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'Festus' makes cameo appearance on Iowa sideline
By KEVIN EVANS, Executive Sports Editor
IOWA CITY n Drew Tate did a lot of good things Saturday, but he needs to work on his acting.
After playing well in the first half, he was unable to take the field in the second half because of severe leg cramps caused by dehydration.
In fact, it got so bad that he left the field on a cart just as the third quarter was about to start.
Eventually, Tate returned and walked up to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
"It was kind of comical," said the Iowa coach. "He came by in the third quarter I guess it was, walking like Festus from Gunsmoke and said, 'I am ready to go.'
"I looked at him and he was kind of straight-legging it down the sideline, so it didn't really instill a lot of confidence in me at the time."
Overall, though, Ferentz liked what he saw during Tate's first start and so did the sophomore from Texas.
"I felt I did some good things, then one got away from me," he said, referring to an interception that turned into a 99-yard touchdown, the only one of the game for Kent State.
"Sure, I would have liked some more reps, but I thought I got some good experience and saw some good things. I wanted more, but I just need to get better, have a great week of practice and be ready for Iowa State."
In addition to his acting, Ferentz wouldn't mind seeing Tate be a little more careful with his body.
Rather than trying to hit like a fullback or a linebacker, taking a safety slide every now and then would be a welcome sight to the coach, who is already without his No. 2 quarterback (Jason Manson) for at least three weeks.
"If he gets the chance to run, we're all for it," said Ferentz. "Drew is a pretty good athlete, but he's got to learn to slide. He needs to get his yards and get down."
The Texas prep passing record holder has heard that before. It's just not something that comes naturally.
"Yeah, I know," he said. "But I'm just trying to get a first down. If I get hit, I get hit. It happens. I just want to get firsts."
That's an attitude more common in a defensive player, but one Ferentz is rightly hesitant to come down too hard on, especially this week with a big home game against Iowa State.
Yes, it's that time of the season, again.
The Cyclones come to Kinnick Stadium Saturday and until recently, that was almost always an Iowa win.
But the Cyclones will be there this time sporting a three-game win streak on Iowa's home turf, two of those over Ferentz-coached teams.
However, the Cy-Hawk Trophy that goes to the winner each season does reside in Iowa City, courtesy of last year's 40-21 Hawkeye win at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
Iowa's current players got their first look at the trophy that symbolizes football supremacy in the state last fall. Before Iowa State's recent run of success, the Cy-Hawk had been in Iowa City long enough to be eligible to pay property taxes.
As trophies go, it's not a beauty, but that is not a factor for Iowa's Matt Roth.
"I don't know anything about them, but they always give us their best shot," said Roth, who spent much of Saturday battling two or three blockers on every play.
"No matter what they've got, if it is an up year or a down year, we are in for a battle.
"It is not really about the trophy, it is just the meaning. I definitely like having it on our sideline and am looking forward to it again this year."
Let the hype begin.
After playing well in the first half, he was unable to take the field in the second half because of severe leg cramps caused by dehydration.
In fact, it got so bad that he left the field on a cart just as the third quarter was about to start.
Eventually, Tate returned and walked up to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
"It was kind of comical," said the Iowa coach. "He came by in the third quarter I guess it was, walking like Festus from Gunsmoke and said, 'I am ready to go.'
"I looked at him and he was kind of straight-legging it down the sideline, so it didn't really instill a lot of confidence in me at the time."
Overall, though, Ferentz liked what he saw during Tate's first start and so did the sophomore from Texas.
"I felt I did some good things, then one got away from me," he said, referring to an interception that turned into a 99-yard touchdown, the only one of the game for Kent State.
"Sure, I would have liked some more reps, but I thought I got some good experience and saw some good things. I wanted more, but I just need to get better, have a great week of practice and be ready for Iowa State."
In addition to his acting, Ferentz wouldn't mind seeing Tate be a little more careful with his body.
Rather than trying to hit like a fullback or a linebacker, taking a safety slide every now and then would be a welcome sight to the coach, who is already without his No. 2 quarterback (Jason Manson) for at least three weeks.
"If he gets the chance to run, we're all for it," said Ferentz. "Drew is a pretty good athlete, but he's got to learn to slide. He needs to get his yards and get down."
The Texas prep passing record holder has heard that before. It's just not something that comes naturally.
"Yeah, I know," he said. "But I'm just trying to get a first down. If I get hit, I get hit. It happens. I just want to get firsts."
That's an attitude more common in a defensive player, but one Ferentz is rightly hesitant to come down too hard on, especially this week with a big home game against Iowa State.
Yes, it's that time of the season, again.
The Cyclones come to Kinnick Stadium Saturday and until recently, that was almost always an Iowa win.
But the Cyclones will be there this time sporting a three-game win streak on Iowa's home turf, two of those over Ferentz-coached teams.
However, the Cy-Hawk Trophy that goes to the winner each season does reside in Iowa City, courtesy of last year's 40-21 Hawkeye win at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.
Iowa's current players got their first look at the trophy that symbolizes football supremacy in the state last fall. Before Iowa State's recent run of success, the Cy-Hawk had been in Iowa City long enough to be eligible to pay property taxes.
As trophies go, it's not a beauty, but that is not a factor for Iowa's Matt Roth.
"I don't know anything about them, but they always give us their best shot," said Roth, who spent much of Saturday battling two or three blockers on every play.
"No matter what they've got, if it is an up year or a down year, we are in for a battle.
"It is not really about the trophy, it is just the meaning. I definitely like having it on our sideline and am looking forward to it again this year."
Let the hype begin.
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