Kirk Ferentz digs into growth Iowa football seniors have shown over last four seasons

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

If the Iowa Hawkeyes are going to be known for anything, it will be for the growth and development they provide to their players during their time in Iowa City.

Notorious for being a veteran-led roster, the Hawkeyes sport quite a few seniors, and this Saturday is their final time in Kinnick Stadium for their Senior Day.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz was asked about the group this week, what he has seen from them during their four years with the Hawkeyes, and how they have developed into the seniors they are now.

"I could talk for a half hour on that topic, because we all lived it. I think all of our worlds got rocked that year. But as a coach in college athletics or I guess coach in any level for that matter, but especially in college, I think it was really impactful, just because of the things that you cited. A lot of those guys, some played in the spring of their senior years; some played in the fall. Some didn't play at all. And depending on where they were geographically, you saw kids move to a different state sometimes so they could play. Just all kinds of crazy stuff that you would never expect to happen.

"And then, yeah, you hit the nail on the head. I remember they got here in June back then, or they for the most part came in June, and basically they were sequestered to the dormitory. They were allowed to live in the dorm, come over here and they could train, but small numbers. And then they had to go back to the dorm. I think downtown was totally shut down.

"What a way to start your college career. In some ways maybe it was a benefit because they all had to kind of draw together. It was basically them and nobody else. There was nobody else around here.

"But all that being said, just a weird time for our country and certainly a weird time to be an incoming team member. And I guess they're a little bit more fortunate than the average student because at least they had a support network here in this building.

"But all that being said, it was really a strange thing. I was extremely worried at that point about like what's it going to do to these guys short term and then long term. Long term they've been great, and maybe that's why these guys have been so close. Maybe it was rooted in that. But we also had some fatalities, if you recall. That's a strong word, but some losses along the way, just because I think of the weirdness of this whole time period, you know, where guys just decided not to play or what have you. So it was one for the books, and hopefully none of us go through it again," Ferentz proudly said about the Hawkeyes' seniors.

Senior Day at Iowa is always special and emotional. This year should be no different, with Kinnick Stadium officially being a sold-out crowd coming in support of this group.

The Hawkeyes' seniors have one more go at home when they host the Michigan State Spartans at 2:30 p.m. CT, this Saturday, November 22, in a game that will air on FS1.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Kirk Ferentz digs into growth from Iowa football seniors

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos