Tag: Iowa Hawkeyes

Kirk Ferentz gives thought on making trip to Rose Bowl

Kirk Ferentz has thoughts on the trip.

With the new-look Big Ten Conference, it provides other teams a chance to make a regular trip to Los Angeles and the Rose Bowl. In Week 11, the Iowa Hawkeyes face the UCLA Bruins in a Friday night showdown in Los Angeles.

Ahead of the game, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke about what it means to play at a historic venue such as the Rose Bowl, per Riley Donald of Hawkeyes Wire.

“Not really. I mean, the venue will be cool. It’s kind of like Wrigley; I’ll explain it to you this way. My wife would be the first one to tell you because she still laughs, I got drenched at the Super Bowl when the Bears and Indy played. We got home at 3:00 because we didn’t have a ride lined up coming out and her response was, ‘Oh, you mean nobody drove you to the game? Nobody gave you a coat when it rained?’ All that kind of stuff. But that’s really kind of our life, and it’s one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done in my life is take my daughters on college visits because I get to see the college, not just the stadium.”

Still, Ferentz admits they are going just to play a game and he doesn’t sound worried about much else.

“We’re going to play a game, a tough game against a tough opponent, and we all know we’ve got our work cut out, and this is going to be a tough challenge for us…Hopefully, somebody can take some pictures and we’ll look at those during the bye week.”

Iowa TE Luke Lachey has a ‘chance’ to play vs. UCLA

Another injury update for Iowa.

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara is officially out for the UCLA showdown due to a concussion. The other injury question for the Hawkeyes is tight end Luke Lachey, who is dealing with a quad injury.

Ahead of the game, Kirk Ferentz mentioned that there is a chance he suits up, per Scout Springgate of Hawkeyes Wire.

“Luke, I think, has a chance. He’s a little bit limited right now, but practicing, and we’ll see how it goes this week. I think he’s close,” Ferentz said.

“But we have to plan to go without him, and the guys have stepped in working in his spot have done a nice job, so we’ll see what the week looks like on that front.”

Lachey missed the last game against Wisconsin and has 24 catches for 209 yards this season. The senior tight end missing this one would be a tough blow for Iowa.

Iowa vs. UCLA injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 11

The injury report for Friday’s game.

The UCLA Bruins and Iowa Hawkeyes face off in a Week 11 Big Ten Conference showdown. It’s a Friday night game for UCLA and the homecoming game for the Bruins.

All of a sudden, UCLA has back-to-back wins over Rutgers and Nebraska after a disappointing 1-5 start to the season. On the other hand, Iowa has a 6-3 record with wins over Washington, Northwestern, and Wisconsin over the past few games.

Ahead of the game, here is the injury report for UCLA.

UCLA injury report

As of Friday morning, UCLA has no injuries to report, which is terrific news for the Bruins.

Iowa injury report

Iowa has a pair of injury updates coming into this game.

  • QB Cade McNamara (OUT)
  • TE Luke Lachey (Questionable)

Cade McNamara injury update

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara, the former Michigan transfer, is ruled out for the game, per an update from Kirk Ferentz earlier in the week. McNamara suffered a concussion in the game against Wisconsin.

Luke Lachey injury update

The Iowa tight end is questionable entering Friday’s game. Lachey missed the game against Wisconsin due to a quad injury.

Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz raves on Ethan Garbers

Big praise for Ethan Garbers.

The Iowa Hawkeyes travel to play the UCLA Bruins in a Friday night showdown at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA is coming off back-to-back wins and the play of quarterback Ethan Garbers has drastically improved.

As a result, Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferenz had some thoughts about Garbers ahead of the showdown, per Josh Helmer of Hawkeyes Wire. 

“He’s thrown the ball well, efficiently, and getting it to a lot of different people, including the backs. Doing a good job there. Then the last couple weeks he’s pulled it down and made some big runs, too. If you’re not sound in what you do defensively, he’s not afraid to do that. I wouldn’t describe him as a run primary quarterback, but he’s a guy who can do that. It’s one more way you can get hurt defensively. In the last two wins those were key plays.”

After a sluggish start to the season and some even calling for Justyn Martin to take over, Garbers has turned it around and UCLA is hoping for another victory.

Taylor McCabe carries the Caitlin Clark torch with a logo 3 in Iowa’s win

“Taylor McCabe. Logo 3. Bingo!”

Caitlin Clark’s fingerprints are still all over Iowa basketball. On Wednesday, junior Taylor McCabe drained a silky logo 3-pointer.

If you were wondering what Iowa would look like without Caitlin Clark, the early results are promising. The Hawkeyes are in a new era, but that didn’t stop them from doing what they do best — putting up points.

