Iowa Football coach meets with media
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00:00 So we're kind of wrapping up our camp mode if you would.
00:03 We still got a little bit left here at the end of the week.
00:05 But pretty much transitioning out of that and then we'll transition
00:10 to some opponent preparation to just a tad of that today and just some introductory stuff
00:15 and more game type situations.
00:18 So that's kind of where we're at.
00:19 Starters are still kind of fuzzy and I'll know more probably next Tuesday.
00:23 The good news is I think we have good competition and, you know,
00:28 our depth situation I think is a little better maybe in most areas than it's been.
00:31 So that's encouraging.
00:32 And then the other element is we'll probably know a little bit more next week
00:36 about first year guys who might be in, might be out.
00:39 And probably a few of those will be, you know, maybe start out with a four game deal
00:43 and then just see what it looks like as we go.
00:45 So that's kind of the deal there.
00:47 And then just specifically I'll cite an example, give you an illustration
00:51 which nobody will be interested in.
00:53 But I think it's kind of representative of our team.
00:54 >> Just standing out here thinking today about, you know, a guy like Jeremy Chaplin.
00:58 Thinking about, you know, Asher Fahey and, you know, a guy like Goetzler.
01:05 Yeah, we really had a hard time practicing with those guys with our twos last year
01:09 in spring ball, like, you know, just it was hard.
01:12 And right now those guys are so improved.
01:15 You know, I think that's the beauty of the game.
01:16 Opportunity to improve.
01:18 And all three of those guys, just to cite, I can name other guys,
01:20 but they've really taken advantage of that opportunity.
01:23 And they're, you know, looking like football players out there.
01:25 So it's kind of encouraging.
01:26 And that's kind of what we're hoping to see with all of our guys, see their growth
01:29 and development, and that's really, you know, what the game's all about.
01:32 So that's first thing.
01:34 Secondly, this is, you know, obviously the first week of class.
01:36 And the weather cooperated right with it, predictably.
01:40 So it's really kind of good.
01:41 I think I personally like having a week, not bi-week, but have a week we're not competing yet.
01:46 And that first week's sort of being good, you know, in a routine.
01:50 They get used to going to class, traveling campus.
01:52 Getting their new schedule done, because it's entirely different than camp,
01:55 where it's all football, it's all meetings, all, you know, basically we're in a short area now.
01:58 At least they're out navigating like every other student on campus.
02:01 So it's good for them to have a week of getting ready for that.
02:03 And then Sunday we'll officially transition into our game week mode.
02:07 So that's kind of where that's at.
02:08 And then the last thing, I'll just touch on the gambling situation.
02:11 We did get feedback from the NCAA.
02:13 So just as I've been saying, you know, we have a handful of guys involved.
02:17 And really there's kind of three different levels, if you will.
02:21 You have a couple guys that are, I think, looking at serious consequences, potentially.
02:25 You've got a couple guys that are looking at suspensions.
02:27 And then another guy who's in an appeal state.
02:30 And I can't really comment, because the other players haven't given me permission,
02:33 but Noah's been a topic of conversation.
02:35 Right now he does have a year suspension, the season suspension.
02:39 And we definitely appeal, are going to appeal that.
02:42 The department will appeal that.
02:44 I'm confident Beth will do a great job.
02:46 And the department will do a great job.
02:48 Yeah, just re-approaching this with the NCAA.
02:51 And, you know, my personal feelings again, you know, it's really hard to,
02:55 you can't negotiate game integrity, you know.
02:58 So if someone bets on our sport, you know, tough to say much beyond that.
03:03 But after that, I think it really needs to be rethought a little bit.
03:08 I strongly believe that.
03:09 And I'm hoping the appeal maybe will reflect some people rethinking things a little bit.
03:14 We live in a totally different world than we did two years ago, three years ago.
03:19 And in Noah's case, he has not committed a crime at all.
03:21 So nothing criminal.
03:22 You know, I just feel like it's a little bit, I'm not sure it's a good or a bad thing for me personally.
03:28 And I just hope that they'll reconsider his case.
03:32 And I'm, I would say I'm confident, but I would assume at some point they're going
03:36 to reshape what they announced back late April and early May.
03:39 In terms of the policy moving forward, just as, you know, similar to the drug testing policy,
03:45 it's radically different than it was two years ago and our culture is radically different
03:49 as a country, so I'm hopeful that they'll catch up maybe in their thinking a little bit
03:54 as it pertains to Noah.
03:55 And again, I can't say enough about him.
03:57 And it just, you know, he committed a lot of other crimes.
04:01 He hasn't committed a crime.
04:02 He could commit crimes and get a lot less of a punishment, which seems kind of funny in some ways.
04:07 And the last thing, I'll just run there for commentary.
04:10 I still find highly unusual or interesting that, you know, there's two schools,
04:14 two major universities affected in the whole country on this topic.
04:18 And I can't imagine these are the only two universities that have students gambling.
04:22 I can't imagine that.
04:23 And I, you know, I understand the rules that get all that.
04:26 You know, so I'll just stop there and throw it out for questions.
04:31 >> Have you asked about that?
04:32 Have you, about why just Iowa?
04:34 Have you asked anyone that knows more about this?
04:36 >> Yeah, I wouldn't know who to ask, quite frankly.
04:38 I think that's a, you know, if you guys got some time, maybe you want to chase
04:41 that one down a little bit.
04:42 I think it'd be probably interesting.
04:43 It's just, I guess it's our bad luck, because as far as I understand, it's a state thing.
04:47 Why those two universities only were targeted,
04:51 the college students at all kinds of universities.
04:53 It sounds like it's only athletes.
04:55 That's just my impression.
04:57 It's only athletes.
04:57 That's an interesting question, too, and an interesting dynamic.
05:00 And my guess is we could probably fill, maybe not fill Kennec, we couldn't fill Kennec,
05:05 but probably could fill Kennec with all the college student athletes
05:08 that have, student athletes or students that have gambled.
05:11 And again, I understand we're compliant to the NCAA rules.
05:14 I get that, but I just think it probably needs to be rethought a little bit and modernized.
05:18 >> With Noah, did the NCAA give you any rationale for why it was so severe?
05:22 >> I've seen nothing in writing.
05:22 Yeah, so I know he bet on one of our other sports teams here,
05:26 and I understand that, you know, that may be a bad thing.
05:29 He bet for them, and I'm guessing he got caught up in the emotion.
05:32 And again, I just, you know, I don't do this stuff, but I, you know, it's on their phones.
05:37 You know, people are enticing him with apparently, you know, 300 bucks credit if you go with us.
05:42 All that stuff, I think it's just time to really recognize the world these guys are living in,
05:46 and maybe, you know, be a little bit compassionate towards that.
05:50 >> So how's the appeal, like he can't play until the appeal is done?
05:53 >> Yeah, yeah, clearly he can't play.
05:54 He's allowed to be with us, but yeah, he can't play.
05:56 And that's, I get that, and I'm fully on board there.
05:58 And I expect it to be multi-games if they do rethink it.
06:02 So I'm hopeful it will be, because this guy's 23 years old.
06:05 At least I'm giving his heart and soul and some body parts to the program too.
06:09 So yeah, I just like to think he'd be allowed to finish on his crew.
06:13 I'll be able to serve through the end of it.
06:15 >> Two of your players have been arrested.
06:18 [INAUDIBLE]
06:23 I think they're two others that are facing suspension.
06:27 Are they, the suspension, at least the ones who are arrested,
06:31 do you expect them to have multi-games?
06:33 Are they at this point?
06:34 >> Yeah, I can say this, they're both multi-games.
06:37 One's longer than the other, and
06:38 I'm sure that's based on whatever criteria they based it on.
06:41 And yeah, we'll live with that.
06:43 And if there is an appeal process, I haven't seen any writing.
06:46 So if there is, if it merits appeal, we'll do that.
06:48 But my bigger focus would be on Noah right now.
06:51 And I just know the one thing you can't do is bet on our team.
06:56 I get that totally, and I think hopefully everybody would have gotten that.
