Ferentz looks to take Iowa back to bowl
By Steven Allspach, Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Word of Iowa's demise in Big Ten football and on the national stage may be premature.
"The experts have picked us down there about No. 8 (in the Big Ten) so it remains to be seen how this team responds and reacts to that,'' said Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz before addressing the annual Siouxland I-Club event Monday at the Sioux City Convention Center.
The Hawkeyes were 6-6 last season, going 4-4 in the Big Ten. But, even though they were bowl eligible, went uninvited to the post-season for the first time in seven years.
Iowa whipped Northern Illinois and Syracuse to start the season, but then lost to arch-rival Iowa State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Penn State before ending the skid with a victory over Illinois.
A loss to Purdue followed, but the Hawks moved back into the post-season picture with wins over Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota, but a loss to Western Michigan in the finale wiped out a potential bowl bid.
"Picking us to finish low in the Big Ten is good,'' said Ferentz. "You play a little harder and with a little more inspiration when you don't command much respect.
"We were 6-6 last year. It wasn't like we weren't capable of playing decent football.
"Two factors led to the 6-6. We were inexperienced about eveywhere you looked, especially in the offensive line and at quarterback.
"I'm counting on those areas to improve.''
At quarterback, junior Jake Christsensen will begin his second season as the starter. He completed 198 of 370 passes last season for 2,269 yards and 17 TDs. "Jake took a lot of heat, on an off the field, but honestly, we really couldn't evaluate his play because he didn't have time to set up and throw effectively.
"He was under constant pressure. We've always taken pride in the offensive line so we're looking for better things there.''
More experienced returnees will be Seth Olsen (6-5, 305), Rob Bruggeman (6-3, 287), Kyle Calloway (6-7, 305) and Bryan Bulaga (6-6, 290).
Defensive restructuring will be critical. Just two maintstays are back, tackles Mitch King (6-3, 264) and Matt Kroul (6-3, 277).
In the running back department, Ferentz is counting on the return of Shonn Green, who was a standout two years ago, then left school. He attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids last year.
Iowa opens the season Aug. 30 at home against Maine, where Ferentz once served as head coach.
The Iowa contingent visiting the annual Siouxland I-Club event at the Sioux City Convention Center also included Lisa Bluder, the women's basketball coach; Athletic Director Gary Barta and Doug Schwab, an assistant wrestling coach.
Bluder's Bunch
Bluder was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after directing her team to a 21-11 overall record, NCAA tournament berth and the Big Ten title with a 13-5 mark.
"We overcame a lot of adversity with injuries last year and had a wonderful year,'' said Bluder. "We've got a nice incoming freshman class and some talented returning seniors.''
Two of the incoming freshmen are Iowa prep all-staters Tia Mays of Des Moines East and Iowa City High's Kelly Krei, who led her team to the Class 4A state title in March.. Also back is Wendy Ausdemore, a former Iowa prep all-stater who ranked among the top 10 three-point shooters in the country last year.
Addressing controversy
Both Ferentz and Barta addressed the issue of the recent issuing of criminal warrants for two former Hawkeye football players -- Cedric D. Everson III and Abeberell "Abe'' Bradford.
The two have been charged with sexual abuse in the second degree in Everson's case and sexual abuse in the third degree and sexual abuse in the second degree for Satterfield.
The arrest warrants are for incidents that occurred last Oct. 14 on the UI campus.
The two are no longer university students nor do they live in Iowa City.
Everson has turned himself into authorities in Iowa City.
"This situation is of paramount concern to us,'' said Ferentz. "We regard this as a very serious situation and we're taking the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
"The university is committed to making the necessary changes to insure something like this doesn't happen in the future. We need to put checks and balances in place.
"Abe and Cedric left the football program last fall after several meetings with me, but the information is sensitive and I can't discuss the specifics of those conversations.''
Barta, too, is in the eye of storm.
"This has been a difficult situation for everyone involved,'' said the Hawkeye AD Monday night. "From the day we learned about it we've been very concerned and we have taken in seriously. I am very confident that all staff involved followed procedures and protocol.
"I look forward to being able to explain the handling of this matter more completely in the future.''
Mat champs
Also in the Hawkeye caravan was Schwab, one of Coach Tom Brands' top assistants.
"We're still excited about winning the national championship and bringing the progam back to where it was with Dan Gable,'' said Schwab, who just completed his second campaign at Iowa. Brands brought him along from Virginia Tech when the Sheldon High School graduate left to take over the Iowa helm.
"We need to get back to business pretty darn soon,'' said Schwab. "We've been celebrating the championship too long now.
"We had two guys (Mark Perry and Brent Metcalf) were our only two guys who finished the season satisfied. They won national championships, but eight others didn't. They want to win, too. That's the Brands mentality.''
Schwab feels some remorse about Metcalf's career. "After the transfer from Virginia Tech he lost a year of compeition (because Tech wouldn't release him from scholarship and he had to sit out year) and we feel badly because he could have been only the third guy to win four national titles.''
