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Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs Tennessee
Orlando, Florida, USA
Camping World Stadium
Josh Heupel / Kirk Ferentz Press Conference
December 31, 2023, 1:14 p.m.
Photo By UT Athletics |
JOSH HEUPEL: Good morning, everybody. This has been
a great week for our staff, our families and our players. I
want to thank Steve Hogan everyone and associated with
Florida Citrus Sports. It is a first-class operation. They have
done a tremendous job of creating a great experience and
taking care of everybody the entire week. It has been fun
for myself, my wife and a lot of our staff to be back in the
great City of Orlando. A lot of great memories, having
spent three years here, and it has been fun to catch up
with a lot of familiar faces, those at UCF, but also
throughout the entire community.
It has been a fun week to kind of go back and get a chance
to see a lot of people that have helped me on my journey
and been a part of the success that we have had at the
previous stop at UCF.
Excited about the game tomorrow. This is a big-time
college football game, great way to kick off 2024. We
recognize Coach Ferentz and his staff and their program,
what they have done this year, but during the course of his
tenure, as well. They play extremely tough, smart and
physical. Great opponent and looking forward to kicking off.
KIRK FERENTZ: Same thing. It is great to be here first
and foremost. We were here two years ago, and I was at
an event last night. Worked with a guy named Bill Brashier,
back in the '80s on Coach Fry's staff, defensive
coordinator. He had a saying, "There is no such thing as a
bad Bowl game. Some are just better than others."
I can tell you firsthand; this is one of the best out there.
Just a fantastic experience for everybody involved, our
players first and foremost, staffs, families, the travel party.
It has just been outstanding.
As Josh said, Steve and the whole committee do a
wonderful job. We are certainly thrilled to be back in
Orlando and have a chance to play in a game like this.
Bowl games are special. They are really special. They are
special for the players and special for everybody involved
and to be in Orlando and be part of the Cheez-It Citrus
Bowl is just a tremendous, tremendous opportunity for us.
We are very appreciative of that.
A couple things about Bowl games. Typically, every time
you are in one, you are going to play an outstanding
opponent. In our case, we tend to be the underdogs. I think
it has been all but maybe two in our 20-plus years, kind of
seems to be the way it is. Bottom line is both teams have
earned the right to play in a game like this. It really is
significant in that way.
The other commonality to the Bowl games, it is the last
game that our teams will be together, both teams, teams,
staffs, etc. Makes a little bit unique in that way, a little bit
bittersweet. Certainly, the goal this week for us is like each
and every week, you want to try to play your best game
and the challenges of the month are a little bit different.
That is probably the biggest change.
I have tremendous respect for Tennessee. Josh has done
a great job as local people know. He has done an
outstanding job, everywhere he has been, he has done an
outstanding job and no different at Tennessee. They are
just a really good football team, put a lot of pressure on
their offensive system. A lot of stress on your defense.
Defensive team, very athletic, good up front, a lot of big
strong guys that are active and physical and special teams
are very impressive, as well.
Punter has done a really nice job. Really good place kicker,
outstanding punt returner, and just a lot to prepare for. A lot
of challenges out there for us tomorrow. We are just
excited to be here and last game of the season.
Again, like I said, it's really a special thing. A lot of people
involved. I think about a guy, our equipment guy, Greg
Morris, 23 years as our head equipment guy and 30-plus
years in the program. Was a student at Iowa. It is his last
game, as well.
Just a lot of little side stories, if you will, but it's really all
about the game and we're excited to get out there and
have a chance to compete tomorrow.
Q. Both of you are making a return to Orlando in your
each unique way. Coach Ferentz, last time you were
here in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl, we talked about
the state of college football and how it changed and all
that. You mentioned a text from Coach Stoops; it was
an excellent story. But to bring it here what has helped
you, and what have you done to maintain that success
to return to the Citrus Bowl?
KIRK FERENTZ: Well, yeah, sorry to say two years later,
we are in worse shape than we were two years ago. I did
not think that was possible.
We, the adults, have done a lot to really screw this thing
up. We have a great game, so I do – old guy in the room –
I have got some concerns about what the future is going to
look like.
I think most people are aware that we have some real
issues right now. I am not sure what we can come to
agreement what the remedies may be. You see a lot of
things that just concern you, and again, there are a lot of
moving parts. I'm not going to pretend I have all the
answers.
