CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL: IOWA VS TENNESSEE

December 30, 2023

Kirk Ferentz

Camping World Stadium

Iowa Hawkeyes

Press Conference

KIRK FERENTZ: It has been everything you hoped it could be and then some. Really good football players. Just a tremendous guy, upbeat, so respected by his teammates. To get a guy back, with not only his ability, but his leadership capabilities is really important.

Q. Curious, the Bowl trips, ninth Bowl game on New Year's, this group seems wired -- do you ever worry about anything?

KIRK FERENTZ: I am laughing – I am thinking about Tampa. You stay right there on the bay and New Year's Eve is wild. The hotel we were in was like the place to be.

We started going off-site on game night just like we would at home. I think it is a real bonus just to get the guys in their normal mode. With all due respect, I do not think the families – everybody's sleeping. They are having a great time and that is what Bowls are for. Just stay in game mode. That is one we have done that has been helpful.

Q. What were you chatting about with Josh Heupel?

KIRK FERENTZ: Just things in general. I have never met Josh, but I feel like I know him. Obviously, he played for Bob at Oklahoma, and the Insight Bowl in 2012. Thirteen years ago, we played Oklahoma. I remember Bob telling me that was his most enjoyable team to coach, least talented, but most enjoyable team to coach. Josh did not have an NFL career, but, obviously, outstanding quarterback, outstanding leader. Felt like I know him a little bit just through that conversation. He has done a great job in his career. Just got a nice chance to catch up.

Q. Do you have a timetable on the rest of the announcements?

KIRK FERENTZ: I did not really speak to the other guys. My sense is they are all going -- they are all different stories and they are all going at different rates.

My only request to everybody was do not be distracted this week, whatever you are thinking about. If you want to announce, great. If you do not, go off, that is great, too, but try not to be distracted by it. I have witnessed the last couple years. Some guys have done a better job of that than others. It is a big decision, so it is easy to understand where they might be distracted. I try to reinforce, you only have so many chances to play in a football game in your career no matter how long you play, so don't let the specialness of this event be diminished by some things that are on your mind.

So they all – the guys have plenty of time to get back.

Q. What's your process with those players? Do you talk to them a lot about it? Do you just leave them be?

KIRK FERENTZ: Not at this point. We talk pre-traveling, and very little at this point. Just again, same thing. Just have the conversation, try to give the information that is necessary. For the most part, very little discussion here and if they want to talk or players want to talk, happy to. They have to go where they want to go, where they want to be. You cannot please both parts.

Q. Can you share that with them, don't talk --

KIRK FERENTZ: We have already done that. If they want more information in January, certainly people will know more in January, then they did four weeks ago.

So yeah, we will try to get them on the phone with somebody. Accurate information with people that do it for a living. Big difference between advisors. You try to learn, too, because everybody has an agenda. Just know what the agendas are and try to decipher -- sift through the stuff that maybe -- you get to what is important to you. That is what it gets down to, like anything.