Nov. 20, 2013
Wednesday interview with B. Lowery
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — There are 18 names on the defensive statistics chart for the University of Iowa’s game against No. 13 Michigan in 2011. The entry at the very bottom of the page is: Lowery, B.J.
Lowery, then a sophomore, had one assisted tackle that Nov. 5 day, teaming with Jordan Bernstine on third down to stop Vincent Smith five yards short of the chains in the third quarter. Lowery’s playing time was restricted because he was recovering from a broken wrist that kept him from playing in the first five games of the season. Lowery’s left hand and forearm were heavily padded against the Wolverines.
“I was 100 percent,” Lowery said Wednesday after the Hawkeyes’ practice in the indoor practice facility. “I had a cast on the entire game and the entire year. I was pretty healthy at that time.”
He also had one pass breakup, and if statistics were ranked by importance, that deflection would have certainly moved Lowery’s name way up the page.
“What I remember most is the last play of the game — the play I broke up,” Lowery said.
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“We came in confident and coach saw something in each one of us. I guess they thought we had the ability to step out there and contribute to the team and that’s what we did.”
B.J. Lowery
UI senior cornerback |
Michigan had first-and-goal from Iowa’s 3-yard line with 16 seconds remaining and the Hawkeyes leading 24-16. With no timeouts, Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson attempted three passes — two incompletions to Junior Hemingway, and an incompletion to Smith. On fourth down, Robinson threw to his left in the direction of Roy Roundtree, but Lowery was there to bat the ball to the turf.
“That is the biggest memory I have,” Lowery said.
With the final outcome, Iowa secured its second consecutive win against teams that entered the game ranked in the top 13 of the country.
Michigan returns to Iowa City this weekend following a triple overtime victory at Northwestern on Nov. 16. It is Senior Day for the UI, and Lowery will play at home for a final time with 14 other seniors — many, who like Lowery, played as true freshmen in 2010.
“We came in confident and coach saw something in each one of us,” Lowery said. “I guess they thought we had the ability to step out there and contribute to the team and that’s what we did.”
Lowery will be introduced pregame as B.J., the only way he has been known to Hawkeye fans. But his given first name is Fernando.
“My dad’s nickname is Boots coming up,” Lowery said. “My mom didn’t want everyone calling me Boots, so she added the J over there — B.J., Boots Junior.”
The Hawkeyes seek their third straight victory in Kinnick Stadium against Michigan on Saturday with an 11:01 a.m. (CT) kickoff.
“I want to leave with a bang,” Lowery said. “I want to go out with the guys I came in with.”