During the Hawkeyes’ first win of the season against Northern Illinois, Iowa guard Taylor McCabe launched a beautiful three from the mid-court logo. It was a beauty, and Taylor was stoked that it swished in. Here’s the awesome moment it happened:

(Feature image courtesy of Big Ten Plus)

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Who is Lucy Olsen? Meet the Iowa guard leading the Hawkeyes in the post-Caitlin Clark era

Lucy Olsen won’t be Caitlin Clark. And she doesn’t have to be.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will enter a transformation when its 2024-2025 season starts Wednesday.

Caitlin Clark, the generational hooper who changed the fabric of Iowa, is now in the WNBA, leaving the proverbial door wide open for someone else to walk through it.

Enter Lucy Olsen — the Pennsylvania native and senior guard who transferred to Iowa in the offseason after three seasons with the Villanova Wildcats. Olsen seemingly takes over for Clark, stepping into the spotlight to keep the Hawkeyes on the path to title contention.

Will Iowa get back to the national championship game with Lucy Olsen leading the team in a post-Caitlin Clark era? That remains to be seen. But now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the player leading the charge.

1. Lucy Olsen picked the Iowa Hawkeyes for the team’s family culture

Former Iowa’s women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder greets Lucy Olsen after practice Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Why would Lucy Olsen pick Iowa as her next destination, knowing she would have so many expectations — fair or unfair — placed on her?

Former coach Lisa Bluder and the Hawkeyes seemed to have fostered a warm and inviting culture. From a quick phone call right after she transferred to a Zoom meeting with her parents, Iowa was all in on Lucy Olsen. That notion was only reinforced when she met the team in person.

“When we got on campus for a visit, I was like, ‘Wow, this feels like family already,'” Olsen told Chad Leistikow of the Des Moines Register earlier this year. “There was something about the culture they’ve built (that) felt so like home. That’s what sold me.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C54XgCXuAiC/?igsh=dmVuMXF0ancybmpw

2. Lucy Olsen isn’t trying to be Caitlin Clark

Iowa’s Lucy Olsen (33) reacts during a game against Missouri Western Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Stepping in behind Caitlin Clark (and her legacy) can feel daunting. But Lucy Olsen isn’t trying to fill Clark’s shoes.

“Caitlin Clark is Caitlin Clark. I’m not going to try to be her,” Olsen said. “But they need a point guard, and it’s a perfect opportunity to try to make something happen.”

To her credit, Olsen holds her own on the court, which is a huge reason why she was also heavily pursued by schools like LSU and Maryland when she entered the transfer portal. The senior guard was third in Division I women’s basketball scoring last season, just behind Clark and JuJu Watkins, averaging an impressive 23.3 points per game.

3. Lucy Olsen brings her own unique game to the Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa’s Lucy Olsen (33) sets up a play against Missouri Western Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Lucy Olsen works very well in the midrange and has a patented stepback fadeaway jumper that should get some real shine this season. It’s her go-to move, unleashing it from multiple spots within the arc. She’s also a willing three-point shooter despite only shooting 30 percent from deep last year.

Also, Olsen has plenty of basketball experience that should lend well to a young Iowa team. In addition to three productive seasons at Vilanova, where she finished her career ranking ninth all-time in scoring with 1,504 points, Olsen has also played on the international stage. She’s been playing for Team USA Basketball for nearly two years and won a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League Final.

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How to buy UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes football tickets

Want to watch the UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes in person on Friday, Nov. 8? Tickets still remain for as little as $74.

The UCLA Bruins welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl on Friday night for the first time as a member of the Big Ten, and if you want to catch the early college football Week 11 action in person, we have the ticket information you need right here.

The Bruins are just 3-5 overall while winning just two out of six in their first year in the new conference. The good news for UCLA is that they have won their last two against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Nebraska Cornhuskers, respectively.

The Hawkeyes have been better this fall, assembling a 6-3 total tally and a tidy 4-2 mark against fellow Big Ten schools. That has been good enough to earn 13 votes and a de facto No. 34 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The UCLA Bruins will host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday, Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. ET.

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How to buy UCLA vs. Iowa football tickets

What better way to spend your Friday night in a historic venue than watching two Football Bowl Subdivision programs face off against each other? Here is what you need to know to get tickets to the Rose Bowl event.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes are $74.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop UCLA vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWB9O4R/”]

How to buy UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes football tickets

Want to watch the UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes in person on Friday, Nov. 8? Tickets still remain for as little as $74.

The UCLA Bruins welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl on Friday night for the first time as a member of the Big Ten, and if you want to catch the early college football Week 11 action in person, we have the ticket information you need right here.

The Bruins are just 3-5 overall while winning just two out of six in their first year in the new conference. The good news for UCLA is that they have won their last two against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Nebraska Cornhuskers, respectively.

