Inside The Hawkeyes
  • last year
Iowa Football Coach
Transcript
00:00 This game turned out basically what you'd expect any time we get together,
00:03 especially coming up here.
00:04 Just a tough, hard fought game by both teams and
00:09 just extremely proud of our players, our coaching staff, but mostly our players.
00:13 Their effort was outstanding.
00:15 I think they showed a lot of toughness throughout the game and
00:18 just really happy about that.
00:21 We were tested numerous times during the course of the game.
00:23 The guys didn't flinch, they stayed calm, stayed poised and hung together,
00:28 which is what you have to do in those tough situations.
00:30 So happy about that, a lot of grit there.
00:33 And then basically in the locker room,
00:35 it was great to see a bunch of guys feeling really good about themselves.
00:39 And that's what happens when you have to fight for something and
00:42 they certainly did that.
00:43 So definitely want them to enjoy the bus ride home.
00:46 That's part of the deal here.
00:49 So happy about that and then enjoy what's left of the night.
00:53 Probably won't be much when we get back there, but we'll go back to work tomorrow.
00:56 Just like we always do, look at the tape, trying to learn some things there.
01:01 And right now for us, it's a one game season.
01:04 We broke this thing up, eight games, and
01:06 by weeks we'll see where we're at at that point, but it's a one game season.
01:10 Just mention a couple guys, certainly,
01:12 Deshaun did a great job running the football out there.
01:14 And Sebastian, can't say enough about him and the way he's been playing.
01:20 As a senior guy, really started hitting stride at the end of last year.
01:23 And then Drew as well, I'll just circle back with Deshaun.
01:27 Didn't look overly impressive, quite frankly, in that Michigan State game.
01:32 Especially in the third quarter, got back up on his feet and
01:35 played well in that fourth quarter.
01:36 And then just played outstanding football today.
01:40 So good to see a guy who had some adversity come back.
01:43 And I can say the same thing about Drew.
01:44 Wasn't his best effort last week, his best outing.
01:47 And came back today and just, he's right on the money.
01:50 So that says a lot about just how those guys handled some tough situations.
01:54 And then Torrey, said it last week, Torrey could have been special team player,
01:58 probably at least in my mind, a couple times this year.
02:01 Certainly performed extremely well again tonight.
02:03 Again, he's not my guy, he's a senior, experienced, he's leading our team.
02:07 He's a great, strong team leader.
02:09 And backing it up with some outstanding performance.
02:12 So those are all good things.
02:14 Ran the ball well today.
02:17 Defense got a lot of three and outs.
02:19 Came away with the takeaways in the second half.
02:21 So it was obviously critical.
02:23 And the last thing, as I understand it, Rusty Toolbox goes back to Iowa City.
02:27 So happy about that, I think, four in a row.
02:29 So I know those guys, and I joke about those guys are the, the job they do is just
02:34 unreal, they work their tails off.
02:36 They're really all about helping the program.
02:38 So appreciate that and happy for their success too.
02:41 And I'll throw it out for questions.
02:43 >> First of all, Eric Hall, what's his status?
02:46 >> Yeah, he's injured.
02:46 So it's not good, we'll know early next week.
02:49 But it's tough, and it's like everybody's been hurt this year.
02:53 It's just really tough for the individual.
02:55 So wish I had good news, I don't have bad news yet.
02:58 But we'll do that Monday or Tuesday.
03:00 >> Kurt, can you quantify what Taylor's performance means?
03:03 I mean, just the difference it makes in a game.
03:06 >> Tours?
03:07 Yeah, I mean, yeah, I can't cuz I'm old enough to remember Reggie Roby.
03:10 I get to experience him for two years.
03:12 And it just gives you options.
03:15 When you have confidence in the guy, punting gives you some options in terms of
03:19 play calling, situational awareness, those kinds of things.
03:22 And in today's game,
03:23 it didn't look like there was gonna be a lot of scoring the way it was going.
03:27 And just having the opportunity to try to keep your opponent down in there
03:32 is a good thing.
03:33 We had one penalty that let him off the hook on the one.
03:36 But it gives you a little bit more flexibility.
03:39 And you keep that in mind as you're thinking about the game and
03:42 how it's gonna unfold.
03:43 >> I know that you hold Roby in high esteem, the memory of him, and
03:48 find it hard to compare anybody to him.
03:50 But what your guy's doing is pretty close.
03:54 >> Yeah, my memory's not that good, but I mean, it's hard.
03:57 But Bridges NFL is phenomenal too.
04:00 So I can say this, the impact he's having on our team in the games is, I think,
04:04 equal on Reggie, was a huge part of our success in 81.
04:08 The breakthrough, I'm standing here, you mentioned that.
04:11 Our first legitimate win was up in State College in 2020, I believe, in November.
04:17 It might have been October, late October, but I think November.
04:19 And Jason Baker was the star of that game, cuz he just kept pinning them in.
