The 13th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes host top ranked Ohio State this weekend in a key Big Ten showdown. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 after opening Big Ten play with a victory at Illinois but will need to show major improvement against a Buckeye team that already has a big road win at defending national champion Texas. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says win by the Buckeyes was “awfully impressive,” especially from a young football team.
Ferentz says one of the goals for the Hawks was to play better in September. He feels that has been accomplished. He says 4-1 or 5-0 is better than 2-2, the position they’ve been in the last couple of years after the first few games. Ferentz says no matter what happens Saturday, they have to keep their foot to the gas pedal.
Ferentz says this game will not make-or-break the season for either team. He says it’s a big game, but he says win, lose or draw, you have to get over it on Sunday, or you suffer the consequences. Ferentz says his team will put everything they have into the game, as will Ohio State, and then you have to move on. Ferentz says if you don’t move on, them you set yourself up for failure down the road.
Ferentz says the Hawkeyes will need to play much better than they have at any point this season to have a chance. Ferentz says he doesn’t disagree that they’re an unimpressive 4-0, but says he’d rather be unimpressive 4-0 than 2-2.
Ferentz wants the players to enjoy the build-up to the game but stay focused on preparations. He says the players ought to enjoy the mood on campus, as he says it will be real good and positive, but he says they have to stay in their routine. Ferentz says you can’t pay for the feeling you have coming out of Kinnick on a Saturday night.