,
35:45 aside from Andrew's run, to be in a position to be
35:47 playing with him successfully.
35:48 - Yeah, so I mean, play, action, play.
35:52 We were expecting quarters.
35:53 They hopped into it.
35:56 Zach was on the shaft route, turned around.
35:59 And I threw the ball.
36:00 And obviously, it's his first catch.
36:02 And I could see his face pretty well.
36:03 And I saw his eyes just like, the ball's coming.
36:09 But he's done a great job all year.
36:11 He did a great job in Wisconsin when he came in.
36:13 He's done a great job every time he's been in there.
36:15 And so I had no doubt at all that if I throw the ball
36:19 anywhere in Orworth's area, he's going to come down with it.
36:22 He's got a lot of confidence in himself.
36:23 I know the coaches and the team's got a lot of confidence
36:25 in him.
36:26 - Were you surprised that he was that open?
36:29 - I wasn't expecting to throw that route.
36:33 But it was there.