04:23 We went back and forth and had enough to win.
04:26 So if you got a guy who's really stellar like that, it's a real luxury for you.
04:31 >> How much of a point of emphasis was it to really establish the run and
04:34 get that going?
04:36 >> Well, I mean, you're watching our team.
04:37 We're kind of running out of some options here.
04:39 But I think the other story there too, and I think I've said,
04:43 I feel like I'm lying as game ground the last couple of weeks.
04:46 And I thought today they played with a lot of toughness and
04:49 a lot of confidence.
04:51 I think they're improving.
04:52 So you do what it takes to win, and that's kind of our deal.
04:56 That's our mantra.
04:56 And so it's all good, but certainly if we rush the ball better,
05:02 it's gonna give us a better chance to be successful.
05:06 I'm sorry.
05:07 >> It's almost to the point where it's easier to name players that aren't healthy.
05:14 >> Yeah, a few come to mind.
05:15 >> You always talk about next man up mentality, but you sit back,
05:18 you look at the group and the way they've won this season.
05:20 Why is this specific team built to be resilient and to step up to the challenge?
05:25 >> That's a choice everybody makes.
05:27 And coming out of state college a couple weeks back, it was tough.
05:34 So you got two choices.
05:37 I know we couldn't have done three weeks ago, we did today, I know that.
05:40 And I don't have a way to measure that, quantify it, but you guys watch the team.
05:47 So the guys are growing, and that's what the season's all about.
05:50 That's what the sport's all about.
05:51 It's what life's all about.
05:52 It's just look at your situation, what can you do to get better?
05:56 What can you do to give yourself a chance to be competitive?
05:59 And the credit goes to our guys.
06:00 They're just a good group.
06:04 >> Stylistically, Kirk, you- >> I'm sorry, right back here.
06:07 >> First time for your defense to hold a team to single digits this year.
06:11 Do you think this was the defense's best performance of the year?
06:13 And did it surprise you at all, or did you expect something like this?
06:17 >> No, you don't know what to expect, quite frankly.
06:18 These guys really look good on film.
06:20 They're strong up front, outstanding running back.
06:23 They've been throwing the ball the way they want to.
06:26 Quarterbacks are run threat, so you never go in any game just,
06:28 at least not in my habit of feeling real good about anything.
06:32 But the guys were playing, and they got into a group.
06:34 They drove the ball in the first possession.
06:36 And then after that, we settled down and played.
06:38 And then we had two possessions in that second half,
06:40 they were a little shaky, the first two.
06:43 Then we kinda settled in.
06:44 And the guys just, you can feel them kinda fitting in on things and wired in.
06:51 To me, the key really is that the game went on was us trying to keep their back
06:55 under control, cuz he's a really good football player.
06:58 We did that well enough to at least keep things where we hope you can maybe
07:02 stay in the thing.
07:05 >> Kirk, you've talked about it.
07:06 I'm gonna come back, I'm sorry.
07:07 >> Look, by style or whatever scheme, you put a lot on your defense, and
07:11 the defense seems to always come through.
07:13 When you look at today, the way that it was put together, and then Sebastian Castro,
07:18 and the TFL, the ability to hit a D instead of returning for a touchdown.
07:24 I mean, his growth and then this defense, what's kind of your thoughts?
07:27 >> Well, I mean, first of all, it's kind of been our style for
07:29 like 23 years, when we started playing defense finally.
07:33 So that's just how we're wired, that's our DNA, and I have no thoughts about that.
07:38 And then, yeah, I mean, but it takes just what you're referring to.
07:43 It takes a guy like Sebastian, who two years ago was a really good player,
07:46 good special teams player.
07:47 Starting, not starting, I thought his best game was in the bowl game last year.
07:53 And so that's the fun part, is watching guys elevate their play and
07:56 really get the confidence that it takes to be good.
08:00 And when you get that from older guys,
08:02 it just has a really good impact and effect on everybody.
08:05 So coincidentally, tonight you get him and you got Lee Sean,
08:09 both from the same high school.
08:11 And both had major roles in the whole deal, and
08:14 they've had their ups and downs as players.
08:15 But that's the fun of when you see a guy in his senior year,
08:18 like he's playing just at a whole different level than he has his whole career.
08:22 So that's a beauty of experience, if a guy is a guy who works hard and
08:27 tough-minded, but I'll tell you, he's been tough-minded since he showed up.
08:29 That hasn't been an issue since he's learned how to play football.
08:32 >> Were you actively trying to avoid mistakes from the offensive play calling?
08:35 >> I'm sorry?
08:35 >> Were you actively trying to avoid mistakes from the offensive play calling?
08:38 >> No, I mean, we're playing pretty well in defense.
08:40 We have field position, everybody's trying to control it.
08:42 And I mean, it's just, yeah, we don't wanna be reckless or careless.
