5 Things we Learned at the Music City Bowl Press Conference

Kentucky and Iowa will meet again in the postseason, returning to the gridiron in Nashville for the Music City Bowl. Before the two teams take the field at Nissan Stadium tomorrow (Noon, ABC), coaches from both schools spent the morning speaking with the media in a press conference that lasted about an hour in total. Here’s what we learned.

Mark Stoops has moved on from Iowa Emotions

Last year’s Citrus Bowl meeting with Iowa was special for Kentucky’s head coach. A typically reserved speaker, he did not withhold his emotions when discussing the connection to his alma mater. After facing Iowa once, it’s back to business.

“I think it was definitely a little different last year for me. I acknowledged that, I think, going into it and playing them. It’s been a while as a head coach, playing the Hawks. It’s seeing those colors when you walk out there, definitely was different,” Stoops said.

“I think at this point it’s different now. Let’s play the game. I know what a great challenge it is. Really more businesslike this year and wanting to prepare the team, put them in a good position to win.”

Young Kentucky Wildcats that could play in Music City Bowl

Opt-outs and injuries have shaken up the Kentucky depth chart. It’s giving Kentucky football fans an opportunity to see some younger Wildcats play significant snaps for the first time.

“Jordan Anthony is a guy that jumps out at you with great speed. Brandon White, another player that’s redshirted that may have some opportunities to create some plays. Hopefully they’ll do some things,” said Stoops. “There will be some others as well. Nik Hall is another one, Grant Bingham, guys you haven’t seen much, but you could see them in this game.”

Iowa has an Icy Relationship with the Media

There were a couple of awkward moments between members of the Iowa media and the school’s football coaches. Kirk Ferentz made an off-hand remark about a radio host’s opinion of a couple players who decided to play in the bowl game, rather than opt-out and prepare for the draft. Later on the coordinators were made available to the media, apparently for the first time since before the Hawkeyes played Ohio State in October. Brian Ferentz, the offensive coordinator and son of the head coach, was asked if he heard the loud criticism from fans and how he has responded to it.

“Is that a serious question?”

The reporter responded, “Sure. Did you read the article?”

Awkward.

Kirk Ferentz Loves Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta

Kirk Ferentz loves his leaders so much, he got choked up twice, fighting back tears while thinking about what LB Jack Campbell and TE Sam LaPorta mean to the Iowa football program.

“If you are going to have a good football team, you have to have guys like that,” said Ferentz. “We’ve had a lot of good players (tearing up). That’s the fun of the guys like that, the attitude. The impact that has on a team, it’s really impressive. That’s the beauty of it.”

A Tight End at Quarterback in the Music City Bowl?

A couple years ago we watched a Wildcat wide receiver lead his team to a bowl victory. Iowa may lean on a tight end at quarterback. Mackey Award finalist Sam LaPorta has taken some snaps at quarterback in case first-time starter Joe Labas is ever forced to the sideline.

“Sam LaPorta is as good a football player as I’ve ever coached, probably the best one. He’s an exceptional competitor, very talented. The way he practices, the way he plays, if my son could grow up, if he could just emulate that, whatever he chooses to do, I’d be awfully proud of him…” said Brian Ferentz.

“… How do I see him as an emergency quarterback? I think he’ll probably make some plays because that’s generally what he does when he has the ball in his hands.”