Wine Online: A Lot to Like

Aug. 16, 2005

• Purchase your 2005 Iowa football tickets online
• 2005 Hawkeye Huddles
• Follow the Renovation of Kinnick!
• The Schedule: 2005 and Beyond

Kirk Ferentz made two obligatory appearances before the news media in early August. The first was at the Big Ten Kickoff activities in Chicago. The second was a few days later at Iowa’s own Media Day.

At both events, the Iowa coach faced a horde of sports reporters eager to hear what he had to say about a Hawkeye team that is expected to finish high in both the national polls and Big Ten standings.

At neither stop did Ferentz back away from the expectations. He did not behave like the coach of an overrated team.

Now approaching his seventh season (has it really been that long?) as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk seems comfortable and confident in his role. Two Big Ten co-championships and 31 victories over the last three seasons tend to build a man’s confidence.

Throw in three Top Ten finishes and three January bowl games and some coaches would get downright cocky, but that is not the style of the self-effacing Ferentz. Still, if you press him on it, he’ll admit the Hawkeyes have enjoyed a nice run of success and he doesn’t back off at the notion that there are more good times ahead.

There’s a lot to like about this football team, starting with a returning all-Big Ten quarterback who made enough big plays a year ago to give Iowa a share of the conference title. If dynamic Drew Tate doesn’t keep you on the edge of your stadium seat, you have been drinking too much soda pop at the tailgate party.

For the first time in seven years, Ferentz starts the season with a proven quarterback, and Tate was so impressive last year that he has been named the Big Ten’s pre-season offensive player of the year for 2005.

Hayden Fry used to say, “When a team has a good veteran quarterback, it has a big advantage.” When Hayden had Chuck Long, Chuck Hartlieb, Matt Rodgers and Matt Sherman returning as veteran QBs, he fielded some of his best teams at Iowa.

Because of injuries at running back and inexperience in the line, Tate had to carry the offense on his back much of the time in 2004. That is not the case in 2005. Most starters return in the line, and there is a stable full of running backs (surely injuries won’t decimate that position two years in a row).

And there was uncertainty at wide receiver a year ago, but not this season. Ed Hinkle and Clinton Solomon are two of the finest in the Big Ten.

“Offensively, we’re as good as we’ve been in recent years regarding experience,” says Ferentz. “But we need to take the pressure off Drew Tate by becoming more balanced and diversified.”

In short, Iowa must develop a running game to go with a proven passing attack.

A strong defense helped the Hawkeyes win a lot of close games the past two seasons, and four players instrumental in that success are now seniors. Chad Greenway has made several pre-season all-America teams, and along with Abul Hodge, gives Iowa one of the best linebacker duos in college football.

This team should have a solid secondary, maybe the best in Ferentz’s time at Iowa. It is led by cornerbacks Antwan Allen and Jovon Johnson and is sprinkled with considerable experience.

Kyle Schlicher, another big factor in close decisions, returns to kick field goals and placements. His placements helped produce three two-point victories for Iowa in 2004.

Ferentz has two genuine concerns going into the season. One is the defensive line, over which he has some control. The other is the schedule, which he cannot change.

Matt Roth, Jonathan Babineaux, Derreck Robinson and Tyler Luebke are gone, and they leave huge gaps in the trenches. They are four reasons why Iowa has been a tough team to run against in recent seasons.

“It’s a big concern,” admits Ferentz. “Our defensive line is pretty much like the offensive line was two years ago. We are kind of starting from scratch. I think the pieces are there, but we’ll have to weather the storm early.”

The defensive line will most likely improve as the season goes along, but the schedule will not change. How tough is it?

The Sporting News lists 10 must-see games involving Big Ten teams this season and Iowa plays in four of them. Three are on the road – at Iowa State, at Ohio State and at Purdue. The only home game of the four is with Michigan.

But the brutal slate of games does not diminish the enthusiasm and optimism in Iowa’s training camp, nor does the pre-season hype seem to bother Ferentz, who believes his team might again be a factor in the Big Ten race.

“It’s more fun in November if you’re playing games that really matter,” Kirk points out. If the Hawkeyes are hanging around then, you’ve got to like their chances.

Remember, this is a coach whose teams seldom lose in November.

Editor’s Note: George Wine, the University of Iowa’s long-time sports information director who is now retired and living in Coralville, Iowa, is the author of George Wine Online. George has remained very close to the intercollegiate athletics program at the UI since his retirement and, in fact, has authored two books during that time. The first was a collaboration with the UI’s long-time head football coach, Hayden Fry, and named “A High Porch Picnic.” The second, “Black & Gold Memories, The Hawkeyes of the 20th Century,” included many of the essays George originally wrote for “The Voice of the Hawkeyes.” As he wrote in the book, “Collectively, they serve as a historical reference, and hopefully provide entertaining reading.” “Black & Gold Memories” is currently available at Barnes & Noble book stores across Iowa and on the world wide web.