I on the Hawks: Citrus Bowl preview & 2023 season special

Breaking down the 2024 Citrus Bowl between Iowa and Tennessee. Iowa’s News Now sports anchor Owen Siebring features some of the best Hawkeyes during the 2023 season, talks to 247 Sports Hawkeye Insider David Eickholt about Iowa’s offensive coordinator search, takes a look at what the Volunteers will bring to Orlando, and brings us the top 5 plays from the season.

———————————————————————–
Follow Iowa’s News Now on our social media pages:

Iowa’s News Now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IowasNewsNow/
Iowa’s News Now on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iowasnewsnow
For more news & weather: https://cbs2iowa.com/

Send us news tips @ news@cbs2iowa.com

Welcome to a special edition of eye on the Hawks on New Year’s Day the Hawkeyes will end their season in Orlando Florida at the Citrus Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers we’ll then look ahead to a lot of changes in 2024 a new offensive coordinator new Big 10 with new

Opponents in no divisions but before all that Iowa already scored his first big win after landing in Florida when Senior Star linebacker Jay Higgins announce that he is returning for the 2024 season Higgins leads the Big 10 in tackles amassing 155 of them throughout the year

That ranks second in all of division one we talked to Jay last week and he was already reflecting on what this senior season has meant to him my dad told me like make sure you stop and smell the roses and um I I don’t think I did I was

Just trying to make sure we we didn’t you know give up more than four yards a play uh but I I feel like it’s uh I feel like everything’s been moving fast uh but this this last month between the Big 10 and you know what where we’re at now

Everything slowed down for me um I just a real appreciation for what our team has done over this year uh just proud of myself and obviously uh what I what I did this year and I understood it was a long road to get to where I’m at and you

Know I’m appreciated for every every uh road block that was in my way to help me Cooper dein is another player with the option of coming back or testing the NFL as a reporter I’ve had the honor of covering dein since he was a sophomore in high school we first started hearing

Rumors about this kid in Ida Grove who might be the next big thing in basketball 1,800 points later Cooper indeed enjoyed a pretty outstanding career on the court but the Hawkeyes wanted him as a football player his commitment to the grid iron has proven to be a life altering decision for

Cooper and a potentially program altering decision for the Hawkeyes let’s go back in time a few years to March of 2020 OA BCI High School a community who sounds like they drew their name out of a bowl of alphabets saw an unheralded Junior make a commitment to the Hawkeye

Football team back then Cooper de did not have a lot to say on camera I’m I’m glad I got my my decision made now at times that softspoken high schooler still comes out in press conferences yeah it’s cool it’s really cool it’s been fun it’s really cool but

In 3 and 1/2 years Cooper’s growth has been immeasurable both physically it was definitely a a surprise when I when I saw that video just looking back on on how how much of a baby I look like and in his defensive skill set we bring up old tapes he sees

Himself on the field and he kind of Chuckles and laughs like how much progress he’s made the word progress might even be an understatement Cooper has become one of the best football players in America a unanimous All-American a finalist for the Thorp award and a comparison by his

Coordinator to a man whose name is sacred to Hawkeye fans I don’t know about Nile kennick because I never saw him play but this might be the 2023 version of n Ken that is not a compliment you’ll hear Phil Parker hand out to just anyone but Cooper Dee is not your average Tommy

Soybean in nearly 400 snaps on defense Cooper did not allow one single touchdown this season what this kid has become over the last three seasons is nothing short of Supernatural yeah if you asked me three years ago if I’d be in this this position you know i’ I’d tell you no I

Didn’t even know if I could you know play at this at this level um coming from a a small small town School in in Iowa touchdown Falcons but Cooper’s Legacy defining season was cut short after a broken leg he suffered in practice last month not being out there

You know whether it’s in Indianapolis or those other two or three games that I missed you know it’s it was it was definitely really tough after everything we’ve gone through this season you know just just fighting each and every each and every Saturday together um and not

Being able to be out there was it was pretty tough as Cooper recuperates there are decisions to be made stay at Iowa for another season and likely put his name on The Ring of Honor or go to the NFL where he would almost certainly be a first round draft

Pick I’m still still trying to go through that process and and talk to as many people as I can there’s no really set date I’m just trying to get as many questions answered as as I can Hawkeye fans await that decision a question for the future as

Cooper reflects on the past and what he’s representing every time he takes the field to try and show show kids you know from from small towns in in Iowa or around my area that that this is this is possible you know to put yourself in this position to play division one

Football at the at the highest level Cooper’s name will already be on the wall of consensus all-americans as will Tor Taylor’s likeness the winner of the ray guy award for the best punter in the nation and another unanimous All-American Tori has learned under the tutelage of not just Lavar Woods but one

Of Lavar former teammates and the man whose records Tory has been shattering Jason Baker before punting was winning there was Jason Baker was punting winning when you were at Iowa well we didn’t win that’s the problem punting was happening punting was happening but we weren’t winning as a junior in 1999 in

The midst of Coach fence’s first season as head coach Iowa won just one game fast forward 25 years not only is Iowa a big 10 West Champion but this big Aussie punter has broken all of Jason’s Iowa records on his way to a unanimous All-American season a lot of hard work

And and sacrifice goes into it but I’m just really appreciative um to be up on the wall with such a great group of men but would any of this have been possible without a budding friendship between Baker and Taylor over the last four years these two have built a bond that

Can only be shared by men who have gone through the special team’s trenches I’ve been fortunate enough to um have a have a few good punts in my time here and I have a lot of credit to him for that as well punting and being a specialist can

Be one of those things it can be a little bit lonely at times and sometimes just being able to um voice your thoughts to someone else that has been in your position that’s that’s what I’ve been really grateful of of B it’s weird having all this stuff in your head that

You can’t really use in your current vocation and being able to like download it to people is therapeutic and a lot of ways and it feels good to be able to serve others that way punters kickers are it’s a little different like guys in the bullpen it’s a little different

World they live in different psychology to the the way they perform that’s a nice thing about you know you think about guys that stay connected to this program and um it it’s it’s really a great thing and as Tor prepares for the NFL draft in April what’s most astonishing

Jason Baker says he has yet to reach his full potential like as amazing as Tori has been there’s a lot of meet on the bone where he’s at in the learning curb is good enough to be the best college football player at his position right and it’s still not anywhere where he

Near where he will be in the near future when he further Masters it his posture towards Improvement changed dramatically about a year ago so what has changed for Tori over the last year I would say confidence you know and I think that really just comes back to repetition and

Practice and um more so just quality over quantity and Baker kind of just said there’s no need to go out there and hit thousands of balls because you’re only just going to wear yourself out he’s like why don’t you just worry about focus on 20 to 30 balls each day of

Practice and that’s really kind of being my mindset um probably the last year something that may not have been possible without one former hawkey stepping in to help another break all of his records I’m really grateful for what Baker’s done for me and he’s I think

He’s done a really good job at just keeping me grounded you know and F and focusing on what’s actually important as he approaches his final game in an IA uniform Tory Taylor already holds program records for punt yards in a season total punts in a career and he broke the record for punt

Yards in a career by about 2,000 yards and in all likelihood he’ll end the Citrus Bowl with a couple of NCAA records as well the search is on for Iowa’s next offensive coordinator after the break we bring David eel back to the show he’s had his ear to the ground for the latest

OC rumors we’ve got more next on I the Hawks well the Iowa offense will face a depleted Tennessee secondary on New Year’s Day After That the Hawkeyes will look ahead to hiring a new offensive coordinator joining us now on I the Hawks FR of the program David ult we’re

Looking like uh the Manny cast here with the quarter zips on this show David if you have insid or access quite like yourself what is the latest on Iowa’s OC search who are some names that you’re hearing in the leadup to the Citrus Bowl

Now right now if I had to put a betting odds favor or put my crystal ball on someone it’s G to be former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chris I think this makes a lot of sense because if you talk about what Kirk fence has tried to you know

Become throughout the course of his career he’s tried to be what Wisconsin was under Paul Chris and he officient running game good play action and at least reliable enough quarterback play while still having an elite defense and a good enough special team so Paul Christ I think is my favorite right now

Another name I’d still keep in mind is Joe filbin I know that that name circulated a couple of weeks ago and he did previously work under Kirk ference back from 1999 to 2002 worked with the offensive line I think it’s a home run higher if Iowa gets Paul Chris because

Kirk fence is not going to change his style of play Maybe add some new wrinkles but not change uh the complete style of play whether it’s Paul Christ or Joe filin or somebody else will Brian successor be the quarterback’s coach again or do you think those duties will

Be given to somebody else I think it depends on who the higher is but I think if you get Paul Chris I think you do let him become the quarterback’s coach again he has experience doing that uh the statistics when he was at Wisconsin I think speak for itself I think they’d be

A good fit but let’s say Joe Philbin gets there I don’t think you really want Joe Philbin running that quarterback room but I’d also say okay what if you get an offensive coordinator passing game coordinator but I do think if it’s Paul Christ I think it makes a lot of

Sense to keep him as the quarterback’s coach and the offensive coordinator and I think when you look around the you know trend of college football we’re seeing more and more more of that whether it be passing game coordinator offensive coordinator whether it be quarterback coach offensive coordinator

I mean even if you flip over to the Iowa defense right you have Phil Parker coaching the secondary and being the defensive coordinator so I think it would make a lot of sense from that standpoint but I do think it is solely going to depend on who Iowa hires well

Have you heard anything about his potential job prospects where Brian ference might land after this season is finally over yeah I still think you need to see what happens in the NFL I mean there’s still a couple of weeks remaining all my Packers are going to obviously

Disappoint me sometime in the next two weeks I want to see what happens with bill belich after this season there’s been a lot of talk that he is not going to return as New England Patriots head coach and you know what if he makes a run uh with the Chargers the Chargers

Are looking for a head coach I think that can make a lot of sense for belich to kind of get Justin Herbert kind of Rebrand himself might need a tight end Coach might need an offensive line coach they have a long-standing history with one another so I think if Bill bich does

Not return to New England and he wants to continue coaching the NFL I’m keeping a very very close eye on what Bill bellich does with some of his staff wherever he takes over David we very much appreciate all of your help on the show this year give the folks at home

One last plug for the holidays right now uh just stay locked into Hawkeye insider.com 247 Sports and David eel onx and as always Owen I appreciate the opportunity and uh I’ll see you soon the man with the knowledge David iold thanks for joining us man good old Rocky Top has been hit hard

By the transfer portal after the break Curtis fader is in the studio to run through what Iowa might see from an unrecognizable Tennessee lineup that’s next and ie on the Hawks Tennessee has been to 20 more bowl games in the Hawkeyes and the true programs have nearly the same win percentage in those games the volunteers are 4- one in their history in the Citrus Bowl I Iowa is one and one with their lone win coming back when it was

Known as the Capital One Bowl Iowa fans remember well that last second touchdown from Drew Tate to Warren Holloway is that sealed a win over LSU this is the two programs fourth ever meeting the only bowl game between the two teams was Hayden Fry’s first ever Bowl win a

208-22 win in the Peach Bowl back in 1982 so what about the 2023 iteration of the BS these guys have been decimated by the transfer portal and guys choosing to move on to the NFL draft Curtis Vader is here to break down what Iowa can expect come New Year’s Day Tennessee is a

Program that has been gutted over the past month several key players have either entered the transfer portal or opted out of playing in the Citrus Bowl in including starting QB Joe millon who’s prepping for the draft but iow fans beware because there will be nearly zero drop off when Nico IAM malava takes

The field IAM malava got playing time in four games this season for the volunteers and has shown flashes of his potential in those appearances Nico was the most high sought after recruit in the 2023 class and his signing to Tennessee gave the program its most touted quarterback since Payton Manning

Now the 6’6 true freshman has been getting some first team Reps for the past month and the team has noticed his continued development throughout the season he’s continued to grow so much fun fundamentally allowed him to play at this level continued to grow consistency fundamentals decision making being

Accurate with the football in command of what we’re doing offensively uh this will be his first opportunity to start against a really good defense but excited to go play with them as for who Niko is playing with Tennessee’s two most talented and experienced running backs Jaylen Wright and Jabari small

Both opted out which means they will rely on sophomore Dylan Samson as their rb1 Samson has put on some explosive tape in the carries he was able to get in the 10 games played partnering up with him will be true freshman Cameron Seldon so potentially a field day for Iowa’s experienced defensive line

Stopping the Run of Phil Parker preps him well Tennessee defense is missing a lot of personnel as well six defensive backs have transferred out of the program including two contributing starters and now with the vs losing star defensive tackle Tyler Baron of the portal as well this might be an

Opportunity for an assault through the air for the Hawkeyes and a great send off for Brian fence as Iowa’s offensive coordinator after the break we close out this final episode of eyon the Hawks breaking down the top 10 plays from the 2023 Iowa football season from 10 to one

And then some we’ll close up shop right after this Perhaps the best play from Iowa’s football season is the one that didn’t count a wave of the hand and an invalid fair catch ruling is what kept Iowa from a one loss regular season and kept Cooper de jeene from number one on our list of top plays this season but shed

No tears for Cooper He’s Still well represented in our rundown of the top plays from 2023 Cooper de’s best punt return of of the year didn’t end up going in the books but this one’s pretty Sensational still against Michigan State Cooper breaks one of the sideline and splits

The Spartans and scoots for six a gamechanging touchdown that gives Iowa a lead and what was their first Big 10 win of the season number four the longest play from scrimmage for Iowa this year lean Williams is 82 yd touchdown run against Wisconsin their longest run in

The Kirk f bar era at Camp Randall a score that breaks this game open amazingly I will won this game without having run a single play in Wisconsin Territory that is thanks largely to this one play from lean Williams number three a kick that took on even more significance in hindsight Drew Stevens’s

Game-winning 53 yard field goal against Northwestern at Wrigley Field he had missed from that same distance earlier in the game but but it’s tough as nails when it counts Iowa won that game 10 to7 and without that field goal if the game goes to overtime in Iowa loses the

Northwestern would have won the Big 10 West that kick secured their spot in the Big 10 Championship number two that same game at Wrigley one of the most inconceivable goal line stands in Iowa history reminiscent of that Syracuse game about 15 years ago Northwestern had

A first and at the 2yd line a second and goal from inches outside of the end zone they run three straight plays that got stuffed at the line of scrimmage Iowa defense comes through on a messy and torn up Turf helping seal a crucial Big 10 West Victory and our number one Play

Of the Year we’re cheating a little bit but none of these plays mean anything without the other two it’s the Lord of the Rings of Iowa plays season finale Heroes game in Nebraska Huskers think they’re about to orchestrate a game-winning drive with under 20 seconds left in steps Ethan heret for his first

Career interception he returns at 16 yards to the Nebraska 37 very next play Lea Williams breaks free for a 22 yard gain every yard crucial when you’re about to send a backup kicker into the game after Drew Stevens had missed a pair field goal attempts earlier in the

Day in steps Marshall meter a transfer who had ever taken the field in a Hawkeye uniform until this final play of the game it doesn’t get over the bar by much but meter’s aim is true from 38 yards out a game a drive and a moment

That Iowa fans will never forget and our number one play from 2023 that does it for our final episode of I the Hawks scan the QR code on the screen to download subscribe and listen to the ey on the Hawks podcast we have a citrus bull preview podcast up right now

That’s available wherever you get your podcast please like subscribe and follow along for all of our videos on the iows news now YouTube page and follow our I on the Hawks Twitter account for exclusive videos and links to all of our live streams we want to thank David IO

For his help with I the Hawks today and you the viewer for coming with us for this journey through a wild 2023 season the games were never boring you got to give that to this Hawkeye team they kept us on the edge of our seats likely to be

The same for the Citrus Bowl we’ll see you again on Monday from the Sunshine State thanks for joining [Applause] us come