ISU, Iowa coaches both expect a good game

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says things will get much tougher for his Hawkeyes when they visit Iowa State on Saturday in the 53rd meeting in the series. The Hawkeyes rolled over outmanned Ball State 56-0 to open the season but Ferentz says a lot of question marks remain. He says with Ball State’s depleted roster, it was tough to get a read on his team, and he says they’ll get a test all the way into the fourth quarter this week.Iowa State had a tougher time in a 32-21 win over Illinois State but Ferentz says comparing last week’s scores is not a good way predict this week’s matchup. Ferentz says he doubts ISU puts a lot of stock in their first game and he says he isn’t either. This will be the first of several road games that will determine Iowa’s fate this season. He says the road schedule will be “extremely challenging” with the caliber of opponents they play on the road. Ferentz and Iowa State coach Dan McCarney spent several years on Hayden Fry’s staff and Ferentz says despite the rivalry they remain friendly. He says they see each other at different functions and catch up, but he says their schedules don’t work so that they can go out to dinner with each other.McCarney says the Hawkeyes were impressive in their season opener and got to play everybody.McCarney says while the Hawks lost several starters off last year’s team they remain an experienced team. He says he counted 20 of 22 positions with a returning starter or a letterman.This is the first time in the series both teams are coming off seasons which ended with bowl victories and McCarney says the future looks bright for both. He says about 70 percent of both of the teams are underclassmen, which he says is good for the future. McCarney says while he will always consider Ferentz a friend once the game begins that changes. He says there isn’t any coach, or team that he would enjoy a victory over more, because of the prominence of the program and the coach.