IOWA FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Hawkeyes set to host Illinois State in Big Ten vs. MVC season-opener

[Music] number one game number one and that is Illinois state so the Red Birds a preseason top 25 in the FCS I know you don't do analytics for FCS opponents but you coached a lot of quality FCS teams and you know a little something about the Illinois State red birds they lost five games last year four of which were by I believe four points or less their one blowout loss was to National Champion South Dakota State what can you tell us about the Red Birds and and give us your confidence level obviously the iow was expected to take care of business but they'll be having to do so without budm without Kirk without Caleb Brown and they banged up Phil Parker who tore his laam and his rotator cuff last month well Illinois State I do know a lot about him I know their head coach very well Brock spack is a guy we tried to recruit when we first came to Iowa so I've known him ever since he was 18 years old he's a noons coach I will guarantee you that they will have very good team discipline uh I've done some of the games when I've worked as an analyst in TV for Missouri Valley uh and they're always well coast and as you mentioned they were a little bit unlucky with a lot of one- score losses last year they are a dangerous team and they'll be excited about playing of course in kenik and I do think it's important that we don't take them lightly I don't think we will I think our coaches will do a good job of educating our guys about what the FCS brings to the table uh let's not forget it hadn't been that many years since South Dakota State and North Dakota State gave us fits in kenck North Dakota State be us of course in kenck as you recall uh so it'll be a challenge and having said that we need to show up and play like we're playing against a big 10 opponent if we do that I think we will have chance before the game ends to play a lot of players and gain some confidence with how we can play in that regard I think it i' be very disappointed if it's not a double digit win I'd like to think it could be more than that but I don't know that because Illinois State that's a very good League Cory as you know that's the best FCS league in the country so those guys are not going to lie down they're going to play and they're going to give nothing but their best and it would behoove us if we do the same that they're doing and I I do want to make a little correction because I'm sure people will flock to the comment section if I don't they were not picked upper half technically speaking they're picked basically right in the middle they're picked sixth in the conference but as you mentioned strongest conference at the FCS level and um Iowa struggled a couple years ago with a season opening game against an FCS opponent nearly lost to South Dakota state now I know that team won a national title but um you know unique circumstances Kirk hasn't been off the field for a game since 2000 or excuse me since 1998 Don how does that change Iowa's approach on game day with Seth Wallace taking over as head coach acting head coach on August 31st how does that actually work practically how does it change the functionality of what's happening on game day well the good news is Kirk's gonna U be the head football coach all the way up through Friday night so the game week next week is going to be the usual game week preparation that we always have Friday night's not going to be any different than it ever is Saturday will change and it'll be a new experience for everyone in the room uh I'm sure that Kirk and Seth are going to talk about exactly what the plan is for addressing the team on Saturday the coaches are all going to do their job let's just think back to the fact that Michigan was successful in the latter part of the Season though uh without Jim Harbaugh you know they seem to hold up just fine with an interim head coach uh just for the day or for the week and we'll do the same our players I'm so impressed with our players from a character standpoint they have also a No Nonsense attitude about football I'd be surprised if they underestimate Illinois State I think they fully expect and understand they're going to get a fanatical effort out of Illinois State at least for a while and the challenge for us is can we wear them down can we get them discouraged to the point that we really start thoroughly dominating the game I don't know if we can get that done but we should try it's no different than a a wrestling match or a boxing match if you're the heavy favorite what you don't want to do is just kind of hang around let the other guy hang around because as the as the match goes on um who's to say he might not land a lucky punch you know the only chance for an underdog to win is for you to let them hang around and then get lucky at the end the game to the tune of the winning touchdown so let's go out and have a no- nonsense attitude let's put them away as quickly as we can if we can do that let's do it that'll give us a chance to play more players it'll give us a chance to keep our starters healthy for the next game it's a long season but we all have to approach them the same way anybody's capable of getting you to include Illinois State join myself and Coach P each and every Saturday each and every weekend following the game and if for some reason there's a schedule issue or an interference than we are live on Sunday there's always some form of a postgame show Saturday but then we'll also hit the airwaves on Sunday