Inside The Hawkeyes
  • last year
Kirk Ferentz, Joe Evans Citrus postgame
Transcript
00:00 Well, certainly disappointing end to a really special season and a really special group
00:07 of people.
00:08 Our players, our staff just did a phenomenal job all year long.
00:12 So I'm just really proud of their efforts going back to January, but certainly since
00:18 we got going in August.
00:20 And we competed today, I thought we prepared well.
00:24 Obviously just weren't up to it.
00:25 Tennessee played an outstanding game, so an awful lot of credit to our opponent.
00:31 Clearly the self-inflicted things, the things that you can't do if you're going to win football
00:36 games, whether it's not making the makeables offensively, penalties, a couple penalties
00:41 at inopportune times, and certainly turnovers.
00:45 I think that's as important a stat as there is, and certainly impacted the game today.
00:49 So that part was disappointing.
00:53 Their offense, they're really well coached, and they really present some unique challenges
00:58 on the defense, or for our defensive football team.
01:00 And I thought we gave up a couple drives there, but settled in, and we're doing a lot of good
01:05 things there.
01:07 But they're a tough challenge.
01:08 There's no question about that.
01:10 So just questions about the future, all that stuff, really not worried too much about that
01:16 right now.
01:17 Don't want to get too global with our thinking, but my thoughts are really with these players
01:22 and just the stories that they are, especially our senior class.
01:25 It's just been a great, great group of guys, and Joe's representative of that.
01:30 Stayed for a six year, just hardworking guys that really care about the right things.
01:35 They've been great teammates, and then these guys have been great, great leaders.
01:38 So it's always tough when you have to say goodbye to the guys that played their final
01:44 game.
01:45 Some guys are going to go to the NFL, some guys are going to certainly attempt for that
01:48 and wish them the best.
01:49 But at some point, everybody gets on to their adult life and their life's work.
01:55 And I'm really confident they'll all do really well.
01:57 They're all just top notch guys.
01:59 So just appreciate their efforts, the leadership they gave us, everything they've done.
02:04 And again, just really proud of our football team.
02:07 Disappointed today, it never feels good after a loss.
02:10 Can't remember one.
02:11 And if you do this, compete, any time you go out there, it could go this way.
02:16 The game is humbling, and always has been, always will be.
02:19 But I've got to just encourage everybody to step back.
02:22 It's 10-win season, Big 10 West champs.
02:24 A lot of really good moments, and these guys have really overcome a lot of adversity and
02:29 a lot of unique challenges.
02:31 Those are things that really serve them well moving forward as they go into their adult
02:35 lives.
02:36 And for the guys coming back, we'll build off this.
02:38 But just really proud of everybody.
02:39 Shannon Ehrhardt, KCCI.
02:52 Joe this one's for you.
02:54 What more could you have done defensively as a unit?
03:00 I think we could have honestly handled their tempo better.
03:03 We tried to emulate that in practice.
03:07 It's a tough thing to do.
03:10 You know, when they're getting a playoff every 10 seconds, every 15 seconds, definitely
03:16 think that we could have done a better job of that.
03:19 Stopping the run.
03:20 We were playing with a light box, but I think we could have done a better job there.
03:24 And just from my standpoint in the defense line, just playing better with our hands and
03:28 better in the fundamentals and stuff.
03:34 Scott Dochterman with The Athletic.
03:36 This is for Kirk.
03:38 At what point were you thinking at all at halftime about inserting Marco Lainez into
03:43 the lineup?
03:44 And then what did you think of the spark that he seemed to provide for your team once he
03:47 was playing?
03:48 Yeah, I don't know if it's critical when we thought of it.
03:52 We came into the game considering it.
03:54 Marco's done a really good job.
03:56 The improvement he's made, you know, he basically started with us in August.
04:01 So the improvement he's made, it's been really impressive.
04:03 He's a great young guy, great attitude.
04:06 So you know, but he was, it's hard to practice three quarterbacks.
04:10 He certainly got work as the season went on.
