By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Boone Myers was being interviewed by members of the media on Tuesday when his close friend and fellow Iowa offensive lineman Ike Boettger arrived at the Iowa Football Complex for the same reason.

They stood just a few feet from each other and answered many of the same questions about dealing with an injury-plagued senior season.

It was fitting in so many ways to see Myers and Boettger together because they share much in common, including the misfortunate of being injured at the same time, but also the satisfaction of knowing that they both have left an indelible mark on the Iowa program.

Being injured is a lonely and frustrating experience because you’re away from the team and unable to do things that you often take for granted.

So it helps to have somebody share your misery and to make those long and boring days of rehabilitation more tolerable.

“It’s kind of fun to have him around,” Myers said of Boettger, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Iowa State in week two. “We’re doing rehab together and stuff like that. And we both are coaching those young guys.

“You hate to see it. But I guess it is kind of good to have him around.”

Myers has been hobbled by a high ankle sprain that occurred in preseason practice. He withstood the pain enough to play in the first five games, including starting three games at left guard, but it reached the point where Myers had to shut it down and have surgery.

“It was just up and down all season,” Myers said of the injury. “It basically was just complications with a high ankle sprain. It just got to the point where it wasn’t working.”

Salute the seniors

Myers and Boettger will be among 18 seniors who will be honored before Saturday’s home finale against Purdue at Kinnick Stadium.

Senior Day is emotional under any circumstance, but there will be mixed emotions for Myers and Boettger after what they both have been through this season.

“It’s been frustrating, it’s been up and down,” said Myers, who has made 25 career starts. “But I thank the coaches and the medical staff for letting me play and putting me in there as much as they can.

“Now my role is just to help out the young guys, coach them up, get myself better, obviously, but help those young guys out and get them ready to play on Saturdays.”

Boettger was asked on Tuesday to describe this season.

“Just unexpected, I guess,” he said. “You work here for four years for your last year and that part of it just kind of sucks.”

Every injury sucks regardless of the timing. But to have your senior season ravaged by an injury makes it much worse.

“You think about two fifth-year seniors that have played a lot of really good football here, quality football and been great leaders and great team members, and unfortunately, they haven't been able to play over the last several weeks and won't play this week, obviously,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “Every class has a lot of stories. There's a story with every player, and those are the things that are tough for everybody. And I say it every year, but speaking on behalf of our entire staff, nothing but great admiration for any player that goes through the program, graduates from the university and does a great job representing our program and the athletic department.”

Similar backgrounds

Myers and Boettger both joined the Iowa program in 2013 under similar circumstances as lightly recruited players from Webster City and Cedar Falls, respectively.

Myers came as a walk-on offensive lineman after turning down a scholarship from Northern Iowa, while Boettger came with a scholarship, but as a project whose position would be determined after he joined the team.

Boettger played quarterback and tight end in high school, but his large frame had offensive lineman written all over it. And once Boettger joined forces with Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle, the transformation was underway.

Boettger now carries 307 pounds on a massive 6-foot-6 frame.

“Ike, the first time we met him was a high school quarterback I think coming out of his 10^th-grade year,” said Kirk Ferentz. “We liked him as a football player, had no idea what he would become, and what a good story there.

“And then Boone was a guy that walked on and turned down a full scholarship at an FCS school to come here. He kind of believed in us, and we certainly believed in him. Yet there wasn't enough maybe to document us or at least give us the confidence to offer him a full at that point, but everything about him we really liked, and it all came to fruition. He's got a great attitude, great work ethic, and he gave me a hug after the Ohio State game. I didn't realize how big he is. It's like getting hugged by a bear.”

Iowa’s offensive woes

It probably is no coincidence that the Iowa running game has struggled without Myers and Boettger on the field. They never started a game together this season and the Iowa offensive line has been average to below average without them.

The 6-5, 310-pound Myers has played both tackle and guard for the Hawkeyes, while Boettger had found a home at tight tackle.

Iowa’s running game without them was virtually non-existent against Wisconsin this past Saturday, producing just 25 yards on 26 carries during the 38-14 loss in Madison, Wis. Iowa was held to just 66 total yards, which is the lowest under Ferentz and the fewest yards for an Iowa team since 1944.

“We just played a team that's pretty mature physically, and there's something to be said for maturity,” Ferentz said of Wisconsin. “We talk about experience, experience and maturity kind of go hand in hand, and if guys are doing things right, they get better with every year, every step of the program. That's what they should be doing.

“You just can't diminish that, the importance of that, yet you can't dwell on it, either. It is what it is, and you push forward. To that point, we're in November now, so we all know what we're doing now, it's not August or September and we should be further down the road. Now the key is just to get consistency in our performance. That's a big key.”

Myers and Boettger know all too well about pushing forward in the face of adversity.

Boettger's adversity started the moment he was injured against Iowa State. He knew enough about Achilles injuries to realize it was serious.

"I honestly knew right away that it was probably the end," Boettger said. "I've heard of Achilles injuries. It's pretty evident. You can feel pretty evidently that it's not there.

"I knew probably 10 minutes after it happened that I was probably done. And then I was honestly hoping we were going to win the game. So that's all I was really thinking about."

Even with his college career flashing before him, Boettger's primary concern was the team. He came in with that kind of attitude, as did did Myers. And that is part of why they both have thrived as Hawkeyes because they fit the team-first culture under Kirk Ferentz.

More than just teammates

Myers hopes that he can return in time to play in the bowl game, while Boettger still is two to four months from being healthy, meaning his next challenge will be preparing for the 2018 NFL draft.

Myers and Boettger both will have a chance to compete for an NFL roster spot based on their size, talent and track record,

They combined to start 45 games at Iowa, and when healthy, each is a force in the trenches.

“It’s real tough, knowing guys like Ike, that’s my boy, Boone, he’s my boy,” said Iowa senior running back Akrum Wadley. “We’re all brothers and we work hard all year long. I know they would kill to be out there.

“It’s crazy because a few years ago I didn’t know any of these guys. Just over the years I was able to bond with them and become closer. And now they’re like my brothers.”

Wadley's statement shows that unlike a senior season, the bond between teammates can't be ruined by an injury.