Iowa FB notebook: Chance for 10 wins; revenge factor; Kirk Ferentz is no Clint Eastwood; 24-hour rule
By John Bohnenkamp
IOWA CITY, Iowa – There is still something for Iowa to play for in Friday’s game at Nebraska, even if the Hawkeyes already have the Big Ten West Division title clinched.
Iowa could secure a 10-win season, which is big. So is winning the Heroes Trophy, which goes to the game winner in this rivalry.
But Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said on Tuesday that there won’t be any resting of starters to get ready for next week’s Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
“When I was in the NFL, we were never in a position to sit anybody down,” Ferentz said. “We were always fighting for our lives there too.”
Iowa has won 10 or more games seven times in Ferentz’s 25 seasons as head coach, so it is a number Ferentz appreciates. Which is why he wants the Hawkeyes to use the full available roster.
“I can’t think of too many times, at least hopefully, where I’ve ever assumed things are going to happen,” Ferentz said. “It’s usually pretty tough. If we could get 10, that would be really special, but it’s not going to be easy, that’s for sure.”
“It’s just about winning another game,” said offensive tackle Mason Richman. “There’s no downside to winning another game, especially for us. We’re really competitive, we want to go out there and compete and win. Obviously with a trophy game, we want to win.”
REVENGE FACTOR: Iowa had a chance to clinch the Big Ten West in last season’s finale against Nebraska, but the Huskers spoiled it with a 24-17 win.
Iowa has a chance to keep Nebraska from being bowl eligible — the Huskers come into Friday’s game 5-6.
Someone pointed that out to Richman during Tuesday’s media availability.
“That’s right,” he said.
But he also said that’s not a focus of the Hawkeyes.
“I think mostly we’re focused on ourselves, and going over and stealing a win from them,” he said. “It’s not really a revenge game, per se, because these are two different teams compared to last season. For us, it is just about going over there and competing. It’s going to be a really good environment. They’ll be ready.”
“It’s in the back of our minds a little bit,” wide receiver Nico Ragaini said. “It’s just another game on the schedule. We’ve got to do what we have to do to win.
“They have something to play for too. We know they’re going to come in and give their best shot, just like every time we play them.”
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NO EASTWOOD: It was pointed out to Ferentz that sometimes, when the Hawkeyes are coming out to the field before the game, that he’ll turn around and stare at them.
It’s not to fire them up, Ferentz said. That’s not his personality.
“I just do what I do,” Ferentz said. “I don’t beat my chest, I’m pretty sure I don’t do that. I don’t carry the flag coming out or lead the team. It’s a players’ game. It’s a players’ game.
“The way our guys walk out of the locker room, they’re incredibly slow. I turn around, and they’re way the hell back there. It’s not intentional. You just get out there, and what else are you going to do? I don’t know what I look like or any of that stuff. It’s not an act of bravado. I’m not Clint Eastwood, I guarantee you. I wish I was. Except he’s older than I am, so maybe I wish I wasn’t.”
24-HOUR RULE: Ferentz waived the team’s 24-hour rule — the Hawkeyes get to celebrate a win or be upset about a loss for 24 hours after the game before moving on — after last Saturday’s 15-13 win over Illinois that clinched the West Division.
He said he had trust that his players would come back focused and ready to work
“First of all, they earned it,” he said. “Secondly, I figure they can handle it. We used to do it a lot back in 2002, Hawkeye Sundays, just cutting the times down and rewarding guys for working hard. These guys have earned that.
“They were 100 percent on task Monday morning when we came in, so that’s really all you need.”
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INJURY REPORT: Ferentz said wide receiver Diante Vines and offensive lineman Beau Stephens are out of Friday’s game with their injuries, but center Logan Jones is still a “we’ll see” option.
“It’s one of those injuries that’s not going to go away,” Ferentz said. “He’s not going to get 100 percent healthy. Maybe in the bowl game he’ll have a chance to, but next couple weeks, that’s not realistic. It’s improving weekly. That’s the good news. If he does have a setback, he bounces back quicker.
“To quantify it right now, probably can’t do it. Probably be the same thing next week too, just keep inching along. He’s got a great attitude. I know he wants to be out there.”