04:14 But you know, he's still got a lot of learning to do, a lot of time in front of him and all
04:17 those types of things.
04:18 But yeah, he went and competed like you'd think.
04:21 He's got some things to learn.
04:23 All this will be a good experience for him.
04:25 Something to draw upon and doesn't burn a year of eligibility.
04:27 So it's a good thing.
04:28 Hey Kirk.
04:29 Chad Leyes, Dakota Winter Register.
04:33 Just following up on Scott's question.
04:35 Just what you said there, you thought about playing Marco in this game or thought about
04:40 starting him in this game?
04:41 No, not starting.
04:42 No, he's, he's practiced well.
04:46 You know, so you know, you think about that with all your guys, we played a couple of
04:49 young backs a little bit today.
04:50 And I think about all the guys, but I mean, obviously we felt our best chance to win because
04:55 we started Deacon and played Deacon the majority of the game.
04:58 We thought they gave us our best chance to win at some point.
05:01 You know, he just felt like making a change would be the best thing.
05:05 So that's what always drives every personal decision.
05:08 Hey Joe, Elliott Clough, Rivals.
05:13 With a quarterback like Nico, obviously he's well regarded, five star coming in.
05:18 What kind of challenges did he present in terms of the fact of just how mobile he was?
05:24 And then to follow that up, Kirk, speaking about Marco, did you like that, that added
05:31 dynamic he brought in terms of the mobility there as well?
05:35 Yeah, he definitely presented a lot of challenges.
05:39 Just, I mean, you talk about, you know, when you have to defend, you know, too fast, it's,
05:45 you know, rather than be in the passing game or the running game, it's definitely a lot
05:49 tougher.
05:50 And he's a very mobile guy and you were able to see that today.
05:53 So I mean, hats off to them, hats off to their team.
05:57 They played a really well game.
05:58 Hi Kirk, John Steppe.
06:01 Oh, sorry.
06:02 Let me finish that question too.
06:05 But yeah, just, you know, any anybody can run in any position is a good thing.
06:11 But you know, again, he's a young player, he's got a lot to learn.
06:14 And he's got a good future.
06:16 He's got good throwing skills, running skills.
06:20 But just, you know, Deacon's obviously got a lot of experience through this season.
06:23 He's done a lot of good things for us.
06:24 So that was kind of the decision.
06:26 But we'll let her by competing in the spring, see where it all goes.
06:29 Hi Kirk, John Steppe, Cedar Rapids Gazette.
06:32 I think this is now 14 scoreless quarters against ranked opponents.
06:36 What do you attribute that to?
06:37 I got to apologize.
06:38 My right ear still isn't popped since we landed.
06:40 I've got some sinus stuff going on apparently.
06:44 So it's about four, I believe it's 14 quarters that you've been scoreless against ranked
06:49 opponents.
06:50 So what do you attribute that kind of consistent problem from this year, last year?
06:55 What do you really attribute that to offensively?
06:56 You know, I think offense is pretty complicated.
06:59 It's a team effort.
07:00 I'll just say this and again, I don't want to get too global on things.
07:05 We've played some top 10 teams, we've been a top 10 team.
07:08 So I think we know what it takes and what it, you know, what's required.
07:13 Typically for us, at least the last 25 years, everything's got to work together.
07:17 And certainly at Dent, and Dent today.
07:19 It's pretty obvious out there.
07:21 But usually, whether it's this year or 1999, you know, if you turn the ball over, if you
07:27 have negative yardage plays, if you don't make the makeable plays, it's going to be
07:31 tough unless you just got great personnel.
07:34 So you know, that's just kind of the nature of football.
07:38 So it starts with those things.
07:39 And then, but obviously the players and the experience all play factors into that.
07:44 But I mean, you know, we've played at that level, we've played teams at that level, we've
07:47 beaten teams at that level.
07:49 So it's not like this is, you know, we're talking about something, you know, none of
07:52 us are aware of.
07:53 We just got to get better.
07:55 And we will.
07:56 That's the plan.
07:57 We'll start that work in about two weeks.
08:01 Coach, this is Rick Coleman from KWWL-TV.
