Ferentz show highlights from callers

Here's a rundown of questions asked of Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz during his weekly radio show:

Why don't you blitz more?

"I guess that's not what we do a lot," Ferentz said, who added Iowa's defense has been “pretty effective for quite some time."

Ferentz added, "If you do pay attention we do blitz regularly. ... I think overall our guys have played good defense."

Ferentz also said, "We could have moved the ball better in the second half and that would have helped the defense a lot."

About throwing a Hail Mary pass on fourth down with time left on the clock in the fourth quarter?

"Ken calls most of the plays, and I approve everything."

Will  guard Adam Gettis and WR Colin Sandeman play on Saturday?

"Both have a chance," said Ferentz, who added that both practiced on Wednesday. "We're hopeful they'll be able to go Saturday."

Will he attend his son's Class 4A state championship game in Cedar Falls on Friday?

"Unfortunately I can't," Ferentz said. "I'll get to see maybe an hour or hour and a half of it on TV." Ferentz said he's got meetings on Friday night.

On speeding up the tempo of the game like against Michigan State before halftime?

"Our goal is trying to get in there (the end zone)," Ferentz said. "We were hoping to get down for a field goal and get some points before we get in the locker room.

"That's the only time we use a no-huddle offense. That's our choice."

On a fan watching the Michigan State tape after the Northwestern loss (random soundbites)

"Folks it's not that bad. ... We're lucky to have passionate fans.

"Some of the interesting things in sports is it brings out the best and worst."

On a caller saying there needs to be perspective and some people want to lynch the staff (figuratively).

"I didn't think it was that bad out there. The one thing about it is it's a long season. Most seasons typically you're going to have some disappointment and you're going to have some good moments and they tend to balance out.

On a caller wanting new plays?

"I think we're thinking about going back to that Michigan State game and using some of those plays. ... I made that decision this evening."

On McNutt ...

"Marvin's best football is still ahead of  him, and that's exciting."

A caller bringing up McNutt's fourth-down catch at Northwestern: "He made a great one, too, in the Michigan State game."

On Senior Day this Saturday at Kinnick Stadium ...

"It's an emotional day because it's the end of a player's career in front of their home fans. ... It's kind of a rite of passage and time for them to move on to other things."

On Ohio State QB Terrell Pryor and the Buckeyes ...

"I can't ever remember them having bad players. It's going to be a great, great challenge but I think our guys are excited for that challenge."

On Pryor: "Tremendous athlete, tremendous quarterback. He had one of his best games in the Rose Bowl last year."

On Allen Reisner ...

"A great guy on the team and a team leader for us."

On ISU QB Austen Arnaud's season-ending injury ...

If there's a silver in Persa's case, he has another year. In Austen's case, it's his senior season. What a tremendous young guy and he's had a great run at Iowa State.

On getting Notre Dame on the schedule ...

"I think the probably best chance of that would have been if they joined our conference. ... I'm not sure if those contracts (with Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue) will stay in place or not."

"My guess is we'll see expansion again in our league in the next five years."

On Senior Day this Saturday and playing Ohio State ...

"All we can do is worry about Saturday. win or lose you have to turn the page."

"We're playing a great opponent, and we have a great group of seniors that are graduating."