2004 Iowa v Wisconsin Player Post Game Interviews

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11/21/2004 by Jon Miller of Hawkeye Nation

Sean Considine

What is it like to get a 9 wins in a season when you once stood at 2-2?

It’s a pretty awesome feeling. To be where we are now when you see where we were is incredible. All the credit goes to the coaching staff. Coach Ferentz does the best job and making you understand 24 hours is all you have to cry or laugh about a game. You get that time and move on. Each week we moved on, especially the last seven.

What was said at halftime?

The halftime speech was nothing different from what we hear every week. It was that we need to go out there and play tough and smart. Coach wanted us to play physical and we have the last six, now seven weeks.

Were you aware of Ohio State beating Michigan, and the fact you could tie for the Big Ten crown?

I remember seeing it on the scoreboard, but no one talked about it. Everyone pretty well knew that Michigan got upset during the second quarter of the game.

What is it like as a senior to go out like this?

I mean, come on, you play here it is something out of a Disney movie. I have been living a fairy tale since I got here. It is unreal that we won the Big Ten title two years ago and people thought it was a fluke. Now here I am a senior and we do it again. This program is the best around. The fluke is no longer an answer being used. We proved ourselves again and people are talking about us.

When did you think about winning the Big Ten title?

For the first time? Probably in the fourth quarter today.

Marques Simmons

What was it like to get back out on the field?

It feels great. This right now cannot be described. At the beginning of the year we were getting doubted by a lot of people, but we proved them to not doubt the Hawkeyes. If you sleep on us, believe me, the tooth fairy will pay you a visit. But you are not going to get any money, you get to meet our team instead. That is not fun right now.

Is it fun to get a Big Ten title?

We knew Wisconsin was going to bounce back and had a lot of things to prove. The coaches stressed all week that we need to play each play, play each play. We did that after about the middle of the first quarter. I mean, think about it. We are a pretty good football team.

What was it like working out this week to see if the ankle was ready to go?

I have been working out for about two weeks. Last week it just did not feel right. The cutbacks were just not happening. I just laid low and relaxed it. I ran around on Sunday some and it felt good. Then through the week it gradually progressed.

Did Wisconsin show over pursuit tendencies on film, because most of your yards came on the cut back.

Yes, they over pursue a lot. They have an NFL front four according to ESPN, so we knew they would bring it to us. We saw things all week. You just push your hole and if it is plugged you can pretty count on a cut back run being there for five yards or more. They key is timing and setting them up. Give the line some credit; they did a great job opening holes and zone blocking.

How exciting is it to be playing in a bowl game on January 1 again?

I am excited to be playing in a bowl game. I am excited to be playing for a Big Ten champion. After all I have had to deal with the past couple of years this is pretty special for me. I finally needed some good luck and good things to happen. I am proud of my team right now.

Abdul Hodge

This Big Ten championship thing is old hat to you, right?

Nah, man. It feels great and it will feel great tomorrow. A lot of hard work and effort went into this.

The team had a lot of nay sayers and doubters in the national media. What do you say to them?

We have a great group of coaches and a great program. We have won two titles in three years, so we have a lot to look forward to. I hope no one will sleep on us anymore. After we were 2-2, I did not think about this. We were looking to get better and a team and win it won game at a time.

You get to go home and play a football game again.

Yes, I will have a lot of family and friends there. It is always exciting to play for my family or friends when they come to the games.

Is it almost like being in your own back yard?

In a way, yes. I just hope the rest of these guys come to play with me. When you are growing up and playing back yard games you never want to lose. I do not think they want the neighborhood bully to come visit them after that game.

So you are saying we are going to win?

I am saying we are going to be prepared to win from a coaching standpoint and player standpoint. We just need to go out and take it one play at a time and execute.

Tyler Luebke

What is it like to be a Big Ten champion…yet again?

It is pretty cool, man. There is nothing like this feeling in the world and I do not even know what I am feeling. The first one was special this one might be more special.

As a senior, this has to be a nice going out party to win your last game at Kinnick?

I knew it was going to be special. If it turned out the other way it would not be any fun for the next month. We had to come out on top and got the job done. We put it great effort and preparation.

So, explain to us why you think Kinnick is being renovated even when the team has now won 18 consecutive games here?

It is nice here and got to keep the inside the same. It is going to be a better place for the fans and the teams. The locker rooms will be bigger and give us more room to do our stuff. The experience of Kinnick will be that much more pleasant.

Does this hat (B10 Champs hat) help things settle in?

Not yet but probably next week sometime. Man, I cannot even begin to think what just happened out there. I think every person in the crowd was on that field today.

You won the “Bull Trophy”, how special is that?

Oh, is this the first time we played for it? It was a “W”, we won the game. So, I guess the bull is ours. We have a bull and a pig, I think a dog might be next. I am excited to go to some warm weather and find it.

I just heard Abdul throw the gauntlet down to the defense about playing in his backyard. Nobody comes in his backyard and pushes him around.

We will not disappoint. We know the importance of the game and will go out there and win no matter what. Abdul is an animal on the field so I do not think we have any problems.

Hawkeye Nation was founded by Jon Miller, and later acquired by Rivals and Sports Illustrated. You can visit them at HawkeyeNation.com

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