Orange Bowl nothing to beach about (with video)

Adrian Clayborn knows one thing about Miami.

"Lots of girls," the Iowa defensive end said with a laugh Sunday night. "No, no, it's going to be a fun trip. We're going into win the game."

The Hawkeyes (10-2) will get a second crack at the Orange Bowl, facing Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech (11-2) at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 on Fox. The Hawkeyes fell to USC, 38-17, in the 2003 Orange Bowl.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz called it Iowa's worst bowl performance.

"The last time we were in a BCS game, interestingly enough, was the Orange Bowl," Ferentz said during a Sunday night news conference. "Probably, not probably, it was our worst bowl performance, without a doubt. Hopefully, this time, we'll have a chance to go down and play a little better football game."

This went down to the wire.

Bowl commissioners, the BCS bowls and the TV networks had a late afternoon meeting. That was when it was decided on who was going where, Barta said. The Fiesta Bowl picked TCU with its first pick, then the Orange jumped on Iowa.

Barta had a good idea late in the week, but didn't know officially until the BCS selection show on Fox. He then accepted the offer from Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms.

Poms said his committee picked Iowa over Penn State for the bowl's at-large spot because of the Hawkeyes' decisive 21-10 win at Penn State on Sept. 26.

“You have a great respect for both programs, they had tremendous years,” Poms said. “But in the end, the head-to-head victory Iowa had in State College was impressionable. In the end, they were three spots ahead in the BCS poll.

“We just felt in the end, Iowa really deserved it. They won it on the field and they won it in every comparative that led to the BCS rankings. So we were unanimous in our position that Iowa was the best choice.”

According to Iowa ticket manager Pam Finke, Iowa has pre-sold 80 percent of its 17,500 bowl allotment, an estimated 13,000 to 14,000. It's the first time Iowa has pre-sold bowl tickets. Tickets are $135.

If Penn State (10-2), which is headed to the Capital One Bowl, would've knocked Iowa out of the BCS, Barta and Ferentz claimed they would've been fine with it.

"If it's just on the field, yeah, that would be the fair thing," Ferentz said. "But there are a lot of factors that go into bowl selections. I've got such respect for their football program and their football team. . . . Anything can happen when it comes to bowl selections. I certainly hadn't written anything down in ink.

"I was hopeful, but I wouldn't say confident. There's no exact science to it."

Ironically, the Orange Bowl was the only option that Ferentz hadn't drawn a schedule for. It's OK, though, he said. He'll just move everything up a day from the Fiesta schedule he made.

Iowa has a shot to field its full starting offense for the first time since it won at Michigan State on Oct. 24.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who missed Iowa's last two games after a high-ankle sprain, said he's 95 percent after surgery and rehab on his ankle. He said he went the surgical route to speed recovery, which included a trip to a Cleveland, Ohio, clinic during Thanksgiving break.

"I'm full speed," Stanzi said. "The training staff did a great job. I had great rehab when I went home with the Cleveland Clinic. That's given me an opportunity. If I didn't have the chance to work with those guys and have the surgery, I'd still be in a boot right now."

Offensive lineman Dace Richardson, who suffered a broken leg against Michigan State, is the only injured Hawkeye who remains questionable. Running back Adam Robinson (ankle) and linebackers Jeremiha Hunter (ankle) and Jeff Tarpinian (knee) returned to practice this week. Practice resumes Friday.

As far as Georgia Tech? The Iowa defenders know all about the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense. Tech is No. 2 in the nation with 307.15 rushing yards a game. Tech has rushed for 3,993 yards this season.

Running back Jonathan Dwyer has rushed for 1,346 yards. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt has 991 rushing yards and has thrown for 10 TDs and rushed for 18.

Tech won its way into the Orange Bowl with a 39-34 victory over Clemson in the ACC title game on Saturday night.

"In high school, way back," linebacker A.J. Edds said when asked about the last time he saw a triple option attack. "It's different. It's nothing like spread and dink and dunk. You have to play responsible assignment football. It's going to be a game of knowing our assigments and playing the right way."

As far as Iowa?

"I'm very impressed with how physical they are and how they've found ways to win games," Tech coach Paul Johnson. "They won seven or eight games to start out? Maybe more? Just how competitive they were how they fought and hung in games."

As far as Miami?

"Not really, but if we go out to the beach, I'm going to have fun," wide receiver Marvin McNutt said laughing. "Miami has been known for some beautiful women."

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz talk Orange Bowl.

The Iowa coach gives a quick response to Iowa's Orange Bowl bid.

The Iowa athletics director talks bowl game. He also gives a quick update on the health of Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter, who had an unknown surgery prior to Iowa's game Saturday and will be out for an indefinite period.

Stanzi gives an update on his ankle and return to practice. He said he's at 95 or so percent.

The Iowa LB talks about the thrill of going BCS. They had some doubts. Also, he talks about facing a triple option team, something he hasn't seen since high school.

The Iowa defensive end talks Orange Bowl. The dog is his nine-week-old pit bull puppy, Ace.

The Iowa wide receiver talks about Iowa's BCS appearance and some of the things he might do in Miami.

This is the extended Ferentz, after he went to the office for a conference call with the Orange Bowl. He updates injuries and talks about the bowl selection process.