08:06 That first opening couple of series, great punt from Torrey and then pinning them deep
08:13 and then getting the ball back inside their 50-yard line and you able to drive downfield
08:19 and pretty much almost put it in.
08:21 How big was that interception?
08:23 That's a real good example of like, that's who we are, our margin for victory.
08:27 At least this year has been really tough.
08:29 It's pretty much been that way for 20-some years.
08:32 But this year, for instance, for sure, all right, our, you know, we got to thread the
08:37 needle.
08:38 So when you do good, good field position and then take it down inside and give yourself
08:43 a chance to come out of the touchdown and don't, that's not good.
08:47 And then the worst offense was not getting any points.
08:50 Big difference between three and seven.
08:53 It's obviously four, but, and just to start building some momentum, but that's a good
08:57 example.
08:58 And then I think it was shortly thereafter, we missed a chance to pin them down, which
09:03 is not characteristic too, but, you know, they get the ball at the 20 and just those
09:07 little things like that are, they're big factors in football games and, you know, the world
09:12 we live in, we have to really pay close attention to that's when you do get down there.
09:17 You know, it just, it kills momentum and that's where those turnovers, there's no good place
09:21 for a turnover.
09:22 We had one at the other end and that was kind of, you know, the game was over at that point
09:26 and we give them the ball in the two yard line.
09:28 So, you know, it's just, it's all those little things are really critical.
09:33 Kirk up.
09:34 Kirk up.
09:35 Blake Hornstein.
09:36 Blake Hornstein, Hawkeye headquarters.
09:39 Nobody in the history of college football has more punting yards than Torrey Taylor.
09:42 How impressive is that feat to you?
09:45 I think I've said it many times.
09:46 First of all, Torrey is just an exceptional young guy.
09:51 Came here as a guy really naive to college football.
09:53 There aren't many of them around in our country.
09:55 Like, you know, just fans, everybody, everybody was an expert on football, but this guy had
10:00 no knowledge.
10:02 So I'll never forget that the first game in Purdue during the pandemic.
10:06 And he had a strong leg, obviously could, you know, kick a ball, punt a ball.
10:11 But what he's done over four years time, the way he's refined his skills, the way he's
10:17 developed, you know, just a repertoire of different ways to punt.
10:22 You know, it's very impressive.
10:23 And then most impressively, I think, is the work ethic that he displayed.
10:27 Because you don't do those things by accident.
10:29 It's true at every position.
10:31 To really master what it is you do, it takes a lot of work.
10:34 And I don't care if you're 34 years old and still playing, there's always work to do.
10:39 So I think that's the biggest thing I'll take away with Torrey is just his work ethic, his
10:43 attention to detail, the pride that he has, pride in his performance.
10:47 And by doing all those things, he's like all these seniors.
10:50 He's set a great example for younger guys.
10:53 Not just punters, but anybody that's paying attention.
10:56 This guy's, I think, the best in the country.
10:59 So how'd that happen?
11:00 It just didn't fall out of the sky.
11:02 And that's what you learn in the game is people get good through hard work, through detail,
11:07 perseverance.
11:08 Not every day's a great day.
11:10 That's how you get good at anything.
11:12 And so guys, Joe, Torrey, I can go right down to all these guys as seniors.
11:17 That's the bar that they've set.
11:18 And they've been really good examples for our young guys.
11:20 Just hope like Kelby, young guys are paying attention.
11:23 Some pay attention a little better than not.
11:25 Jay Higgins, great example.
11:27 You learn a hell of a lot from some of the guys that were in front of him and playing
11:30 his tail off.
11:32 Kirk, Jack Beda with KCRG in Cedar Rapids.
11:35 I noticed after the quarterback change, Deacon Hill took off his helmet and put a metaphorical
11:40 arm around Marco and stayed that way.
11:43 You've been around football a long time.
11:45 Is that significant?
11:46 And if so, how significant is that?
11:50 I just think it's who our guys are.
11:57 It's who our guys are.
11:58 I'll go back to earlier.