06:59 >> Are you expecting it to be like two for one and four for the other, or four for
07:02 six, or?
07:03 >> Yeah, I can't really get into that until the players can release it, I guess.
07:06 We really can't talk about it.
07:09 >> Will Noah, no matter what, will he be on the sideline part of the practices,
07:14 or what does he wanna do?
07:14 >> He's with us right now, he's rehabbing.
07:16 And it was actually starting practice, so we just gotta figure this out.
07:19 But as we move forward now, we gotta get our team ready, too,
07:23 and everybody understands that.
07:24 So I wanna keep him involved with the team.
07:27 I'm just looking at it from a different standpoint, maybe a little more
07:29 humanistic.
07:30 And I've been with Noah for five years.
07:33 I have great respect for him and appreciation for him, I hear about our
07:35 team does.
07:36 So the more he's around, the better.
07:38 But if the NCAA tells us he can't be, then that's what he does.
07:42 >> So while he's rehabbing, is there anything about the suspension that keeps
07:48 him away from the table?
07:49 >> No, right now he's in the building, out of the building,
07:51 until they tell us he can't be.
07:52 >> Got it. >> Yeah, and
07:53 that might be the case with some other players.
07:54 So we'll abide by whatever the NCAA tells us is how to do things.
07:59 I've never had any experience in this, quite frankly.
08:01 >> Kirk, do you have any update on Cade and if he's gonna be able to go?
08:03 >> Yeah, on the medical front, I didn't touch on that, I guess.
08:06 But the bad news is we've got his operation like you'd expect week three of
08:10 camp.
08:11 But the good news is I think everybody realistically has a chance to start
08:14 working in end of this week, certainly next Monday when we hit the field,
08:17 thinking about our opponent.
08:18 So hopefully that's the case.
08:21 We've been fortunate and we avoided one potential landmine on Saturday.
08:27 It didn't look good and then got good news Monday after an MRI.
08:31 So everybody so far at least has got a chance here to move forward and
08:35 that's good news.
08:36 Outside of Jeff Bowie, I think I mentioned that last time maybe, or did I?
08:39 I kind of lost track.
08:41 Jeff is, he's gonna miss a significant time with an injury.
08:44 So that's the one negative here.
08:46 >> So you feel like he's gonna play week one?
08:48 >> Jeff or- >> Cade McNamara.
08:49 >> Well, we'll know more at the end of the week, but I'm really optimistic and
08:52 we'll see.
08:53 >> You don't wanna lose Cade for any stretch, but
08:55 to get Deacon and Rebs to go once is a big benefit.
08:58 >> Yeah, it is, it's been great.
08:59 And Joe, I think we'll be back here at the end of the week too.
09:02 We've been great at both those guys, cuz Marco's been getting the twos.
09:05 He's done a nice job.
09:08 Yeah, I mean, you always look for a positive and that has been the positive.
09:11 And you think about him, he hasn't played since 20,
09:13 which I think he was in high school then.
09:16 So there's just, it's like anybody, you gotta operate and you gotta go.
09:18 And I can say the same thing about Cade.
09:20 Cade needs to work with our team right now because he basically was out last fall.
09:24 So there's that timing part and not to be anti seven on seven, but
09:28 I do hate seven on seven, okay?
09:31 >> [LAUGH] >> The proliferation of seven on seven.
09:34 Guys can't take a snap under center and it's not real football,
09:38 cuz in real football guys are rushing you.
09:40 And if they hit you, they might really hit you and we don't tackle our guys.
09:42 I'm certain they maybe we should have the quarterback just to give them a sense that
09:47 it's real out there.
09:48 These guys are gonna try to knock your head off if they can.
09:50 So anyway, yeah, all this practice is gonna be, it's been helpful for him and
09:55 Cade needs some too.
09:57 Has he been able to practice at all or is it just kind of minor?
10:00 >> No, basically it's been a recovery process and they got a procedure for it.
10:04 So hopefully at the end of the week he can start doing some things.
10:08 I think everything looks like it's on schedule, so that's encouraging.