The Hawkeyes have been better this fall, assembling a 6-3 total tally and a tidy 4-2 mark against fellow Big Ten schools. That has been good enough to earn 13 votes and a de facto No. 34 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The UCLA Bruins will host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday, Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. ET.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Bruins vs. Hawkeyes tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWB9O4R/”]

How to buy UCLA vs. Iowa football tickets

What better way to spend your Friday night in a historic venue than watching two Football Bowl Subdivision programs face off against each other? Here is what you need to know to get tickets to the Rose Bowl event.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the UCLA Bruins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes are $74.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop UCLA vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWB9O4R/”]

Athletes.org’s anonymous poll sheds light on how student-athletes rank the University of Iowa

An anonymous poll from Athletes.org ranked the Iowa Hawkeyes in multiple areas by student-athletes. See how they rate the university.

The world of college athletics is in a brand new era and it is uncharted territory that coaching staffs, schools, and entire universities have never health with before.

There is a transfer portal allowing students to hop around from school to school. The world of NIL is a bit of the Wild West with very few rules and regulations for players to abide by. And there is the ongoing arms race of schools to build the newest, biggest, and brightest facilities.

Somewhere, schools have the decide what is most important and how they want to allocate their resources. An anonymous poll conducted by Athletes.org reached out to student-athletes from some of the biggest schools across the country to see how their programs are doing.

The University of Iowa was one of those programs that has had their results published due to a high number of responses. Student-athletes were asked to rank their school on strength and condition, athletic training, facilities, cafeteria/nutrition, academic support, career/personal development, NIL support, the overall college experience, and the mental health support provided.

These areas were rated 1-5 (1 being lowest) and averaged to an overall rating. The Iowa Hawkeyes received a 4.5 overall rating, which has them tied with the University of Maryland for the fourth-highest rating from their student-athletes.

Iowa scored extremely well in strength and conditioning, facilities, academic support, and college experience with all rating out at a 4.7 or higher. Athletic training, cafeteria/nutrition, career/personal development, and mental health support were all rated at least a 4.4.

Iowa’s lowest rating came in NIL support, which was down at a 3.8 rating out of five.

A few anonymous respondents from Iowa provided comments on their ratings.

“I think one of the main weaknesses would be nutrition. It would be cool to have an athlete dining hall where food access isn’t an issue as my practices ran well over lunchtime and fueling was a challenge. More NIL education and promotion would be beneficial as well. Strength training and weight room facilities were excellent and team travel was great as we got lots of experience across the country,” one respondent said of the cafeteria.

Iowa’s cafeteria and nutrition are graded at a 4.5.

“I believe the University of Iowa needs more education on NIL resources and should promote NIL to its athletes. I loved the strength coaches and facilities and the athletic trainers most often took care of my concerns. The travel to meets was fabulous and the indoor track facilities are nice aside from the locker room/restroom. Mental health support was accessible and quality,” another said regarding the need to improve upon NIL.

“I love the fans and the support we just get as athletes here at Iowa. It’s an endless amount of support no matter the sport,” said another respondent about the strong support of the Hawkeyes’ fanbase.

This poll received 1,561 responses from student-athletes participating in 25 different sports across 42 states. Of schools with their results published, Ohio State, Clemson, and Purdue nudged out Iowa with a 4.6 rating to come in at the top spot.

Athletes.org is an association that, while only 13 months old, works with over 3,200 college athletes in today’s collegiate landscape. They meet with athletes on campuses to help be an advocate for student-athletes.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: Badgers have to ‘look in the mirror’ after 42-10 loss to Iowa

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: Badgers have to ‘look in the mirror’ after big loss to Iowa

The tone of Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell’s postgame press conference after the Badgers’ 42-10 blowout loss to rival Iowa reflected a common sentiment: moderate disbelief.

“Not a lot that words can say to explain how I feel,” Fickell began his media availability saying. “It’s really really tough to put it to words right now. We’re going to have to pick ourselves up, we’re going to have to move forward. And we’re going to have to find a way to make sure we’re better.”

Related: Major takeaways from Wisconsin Badgers’ worst loss to Iowa since 1968

That disbelief followed arguably the program’s worst loss during his tenure as head coach. The Badgers surrendered 330 rushing yards to their rival, the most the program has allowed in more than 12 years. They were thoroughly dominated in every facet of the game by a team and program that somewhat embodies what Wisconsin used to look like.

The 32-point margin is Wisconsin’s worst loss to Iowa since a 41-0 defeat in 1968.

Losses of that magnitude often preceded changes, which Fickell hinted at during his press conference, noting that “a lot of guys, myself included first and foremost, are going to have to have a self check and look in the mirror and really self evaluate where they are and what they are willing to do to move forward.”

That ‘look in the mirror’ can begin during the Badgers’ upcoming by week before No. 1 Oregon travels to Madison on Nov. 16. After that, Wisconsin has critical season-closing matchups against Nebraska and Minnesota.

The Badgers need just one more win over those last three games to reach bowl eligibility. More importantly, the team needs to show that its performance at Iowa isn’t an indicator of further struggles to come.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.