Iowa chases sixth straight win against Illini

Oct. 28, 2008

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Complete Ferentz media conference transcript

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s defensive unit, ranked 20th in the nation, will attempt to slow the 11th-most potent offense in the land when the Hawkeyes travel to Champaign to face Illinois on Saturday in Big Ten Conference football. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium will be 2:37 p.m. The game is televised regionally by ABC, with ESPN airing where ABC does not.

“Certainly we’ll have our hands full this week, playing a very talented, very explosive, Illinois football team,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They’re very talented on both sides of the ball and special teams. That’s one front. Then on the other front is making sure we’re ready to go and those are really the two things on our plate right now.”

Iowa is coming off its bye week at 5-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes are enjoying a two-game winning streak — 45-9 at Indiana on Oct. 11 and 38-16 against Wisconsin on Oct. 18. The Illini (4-4, 2-3) have dropped three of their last five games including 27-17 last week at Wisconsin. Although Illinois holds a 37-29-2 lead in the all-time series, Iowa has won five straight and has allowed just two Illini touchdowns in the past three meetings.

“Most recent memory is that not many of those have been easy,” Ferentz said. “Going back to 2004…that was a tough game. Certainly last year took everything we could muster to eke out a win. This week will be a hard-fought game.”

Iowa allows just 297.8 yards of offense per game and Illinois accumulates an average 462.6. Thanks to a ground game that is third-best in the league, the Hawkeyes are third in total offense (385.4), while Illinois is seventh in total defense (352.1).

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (271.1), passing efficiency and total offense (331.0 yards per game). Williams averages 43 more yards per game through the air than Minnesota’s Adam Weber, who is second in the league. Wide receiver Arrelious Benn is second in the Big Ten in receptions per game (5.75) and receiving yards per game (92.5).

“(Williams) has matured and he’s a lot more experienced now,” Ferentz said. “He’s certainly a confident player and that’s a great attribute to have. Benn is excellent on offense, running the ball, catching the ball and excellent on special teams. He’s a great football player and he’s dangerous on all parts of the field.”

Two Iowa players top a league statistical category. Freshman kicker Trent Mossbrucker has converted 10 of 11 field goals (90.9) and all 20 PAT attempts, and junior linebacker Pat Angerer is tied for first with four interceptions in eight games. Running back Shonn Greene is second in the Big Ten and third in the nation with 144.2 rushing yards per game, quarterback Ricky Stanzi is third in the conference and 25th in the nation with a 145.3 pass efficiency rating and running back Jewel Hampton is third in kickoff return average (24.6).

“The bye week was good,” Ferentz said. “It gave everyone a chance to rest a little bit. I think it went pretty well for the most part.”

Ferentz did more than watch football on television last weekend. He said he was being a good American by going out and casting his vote.

“I voted the other day by the way,” he said. “You want to know what I did with my bye Saturday? I voted Saturday. Being a good American. Just being a patriot, that’s all. I encourage everyone else to do the same. I’m sure you all will. It’s one of the things that makes our country great.”

Ferentz said that Iowa is doing `fairly well’ with injuries. Tight end Tony Moeaki was scheduled to begin practicing Tuesday and Seth Olsen on Wednesday, although both are `iffy’ for Saturday’s contest.

The quartet of Rob Bruggeman, Shonn Greene, Mitch King and Matt Kroul will be Hawkeye team captains for the fifth consecutive game.