Hawkeyes talk after Northwestern game
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 -Good.
00:02 -Alright.
00:04 [inaudible]
00:06 [inaudible]
00:08 [inaudible]
00:10 [inaudible]
00:12 -Cook, what do you think of the win?
00:14 You know, just the way you guys were able to do it,
00:16 especially after getting up one second.
00:18 -Yeah, I think, you know, everybody,
00:20 I mean, I think that's a real team win right there.
00:22 You know, we scored.
00:24 I mean, that whole
00:26 team effort,
00:28 we scored.
00:30 I mean, that whole situation with the
00:32 black punt, scored touchdown,
00:34 that's team football right there. That's how we want to play.
00:36 You know, we
00:38 fought until the very end.
00:40 It wasn't clean.
00:42 A lot of the wins aren't clean,
00:44 so we got a lot of things to figure out.
00:46 But, you know, at least
00:48 we came out with a win.
00:50 -Cook, you played some snaps on offense.
00:52 When did that come about?
00:54 [inaudible]
00:56 -Yeah, it was a lot of fun, I think.
00:58 You know, it was a little
01:00 different. You know, I haven't been over there
01:02 in a while, but it was
01:04 a lot of fun to be on that side of the ball, be able to handle the ball
01:06 a little bit, be in that huddle.
01:08 So, it was cool.
01:10 -Is this the first week that you were practicing with the offense?
01:12 -Yeah, yeah.
01:14 This is, yeah.
01:16 It was a lot of fun.
01:18 You know, just to be on that side of the ball,
01:20 like I said, in the huddle.
01:22 You know, so.
01:24 -How did you react to your teammates when they found out you were going to play with the offense?
01:26 -I mean,
01:28 most of them were excited, I think.
01:30 In the
01:32 locker room, at least, when everybody found out about it.
01:34 -Most?
01:36 I mean, I'm sure.
01:38 -Everyone was.
01:40 -Can you talk about the goal line stand
01:42 you guys put up there to keep them out of the end zone?
01:44 -Yeah, that's, I mean,
01:46 that's the Iowa defense right there, you know.
01:48 Not giving up,
01:50 you know, on the drive.
01:52 You know, they got the ball
01:54 on the one-yard line four times
01:56 in a row.
01:58 And the guys out there made a huge stand.
02:00 You know,
02:02 that's just that fight
02:04 that we have instilled
02:06 in our defense and in this
02:08 program.
02:10 -After the game, it looked like you guys were kind of on the edge of the dugout
02:12 and like, just sharing a few moments
02:14 with the fans over here, just what all of that was like.
02:16 -Yeah, it was cool.
02:18 It felt like a home game
02:20 coming here.
02:22 All I saw was a lot of black and gold.
02:24 I didn't see much purple and white.
02:26 But it was cool
02:28 to see all the fans that traveled here.
02:30 And just to be able to celebrate
02:32 that moment with them and with this whole team
02:34 after a hard-fought win
02:36 and the support that they gave us.
02:38 You know, driving here
02:40 to come support us was really cool.
02:42 -What was it like playing in
02:44 an unconventional venue like this?
02:46 -I thought it was pretty cool, to be honest.
02:48 I think it's a little smaller than a football stadium,
02:50 but I kind of like that.
02:52 It was a pretty cool environment to play in.
02:54 -What were the last couple weeks like for you?
02:56 We haven't talked to you since after the Minnesota game.
02:58 When did you get over that?
03:00 And how do you look forward, I guess?
03:02 -Yeah.
03:04 I don't know if I'm over it yet,
03:06 but I don't know if I ever will.
03:08 But I guess I'm just
03:10 looking forward to the next game.
03:12 -What was it like playing in a stadium like this?
03:14 -It was pretty cool.
03:16 I don't know if I ever will.
03:18 But at some point, you just got to move on
03:20 because there's still more football to be played.
03:22 We just had to focus on
03:26 the bye week
03:28 and trying to get better
03:30 and trying to move on
03:32 from that situation
03:34 because there's still more football to be played.
03:36 So just getting back out there
03:40 and being on the field again,
03:42 practicing with these guys,
03:44 I think everybody kind of moved on,
03:46 but it's still in the back of your mind a little bit.
03:48 -You began the day
03:52 a four-way tie in first place in the last half.
03:54 It's just you.
03:56 Does that mean anything to you
03:58 at this point?
04:00 With three games left, you're in control
04:02 of your destiny, whatever the cliche would be.
04:04 -Yeah.
04:06 We still have to take care of us
04:08 and focus on each week
04:10 one week at a time.
04:12 You can't look too far ahead
04:14 into the standings or whatever.
04:16 You just got to take it
04:18 one week at a time
04:20 and enjoy this win right now,
04:22 but we got to focus next week
04:24 on our next opponent.
04:26 -Talk about the goal-line stance.
04:28 What was that like?
04:30 -What's it like? I don't know.
04:32 It's a crazy experience.
04:34 This is what you do. This is what you practice for
04:36 as a whole team.
04:38 You look for big moments in a game to step up
04:40 and show what your team can really do.
04:42 -The field was a little beat up.
04:44 I mean, as you were coming about, you were staying up in the field.
04:46 What was that like?
04:48 -There was a big divot.
04:50 To see a big divot in there,
04:52 it was weird because that's not a traditional
04:54 football field.
04:56 -When you're in a goal-line situation,
04:58 you guys were in goal-line defense, six defensive
05:00 line, four linebackers.
05:02 Were you just
05:04 concentrating on playing your gap and that was
05:06 it, or what was going through your mind
05:08 especially the last three plays
05:10 when they had a couple of sneaks
05:12 and in between they had a running play?
05:14 -What was going through my mind?
05:16 Yeah, it was being in my gap
05:18 and just having
05:20 trust in the guys around me that
05:22 we can do this.
05:24 -Walk me through what you saw in your sack.
05:26 -What's up? -In your sack, walk me through
05:28 what you saw there.
05:30 -I'm not a flashy guy,
05:32 so I'm a bull rush guy
05:34 and just kept pushing.
05:36 Teammate
05:38 made him step up and he was right in my lap.
05:40 -What is the key
05:42 on a goal, like a couple
05:44 inches away from the goal line, probably know
05:46 they're going to sneak it. What is the key to
05:48 not letting him go?
05:50 -The key is staying in your gap
05:52 and just keep pushing.
05:54 -How did you feel like, I mean
05:56 can you give us a sense of what it felt like
05:58 in that final?
06:00 -Well, my sense
06:02 was I'm one yard
06:04 deep back here with my face in the dirt
06:06 so I really don't know what's going on.
06:08 But then you hear the roar
06:10 of the crowd and then you know you did it.
06:12 -What was it like to
06:14 hear that Iowa crowd on
06:16 a field that was not only a
06:18 four question home game but it was about
06:20 80-20 Hawkeye fans. What was that like for you?
06:22 -Crazy. Crazy to just
06:26 know like your fan base will travel
06:28 to see you guys play.
06:30 -About the field goal,
06:32 what were you doing and your thoughts
06:34 whether you thought he would make it or not?
06:36 The field goal, I was
06:38 just doing my job.
06:40 That's all you can do. Everyone's
06:42 got to do their job and
06:44 that's how you get to moments like that.
06:46 -Did you have confidence that he would make that kick?
06:48 -Of course. Always have confidence
06:50 in all of my teammates.
06:52 -One more question. I mean, there was probably
06:54 I'm sure a range of emotions
06:56 giving up the tying touchdown
06:58 and there wasn't a whole lot of time left.
07:00 Were you kind of mentally thinking about
07:02 overtime at that point or what were you trying to
07:04 concentrate on just knowing
07:06 it was a tie score?
07:08 -Doing your job. That's what
07:10 it comes down to is doing
07:12 your job and focus on what you
07:14 can control and
07:16 just knowing that the other guys
07:18 are doing the same thing.
