Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz feels playing well in a bowl game requires handling a busy month of December. The Hawkeyes will resume preparations for the December 30th Insight Bowl against Oklahoma when final exams conclude later this week.

“You have a long break, not as long as we used to, but a long break before your bowl game, and handling this month is a challenge as all of the players have a lot of things on their mind and a lot things to juggle,” Ferentz said. He says they have done a good job of managing everything in the past.

Ferentz is on the recruiting trail this week and feels the practice schedule sets up well heading into the game. “The nice thing is this is a Friday and the game last year was a Tuesday, so we’ve picked up three days,” Ferentz says. The coaches have recruiting and the players have graduation among the other things going on this month.

The formula has worked the last few years as the Hawkeyes have won three straight bowl games.