Iowa City, IA- The Iowa Hawkeyes are gearing up for the 2024-2025 football season with head coach Kirk Ferentz making his Big Ten Media Day appearance with a note that both sides of the ball feature veterans of the program.
It was no secret that the Hawkeye offense was lackluster last season with 10 of their 14 games having a final score under 21 points. Amazingly, the Hawkeyes still went 6-4 in those games, ending the season with a 10-4 record and ranked in the top 25.
However, the offense struggled the worst at the tail end of the season with just 28 points combined in the final four games, including shutout losses in the Big Ten Championship and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Michigan and Tennessee, respectively.
Ferentz noted that the Hawkeyes were without three of their top playmakers on offense once the team got into conference play, including starting quarterback Cade McNamara, who tore his ACL.
Ferentz is confident that McNamara will be the starter entering the season and back at full speed for fall camp; nevertheless, Brendan Sullivan, a transfer from Northwestern University, will provide ample competition even at the #3 slot in the depth chart,
“I know he’s eager to go” said Ferentz. “And eager to see Brendan too in practice. It will be fun to work with him. He’s been really impressive in the summer program and really competitive guy. He’s been impressive in a lot of ways, and seems like he’s transitioned really well to Iowa City. We’re eager to see all of our guys out there, but the quarterback position will be something of note, for sure.”
The lack of offense led to the offseason hire of Tim Lester after he spent the year as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers and as head coach of Western Michigan University from 2017 to 2022. Under Lester’s leadership, the Broncos won 37 games and ranked within the top 35 nationally in total offense from 2018 to 2021.
Ferentz has enjoyed Lester’s positive, energetic nature, but what really stuck out was the fact that he has had experience at the helm of the program,
“One thing I do appreciate, he’s a former head coach. That wasn’t a requisite, but also quickly in the conversation, I think he’s got a deep appreciation for how football works, how offense can complement defense, special teams. Everybody is going to be working on the same — you know, towards the same end. So that part’s all been good.”
Lester is bringing in a different style of offense, reminiscent of what San Francisco 49ers’ head coach Mike Shanahan is doing on the west coast. The style does not matter to Ferentz, what does matter is execution, and he believes has picked up quickly,
“It’s not like you’re inventing anything. It’s going to be a little bit different certainly, but I think our players took to it quickly. I went through a similar thing in 1996, I guess it would have been, when we moved to Baltimore, and Ted Marchibroda took over the offense for us. My takeaway from that was the players learned a lot faster than I did. I was the only guy that was stumbling on things that were in my memory bank. The players just move on pretty quickly. It’s kind of been that way this way too. It’s been a good transition.”
Iowa will have some time to iron things out with their season opener taking place on August 31st at 11 am at home against Illinois State. But, before then, Kinnick Stadium will host Kids’ Day on August 10th with the gates opening at 10 am.
Team members will sign autographs for kids around 10:30 am at the west and south stands. Additionally, the 2024 Kid Captains will join players on the field for pictures along with an “inside look” at the stadium. Admission is free for all fans.