Photo: University of Iowa Athletics Department
(Orlando, FL) -- It's game day for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa (10-3) faces the Tennessee Volunteers (8-4) in today's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
Kick-off is at 12 p.m.
Comments from Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz from pre-game news conference on 12-31.
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.