Despite all the challenges, I think the thing that remains
consistent, the single best part about what we do is we get
to work with really high-quality young players, and that has
not changed. It was the same way two years ago, ten
years ago, and that is the part you really enjoy.
I have always told people in any job, you have X amount of
percent of things you do not really look forward to doing,
and then another percent, hopefully, you do like doing. If
that percent outweighs the other side, then it is still a pretty
good deal.
Photo By UT Athletics |
Q. How have you changed in your time as a coach at
Tennessee since you left Orlando?
JOSH HEUPEL: No matter what role you are in or
whatever profession you are in, you continue to learn how
to become a better communicator, how to impact the
people around you in a positive way. You continue to refine
what you are doing inside of your program 365 days out of
the year to allow kids to go be their best and create a
culture that they enjoy being and love competing in. Just
continue to do that. You learn so much.
As a leader of the program, you learn so much from the
people around you, and in particular student athletes.
Those guys have been instrumental in the growth of who
we are and what we do.
Q. Coach Heupel, I believe your year at Oklahoma,
Chuck Long would have been your quarterback coach.
JOSH HEUPEL: We had a lot of Iowa guys down in
Oklahoma.
Q. I was curious if you still have any sort of
relationship with Coach Long, or some of the things
you might have learned from him as your coach back
then?
JOSH HEUPEL: I learned a lot from Coach Long. He
helped refine me fundamentally. Helped me continue to
grow in my understanding of the football game. How to
lead the people around me.
That staff was filled with the Stoops brothers. Jonathan
Hayes was there, as well. Those guys are all – have all
made such an impact in who I am and what we do inside of
our program. You look at the success that we had, that
was because of a lot of the things that they learned, while
they were at Iowa as players and as coaches. Have good
relationships with a lot of those guys where I still talk to
them periodically throughout the year.
Q. For both of you guys as well. The December crush
and how you guys dealt with it with guys opting out,
transfer portal, signing day; all that you've had deal
with with Bowl preparation, how did you deal with that
and how did you go through that?
JOSH HEUPEL: You want to answer that one (Laughter)?
KIRK FERENTZ: I do not think either of us do, quite
frankly.
JOSH HEUPEL: I think Coach kind of alluded to it. The
calendar in which we operate now it changes the way
December and part of January unfolds for you. I think as
we continue to move forward in this great game, is
something that we have to look at.
It is different, because when your regular season ends, you
go through the exit interview process. Each individual
player is in a different position. For a period of time, there
is some uncertainty with a portion of your roster.
For us, I think as we finished up signing day, that kind of
became, you know, the lead-in to the Bowl game where
you felt good about who was there, where they were at,
their ability to play in the game, and you know, be a part of
your roster.
KIRK FERENTZ: It is just a different world. Even 20 years
ago, you had guys possibly opting out for the NFL, not near
to the extent now.
There are just a lot of parties involved now, and it us not
always healthy voices that the players here and some of
the parties involved are not necessarily thinking about what
is best for the individual young people. Just kind of flies in
the face of what we try to do as coaches I think, so that is
part of it.
As Josh alluded to, we have opened the rules up now
where it is real easy for people to make bad decisions. I
have always -- not always, but for a while now – I have
been just concerned about how our thirst for the playoffs
and our thirst for the National Championship race: Two
teams, four teams, with all the focus going there with the
public and the media, really diminishes some of the other
Bowls.
Our first Bowl game in 2001 was in San Antonio, Alamo
Bowl, and we won it. Bob Sanders, the shortest guy on the
field came out with the ball. Wes Welker was in that group,
too, another short guy, but two pretty good players.
Sanders comes out of the game with the ball at the end.
They threw a Hail Mary, and it was like we won the Super
Bowl. Like that was a really important game and important
year for us, our third year; and we did not turn the corner,
but at least we were showing progress making traction.
Those games do mean a lot. They mean a lot more the
people involved and I just think right now there is a trend
where like it is not the whatever game. It does not matter.
Anybody that has ever played in the game, that is why you
play the game. You play to go out and compete, do your
best every opportunity and when I coached at Worcester
Academy, every game was important.
We have really drifted away from that a little bit, and I think
that is unfortunate, because a lot of people are missing out
on some really special experiences, and that is too bad.
Q. You got Luke Lachey and Jay Higgins coming
back. As you're looking to bring some more of those
guys back who are considering NFL options, curious
as to how important a foundation of bring Luke and
Jay back, two team captains already know they are
back next season?
