Kirk Ferentz looking forward to returning on sideline with Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY, Ia. — After serving a one-game suspension, the Iowa coach is eager to be back with his team in front of all the fans at Kinnick Stadium this Saturday.

Kirk Ferentz had to watch the Hawkeyes’ season-opener from his television at home, which he thought was a weird situation. After all, he didn’t get to experience the electric atmosphere in the venue, couldn’t do anything for the players, and his normal routine was off-schedule.

Like millions of College football fans across the nation, Ferentz found himself being a couch potato, and tried his best to enjoy the moment.

“Last Saturday was certainly a unique experience, there wasn’t much good about it,” Ferentz said. “It’s sterile, and you’re pretty much helpless, not that I do a lot during games anyway, I’m not playing, but you have a total feeling of disconnection, so it was really strange.”

Ferentz is proud that Iowa made the necessary adjustments, and was victorious over Illinois State. However, a bigger challenge looms when he returns to the sideline. Iowa State (1-0) will invade Kinnick Stadium, and Ferentz knows how intense the Cy-Hawk rivalry can get.

Not to mention the Cyclones won their last trip to Iowa City. The No. 21 Hawkeyes have a lot of momentum after last week though, and for several reasons. Iowa recorded a shutout victory, new Offensive Coordinator Tim Lester made a splash in his debut, and quarterback Cade McNamara performed well in the pocket.

Now everything appears to be trending up as the Hawkeyes approach the matchup with their in-state rival. It just so happens that Ferentz is 6-1 against Iowa State’s Matt Campbell. Iowa (1-0) is also favored in the contest. Still, Ferentz refuses to take the Cyclones lightly. Campbell has talent on both sides of the ball too, and the Cyclones appear to be one of the Big 12’s best teams in Ferentz’s eyes.

“I have a lot of admiration for their staff, they have a really good coaching staff, and they’ve done a great job since Coach Campbell arrived,” he said. “They have a veteran football team, they’ve recruited well, they coach their guys well, and each and every year there’s a good program and a good team.”

What Ferentz doesn’t want is for the Hawkeyes to get off to another slow start like they did against the Redbirds. Campbell’s squad is known for being a scrappy bunch, and they thrive on capitalizing off mistakes made by their opponents.

Iowa’s defense will set the tone early, help dictate the flow of the game and put the offense in favorable field position. Kicker Drew Stevens is off to a hot start after nailing two field goals in game one, including a 42-yarder. Ferentz is anticipating a dogfight, so he’s going to need Stevens to be clutch.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has Ferentz’s full attention, with his grit and leadership. Becht completed 20 of his 26 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over North Dakota. Which is why Ferentz believes Becht may present some different challenges for his defense.

“He’s played enough now where I think he’s a very confident guy, very poised, does a good job running their offense, and they’ve got a really talented group of receivers,” the 69-year old coach said. “So they have guys they can get the ball to, and I’m sure they will.”

Iowa has an opportunity to climb higher up the rankings with a win over Iowa State. Kinnick Stadium will be rocking, with the Hawkeyes having Ferentz back on the sideline, and the game being on national television. Ferentz knows nothing is going to come easy, so he wants to utilize the spotlight, and find a way to win the game.

“Look at the last six years, I think it’s a five-point whatever differential between the two teams, so I would expect the same thing Saturday.”