TAMPA – After Iowa and Vanderbilt enjoyed two days of fun at Busch Gardens and Clearwater Beach, it hardly felt like a football game between two AP Top-25 teams was about to commence.
But when Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea walked into the Hyatt House media hotel dressed in suits – black jacket for Ferentz and blue coat for Lea – for their ReliaQuest Bowl press conferences on Tuesday, it signaled the game was indeed on its way.
And what a game it could be. No. 23 Iowa (8-4) was just a pair of close losses from a potential College Football Playoff berth, while No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2) narrowly missed the field after its first 10-win campaign in program history.
While some college football fans consider a non-Playoff bowl game like this one meaningless due to the expanded 12-team (potentially more in the future) CFP bracket, both Ferentz and Lea are proud to bring their teams to Tampa.
Ferentz is no stranger to playing New Year’s bowl games in Tampa, as Wednesday’s showdown will mark his seventh appearance in the Florida classic. Ferentz’s Hawkeyes have an even record of 3-3 in those contests, winning his most recent appearance against Mississippi State in 2019. All six matchups took place when the bowl was sponsored by Outback Steakhouse.
“Every opportunity a team has to compete is special,” Ferentz said. “When you get the chance to play in a bowl game where you’re together for another month as a team, you get one more chance to compete together and stay in a really nice city, really nice place, get treated really well, I don’t see how it’s a bad deal.”
For Lea and Vanderbilt, playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl isn’t familiarity – it’s uncharted waters. Not only is this the Commodores’ first-ever 10-win season, it’s just their 11th bowl appearance in school history (this is the Hawkeyes’ 37th bowl game).
“Our team is really excited to be here. This is a great next step for our program. We are grateful to the ReliaQuest Bowl, Jim [McVay, President] and the ReliaQuest Bowl staff,” Lea said. “…To have a week here, spend this time together, has been so meaningful to us.”
Former assistants reunite
Wednesday’s game will be a reunion for Lea and Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Both served on Syracuse’s staff in the 2013 and 2014 seasons – Lea was the linebackers coach and Lester was the quarterbacks coach.
Lea, who called the duo’s tenure in Upstate New York “a fun time,” said Lester’s two-tight end motion schemes are slightly implemented in Vanderbilt’s offense. Though they worked on different sides of the ball, Lea and the defensive staff still had to practice against Lester’s offense in spring practice.
“One of the most challenging parts was preparing for it in the spring,” Lea said. “You’re watching Elmhurst College film, which was a little different. Always creative, outside-the-box thinker. Taking risks.”
While Lester’s schemes have changed since, Lea commended Lester’s NFL experience as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers, which he says has made Lester’s offense more challenging to stop.
“What I see on film now has some of the creative aspects of what I knew him to be at Syracuse, but also you see a real emphasis on the stretch run game, some of those NFL kind of elements that have come to define that game,” Lea said. “This is a world class person and a really good football mind. I’m so happy for him and his success.”
Can Iowa stop Diego Pavia?
If there’s one player both coaches are focusing on in this matchup, it’s Vanderbilt star quarterback Diego Pavia. Pavia, a former junior college prospect, was the driving force behind the ‘Dores’ success this year, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns while also collecting a team-high 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Pavia’s efforts earned him a trip to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist, where he ultimately finished as the runner-up to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
While Pavia is shorter than the average quarterback (6-feet), something that is often a worry for NFL scouts, Ferentz praised Pavia for his leadership, saying “winning quarterbacks are winning quarterbacks.” He compared Pavia to his own overlooked-turned Heisman runner-up – Brad Banks.
“We had Brad Banks in 2002, first year starting. AP Player of the Year, runner-up to the Heisman, the whole nine yards,” Ferentz said. “Prototypical NFL guy. Our team believed in him and followed him. To me it starts with that.”
Ferentz’s key to stopping Pavia? Team defense.
“Trying to contain him is the challenge. I think it comes down to great team defense,” Ferentz said. “…It is a challenge, because every play the pressure is on. If you make a mistake, it might really cost you. It’s easier said than done to defend that.”