Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz was one of the least surprised people in the football world when LSU head coach Nick Saban decided to accept the Miami Dolphins head coaching job on Christmas Day.

Ferentz and Saban had been assistant coaches together on Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns staff in the mid-1990s. Ferentz has a keen insight into the way Saban approaches his business.

"From what I know about the Miami thing, he's going to go in with a blank canvas and really have a chance to set up the whole organization," said Ferentz, prior to Saban's decision. "I know Nick a little bit. My guess is that might be attractive to him -- it's probably going to cause him to have to think about it. I wouldn't want to guess whether he's going to take it or not."

Even though Saban has accepted the new job, Ferentz believes LSU will be prepared to play an outstanding game against the Hawkeyes in the Capital One Bowl.

"LSU has a good football team," Ferentz said.

"He's got an excellent coaching staff, and my guess is that the team and coaches will be motivated to play their best game. My guess is we're going to get their best shot, which is a little scary."

LSU knows how to play defense, especially against a team like Iowa that is limited in its ability to run the ball.

Iowa has been tormented by injuries at running back and were down to their No. 6 RB at one point this season. Backup Marques Simmons has a good chance of playing against LSU, and his versatility will help quite a bit. If Iowa can get just a little bit of a push from its running game, that will keep the Tigers from loading up against QB Drew Tate and the passing game. That may be unlikely, since LSU had the No. 6 run defense in the country.

Tate showed improvement throughout the year, has 18 TD passes, and is at his best in big situations.

However, the Iowa offensive line will have to give Tate enough time, or the quarterback will be left fighting a battle he will have a most difficult time winning.

