Iowa offensive lineman Ike Boettger deserved a better ending than this
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team’s 44-41 overtime victory at Iowa State this past Saturday will be remembered as a classic in which the Hawkeyes overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit to prevail in spectacular fashion.
It’ll be remembered for Akrum Wadley’s wizardry on the field, for Nate Stanley’s breakthrough performance at quarterback and for Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s game-winning touchdown reception.
But sadly, most of us probably will forget over time that the victory against Iowa State was also Ike Boettger’s last game as a Hawkeye, barring some unforeseen development.
And that’s a shame because Boettger from all reports is a fine young man and a good football player. You don’t start as an Iowa offensive lineman without being pretty special.
Boettger made his 21st career start this past Saturday and was poised to leave college as a three-year starter on the offensive line, mostly at right tackle.
Injuries are about the only thing the 6-foot-6, 307-pound Boettger hasn’t overcome as a Hawkeye.
“It’s tough. It’s hard,” said Boettger’s close friend and fellow Iowa offensive lineman, Boone Myers. “It’s the last thing you want for anybody going into his senior season. I don’t know what to say. It’s just hard. You don’t ask it upon anybody. You don’t ask it upon your enemies. It’s just something that rips your heart out.”
Boettger missed the final seven games in 2015 because of an injury and he missed one game last season due to an injury.
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When healthy, Boettger is a reliable and sturdy force at tackle. The Cedar Falls native earned honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media last season, and would’ve certainly been in consideration for league accolades this season, which continues on Saturday against North Texas at Kinnick Stadium.
“I just feel bad for Ike,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “Not only is he a good football player, but he's a great kid. He's a senior, so now something he was really looking forward to, you know, it's a tough deal.
“We'll move on. We'll live on. We have to. We've got no choice. That's the way it works. But you just worry about him. It's tough on him. He'll get back up on his feet and he'll be a good leader in his own way.”
Ferentz held out little hope when asked about Boettger’s chance for a medical redshirt.
“By the book, no, but, we live in a crazy world,” Ferentz said. “There is a quarterback I'm aware of that got an extra year because of a coaching change which I've never heard of that. I don't know what the precedent for that would be.
“But we've got a new line coach, maybe we can get him a year because of that. We'll see. Certainly different styles and personalities with those two guys, so I don't know. Got to look in that policy book they've got.”
Sports is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business and we saw an example of that on Tuesday as members of the Iowa media shifted their focus to the possibility of true freshman offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs now playing this season.
The media wasn’t being cold and heartless by moving on from Boettger, it was just doing its job.
“Next man in” is a phrase that Iowa rallies behind and it stands for so many good things, other than the fact that it involves somebody getting injured.
Ferentz raised a few eyebrows on the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday when he confirmed that Boettger injured his achilles and would miss four-to-six weeks.
Ferentz meant to say four-to-six months, and he clarified that to the Iowa media about two hours after being on the Big Ten teleconference.
"Did I say weeks? Yeah, that's a Freudian slip and wishful thinking," Ferentz said. "So more like four to six months.
As sort of a hidden gem in high school, Boettger represents so much of what the Iowa football program stands for under Kirk Ferentz. Boettger didn't have a long list of scholarship offers and he was overshadowed by his more celebrated high school teammate Ross Pierschbacher, who now starts for Alabama as an offensive lineman.
Boettger played practically every position in high except for the Iowa offensive line. He saw action at tight end, receiver, quarterback and defensive back in high school.
But he also had a large frame that responded well to Chris Doyle’s strength and conditioning program at Iowa.
Boettger came to Iowa in 2013 as a 6-6, 235-pound tight end. But within a year, he had switched to the offensive line and has since gained about 80 pounds.
The good news is that Boettger already has earned his undergraduate degree and has played enough to where the NFL will take notice.
It really wouldn’t be a surprise if Boettger made an NFL roster someday. He seems to have all the physical tools, and he has Kirk Ferentz on his side.
Boettger will need the support of the Iowa coaches and his teammates, along with his family and friends, to overcome this latest setback.
Recovering from an injury can be lonely because at some point the injured players get separated from the healthy players.
You could hear the pain in Boone Myers’ voice as he talked about Boettger’s injury on Tuesday. The Iowa offensive line is equipped to handle these kinds of setbacks, but it’s the personal side where it hurts the most.
Myers was speaking about his friend on Tuesday more than about losing a starting offensive lineman.
Boettger’s injury actually should lead to more playing time for Myers, but what a horrible way to get it.