07:20 -Thank you.
07:22 -Questions for Drew?
07:28 Has the adrenaline worn
07:30 off yet from the game winner? -A little bit.
07:32 I was still pretty warm. I was not that warm
07:34 in the first half.
07:36 -Drew, did it ever enter your mind
07:38 going and running out there on the field that
07:40 that was almost the exact same
07:42 kick as the one that linked off the upright
07:44 in the first quarter? -Well, you know, I mean
07:46 I just change where I'm aiming but
07:48 one of the key points I've been working on
07:50 throughout practice the last couple weeks
07:52 even in the game, like pre-game talking
07:54 to Coach Woods, is being convicted on my line
07:56 which means truly believing where you're
07:58 aiming and trying to kick it there because sometimes
08:00 maybe in the past I've like aimed
08:02 at a spot and then like
08:04 not trusted it. But like
08:06 obviously at the end of
08:08 the game I picked the line and I
08:10 that's where I wanted to
08:12 play it truly because the wind was slightly pushing
08:14 it left or right and it kind of
08:16 mother nature kind of got me in the
08:18 first half but you know
08:20 it made it what it mattered.
08:22 -How do you shake that off when you're going out there
08:24 and you're getting a leading kick? -If you would have
08:26 asked me that a few years ago
08:28 it probably would have been like, it's impossible.
08:30 I mean, it's like one or two minutes
08:32 like dang, that sucks. But you know
08:34 your team needs you in close games
08:36 like that so I mean it wasn't that
08:38 difficult to shake off.
08:40 -You played Gollin in the three plays
08:42 before you were kicked.
08:44 Ultra conservative and they were setting you up for a long
08:46 one. You mentioned more about that.
08:48 -I mean, shout out to my coaches for believing in me
08:50 but to be quite honest with you I wasn't
08:52 even looking. I already knew
08:54 what was going to happen.
08:56 I was already
08:58 kicking in the net and then I hear like
09:00 crowd roars here or there and then
09:02 I don't know, next kick. I was prepared.
09:04 -Do you know how far to kick in
09:06 when you wind up?
09:08 Like the exact distance and how far
09:10 could you have made one from today?
09:12 -Well
09:14 it is kind of difficult to judge
09:16 that. I try to pick a line.
09:18 That's what we do at pregame and maybe
09:20 adjust it at halftime depending on
09:22 how the weather holds up or changes
09:24 throughout the game. But I
09:26 had it set at like a
09:28 56 yarder because that's what I want.
09:30 That's what I want to like. I set
09:32 my line based off no adrenaline
09:34 and like maybe my
09:36 lower end kicks. Like if I don't
09:38 hit it as pure as possible.
09:40 But I mean
09:42 with adrenaline I can probably go pretty
09:44 further than that.
09:46 Yeah, that one was pretty
09:48 that one was pretty nice. Yeah.
09:50 -Did you know it was good before
09:52 he kicked? -Yeah, I'm glad
09:54 he said that because that's one thing
09:56 I mean as soon as I kicked
09:58 it I started like celebrating.
10:00 I was like it went in and then like
10:02 it's like a three second delay and then the crowd
10:04 started cheering.
10:06 -How was the turf?
10:08 The turf down in the goal line area was
10:10 solid?
10:12 -I mean I walked it
10:14 pregame. There was a little bit of differences.
10:16 It was honestly just like a little softer
10:18 than the outfield turf.
10:20 I mean the turf didn't really affect
10:22 me too much that game. I mean
10:24 when I'm practicing in the net sometimes
10:26 the spot gets worn out. Like it sinks down
10:28 because I plant pretty hard.
10:30 But I mean it didn't affect me
10:32 too much. It didn't affect me enough to change anything.
10:34 -Two more questions.
10:36 -You had a game winner last year
10:38 about 60 degrees colder though.
10:40 What's kind of
10:42 your mindset when you go on the field?