08:48 And the way things were going, we felt like the way we played it was pretty smart.
08:52 And it turns out it was, but if you lose, it's not so smart.
08:56 But yeah, you just kinda go with the feel of the game and
09:00 feel the team what they're doing and just kinda ride with the flow a little bit.
09:04 >> One team changed the style considerably, one team didn't in this matchup.
09:08 A team that didn't, especially offensively, do you take anything from that?
09:12 >> No, I mean, football still, you gotta play defense, starts there.
09:17 Can't be sloppy with the football, and we didn't do that today.
09:21 If you play good in the kicking game and
09:23 if you run the ball successfully, it gives you a shot.
09:25 So I mean, those are basics, they've been that way for 100 years.
09:29 And typically, if you look at big games, that really is still kinda what gets on.
09:32 I know there's exceptions to every rule, but it's kinda been my experience.
09:35 And I've seen everything about 85 against Michigan.
09:39 I mean, that's just kinda the way football is when you get two good teams
09:42 together, but you never know what to expect.
09:45 And you better be able to adjust when things do go off the rails a little bit.
09:48 >> Coach, a few days ago at your press conference,
09:51 you brought the wristband supporting today's kid captain, Maddie Ramirez.
09:55 I talked with her and her mom before the game, they said they saw that.
09:59 It meant so much to them, she had some tears in her eyes.
10:02 Just to know that a simple gesture like that can make such a difference to a family
10:06 going through such a challenge right now, what's that mean to you?
10:08 >> Well, I mean, the single biggest, best thing that's ever happened in my career
10:11 probably is the Wave, and I have nothing to do with it, just for the record.
10:15 Krista Young is still the person who came up with the idea.
10:18 And I hope as long as I'm coaching,
10:20 it will never be commercialized or sponsored by somebody.
10:22 I hope that happens, I'm not optimistic.
10:25 But it's such a good gesture, and it's not just us, it's for everybody.
10:29 The patients, the families, and the patients always have the families.
10:34 But all the people that work with the kids, not only doctors, but the nurses,
10:37 the therapists, and it's numerous.
10:39 So in a lot of ways, children's medicine's a lot like sports,
10:42 with a sense of community.
10:44 And they all got stories, and we wanna talk about mental toughness.
10:48 Usually, it's those kids and their families.
10:50 So it was nice of her to give me that back in August.
10:56 I don't wear jewelry, I do wear a wedding band on set.
10:58 I don't wear jewelry, otherwise I would have had it on probably.
11:00 But I did wanna recognize her, and all the kid captains have been.
11:05 I'll tell you a job I don't want is the one who has to figure out who are the 12
11:08 kid captains, good luck on that one, cuz they're all great stories.
11:11 So more questions?
11:13 >> Deacon talked about the importance of all three phases of the game, defense and
11:17 special teams coming up huge today.
11:19 But how important is that for you guys to be so
11:22 excellent on that side of the ball when maybe offensively,
11:24 passing game wasn't what you wanted it to be?
11:27 >> Yeah, I mean, every team's got its challenges.
11:29 And we've got some that I think that are different now than they were in August.
11:33 So you adjust, you play to your strengths, try to play to your strengths.
11:38 But tonight was a true team win.
11:40 The offense did a good job, a good job, burning clock,
11:43 running the football effectively, setting up some scores.
11:46 Defense played an outstanding game, and the special teams, for
11:49 the most part, were pretty good, a couple penalties.
11:51 But outside of that, they impacted the game positively.
11:54 So if you get all three things working together, it's a good format.
11:57 If you can get that, it's not always, and I've heard the win two out of three.
12:01 Not sure I'm buying that one either, but if you get all three, it sure helps.
12:05 >> Deacon had said that he had some happy tears after the game.
12:11 >> Who's that?
12:11 >> Deacon Hill, quarterback.
12:13 >> Yeah.
12:14 >> He had said that he had some happy tears after the win.
12:17 Could you get a sense of how much it did mean to him to come back here and
12:20 get the win?
12:21 >> It's kinda like, yeah, to answer your question, no.
12:25 I didn't ask him a thing this weekend.
12:27 It's gotta be obvious,
12:28 he knows every guy in the team other than the transfers that came in.
12:31 So he's got friends here, if you know Deacon, he's just that kind of person.
12:34 Great guy.
12:35 But I think it was just one of those situations where he saw a better
12:38 opportunity, and clearly he was not part of the picture here.
12:42 So I don't think there's any hard feelings or any of that kind of stuff.
12:45 And coming back, it's gotta be a little bit special for him.
12:48 Yeah, but just happy for him.
12:51 And happy for the way he's led our team here the last couple of weeks.
12:54 And I'm not surprised, but just really happy.
12:56 And he'll keep getting better.
12:57 He's a really quality guy.
12:58 Last one, we'll get out of here.
12:59 >> Sorry, that was my second question.
13:01 >> Okay, perfect.