KIRK FERENTZ: Yeah, it certainly does not hurt. Those
guys are so respected in the program. Rightfully so. They
have earned it. That does not hurt.
My only request for our players, particularly the last ten
days was if you have not made a decision,
compartmentalize that stuff. It is like high school kids with
recruiting. Do not let that dominate your life. You will spend
the whole time looking over the fence.
It could be really distracting. It is hard. It is a really hard
thing for the young people to go through two years ago. I
thought Riley Moss was a little distracted down here, quite
frankly, and then he surprised us all and came back. He
was not distracted his senior year.
It is a tough thing for young people to deal with, so our
request is to just put it on the shelf. They have plenty of
time to make the decision when they get back, and,
ultimately, it is like recruiting in this way. You want the
player to make the decision that is best for him and he has
the best seat in the house for that, but he has to go through
it methodically, get good information, and accurate
information from people that actually do know, not Uncle
Joe or some agent telling him this, this and this. We just try
to give them good information to deal with.
Q. Now as you wrap up year number 25, Phil Parker
has been with you for all 25. Obviously the overall
defensive results have been acknowledged, but is
there anything that Phil does that you think really has
not gotten a ton of attention that's been key to his
success?
KIRK FERENTZ: Well, Josh mentioned the Stoops. When
I was an assistant at Iowa, I always looked at Phil, guy was
three-time All-Big Ten. He is not very big, he was not that
fast, but he is really short and stuff. I always felt like he
could be in the Stoops family if he was an Iowa guy.
I had great respect for him as a player, and now I have had
a chance to work with him for 25 years. I will say this:
Unequivocally the best secondary coach I have ever, ever
been with, and I have been around some pretty good ones.
He is a quality human being. He is half-crazy; I think you
have noticed that. He has a little different personality. I do
not want to call him an acquired taste some of those looks
he gives you, it is like, okay, yeah.
He is just a tremendous football coach. He has had two
jobs in his whole career. That is kind of unusual for a guy
his age. That is just who he is. He wants to coach football.
He is all about the players and all about trying to get better.
I think Josh hit on this earlier. Just when you are around
good people on a day-to-day basis, players, staff, that is
the fun part of it, and it is neat to see Phil's efforts being
recognized a little bit right now. I am kind of surprised the
national stuff, because we normally do not get those kinds
of things, but it is so deserved and just really fitting.
Q. You mentioned a lot of those Bowl games losing
their luster with opt-outs and guys leaving. That has
not been the case for your program. Why is it different
at Iowa?
KIRK FERENTZ: I do not know if I can answer it other
than despite all the changes right now, there are still – I
think there are still players out there that want to do it for
the right reasons, and really enjoy the competition of the
game.
The thing about football that is so unique, and I never
coached any of those -- well, I did coach girls' basketball
two years. The AD made me do it at Worcester Academy.
Football is so different, because you get so many moving
pieces, so many moving parts.
When guys get to understand what the value of teamwork
and working together with a bunch of folks a fifth-year DB
might not know a freshman offensive lineman real well, but
when you get them to understand that everybody is trying
to do the same thing, I think it makes it really unique and
special.
I think there are still a lot of players out there are that are
motivated for that, and you have to look hard and be a little
bit lucky, too. We have been really fortunate to have a lot
of good guys – and it is usually the guys in the front of the
room are the ones. I mentioned Lachey and Higgins, two
guys that are great leaders. They help bring other guys
with them and, hopefully, stay focused on what really is
important.
Q. Coach Ferentz referenced the unhealthy voices that
some kids here. How much have you all encountered
tampering and how big of a problem do you feel like
that is in today's game?
JOSH HEUPEL: Yeah, certainly a part of it. Players have
so many different people as they are going through their
process early as young players, you know, before the
recruiting process even starts out from people that are
training them to high school coaches to people that they
have relationships with, seven-out-of-seven, that type of
thing. It's certainly part of the college land scrape right now.
Wish I had a silver bullet to change all that. I do not think I
do.
KIRK FERENTZ: I was thinking of a funny story. It is
probably 15 years ago. We had a guy visit our campus for
maybe all of, I don't know, 16 hours, because he had to
move and all that kind you have stuff. I was told afterwards,
give his mentor, Omar, a phone call.
So anyway, I gave him a call. We are talking about the
situation a little bit. I finally asked Omar, I said, "If you don't
mind me asking, what is your role?"
"Oh, I'm a mentor."
