JAKE RUDOCK WILL START. Head Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz met with the media yesterday and confirmed his starting quarterback for the Taxslayer Bowl versus Tennessee is indeed Jake Rudock. Ferentz confirmed that both Rudock and sophomore C.J. Beathard will play in Friday's game. Ferentz was asked about open position competition and replied,
"That was for our whole team, we were disappointed in that last football game. We were sloppy in a lot of areas, coaching included. I said that after the game, we needed to do a better job in all areas and I think the team has really responded. It's practiced well and competed well. Hopefully, we'll be a better team on Friday."
Ferentz was also asked about the Tennessean article that created buzz in Hawkeye land about CJ's future with the program. He said,
"This was an open competition back in August and those same things were on the table back then, not that anyone presented them, but that's a reality of sports especially in this day and age. If it's basketball, forget it, everyone transfers in basketball. But I'm not worried about that. We have to do what's best for our team and what gives us the best chance to win the game. That was our motivating factor back in August and it remains the same now."
KF's offensive coordinator, Greg Davis, also talked about quarterbacks with the media on Monday. Davis said Ferentz would name the starter but also said both quarterbacks will get a series in the first quarter. If you score, you stay. The second half quarterback will be determined by the play on the field. This is a tryout for Iowa's starting quarterback in 2015, certainly.
Davis was asked about his future at Iowa too. How long does he intend to stay in coaching? He replied,
"I don't know, I'm healthy and good-looking, we'll see."
Davis coached Iowa to it's best offensive performance since 2005 this season (in yards per game). Iowa also managed to score over 20 points in all but one Big Ten game. Despite the stats, Iowa had some head-scratching performances offensively this season. There's the pass-happy attack against both Ball State and Maryland that really stand out. Davis remains an unpopular choice among Iowa fans and hears from them via snail mail. He even replies. He tells them "I appreciate your thoughts and we'll continue to try and get better."
HAWK HOOPS GOT ANOTHER BIG WIN. Well, eight point underdogs on the road ain't no thing. Iowa, again, gets another big RPI boosting win on the road over a ranked team this season. Iowa is now (1-0) in Big Ten play and take on Nebraska this weekend.
OTHER LINKS:
- Where are they now? Geno Sessi
- TaxSlayer Bowl: Hawkeyes enjoy the Florida sunshine
- Tennessee freshman eager for Outland challenge
- Two-Star Hawkeye Podcast: CJB vs. Rudock & Taxslayer Bowl Preview
- TaxSlayer Bowl Beach Party
- Iowa men went to Ohio State 'expecting to win'
- Hawkeyes Take Out No. 18/21 Ohio State
- Hawkeyes get B1G Road Win At Ohio State
- Ferentz: Both quarterbacks will play Friday
- Tuesday's Tennessee Football Briefing (12/30/14)
- TaxSlayer Bowl: Iowa brings weight room to Florida
- Canzeri knows opportunity can be fleeting
- TaxSlayer Bowl Offensive Practice Notes: 12/29 (Tenn)
- TaxSlayer Bowl Defensive Practice Notes: 12/29 (Tenn)
- Iowa Football Bowl TaxSlayer Bowl Practice 4 pics
- Canzeri Battles Among Healthy Backfield
- Video: Austin Blythe
- Video: Andrew Donnal
- Tennessee vs Iowa: The Most To Gain
- Tennessee will play in TaxSlayer Bowl with few seniors
- Hlas: Tennessee teen Barnett will duel Pops Scherff
- Iowa routs Penn State in Big Ten opener
- Martin-Manley hopes to craft a memorable finish to college career
- Tennessee's improvement on defense eye-popping, but work still to be done
- Will someone step forward in bowl game for Hawkeyes?
- The state of running back