Big Ten media day notebook: Kirk Ferentz’s pursuit of Hayden Fry’s record, roster updates and more
By Pat Harty
CHICAGO, Ill. – History could be made when the Iowa football team faces Northern Illinois in the season opener on Sept. 1 at Kinnick Stadium.
The key word being could because Hawkeye fans should know that there is no guarantee of a victory when Iowa faces a directional school from the Mid-American Conference.
Kirk Ferentz has 143 career victories at Iowa and needs just one more win to surpass Hayden Fry as the school’s all-time winningest football coach.
But to assume it will happen in the season opener is foolish and naïve based on recent history.
Northern Illinois defeated Iowa 30-27 in the 2013 season opener at Kinnick Stadium, and nearly pulled off an upset in 2012, losing to the Hawkeyes 18-17 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Iowa also has lost to Western Michigan twice and to Central Michigan once during Ferentz’s time as head coach, which dates back to 1999.
“I hate any of that kind of stuff,” Ferentz said Monday at Big Ten media day. “And my request, really, quite frankly, is going to be once we get to August, we’re going to talk about the (2018 season) and not what’s happened before.
“I realize it’s relevant right now, it’s a topic and I get that. And there isn’t much we can do about it right now. But once we get to August, it’s straight ahead and on to the 18 season.”
Ferentz’s pursuit of Fry’s record will remain a hot topic until Ferentz finally breaks the record. It should happen against Northern Illinois based on how the teams look on paper, but that doesn’t mean it will happen on the playing field.
Ohio State was vastly superior to Iowa on paper last season, but that still didn’t stop the Hawkeyes from dismantling the Buckeyes 55-24 at Kinnick Stadium.
Part of the beauty of sports is knowing that anything is possible when two teams square off.
Ferentz hates to assume any victory, because in addition to being risky, it also shows a lack of respect for your opponent.
The season opener against Northern Illinois will be played the day after the annual FryFest event is held in Coralville.
The circumstances will be ripe for a celebration, but that could also motivate the Northern Illinois players to perform at a high level.
Ferentz said Monday that he hasn’t heard any talk about the outcome of the Northern Illinois game being a foregone conclusion.
But it’s out there.
“I haven’t heard that, but I’m not traveling in the same circles,” Ferentz said. “I’ve been seeing more grand kids. They get in free and they don’t watch the games too close, I don’t think.”
Roster update: Ferentz confirmed the departures of six more players from the Iowa roster, including former City High standout Nate Wieland.
Wieland was one of the final pieces to Iowa’s 2017 recruiting class and was expected to play linebacker for the Hawkeyes.
He was redshirted as a true freshman last season and was slowed by injuries.
Wieland likely will transfer to a junior college in hopes of earning another scholarship to an FCS school.
Running back Cam Harrell also has left the team, according to Ferentz, and will transfer to another school after being redshirted last season.
Iowa also has lost three players due to medical reasons: linebacker Kyle Taylor, running back Toks Akrinibade and center Spencer Williams.
“All three of those guys are permanent medicals, they’re done playing,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz also confirmed that junior cornerback Manny Rugamba has left the team and will transfer to another school. Rugamba, who started eight games in two seasons at Iowa, already had announced his decision to leave Iowa on social media.
"We sat down sometime, I guess, in late June," Ferentz said. "We just kind of came to a mutual conclusion that it's probably the best thing for him to get a fresh start somewhere ele. You know, it's as simple as that."
Rugamba was considered a rising star after he made a significant contribution as a true freshman in 2016. His most noteworthy play was an interception that helped to secure a 14-13 victory over Michigan at Kinnick Stadium.
However, Rugamba was suspended for the 2017 season opener for violating a team policy and then struggled to earn playing time after that.
Brady Reiff update: Junior defensive tackle Brady Reiff will serve a one-game suspension after recently being arrested for public intoxication.
“I’m not pleased with what we learned about Brady Reiff this past weekend,” Ferentz said. “I had a chance to visit with him today and he’s going to go through a couple steps, but one of the items of interest is he’ll be suspended for the first game.”
High praise for Kinnick: Penn State defensive back Nick Scott has played in some of college football’s toughest road environments, but one stands out to him.
“I think Iowa is probably the hardest stadium I’ve played in personally just because the fans are literally yelling right on top of you,” Scott said Monday of Kinnick Stadium.
Penn State escaped from Kinnick Stadium with a 21-19 victory in last season’s Big Ten opener. Penn State receiver Juwan Johnson caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the closing seconds.
“Everybody’s heart was pounding, the players, coaches, fans, it was a great game,’ Scott said. “I tell people all the time, I have the utmost respect for how those Iowa guys competed and I have the utmost respect for the fans and how they back their team up.
“I’m very glad and fortunate that we ended up on the winning side of that game. It was a fun game for us. It was a classic Big Ten, two teams going to war. I’m happy we reaped the benefits.”