10:44 Do you kind of empty your thoughts or how do you
10:46 approach that moment because it could
10:48 probably swallow up some people if you're not mentally prepared for it.
10:50 -Yeah.
10:52 The best word I can describe
10:54 this is it's like a blackout.
10:56 Like you're strictly going off of your
10:58 training because if you wanted
11:00 to think of something like you just can't.
11:02 It's hard to describe it but
11:04 you're running out there and next thing
11:06 you know you're running off no matter what happens.
11:08 I mean apparently
11:10 my snapper and holder
11:12 just told me that the other team
11:14 was like the players were saying stuff to me
11:16 and I had no clue. I had no idea.
11:18 -It seemed like after the game
11:20 you guys were kind of right on the edge of the dugout
11:22 like just sharing the moment with the
11:24 crowd. What all was it
11:26 like? -I mean you know
11:28 that's why I love sports. The atmosphere is
11:30 unmatched with
11:32 anything. And you know
11:34 it's always good. When everybody's happy
11:36 you're happy. That's how it goes.
11:38 -Was this celebration planned?
11:40 -Not planned.
11:42 It's a competitive game and
11:44 I was having fun.
11:46 -In the first kick did that help you
11:48 as you guys see the
11:50 same distance and everything?
11:52 -I mean yeah. It's
11:54 also different when you get like that
11:56 far back you gotta kind of like
11:58 gauge where you're aiming.
12:00 I mean if I could go back I probably would
12:02 have aimed at the left up right.
12:04 I was aiming left middle.
12:06 I mean convicted line that's where I was
12:08 predetermined to go
12:10 on that specific kick.
12:12 And I mean mother nature said
12:14 no. It's also a little different
12:16 because when you're on the hash
12:18 the wind will move it that much more than
12:20 like if you're in the middle.
12:22 -Alright thanks Drew.
12:24 -It's Kurt for Heisman baby!
12:26 -That's a reach.
12:28 How y'all
12:30 doing?
12:32 -What was it like playing back home?
12:34 -Um you.
12:36 It was great. You know I had
12:38 all my friends and family out here to come out here
12:40 and support me so it was great to get the win.
12:42 You know. Felt real good
12:44 just to know that I had a big support system
12:46 here today. -How many ticket requests?
12:48 -I didn't even get all the tickets I needed.
12:50 So I probably had roughly around
12:52 about like 20. It would have been way more if I got
12:54 all the tickets I needed. But 20's still good.
12:56 -How many did you want?
12:58 -Man I needed probably about like 80.
13:00 It was a lot. But that's a reach
13:02 though. Any of them tickets is kind of
13:04 expensive this week.
13:06 -Did you go to the Sox games?
13:08 -Nah I actually never even seen this stadium before.
13:10 I'm a Southside kid so
13:12 this kind of new to me. So this is a
13:14 new experience for me too. And I don't
13:16 know too much about baseball to be being honest.
13:18 [laughter]
13:20 -Do you know if you ever
13:22 drove by this stadium or anything?
13:24 -Nope.
13:26 Southside baby to the heart.
13:28 -What was it like to hear
13:30 all those Hollywood fans especially you know
13:32 Northwestern field, Northwestern
13:34 flags, all that. But
13:36 Hawkeye fans really showed up. What was that
13:38 like from your perspective?
13:40 -We got some of the best fans in the nation man. They traveled
13:42 all over the world. I mean it wasn't
13:44 even like a home
13:46 game for us. It really was like, it felt like a home game.
13:48 They was getting booed when they walked out
13:50 and I thought I could have sworn this was a
13:52 away game for us. But obviously you know we got
13:54 some of the best fans in the nation no matter what.
13:56 Sometimes they give us a hard time but at the
13:58 end of the day we know they're going to be here to support us.
14:00 They got our backs.
14:02 -They put a lot of stock
14:04 in you especially late in the game.
14:06 You ran the ball, you played
14:08 straight plays there, set up the field goal.
14:10 Was the game plan
14:12 in your hands you felt like throughout
14:14 the week what you felt like was all
14:16 on you or a lot of it on you?
