By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa tight end Noah Fant said it was just pure excitement and that he meant no disrespect when he pretended to row a boat while scoring a touchdown against Minnesota this past Saturday.

It could be interpreted that Fant was poking fun at the much-publicized slogan of first-year Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck.

But Fant said Tuesday that wasn’t the case.

“It was out of pure excitement and pure competition,” Fant said. “I know a couple of the guys on their team. When it comes down to it, it’s just competition. It’s nothing personal. It’s nothing like that.

“I still had laser focus on the game. I was tuned in and focused on winning that game. It’s nothing that is a distraction.”

Fant’s row-the-boat celebration occurred when he scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nate Stanley early in the third quarter. His touchdown reception expanded Iowa’s lead to 14-0 and the Hawkeyes hung on to win 17-10 at Kinnick Stadium.

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Fant said his touchdown celebration also drew some negative feedback.

“A little bit,” he said. “Everybody is going to have their own opinion about it. I respect everybody’s opinion.”

Fant enjoys watching his teammates celebrate after scoring touchdowns, especially senior running back Akrum Wadley.

“When we have other guys on the team like Akrum when he does his celebration I love that stuff,” said Fant, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb. “That’s true excitement about a good play and I think that it does good for our team and I think it does good for the morale.

“When stuff like that happens, I go over there and pat (Akrum) on the helmet and tell him good job and stuff and I’m super excited for him as a player also because he’s putting his talents on display.”

However, there is a risk with celebrating, which Wadley experienced in the season opener against Wyoming when he had a long touchdown run erased for high stepping into the end zone. Wadley was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fant was asked Tuesday if the Iowa coaches have a problem with the players celebrating.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I won’t comment on that.”

The 6-foot-5, 232-pound Fant leads Iowa with five touchdown catches and is second on team with 299 receiving yards heading into Saturday's game against third-ranked Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium.

Fant said he also enjoys watching the NFL players celebrate after scoring touchdowns.

"I personally enjoy it and like watching it, but it's a different level, though, because in the NFL they're getting paid to do all that stuff and everything like that," Fant said. "It's a totally different place in college. But as a fan of NFL football, I don't think there's an issue with the celebrations.

"I think that stuff is funny and its gets peoples' eyes when you're watching it. And the teams in general seem to rally around it and they like what they're doing."