December 5, 2015

Michigan State 16
Iowa 13

An interview with:

COACH KIRK FERENTZ

JORDAN LOMAX
C.J. BEATHARD
THE MODERATOR: We'll ask Coach Ferentz to
make an opening statement. C.J. and Jordan, as
well. Coach.
COACH FERENTZ: Well, needless to say,
we're really disappointed with the outcome. Came
up short tonight. I just told the team and spoke on
behalf of our entire staff, couldn't be prouder of this
group. They've been fantastic to work with from
day one. That was the same way this week. They
put a great week of preparation in and I don't think
could have competed any harder tonight.
Credit to Michigan State. They played a
great football game. But our football team I
thought played with great effort, unbelievable guts
and courage out there, continued to exhibit just
stellar teamwork.
Really proud of them. We're disappointed
with the outcome. But we still have another
football game ahead of us, and we'll simmer on
this one for a little bit and turn our sights to the next
ballgame shortly. Again, I'm really proud of our
football team and these two guys are
representative of our football team, C.J. and
Jordan.
THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions.
Q. Coach, obviously the game is just
over, but can you talk for a moment, C.J. played
out of his mind tonight, your entire team.

COACH FERENTZ: At a game like this,

you're going to have two outstanding opponents,
teams competing, I should say, our opponent
tonight was an outstanding football team. They've
played great all season long.
C.J. has played great all season long, too.
We came into the season, he started one game in
his career, he played like a veteran right from the
start. Certainly has impressed everybody in our
football team, organization just with his courage,
his preparation, the poise he plays with and the
toughness he plays with.
Couldn't be happier than to be associated
with a quarterback like C.J. And Jordan is the
same way. Representative of our defense, work
hard, committed. They were flying around, hitting,
two good teams competing.
Q. Coach, I think you said before the
game, you talked about inches. Maybe on that
22-play drive that Michigan State had, what was
your view on that with your season on the line
there?
COACH FERENTZ: Well, wish it had a
different outcome. We were confident right up to
the last play we were going to make a stop down
there, I think everybody on our team was. We've
been there before and done that.
It was a great, competitive football game.
They had it when they needed it. We couldn't quite
get off the field. It's that close. It's how close this
game was. I think that's how the margins between
the two teams is.
Proud of the efforts. Nobody had their
heads down out there. Just playing hard.
Q. C.J., obviously moments after the
loss, but are you able to appreciate the
amazing performance you had tonight?
C.J. BEATHARD: No, I mean, I don't really
look at my own performance at all. I just know the
team gave a good effort the entire night and we

Coach Ferentz - Iowa

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played tough. It was a tough game. Both sides of

the ball played tough.
Credit to Michigan State. They played
tough as well. But close game, we came out on
the losing end of it. It's tough to handle, but you
live with it.
Q. Jordan, what was the discussion in
the defensive huddle on that last drive?
JORDAN LOMAX: It was just, don't let up,
keep playing tough and physical, just go out there
and give it all you got. That's what all 11 players
on defense did.
But Michigan State, they just came up and
made a play.
Q. Coach, could you talk about C.J.'s
pass play to Smith?
COACH FERENTZ: It was an excellent
call by Greg up in the box. The guys up front really
executed well, play-action, protection was great. A
tough group to block. They were really good
pass-rushers. The protection was great.
C.J. put it right out there on the money.
Tevaun finished the play. Gave us a spark in the
second half. Gave us an opportunity to take the
lead. Just a tremendous play.
But characteristic of the way he throws the
ball and the way he plays quarterback.
Q. C.J., can you describe the feeling of
the ball being out of your hand for that whole
nine-minute drive, being on the sideline?
C.J. BEATHARD: Yeah, you know, it's
tough. As an offensive player, you want to have
the ball. The defense played well all game. We
knew whatever happened that drive, we were
either going to be in a two-minute situation or a
drive situation. Michigan State had a great drive at
the end, but defense played lights out all game.
It's tough. It comes down to the end of the game
like that. Both teams fought hard the entire game,
so...
Q. Jordan, go back to the fourth down
when Cook ran to the left to get the first down.
From your perspective, did you anticipate that,
a run from him, considering he was injured?
JORDAN LOMAX: No. He just made a
good play. He was able to get out and run for the
first down. He was just being a play-maker and
was able to make the play.

Q.
Jordan, on that last drive by
Michigan State, was there one time when you
thought you had them stopped?
JORDAN LOMAX: Yeah, we thought we
had them stopped on one third down. They
completed down the seam. We thought if we
played that play, we might have made a better
chance, put them in fourth down or go for it on
fourth-and-15. We had our opportunities out there.
It was a tough game. We played tough all the way
till the end of the game. We just weren't able to
come up with the big stop.
Q. C.J., can you talk about the feeling
in the locker room right now. You have fought
so hard. Every game seems like it's come
down to the fourth quarter.
C.J. BEATHARD: Yeah, I mean, it's tough.
We've gone all season long, haven't experienced
what it feels like to lose a game. Every time we've
been in that locker room after a game, it's been
exciting, joyful and stuff.
It's just tough 'cause losing a game like
that when it's that close, it's hard to handle. But we
have another game ahead of us and we'll find out
who that opponent is coming up here soon.
But, yeah, you just got to move forward.
Q.
Even though tonight's outcome
wasn't ideal, coach, can you talk about what it's
like to be able to have the chance to play in
Iowa's first Big Ten title game.
COACH FERENTZ: I said it yesterday.
No different today. It's a lot better than sitting at
home watching. I've done that for four years.
We played extremely well tonight. We
played extremely hard against a great football
team. They played well, too. So to be here
competing, there's no substitute for that.
Time ran out on us. Congratulations to
them. Time ran out. I feel like our team has a
bunch of champions, too. Morgan said in the
locker room now, it's probably true, we probably
learned more about teamwork from our players this
year than we taught them. It's been fantastic.
Any chance to play another game with
them, that's a bonus. Luckily we still have one
more in our future.
Q. Coach, I predict you're not going to
speculate here. Maybe just what would it mean
for you to play in your first Rose Bowl, coming
down to you and Ohio State, do you feel you
deserve that?

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COACH FERENTZ: That's really the last

thing that's been on my mind all week. I know it's
been written about, what have you. I think the
answer is nobody knows right now. Our focus was
strictly on winning tonight.
Can't say enough about our fan support.
They were here strong yesterday. They were
certainly strong in that stadium. We appreciate
that. I know wherever we go, there would be a lot
of Iowa Hawkeye fans there, too. We'll look
forward to that. Wherever they want to send us,
we'll be eager to go.
THE MODERATOR:
Thank you very
much.

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Coach Ferentz - Iowa

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