10:12 >> He's a tough guy.
10:13 I mean, you expect him to fight through whatever it is.
10:16 >> Yeah, I'm not worried about that at all.
10:17 It's just, mother nature takes part too and
10:21 that's always been the case with injuries.
10:23 The toughest guy might be, and certain guys can do certain things and
10:27 certain positions, but quarterback needs his legs for sure.
10:31 >> Have you settled on a best five up front offensively?
10:33 >> No, no, that's good.
10:34 It's a positive.
10:35 We're still moving guys around and I think it's a real positive because we,
10:40 it's not because we're not sure.
10:41 I think we got some guys who are really competing well and
10:43 at some point we got to pull that gather down.
10:47 Yeah, pull it down to seven, eight guys and get a game day rotation going.
10:50 But no, we haven't settled on anything yet.
10:52 We've got a really open mind.
10:54 >> Are you open to rotating guys like a guard?
10:56 >> Yeah, absolutely.
10:58 If they can push it on point, yeah, absolutely.
11:01 >> More generally, you had mentioned just about leadership.
11:06 Is there anything kind of behind the scenes,
11:08 like maybe we wouldn't have seen where you just saw something like,
11:11 you realize just how good of a leader he is?
11:13 >> Yeah, I mean, you get the feeling, first of all,
11:15 I got the feeling a year and a half ago, certain players just, you're really,
11:19 it's like when you talk to the pro guys,
11:23 you talk to the guys about guys on other teams.
11:25 The certain guys you just notice, typically really good players you do.
11:29 And I was just, it's a matter of record, the team wasn't real good in 20.
11:34 We were getting ready to play them in 20 and the plug got pulled on it.
11:39 So we had a good few of them there and I know it's a pandemic, but
11:43 you still gotta play, so you are what you are.
11:46 And then watching them in 21, we were extremely impressed and
11:49 we weren't playing, they were just on crossover film.
11:52 Couldn't help but be impressed.
11:53 Part of that's the guy's plan.
11:55 It's not just coaching, but players play too.
11:57 And it's, so it was really apparent to us that we gotta compete against them.
12:01 You're on the field with them, so you had a good feeling.
12:03 I don't have any clue that a year later,
12:05 we're gonna have a conversation with him about coming here.
12:08 And since he's been here, he's just been very, he's taken ownership.
12:12 He's been one of us and he's jumped in there and
12:15 acts like a guy you would hope who's got some seniority and
12:20 who's got some experience.
12:22 And he's been respectful too, that he hasn't done anything here yet and
12:25 he knows that.
12:26 But he's anxious to compete, that's just how he's more,
12:28 that's a good thing for us, I think.
12:30 >> How's your depth in the secondary right now?
12:34 You've got some of the second year guys,
12:37 he, Deshaun Lee, and going into it, TJ Hall.
12:42 >> Yeah, I think moving forward, that's probably the only way.
12:47 I think we all know what's starting on the field,
12:50 and I think we're gonna have to be on the right track.
12:53 Development of depth in the secondary is gonna be one of the key things.
12:57 I came up here, Dallas Corp was here last week, and we were just talking about things.
13:01 I forgot that we had to throw Betty Sapp in, we had a pretty good team in '02,
13:05 pretty veteran team, and all of a sudden, Betty's in there.
13:08 Or actually, she's not Betty, but Antoine, he had a big Betty spot.
13:11 And we really didn't have an answer for that.
13:13 But you had to do what you had to do.
13:15 Next thing you know, Antoine's in there, and we found a way to keep winning.
13:18 So yeah, I think maybe there might be some parallels at that position.
13:22 It's probably the position where we're still trying to develop those players that
13:26 haven't played a lot.
13:27 You mentioned Koantou in the back, in the middle there.
13:30 We're probably a little deeper at the secondary, the safety positions,
13:33 but the corner spot's probably the one where we need the most work.
13:36 >> Do you have as it stands out right now?
13:37 >> No, they're all doing a good job, yeah.
13:39 They're all doing a good job.
13:40 Deshaun's done a nice job, TJ, and so it's been good.