The young man that we were talking about is about 6-7,
330 pounds. I did not ask him, but I was really curious, like
do you mentor anybody on the chess team or the debate
team. Sometimes those things happen. It is really
unfortunate. There are predators in every business, every
profession.
When people are really invested in young people, that is a
good thing, and the you see a little drift now, some players
after training with this guy instead of their high schools. It is
the world we are living in, right now.
What we do is not really that hard. Like training is not all
that hard. It is just a matter of hard work, having a good
plan and right down the list. None of the stuff is really that
complicated, but what is complicated is all the peripheral
noise and peripheral interference and all those kinds of
things.
Again, circles back to you have to get kids that can focus
on the things that are important and keep their attention
there, whether it is playing in a game like this or – year
round. it's always something that is an obstacle and
distractions are not new to life. I mean I did coach starting
in the late '70s, but the distractions that are available now
have really changed, and social media has really driven
that, too.
There are more things to try to be proactive about than
there used to be, I guess.
Q. As difficult as December has become with the
transfer portal, with an earlier signing period; God
forbid you want to spend time with your family over
the holidays, you have to prepare for a game. Next
year, it gets exponentially worse because both of your
programs have been in competition for a playoff, and
next year you have a 12-game playoff and games in the
middle of the month. How do you anticipate trying to
navigate this, and is now the red light flashing that
something absolutely has to change or you guys will
either burn yourselves out or there will be some tragic
results?
JOSH HEUPEL: If you look at the placement of the first
round of playoffs, everything that is going on in those first
couple weeks of December, how do you add in preparation
for a game of that size and magnitude during the course of
what is happening. It was not like I was not on the phone or
flying somewhere or in somebody's house or at a school
every minute of the day. There is not enough time to
accomplish everything that you needed to at this point in
the season or at this point in the calendar, let alone if you
are preparing for a game like that.
That is where, again, the calendar of how everything
unfolds, the game has changed so quickly, so dramatically.
I do think it is something that we have to look at.
KIRK FERENTZ: Those are just some of the unintended
consequences that we really do not give thought to before
we make decisions. The irony, in my opinion, it is like a lot
of things that are going on right now. We always lead with
what is best for the student athletes, but we do not always
practice that with some of the decisions we make.
There are certain absolutes I kind of try to live with. When
you are involved in game prep, when you are involved in
competition, in my mind, our focus needs to be on our
place, the guys that are on campus. That is what we
promised them in recruiting and meanwhile, like Josh, we
are flying over here and seeing this guy and all that kind of
stuff.
It gets a little bit tricky that way. In my mind, the
competition part of what we do should be protected. Really
should be protected for everybody involved. There is a lot
of gray there right now and that is something we are going
to have work through. Sometimes, again, that pressure, the
playoff pressure, we have to do this, have to do that.
I have always marveled – North Dakota State is a great
example, because they go every year and play 18 games.
Like, how do you guys do that, take finals and all the things
that they have to work through? It is really a heck of a
challenge and puts a lot of pressure on the players, too.
Not to mention the wear and tear of a season, because it is
a hard game. This is a hard game to play.
Q. You mentioned on Tuesday that Joe Milton was
going to be on the sidelines during tomorrow's game.
What role do you want him to play, and how beneficial
that could be to not just Nico, but the entire team to
have him there?
JOSH HEUPEL: Joe has done it the right way during the
course of his career. You look at how everything has
unfolded, he is a guy that chose to stay. Believed in his
teammates what we were building, and how his coaching
staff and players around him were going to help him grow
as a player. Did a lot of really great things during the
course of the season.
He has been a huge impact on our program for game day
on Monday. Be another voice to help Nico as he comes off
the sidelines, things that are going on. Being able to help
him get ready for the next set and also create positive
energy.
Besides being the quarterback on the field, throwing the
football, making decisions, every other part of his roles that
he has had during the course of the year he can still have
on the sideline.
Q. Can you elaborate just on your return to Orlando,
any feelings of nostalgia, warm feelings? And also,
just year three at Tennessee, where is your program at
and are you -- did you expect it to happen so quickly?
JOSH HEUPEL: As far as what we have done at
Tennessee, where we started and took that program over
at, how we were able to build a culture, re-solidified the
locker room, continue to grow, and the success that we
have had.
We have been disappointed with some of the results this
season, obviously. Who we are, what we are about and
how we are continue to go grow, what we have been able
to recruit, we are really excited about the future.
There are so many people that go into reestablishing the
foundational pieces of one of the greatest programs in the
history of college football, and we have to continue to grow.