14:18 -I don't know the game plan. I just go out there and do my job.
14:20 I mean I wait till my number called and
14:22 all of us in the running back room you know we
14:24 all capable of doing it so
14:26 we all just go out there, practice hard and wait till our
14:28 number call and make sure we ready.
14:30 -What does it mean to you?
14:32 You guys are in first place by yourself right now in the Big Ten
14:34 with three to go. What's your mindset right now
14:36 knowing that?
14:38 -It's still got three games
14:40 left I think.
14:42 It mean a lot but at the end of the day
14:44 we still got to move on next week and make
14:46 sure we practice hard
14:48 and get you know this game wasn't pretty
14:50 so we got to make sure we fix
14:52 the makeable plays and everything so we can
14:54 come out and get the job done next week.
14:56 -I got full confidence in the team no matter what.
14:58 It could have been 10 seconds on the clock
15:00 and we probably run play or pass play
15:02 I still think we capable of doing it no matter what.
15:04 I see how we practice hard and practice
15:06 and everything you know and I know at the end of the day
15:08 I still got confidence in myself no matter what
15:10 so I always think I can break a record
15:12 so I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:14 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:16 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:18 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:20 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:22 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:24 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:26 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:28 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:30 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:32 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:34 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:36 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:38 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:40 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:42 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:44 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:46 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:48 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:50 -I'm just gonna keep on going.
15:52 -And then ultimately saw three cracks right at the middle.
15:55 -Yeah, we kind of knew the situation we were in.
15:59 I mean, we knew it was four-down territory for them,
16:02 and honestly, that's just -- that's every defense's dream,
16:06 to stop a team, two QB sneaks, inside zone twice.
16:10 Like, that's what we hang our hats on is playing physical,
16:14 so when we saw their heavy personnel
16:18 and we knew it was gonna be a Emano-Emano game,
16:23 and that's what we were happy about.
16:25 We knew we had the opportunity to show what we could really do.
16:28 -Was there anyone in particular
16:30 who won their matchup and blew up those plays?
16:32 It was just every guy --
16:34 -Yeah, in a situation like that, everybody's got to win up front.
16:38 I mean, a running back can fall through a gap for one yard,
16:43 so if we get attacked for a loss or he has to bounce it,
16:47 that means my D-line was in every gap possible,
16:50 and, I mean, that's what jumbo defense is,
16:53 and it's extremely simple.
16:55 I mean, Coach Wallace calls it high school football,
16:58 just put everybody in a gap,
16:59 but the hard part is executing, keeping everybody in the gap.
17:03 -What was your reaction when you saw that giant dip in your team?
17:07 -I was breathing hard, so I told the ref to make sure
17:10 he fixes it so I could get a breather,
17:12 but, I mean, it was just two teams anchored in.
17:16 I mean, I saw it come right up.
17:19 I think one of their O-linemen, like, just driving it.
17:24 But I needed the rest, so I was happy they fixed it.
17:27 -Kyler Fisher is one of those unsung guys.
17:29 He came up big in that side.
17:31 Can you just talk about the impact he has on you?
17:34 -Yeah.
17:35 He -- Kyler's in the position I was in last year,
17:38 and, I mean, it's hard playing football
17:41 when you don't have a groove, and his job is really hard.
17:45 He's based on the personnel,
17:47 and when you got to come in for one play and come out,
17:50 or you don't know how many plays it's going to be at a time,
17:53 it's really hard for him.
17:54 So just respect to Kyler and everything he's accomplished.
17:57 I mean, he's dedicated himself to being a good Iowa linebacker,
18:01 and I feel like when we watch him play,
18:03 it's just a testament of how hard he's been working.
18:06 -What's it like getting to see Cooper play offense?
18:09 -Oh, it's fun. Fun and scary.
18:12 I couldn't imagine seeing Cooper on the other side
18:14 of the ball.
18:16 I'd tell everybody to back up, probably.
