Indiana vs. Iowa Postgame Quotes
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2006
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Oct. 14, 2006
Indiana vs. Iowa
Postgame Quotes
Indiana Head Coach Terry Hoeppner
Opening Statement:
"Obviously, a very satisfying win for our football team and our football program. I know technically its an upset, but in my mind I felt very confident. I know what kind of people they are and I know what kind of coaching staff we have. We were put to the test today. All the credit to Coach Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Its special for the team and special for the program because Iowa is ranked No. 13/15 for a reason - they are obviously a very good football team. I didn't really want to give the ball back to them at the end, but they're a good team. We needed to come up with a play and we did."
On the state of the team:
"I knew we had it in us to put this kind of game together, this kind of performance on both sides of the ball. And yet we are still far, far from where we can be. There were too many turnovers in the first half. The defense had their backs against the wall, Iowa had great field position, and it seemed like every drive of the first half started at the 50-yard line. We dug in and the field goal right before the half turned out to be pretty big. We can build on this very, very satisfying win.
On the development of the team:
"The running game continues to develop, the offensive line continues to develop. We are obviously a work in progress. The young guys are learning and getting better, and the older guys are really doing their part. This was a great team win. The theme was together. We'll play for 60 and win this together. We were a confident bunch getting off the bus.
On Iowa:
"You've heard me say how much I admire Coach Ferentz and the Iowa program. We've played them five times recently, and I think, for me personally, that we had played a similar structure on offense and defense, and their coaches have stayed the same. That might have given us a little edge and in my mind it did. I'm really, really proud of the players and the coaches."
On the difference between the team that lost earlier in the season to the team today:
"It's probably not very much. Physically, it's the same guys, but this is such an emotional game and a mental game also. I think our last three weeks of preparation seemed to be whipped out in the Wisconsin game, but its how you respond. You're not always going to get what you want, and that's a life lesson for sure, and one that you learn sometimes in a practice, in a quarter, in a game, in a season of football. This team has really come together and if I could pinpoint anything, it's the attitude that they have about themselves, No. 1, and about each other. That's been my challenge to them the past two weeks. You control your attitude and your attitude will make a difference in the game last week and we will win the game because of your attitude. It worked last week, so I tried it again this week and it worked again this week, so I'll probably use it again next week."
On sophomore wide receiver James Hardy:
"We started moving him around in formations, not just playing him at X. He played X most of the time last year. We've moved him around to the F position and he's playing on the inside. He came through with some big-time catches, but the rest of the guys have stepped it up too."
On junior cornerback Tracy Porter:
"Tracy's one of the more talented guys on our team, and we ask a lot of him. Not only as a corner, but as a punt returner. He's grown so much. He's a talented football player, but to watch him mature and become a leader and do so well in the classroom - the total person. That's so rewarding as a coach to see guys like Tracy just really blossom as a person. He's fun to be around. I see No. 9, I feel good when No. 9 is around, because he gives me confidence."
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
Opening Statement:
"It was certainly a disappointing loss for our football team and basically we got what we deserved. The credit goes to Indiana, they played a very spirited game, they played very well, played hard, and made the plays they had to make to be successful, so we give them a lot of credit. Basically, we didn't play well enough to win the ball game, flat and simple."
On the game:
"[Kellen Lewis] really showed a lot of poise, he ran their offense well and we had a tough time defending a couple of their receivers. We just have so many things that we could have or should have done better. Starting in the first half we had about five things that I thought were critical and I probably lost count in that second half. Bottom line is, they were more prepared to win, and it's my job to get the team ready. Obviously, we didn't have that done today and we're going to have to look at this and see if we can learn from it now."
On the Iowa mistakes:
"You turn the ball over, you miss kicking opportunities, you go right down through it and this is a team loss. You name it, we did it today. I don't say that to diminish anything that Indiana did, they played very spirited and played like a ranked team, and we did not. You go back and pick five to eight plays in the course of the game that might have made a difference, but ultimately we didn't get it done."
On the play of Kellen Lewis and James Hardy:
"[Kellen] really played with a lot of poise, he did a great job last week leading their team in their last series and he picked right up today. He did a lot of nice things and made throws that were very impressive. With Hardy, start with his size - he's not just a big guy, he's a good football player. He has good ball skills and competes for the football. We are 0-for-2 with him, year to year."
On the challenge at the end of the game:
"That's the act of a desperate man there at that point. There was really no sense in holding it at that stage and we thought it was a clean catch, at least Drew said that coming off the field, but you have to take a shot at it."