"The experts have picked us down there about No. 8 (in the Big Ten) so it remains to be seen how this team responds and reacts to that,'' said Hawkeye Coach Kirk Ferentz before addressing the annual Siouxland I-Club event Monday at the Sioux City Convention Center.
The Hawkeyes were 6-6 last season, going 4-4 in the Big Ten. But, even though they were bowl eligible, went uninvited to the post-season for the first time in seven years.
Iowa whipped Northern Illinois and Syracuse to start the season, but then lost to arch-rival Iowa State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Penn State before ending the skid with a victory over Illinois.
A loss to Purdue followed, but the Hawks moved back into the post-season picture with wins over Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota, but a loss to Western Michigan in the finale wiped out a potential bowl bid.
"Picking us to finish low in the Big Ten is good,'' said Ferentz. "You play a little harder and with a little more inspiration when you don't command much respect.
"We were 6-6 last year. It wasn't like we weren't capable of playing decent football.
"Two factors led to the 6-6. We were inexperienced about eveywhere you looked, especially in the offensive line and at quarterback.
"I'm counting on those areas to improve.''
At quarterback, junior Jake Christsensen will begin his second season as the starter. He completed 198 of 370 passes last season for 2,269 yards and 17 TDs. "Jake took a lot of heat, on an off the field, but honestly, we really couldn't evaluate his play because he didn't have time to set up and throw effectively.
"He was under constant pressure. We've always taken pride in the offensive line so we're looking for better things there.''
More experienced returnees will be Seth Olsen (6-5, 305), Rob Bruggeman (6-3, 287), Kyle Calloway (6-7, 305) and Bryan Bulaga (6-6, 290).
Defensive restructuring will be critical. Just two maintstays are back, tackles Mitch King (6-3, 264) and Matt Kroul (6-3, 277).
In the running back department, Ferentz is counting on the return of Shonn Green, who was a standout two years ago, then left school. He attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids last year.
Iowa opens the season Aug. 30 at home against Maine, where Ferentz once served as head coach.
The Iowa contingent visiting the annual Siouxland I-Club event at the Sioux City Convention Center also included Lisa Bluder, the women's basketball coach; Athletic Director Gary Barta and Doug Schwab, an assistant wrestling coach.
Bluder's Bunch
Bluder was named Big Ten Coach of the Year after directing her team to a 21-11 overall record, NCAA tournament berth and the Big Ten title with a 13-5 mark.
"We overcame a lot of adversity with injuries last year and had a wonderful year,'' said Bluder. "We've got a nice incoming freshman class and some talented returning seniors.''
Two of the incoming freshmen are Iowa prep all-staters Tia Mays of Des Moines East and Iowa City High's Kelly Krei, who led her team to the Class 4A state title in March.. Also back is Wendy Ausdemore, a former Iowa prep all-stater who ranked among the top 10 three-point shooters in the country last year.
Addressing controversy
Both Ferentz and Barta addressed the issue of the recent issuing of criminal warrants for two former Hawkeye football players -- Cedric D. Everson III and Abeberell "Abe'' Bradford.
The two have been charged with sexual abuse in the second degree in Everson's case and sexual abuse in the third degree and sexual abuse in the second degree for Satterfield.
The arrest warrants are for incidents that occurred last Oct. 14 on the UI campus.
The two are no longer university students nor do they live in Iowa City.
Everson has turned himself into authorities in Iowa City.
"This situation is of paramount concern to us,'' said Ferentz. "We regard this as a very serious situation and we're taking the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
"The university is committed to making the necessary changes to insure something like this doesn't happen in the future. We need to put checks and balances in place.
"Abe and Cedric left the football program last fall after several meetings with me, but the information is sensitive and I can't discuss the specifics of those conversations.''
Barta, too, is in the eye of storm.
"This has been a difficult situation for everyone involved,'' said the Hawkeye AD Monday night. "From the day we learned about it we've been very concerned and we have taken in seriously. I am very confident that all staff involved followed procedures and protocol.
"I look forward to being able to explain the handling of this matter more completely in the future.''
Mat champs
Also in the Hawkeye caravan was Schwab, one of Coach Tom Brands' top assistants.
"We're still excited about winning the national championship and bringing the progam back to where it was with Dan Gable,'' said Schwab, who just completed his second campaign at Iowa. Brands brought him along from Virginia Tech when the Sheldon High School graduate left to take over the Iowa helm.
"We need to get back to business pretty darn soon,'' said Schwab. "We've been celebrating the championship too long now.
"We had two guys (Mark Perry and Brent Metcalf) were our only two guys who finished the season satisfied. They won national championships, but eight others didn't. They want to win, too. That's the Brands mentality.''
Schwab feels some remorse about Metcalf's career. "After the transfer from Virginia Tech he lost a year of compeition (because Tech wouldn't release him from scholarship and he had to sit out year) and we feel badly because he could have been only the third guy to win four national titles.''
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