Copyright (C) 2004 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

Iowa Hawkeyes Message Board
InuryProneHawkI Reputation:77 Level:Pro Since:Oct 23, 2007	November 7, 2009 11:58 pm Score: 191 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: NU's gift from Bill Lynch I won't for a second say that Iowa deserved to win this game, but what was clear to see is how the Big Ten Officials were not going to give Iowa any breaks.  Why?  Bill Lynch and his letter to the Big Ten office claiming Iowa was the recipient of biased calls.  To some extent, Lynch has a legitimate beef, but the way he cries and moans is pathetic. I knew before the game starte ...(more) Reply to this thread (1 reply)
lifeofabuck Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Dec 16, 2007	November 8, 2009 12:33 pm Score: 141 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: OSU vs Iowa..from a Buckeye fan First off this is not a slam on Iowa...I am here because i always do this on a big game....First off I am pissed you guys lost..was cheering for you. I wanted to come on here before all B/S starts and say Good Luck next Saturday at the The Shoe. You guys are having a great year and i project a great game on Saturday. This is for it all in the Big Ten.  How is Stanzi??? any reports on his inju ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
Clemenza77 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Mar 6, 2007	November 7, 2009 5:00 pm Score: 142 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Iowa was "O'Keefe'd" yet again.......... So after watching probably the 2nd worst Iowa football game in the history of my existence ('86 Rose Bowl was #1) I took my dog for a nice walk to clear my head. Probably an hour and a half, beautiful sunny day, 70 degrees here in Denver today. Yet I still couldn't shake this game. I know ragging on KOK has been a theme for Iowa fans for many yea ...(more) Reply to this thread (24 replies)
MadMac Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 10, 2007	November 8, 2009 12:17 pm Score: 164 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: 9-1, still not too bad If you would have told me at the beginning of the year this team would be 9-1 at this point, I would have gladly taken that.  This year has been a great ride- drama and all.  Now we get to hear all the haters- most of them from teams the Hawks have beat or teams that are having crappy years that are jealous. Saying " I told you so". Very classy fans-no doubt ...(more) Reply to this thread (1 reply)
eatmorebroccoli Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Sep 7, 2006	November 4, 2009 7:30 pm Score: 164 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: A few random thoughts... If Iowa’s first and fourth quarters were switched in every game this season, the final scores would all be the same, except the difference is that most people would be talking about how their games “weren’t as close as the score indicates.” Is there really any qualitative difference between dominating the first quarter and dominating the fourth? I’m confused. ...(more) Reply to this thread (10 replies)
Rocket911 Reputation:86 Level:All-Star Since:Nov 29, 2008	November 7, 2009 3:14 pm Score: 191 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Lose A few things. One how many people would have really thought we would be 9-1 this far into the season. Two we simple got outplayed today! Four turnovers and no offensive production means you don't deserve to win. We can complain about the calls but we still need to make more plays because we know every game is going to be tight. Three nice freaking play calling again on the offensive side of the ba ...(more) Reply to this thread (7 replies)
CambridgeHawk Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Oct 29, 2008	November 7, 2009 5:57 am Score: 117 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: I would love to see Iowa play Boise State Boise State is currently offering to play a road game against any BCS conference team on September 3, 2011, with no return date.  This link takes you to an article that discusses the offer and how no one is willing to take them up on it.  ...(more) Reply to this thread (7 replies)
SoonerBred Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 7, 2008	October 31, 2009 3:31 pm Score: 134 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Wow Watching Iowa is play is like watching a moive.   The good guys always get themselves in a precarious situation, but you always now the good guy wins.   This team just will not quit.  IF they have a panic button (which I doubt) they never push it.  Just amazing to see a team so constantly on the ropes that never doubts themselves for a minute.  What a great seaso ...(more) Reply to this thread (17 replies)
dyoung7506 Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Mar 31, 2008	November 7, 2009 1:10 pm Score: 143 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Tough Loss Hey Hawkeye fans, just wanted to say that I saw Stanzi go down earlier today. Huge loss for you guys and it really sucks. It's still early in the game and hopefully your backup improves rapidly throughout the game from his first pass. You should be good with Wegher back there leading things, but it's going to be a tough game. Good luck the rest of day and season. Hopefully it's not too serious and ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
Clemenza77 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Mar 6, 2007	October 31, 2009 5:22 pm Score: 133 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Stanzi Sucks......... .......at sucking!!! Kudos once again to Ricky effing Stanzi for turning around a horrendous performance and playing a great 4th quarter. Can't say enough about Ricky this year, I believe the proper term is resiliency. Granted, Joe Montana may have not had such a great game with that 30mph wind either, but Stanzi came to play today and he doesn't get enough credit for the games he plays. I know a ...(more) Reply to this thread (26 replies)
wingsauce7 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Apr 24, 2008	November 3, 2009 10:28 pm Score: 153 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Iowa/Northwestern Since I am finished talking and reading about last week, what are the thoughts from my fellow Hawkeye fans about this seasons next cardiac game?  Seems to me that we owe a bit of payback to the Wildcats.  This team has been a thorn in our side for quite a few recent seasons now and I would love to see us put a whooping on them.  Recent games lead me to believe that won't happen ...(more) Reply to this thread (30 replies)
Clemenza77 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Mar 6, 2007	November 1, 2009 5:20 pm Score: 127 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: 6 Turnovers and an 18-point win I see we dropped a spot in the AP poll. Can someone clarify to me why an 18 point win over a .500 team whom we were only favored by 17.5 points is considered a "struggle"??? I'm so tired of hearing all of the so-called experts claim we should drop after struggling against Indiana. WE WON BY EIGHTEEN POINTS!!! Let me repeat that....WE WON BY EIGHTEEN POINTS! And we won by 18 points eve ...(more) Reply to this thread (29 replies)
rooster424 Reputation:87 Level:All-Star Since:Apr 1, 2009	November 6, 2009 3:46 pm Score: 182 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Beware the haters For awhile now, I've been hearing everything wrong about the Hawkeyes and the BCS rankings. This week, the complaints and downright rage over our 9-0 Hawkeyes being ranked 4th in the country has crescendoed to an eardrum-rupturing shriek. My blood boils every time a nay-sayer talks trash of my beloved Hawkeyes. Too many have called B.S. with complete disregard of the facts. ...(more) Reply to this thread (5 replies)
iowa130 Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Apr 2, 2008	November 6, 2009 2:38 pm Score: 117 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: HATE BCS! Cheer for IOWA! Despite all the arguing the best thing to get rid of the BCS is have 4 or more teams undefeated and Iowa from a major most of all. If you hate BCS you want Iowa to win out in big fashion and not play in the national championship. That will put a lot of pressure on the BCS. Plus if you have a few undefeated non majors then its all that much sweeter. So whe ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
Hawkeye Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 21, 2006	October 26, 2009 11:19 am Score: 125 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Really disheartening I am so fed up with looking at articles that are backhanded praise for Iowa.  You would think that 8-0 for first time in history and doing well, playing with heart and fighting back against adversity would be praise worthy. Then all the posts from fellow Big 10 fans, SEC, Big 12, Pac 10, etc that just want to moan and complain that this is a fluke and we are no good. She ...(more) Reply to this thread (49 replies)
View All Threads