18:19 But he's just a football player,
18:21 and I feel like that's really how we recruit around here,
18:24 is just we recruit guys who love football,
18:27 and when a guy loves football, you can do that.
18:30 I mean, a player of his caliber,
18:32 he could easily go to coaching staff and say, "Protect me.
18:35 I'm looking towards the future," but, I mean,
18:38 he just wants to be on the field at any time,
18:40 and, I mean, that's just a true testament to who he is.
18:43 That's a true testament to who he is as a player.
18:45 -Two more questions.
18:47 -A lot of the last two weeks,
18:49 I mean, the call against Minnesota,
18:51 then Brian not coming back next season,
18:53 I guess internally, just how do you feel
18:55 like kind of the team's handled?
18:57 -Yeah, I mean, like I'd say, after the Penn State loss,
19:01 I quickly understood what type of team we had,
19:05 guys who were really focused on --
19:09 What are they saying out there?
19:11 What are they talking?
19:13 Guys who -- We just have a bunch of guys
19:15 who are focused on the team,
19:17 and we respect everybody in our building,
19:20 especially the people who show up from that --
19:23 who are going to be at the practice tomorrow
19:26 all the way up to kickoff.
19:28 I mean, those -- The people that are in the building,
19:30 that's who we really focus on,
19:32 and we will do anything for those coaches, all of them.
19:36 -Jay, you guys gave a touchdown.
19:38 I mean, what's kind of going through your mind at that point?
19:41 Is it, you know, get your head right for overtime,
19:45 if that's the case?
19:47 -The first thing was I set the defense to the wrong tight end
19:51 before they snapped the ball,
19:53 but then they got out of the formation,
19:55 and they made me right,
19:57 so that's what I was thinking about,
19:59 how I could have did better there,
20:01 but, I mean, we're expecting to be in dogfights.
20:05 We know it's hard to win,
20:07 and we're prepared for anything.
20:10 When we made that fourth down stop,
20:12 I mean, the ball was probably on the half-yard line.
20:15 Like, that's hard.
20:17 Axing our offense to go drive 99 yards,
20:19 and then the field at that point was pretty much just sand,
20:24 so, you know, we know that we're never --
20:27 We can never relax,
20:29 and we're always prepared to take the field when we need to.
20:31 -You guys are in first place with three games to go.
20:35 As a captain, what is your message to your guys?
20:39 -I mean, it's hard to be 7-2 in the Big Ten.
20:44 I feel like, I don't know,
20:46 maybe people are, like, forgetting about that.
20:50 Like, seven wins in this conference,
20:51 it's not easy to come by,
20:53 so I'm telling my guys to hold their heads up high.
20:57 Extremely, extremely happy with my team right now,
21:01 and we know November's a big month for Iowa football,
21:05 and we all know that.
21:06 -All right. Thanks, Jay.
21:07 -Thank you.
21:08 -What are the emotions like, kind of,
21:09 after that up-and-down game?
21:11 -Yeah. Obviously, excited, happy the way it turned out for us,
21:16 but, you know, emotions like that happen almost every game,
21:20 you know, ups and downs.
21:21 I think that's why so many people
21:23 just get exhausted after the game.
21:24 One thing that, you know, Brian and Coach Budd think is,
21:27 you know, you're so focused during the game
21:30 that, you know, you kind of let all the emotions out
21:32 after the game.
21:33 You can feel all of that after, but you got to stay level
21:36 and don't keep flipping sides during the game.
21:39 You just let it all out after those, you know,
21:42 hour, two hours up.
21:44 -Tell me about the game.
21:47 -Yeah, so, you know, we game-planned that pass all week,
21:51 you know, a couple out routes to the field,
21:54 and, you know, we got the look that we were planning for,
21:57 so, you know, it was just my job to give him the ball.
22:00 You know, thankfully, I did, so.
22:03 But, yeah, he ran a great route, made a great play on the ball,
22:05 got some extra yards, so, yeah, just great play by Caleb.