13:44 >> Kirk, do you ever think you're dealing with an uneven playing field with other
13:48 states aren't investigating this gambling stuff?
13:50 >> Yeah, I mean, it's obvious.
13:52 I mean, I can't imagine we're the only state where college kids bet.
13:55 I just can't imagine that.
13:57 I mean, seriously, that's like rounding up 20 year olds that had a beer.
14:01 So that would feel kinnic, I know that.
14:03 And so for whatever reason, we're the lucky ones, we're the chosen ones.
14:10 We just got to really benefit from this whole deal.
14:14 And I'm really not sure what the point was.
14:16 And I have a respect for the law, don't misunderstand that.
14:20 I respect for the law, but I'm not sure I understand what happened.
14:25 So, but that's not the issue.
14:27 The issue is if somebody bet on us, that to me is the issue.
14:30 And that is an issue, and nobody's running from that, totally on that.
14:33 Just like anything else, I mean, nobody's running from that one.
14:37 >> How have you seen guys deal with the heat this week?
14:40 And how have you been able to stay cool with the-
14:43 >> Yeah, today's really the only day.
14:44 The first Saturday you guys were in, it was the first time we worked in sunlight,
14:48 and it was in the 80s.
14:50 Today's the first day, today's hot right now.
14:53 But we've been practicing around the field at 8 o'clock, so
14:56 it's really not a big deal.
14:57 It hasn't been a deal at all.
14:59 >> Cooper, Dejan, and Nico didn't play, and how are they doing?
15:03 >> They're doing fine, yeah.
15:04 Cooper's back working, and Nico's close.
15:07 And expect him Friday, Saturday to get some work.
15:09 So, and not that you want anybody hurt, but when a guy's 28 years old,
15:13 he knows how to play.
15:15 >> Coach, how have you seen Cade overcome adversity in the last few weeks?
15:19 >> Yeah, he's just wired that way.
15:20 It's natural to him.
15:21 He's a very competitive guy.
15:22 He's a very positive guy, and very strong willed.
15:25 Always felt like, and going back to the nature part,
15:27 like you can only do so much.
15:28 Like you got a broken bone, it's got to heal.
15:30 I totally get that.
15:31 But my experience is guys, mental toughness really helps guys get back to
15:35 the field faster.
15:36 And some are more wired that way than others.
15:40 So that's certainly not something he's lacking.
15:43 There's no question he wants to be out there.
15:44 So keep him going here, hopefully, and I'm sure he's frozen.
15:48 >> Is AJ Lawson on the team anymore?
15:50 >> He's not, no.
15:51 He's part of our program.
15:53 >> Okay. >> And our commitment to him is
15:55 graduating right now.
15:56 We had a discussion back in July.
15:58 And he just came in and he just wants to focus on finishing his degree and
16:03 should be able to do it next July or August, actually, or first week of August.
16:06 So that's our target.
16:08 Great young guy.
16:09 And he's trying to balance both.
16:10 He was having a hard time.
16:11 And I told him a while back, really, the only thing I care about,
16:14 I'm sure there'll be one of our guys who's walking away with a degree.
16:18 We're committed to that.
16:18 He's committed to that.
16:19 We're gonna continue to support him.
16:21 >> Anybody we can put on scholarship?
16:22 >> Yeah, Luke Elkin.
16:25 Yeah, that's a good question.
16:26 Yeah, I think Luke, I think that puts us at 85, I think.
16:28 So, yeah.
16:29 >> What has Luke done that's really stood out to you to put him on scholarship?
16:34 >> He's been spectacular since he's got here.
16:37 Just consistent, dependable, great team guy.
16:40 He can cover, too.
16:41 He's an athlete, actually, an athlete.
16:43 So I don't think we'll put a snapper around past him, but
16:46 might throw it to him, you never know.
16:48 We'll see.
16:48 He's really good.
16:49 He's just been super.
16:49 So, yeah, he's everything.
16:51 And we've been so lucky with deep snappers for 25 years now.
16:55 And I'm just glad he's on our team.