On New Year’s Day, No. 17 Iowa football and No. 21 Tennessee football will play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. ABC will broadcast the 78th Citrus Bowl beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
The Vols (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will be playing in their sixth Citrus Bowl, and their first since Jan. 1, 2002, when they won 45-17 over Michigan to cap an 11-2 season and were ranked fourth in the final polls. The six appearances share the all-time record with Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Penn State, Auburn, and LSU.
The two programmes will come together for the fourth time. The Vols have defeated the Hawkeyes 2-1 in their history, including 45-28 in the 2015 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Kirk Ferentz, the head coach of Iowa, held a media conference on Sunday night to talk about the team’s selection to the Citrus Bowl and their upcoming game against the Vols. This is what he had to say.
This will be the fourth time the two programmes have come together. With a 2-1 record against the Hawkeyes, the Vols have won two of their meetings, 45-28 in the 2015 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
On Sunday night, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz held a media conference to talk about the team’s selection to the Citrus Bowl and their upcoming game against the Vols. All he had to say was this.
We’re thrilled to be playing another game, to start with. Extremely pleased with our group. They put forth a lot of effort at work throughout the year. Despite the disappointing loss from last night, they have earned the right to play in a premier bowl game, such as the Citrus Bowl. Above all, we are thrilled to be performing. Second, I’m thrilled to be returning to Orlando. Two years ago, many of the guys on our team went through that. It’s going to be a novel experience for many guys. And the one thing about both the new guys this year and the ones who were there two years ago is that it’s a really
FERENTZ: I have not looked at it yet but I was just talking to Phil about it two hours ago, so maybe you were tapping into our conversation. But kind of had the same thought. You know, saw it on the field out there. Koen is one of our gunners. Missed the tackle. I know he feels bad about that. But for him to get out off the ground and chase the returner back down there, whatever it was, inside the 10-, 5-yard line, I had the same thought. It really is like a flashback to the Bowl, playing the Citrus Bowl where Cooper did just a great job. I think it tells you a
FERENTZ: Although I haven’t looked at it yet, I was just discussing it with Phil two hours ago, so perhaps you were listening in on our chat. but thought something similar in a way. I saw it out in the field, you know. Among our gunners is Koen. omitted the tackle. He must be upset about that, I know. I had the same thought for him, though, to get off the ground and chase the returner back down there, whatever it was, inside the 10-, 5-yard line. It truly feels like a flashback to when Cooper played in the Citrus Bowl, where he excelled. It seems to tell you a
much regarding a player. I can mention a play made by Bob Sanders against Michigan in 2003. In a similar vein. It simply indicates that the player gives it his all on the pitch, and Koen has always played that way. He’s been a fantastic young man, a true prospect, and he performed admirably for us on special teams this season. incredibly positive attitude and excited about his future.