22:09 -When Caleb broke open, like, did your eyes just get really big
22:13 seeing him get open on that cut,
22:15 or what was that like from your perspective?
22:17 -Yeah, from my perspective, it was like, okay, you know,
22:19 they're in a certain defense, they're in quarters, whatever,
22:21 and so expecting it to be there.
22:24 And so when I saw him snap out, I just knew it was like,
22:26 all right, time to throw the ball,
22:28 so let's try and get it to him.
22:30 Yeah, I think your eyes get a little big when you see him open,
22:33 but, yeah, we're trying to put it out there,
22:35 anticipate it a little bit so you can catch him and run,
22:37 but, you know, it was a good route, you know, good play, so.
22:40 -What's going through your mind when you're heading out on the field
22:42 after the offense has only scored seven points all day
22:45 and then you get the ball back, the game tied, a minute 50 left?
22:48 What's going through your mind as the quarterback
22:50 to lead the team in those mile-long runs?
22:52 -Yeah, it's just do your job.
22:55 You know, we do two-minute drills almost every day.
22:58 We have been in that--
23:00 we have practiced that exact situation before,
23:03 and so it was just like another day, just our practice.
23:05 You know, we told the O-line, the O-line was telling me
23:07 right before we went out there, just like practice,
23:09 just go out there and keep doing it.
23:11 -What was it like to have Cooper on the offensive side of the ball now?
23:14 -Yeah, I think the crowd was as loud as it was today
23:17 when Cooper ran on the field.
23:19 But, yeah, when you have a guy like that dynamic, that athletic,
23:23 you just find ways to use them.
23:25 So, yeah, I mean, it's cool to have him on the field
23:28 running both ways, but, you know, Cooper does his thing.
23:31 -What dimension do you think he added
23:33 when he was on the field for you guys?
23:35 -Yeah, I think, you know, people are going to look
23:37 at the sweep we gave him, but I think the biggest thing
23:40 was when we ran the inside zone to the right,
23:42 and, you know, we put Cooper in motion
23:44 like we were running the same play.
23:46 I think the whole world knew or thought
23:48 we were going to give him the ball again,
23:50 but I think he provided that distraction
23:52 and he got the ball up the middle and gave 6, 7 yards.
23:55 So I think that was a bigger play.
23:57 In my opinion, I'm not trying to take him away from Coop.
24:00 I don't think I could, but, yeah.
24:02 -Logan went out.
24:04 How big of a difference or impact did that have on you?
24:06 -Yeah, I don't think it was so much of an impact
24:08 because I'd worked with Ellis all summer.
24:10 You know, he rotates in during the week.
24:12 We make sure to get some snaps before practice every day.
24:15 So I think he did a great job.
24:17 You know, I told him he did great.
24:19 You know, very proud of him.
24:21 Yeah, me and Ellis are pretty tight.
24:23 We play a lot of golf together during the summer.
24:25 So, you know, it wasn't a huge difference.
24:27 I think he did a great job in every aspect.
24:29 -That play you were under pressure
24:31 and kind of had to wing the ball away,
24:33 went off the hands of the Northwestern defender.
24:35 Did you kind of feel lucky in that moment?
24:37 -Yeah, no, definitely lucky.
24:39 Should have burned it.
24:41 Should have just threw it at the feet of Bug.
24:43 You know, we got away with that one.
24:45 So, yeah, definitely, you know, aspects of growing.
24:48 You know, I think that's something this year
24:51 that I've been forced to do is just grow a lot.
24:53 Try and grow up fast.
24:55 You know, I acknowledge that, like,
24:57 it might be not fast enough for people outside the building.
24:59 But, you know, this offense, we're growing each week.
25:02 I think that's the biggest thing, just keep growing each week.
25:05 You know, the effort every day at practice is there.
25:07 You know, we're all giving 100%.
25:09 And so I think that's the biggest thing, you know.
25:11 Whatever, you know, whatever other people feel
25:13 outside the building, whatever, not fast enough,
25:15 we're not growing fast enough, we're not doing much.
