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Some quickie updates from Ferentz at B1G daze
Marc Morehouse
Jul. 30, 2015 3:42 pm, Updated: Jul. 31, 2015 12:04 am
CHICAGO - Before Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz jumped into the mega-woodchipper at Big Ten media days, he gave some quick updates to local media.
In no particular order (read them all, because this is going to be scattershot):
- On senior defensive tackle Darian Cooper, who's not played or practiced since having knee surgery last fall: 'It's a medical situation and we're just going to continue to let him keep rehabbing. As I said earlier, it's really a tough hurdle to get over. He's working hard and doing his best.”
- On guard Sean Welsh, who missed spring practice because of undisclosed personal reasons: 'Sean jumped back in with everybody in June. He's done a great job. We're really happy to have him back with the football team. We're hopeful he can be a key contributor for us in the fall.”
Welsh started six games as a redshirt freshman last season before he fell out of the lineup with an injury. Senior Eric Simmons took his place during spring practice. In Thursday's depth chart, Simmons was listed as the starter at left guard ahead of Welsh.
- Is the challenge a little more personal this year, given the way things ended last season? 'Everything we do is personal. It's not who I am, but it's a big part of who I am, unfortunately. It's just like anybody in any job. I think all of us want to do a quality job at our professions. Every season has been that way for me. If you look at the last two year, we've won eight games and we've won seven games, but a world of difference between the two. The way we lost, the way we competed, the losses we had two years ago, I'm not sure our opponents would've wanted to play us after those ballgames. Whereas last year, a couple of them would've signed up for a double-header. If you look at it from that regard, that's the part that's hard to take, when you don't do your absolute best on the field and leave something out there.”
- Nike Pro Combat uniforms? 'We're open to those thoughts. We'll just kind of tread water and see where it all goes.”
So, there's no plans for that right now?
'We're open to whatever thoughts there may be. We'll see where it takes us.”
!!!!!!
- Does Ferentz know first-year Nebraska coach Mike Riley (both coached in the NFL, but I'm not sure if their paths crossed, Google me, someone): 'We finally met this spring. I feel like I've known him for quite sometime, we've had some mutual friends. I've had great respect for his work in the NFL and certainly what he's done at Oregon State. He's a tremendous person, tremendous coach. If you find someone who says something bad about him, let me know. I haven't yet.”
- Are all incoming freshmen eligible and still incoming? 'As far as we know. I think we're all good to go and eager to welcome everyone next Thursday.”
- Academics?: 'We're still in school until Friday, so you still have a couple of guys you're on the edge of your set with, but I think we're in pretty good shape.”
- Incoming OL Levi Paulsen suffered an elbow injury during Shrine Bowl practice. 'He had a pretty serious injury up at the Shrine Bowl. He'll probably be very impeded through August, but in September, he should be able to go.”
- Any true freshmen in the mix for playing time (I know it's early and I did preface the question with 'I know you've barely broken the Saran Wrap on some of these guys . . .”) 'Give me until mid-August and I'll comment more. It's the same old thing, further away from the ball, the better a guy's chance is to play. The feedback I've gotten from strength coach Chris Doyle has been good about the way the guys have acclimated. That's exciting, but it's a whole different game next week when we get it going.”
- KF said they haven't overdone it on CJB and being the guy. Smart move, IMO. That'll take care of itself.
- Last year, the NCAA changed rules that allowed coaches to spend a few hours a week with football players during the summer. Last year, Ferentz said Iowa didn't get heavily into that. He said Thursday the staff did a little more this year, but not a ton.
'It's not a huge part of what we do and I don't know if that's a mistake or not,” he said. 'Our thoughts are to train our guys to kind of do it themselves and put the onus on them to do the film work and do some of the things out there on the field themselves. Police the group, police each other, help each other. By doing that, we're hoping to breed a little bit of leadership. I think it's important for the coaches and players to have some separation. That being said, I welcome the opportunity to watch the guys train, be it in the weightroom or out on the field doing agility work. That's how it should've been for a long time. This to me is the strength and conditioning coach's period, that's how I look at it. It's important they get some space in the summer time.”
l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com
Jul 24, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz speaks during the Big Ten media day at the Chicago Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports