Following Iowa football’s 47-7 blowout win over UMass from Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night that cemented head coach Kirk Ferentz as the Big Ten’s all-time winningest head coach with victory No. 206, Hawkeyes wide receiver and special teams star Kaden Wetjen spoke on his coach’s influence and what the milestone means to the team.
The 5-foot-9, 196-pound senior from Williamsburg, Iowa, had one of his best performances of his career against the Minutemen by recording a 20-yard rushing touchdown, 34 yards on a kick return, and 182 yards on four punt returns that included a spectacular 95-yard punt return touchdown.
“Not just football-wise, it’s more life, I’d say. He just teaches us to be a better person off the field and on the field as well, but it just shows you, all of the people smiling, everybody cares about him. Super happy for the guy and happy I could be a part of getting this for him,” Wetjen said about Kirk Ferentz.
Wetjen’s comments are a testament to the family culture that Ferentz has been able to create, maintain, and develop within the Hawkeyes program throughout his now-27 years at the helm.
While Wetjen had a career-best performance on Saturday night, no one player on the Hawkeyes will ever take credit for the entire unit’s success. Wetjen was certainly a main contributor, but was simply the beneficiary of all 10 of his teammates making plays to clear the way.
Additionally, quarterback Mark Gronowski gave his thoughts on the historic feat in his postgame media availability by lauding the wisdom and advice Ferentz passes along every day.
“He’s a great mentor to me, and he’s learned so much throughout his entire career. So every time I get a chance to talk to him, I mean, there’s so much to learn from him…. So it’s really special to have him as a coach, have someone that knows so much about the game and the history of football, but just life in general, just being a person and a great family man.”
As for Ferentz and the rest of the Iowa football program, the Hawkeyes begin Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 19, at Rutgers (3-0) from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., where they will look to notch their first win in the conference standings.
That Week 4 matchup will begin at 7 p.m. CT and be broadcast on Fox.
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