25:17 You know, we know what we're doing inside the building.
25:20 [Indistinct]
25:22 You've gotten to touchdown, that's first in his career.
25:25 What kind of impact has he made on this team,
25:27 especially how he's lost to an FLC tie-in?
25:30 Yeah, I think he steps up in a big way each game.
25:33 I think he did a great job last week, or two weeks ago as well.
25:36 You know, Addy's a great tie-down.
25:40 You know, he's only a sophomore, I think, sophomore.
25:44 But he's been playing great.
25:46 He knows everything he's supposed to do.
25:48 I trust him 150%.
25:50 He's my guy.
25:51 Ever since I got here in the spring, you know,
25:53 we've kind of connected a little bit.
25:55 But I knew when I came out of that naked,
25:57 he was going to be there, so.
25:59 [Indistinct]
26:07 Yeah, obviously, the biggest news that we've gotten
26:10 so far this season, but, you know,
26:12 we need to finish the season.
26:14 The goal for us was, you know,
26:16 it doesn't matter what's going on right now.
26:18 It's just how we finish the year.
26:20 Two more questions.
26:22 There was that throw to Nico that got kicked off.
26:24 You mentioned learning from some of the throws
26:26 and stuff like that.
26:28 What would you take away from that throw,
26:30 or would you make a different decision?
26:32 Yeah, no, I liked where I went with the ball.
26:34 I liked the read.
26:35 Just placement, you know, give him a chance,
26:37 put him on the outside a little bit more.
26:40 He's a man, so give him one-on-one isolation.
26:42 But I just got to give him a better chance to make a play.
26:45 So I'll say that one to film.
26:47 I'll eat that one.
26:48 I had to eat it today.
26:49 Come back better in the second half.
26:51 But, yeah, I'm still going to throw this to Nico,
26:54 and I think he knows I'm still going to trust him.
26:56 He trusts me, so, yeah.
26:58 You talked about, like, just having to grow up fast this season.
27:01 Can you try to describe as best as possible,
27:05 like, what it's like to get thrown into, you know,
27:08 a starting quarterback at a place like Iowa
27:10 when you're not even thrown, like, a passing toss for the season?
27:13 Yeah.
27:14 Yeah, you know, obviously it's a different situation
27:17 than I've ever been in before.
27:19 I wouldn't trade it for the world, though.
27:20 You know, I'm completely honored to be the starting quarterback
27:22 for this program.
27:24 But, yeah, like I said, it's just trying to grow up fast.
27:26 You know, I don't have the experience other guys have,
27:29 and so just trying to learn those quicker, you know,
27:31 learn those on the fly, I guess, and keep moving forward.
27:34 But the biggest thing is just keep moving forward each week.
27:37 You know, I'm proud of myself the way I've handled everything
27:40 and the way, you know, each day going out there
27:43 and giving 150% to this team,
27:45 because, you know, the biggest thing is this team, you know.
27:49 Whatever I can do to help this team be better,
27:51 that's what I'm going to do.
27:52 So, yeah, I guess that's the biggest thing,
27:54 just trying to grow through experiences
27:56 that I haven't had before.
27:58 Yeah.
27:59 What's your impression of your defense right now?
28:01 I mean, they've given up three touchdowns
28:03 in the last five games.
28:05 You know, I mean, do you kind of marvel at what they do,
28:08 what they accomplish to keep you guys in the game?
28:11 Yeah, I think it's just--
28:12 I think it's impressive every week,
28:14 what they do on the field.
28:16 You know, each position group is, you know, very well coached.
28:20 They play very well.
28:23 Yeah, I think every time--
28:24 like the goal-line stand we had,
28:26 I think you're in awe a little bit.
28:28 But, you know, it's the guys you know,
28:30 and so it's like you expect them to do that,
28:32 because that's who they are,
28:34 and that's what they expect of themselves as well.
28:36 So I think the standard they put on themselves
28:38 is what you just as a team grow to expect.