We have to go chase championships. I know that is a
standard at Tennessee, but excited about the future.
As far as being back in Orlando, I mentioned at the
beginning, it is unlike you to show up late for a press
conference. I thought that might get a couple chuckles out
of the Orlando crowd (laughter), but maybe not.
This is a great city. My family, myself, we absolutely love
living here. A lot of our staff at Tennessee was with us
here. It has been great to be back in this city. To the
administration, Coach Malzahn at UCF, they were great
and allowing us to go practice there.
Rode in the first day. Rode through campus. Get off the
bus, you are sitting right next to the Bounce House. Get a
chance to get on the practice field. It was a lot of fun,
because there was so many great memories that came
back. Got a chance to talk with a lot of people that have
been a huge part of my journey and our journey.
It has been a great week. We had a night where we had, I
don't know, 25, 30 players that got an opportunity to come
by the hotel and hang out it. Was a great night.
Q. Building on what Scott asked earlier, if we put you
in charge of college football for a day and you could
change some things about the calendar, what would
you do? What would you change?
KIRK FERENTZ: I think first thing, we need a
commissioner. We talked a little bit about that yesterday, I
believe.
It is a lot of independent contracting right now, and it is
really hard to get people to visit. I said something to Jim
Delaney about that, I do not know, 13, 15 years ago, sitting
in meetings, listening.
It really seems like, in my opinion, I am going back over a
decade, seemed like the five Power Five commissioners
need to get in a room and visit. Maybe throw a couple
athletic directors and coaches in there as well just to get
some specific feedback, that type of deal. Just have a
summit and really basically blow everything up and try to
start over again and maybe come up with a little better
model.
That was a while ago. Things have changed and continued
to change. A lot of things to address.
I think some type of common voice or common set of -- we
do not have any structure right now. I guess that is my
biggest complaint and there is not a transparency when
you talk about NIL, a lot of embellishment, a lot of stuff
going on out there.
Six years in the NFL, I never had a bad job and I enjoyed
my time in the NFL. One thing about NFL: 32 teams all
played by the same rules. Everything is the same. The field
truly is level.
It is a really good thing if you can draft a good quarterback;
that is a good thing. That gives you an edge, or if you have
a really good owner. Certain jobs have inherent
advantages. At least in that league, like everybody kind of
starts even.
When I was in the league, the Bengals were terrible. Now
they have played at a really high level. Just shows
everybody has an opportunity.
I am not sure college football is like that a little bit.
Somehow, some way, we have to come up with some
structure. I guess, if I can boil it down to one thing, and
then everybody – there is enforcement, too, which is
another thing the NFL has and college football is really
lacking in that department.
It is hard. Because we have had a governing body try and
overlook however many schools play collegiate sports and
there is a big difference between football and whatever.
Football, co-college, the AD was up there 10 years ago, we
were talking about some rules, cut blocking, coincidentally.
He had no idea what he was voting on and he is a really
good guy; so I am not mad at him. It is like, why are you
voting on it? You do not have any idea on the topic.
Just an illustration of some of the -- we need to centralize
things a little bit and at least try to come up with some kind
of structure that is workable for everybody.
JOSH HEUPEL: Games always change. I think that is a
positive thing. Growth. It has changed so rapidly, so quickly
that I do think you have to take -- somebody has to take a
hard look at how we put all these pieces together and
continue to have the greatest game that there is. Do it the
right way for everybody involved, and players at the center
point of that.
To do that, I think you have to have all the players, and I
said players; all the decision-makers in the world and
somebody has to grab a hold of the reins and take it in the
right direction.
Q. Coach Tim Banks was asked the other day about
losing a few guys to the transfer portal and how he
viewed it, and he called it an opportunity. How would
you say the younger guys have taken advantage of
that opportunity or risen to the challenge, especially in
this final week?
JOSH HEUPEL: Yeah, our practice and our preparation
back home and here has been really good. The Bowl
season, and Coach was talking about the changes during
the course of his career, too. There are more guys that
have opted out. You have guys that have made decisions
to go to the NFL. Some have hit the portal.
It creates opportunity for guys that maybe have not played
a ton on a unit. They have gotten some reps, probably
played a lot of special teams. It is an opportunity for the
young guys to take ownership and prove that they are
ready to go play at a high level. In some ways, those Bowl
games are a culmination and a finish to the '23 season, but
they are also the start and kickoff for a lot of those young
guys to '24.
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