12:01 When things were not going as good, Deacon struggled, obviously.
12:05 It was tough for him.
12:06 It's a tough thing.
12:07 You've got to understand, he didn't have much experience.
12:08 I explained that earlier.
12:09 But the one thing that's pretty consistent, I think, from all of our players is what they
12:13 said about Deacon.
12:14 Those guys all had respect for him, cared about him.
12:17 And if it wasn't going well, they supported him.
12:20 So again, that's part of being on a team.
12:23 And today wasn't his day.
12:25 The new guy goes in and he's right there.
12:28 It's about being aware of things.
12:30 And again, that's the great thing about football.
12:33 You're not the only guy on the team.
12:34 And you're not the only guy that is important.
12:37 And I think for the most part, our guys at least figure that out a little bit, especially
12:41 these older guys again.
12:43 And Deacon's not an old guy.
12:44 But I'm just really proud of that.
12:46 That's what you expect.
12:47 That's what you hope for.
12:48 But you don't always see it.
12:52 Michael Lost, Cedar Rapids Gazette.
12:54 Kirk, I'm not trying to antagonize you after what you said at the opening remarks.
12:59 But we're looking ahead after bowl games every year.
13:03 Do you know what you want and need the most from your next offensive coordinator?
13:10 Things really haven't changed much since whatever I said in December or two days ago.
13:14 So first of all, I want a guy who's going to be a really good team player.
13:18 Obviously, they've got to have expertise in their area, like all of our coaches.
13:23 And they've got to be good people.
13:24 They've got to be guys who are going to mentor the players they work with.
13:29 They've got to be people that understand a team is a team.
13:36 And I go back to my time in the '80s, the thing that made Iowa so special.
13:40 I came from a place where we had ultra talent.
13:43 We coached the national championship team down to number two.
13:46 And I'll say that.
13:48 I'll go on record saying that one.
13:50 Mainly because we had phenomenal players.
13:53 I mean, Marino, I mean, go right down the list.
13:56 Phenomenal players, but had dysfunctional coaching staff.
13:59 A lot of guys worried about themselves and their profession, their careers, all that
14:04 stuff.
14:05 I came to Iowa in '81, you know, Willie off the pickle boat.
14:08 And it's like just the opposite.
14:10 We had, you know, talent, but not the kind of talent we had at Pitt.
14:13 We had a staff that was just unbelievably cohesive.
14:18 And you know, the bottom line is guys all cared about one thing, the players they coached
14:22 and the team being successful.
14:24 So you know, that's what the game's about.
14:26 That was as good a nine years of my life as I've had being on that staff.
14:31 And so when I came back here 25 years ago, one goal I had was trying to get people, you
14:36 know, good coaches, but people that, and you know, a couple of experts killed me on our
14:40 first staff, right?
14:42 Joe Philbin, Norton Parker, Vanderbilt, you know, all that stuff.
14:45 And you know, just you try to hire the right people, that's all.
14:50 And then everybody's got to work together and you move forward.
14:52 What we do is not rocket science.
14:53 I mean, you know, again, we're not saving lives or any of that stuff.
14:58 We're coaching football.
14:59 But how they are in front of the players, critical.
15:03 How they are with each other, critical.
15:05 And obviously they got to be great representatives of our university.
15:07 We coach in college, not an NFL team.
15:10 So there's responsibility there too.
15:12 You know, what you do in the community, go right down the list.
15:15 That stuff is important.
15:16 So there's a lot of things that, you know, are important and, you know, read somewhere
15:21 earlier that, you know, boy, this is a big, you got to get it done, you know, all that
15:25 kind of stuff.
15:26 I just want to get it right.
15:27 That's my responsibility as head coach is to get it right, period.
15:31 Get the best guy we can get.
15:33 And I feel great about it, but you know, that's another story for another day too.
15:37 And get back to Iowa, start working on that in earnest as well.
15:41 My focus has been more so on our team because that's really my number one responsibility.
15:45 Keep the Cape saying me or I, but anyway, you get the idea.
15:52 Okay.