Iowa ready for Spring drills off last year’s bowl win

The Iowa football team opens spring drills hoping to build on the momentum of this past season. The Hawkeyes capped a 7-5 season with a victory over Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the bowl victory has helped generate more enthusiasm as it was a great experience for the players and they got 14 extra practices.On defense the secondary is experienced but the front seven was hit hard by graduation.This spring will consist of another battle at quarterback. Senior Brad Banks is the leader with the top challenger being junior college transfer Nate Chandler. He says Banks has the advantage of knowing the system already.Ferentz played two quarterbacks for much of last season and has not ruled out that possibility for next season. Ferentz says the Hawks have made strides in the Big Ten during the past season and a half and hope for more of the same this fall. Iowa’s spring game is April 20th.