Kirk Talks Tate, Iowa State

Sept. 12, 2006

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Kirk Ferentz knew going into his weekly visit with the media what the favorite topic of discussion would be prior to Saturday’s date with Iowa State at historic Kinnick Stadium.

How’s Drew? What about Drew? Can you share anything on Drew’s status?

He wasn’t surprised. And, for that matter, neither was the media with Ferentz’s response.

“Right now, we have no one definitely out for the game, but I’m sure we’ll revisit that topic later. In fact, we’ll set aside 30 minutes for that topic later,” Ferentz smiled about the status of Drew Tate, Iowa’s senior quarterback who was shelved last week minutes prior to the start of the Hawkeyes’ double-overtime victory at Syracuse, a win that pushed Iowa’s record in 2006 to a perfect 2-0 heading into this year’s Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series battle on the gridiron.

“He’ll work a little today. He’ll work a little more tomorrow. I’m no doctor. He’s been cleared medically. It becomes a coach’s decision. If he can’t perform at the level he’d expect and we need to give ourselves the best chance to win, then we’ll go with Jason, who proved himself more than competent last week,” Ferentz added.

Tate’s status aside, Ferentz expects a knock-down, drag out game Saturday against the nationally ranked Hawkeyes’ intrastate rival.

Iowa State is 2-0 after notching a pair of hard-fought home victories. Those games are typically won by veteran teams and that’s exactly what Ferentz sees in this year’s Iowa State team.

“Nine starters on offense return and several very good players on defense are back,” noted Ferentz.

“They’re off to a good start because they’ve demonstrated they can stop the run, haven’t allowed points to be scored, and have avoided the big play. And, as always they are well-coached and play hard.”

Ferentz thinks the Hawkeyes’ victory at Syracuse last week will prove very beneficial to Iowa moving forward.

“At a minimum, it should provide our defense with a big boost in confidence,” Ferentz said of the Hawkeyes’ defenders’ remarkable goal-line stand against Syracuse.

“I’ve never seen a better performance by a defense and probably never will,” said Ferentz before adding that he was impressed with his entire team.

“I thought our entire squad played well, particularly in the overtime session and that’s a positive. We expect to play a lot of close games and to have that experience in that environment is a positive.”

Saturday’s game against the Cyclones marks the 54th time the two in-state rivals have met. Iowa holds a 35-18 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. The Hawkeyes have won 17 of the last 23 meetings.

The teams did not meet between 1935 and 1976 and Iowa holds a 19-10 advantage since the series resumed in 1977. Iowa holds a 20-12 advantage in games played in Iowa City. Iowa defeated the Cyclones by a 17-10 margin in the last meeting in Kinnick Stadium in 2004.

The Hawkeyes won 15 straight games in the series (1983-1997).

The team that has led after the first quarter has won 14 of the last 16 meetings (two were tied) and the team that has led at halftime has won 15 of the last 16 contests. Last season, Iowa State led 6-0 after one quarter and 16-0 at halftime. The Cyclones went on to a 20-point victory (23-3) in Ames.