Following two subpar performances under center to start Iowa‘s (1-1) 2025 campaign, Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke on quarterback Mark Gronowski’s passing game so far and where the graduate senior can improve entering Saturday’s matchup against UMass (0-2) from Kinnick Stadium.
In Gronowski’s two combined starts, the former South Dakota State signal-caller has completed 21 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown, while also throwing one interception and being sacked four times.
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Given the tremendous offseason hype surrounding the transfer portal acquisition, Gronowski’s abysmal aerial stats have felt like déjà vu for many Iowa fans who fear the program fell for yet another “fool’s gold” quarterback.
Ferentz isn’t ready to hit the panic button and pointed back to a pair of other successful Hawkeye quarterbacks as examples where the heights of their powers weren’t immediate. The longtime head coach also said Gronowski and Iowa are still finding out about one another and building comfort.
“I think we’re learning about him, he’s learning about us. Right now, grab on to percentages. I’ll go back to that first throw he threw, that hitch well short of the receiver that he’s probably completed 1,000 of those in his lifetime. It’s a matter of fact, but that’s not who he is. So it’s just a matter of him getting more comfortable and us doing a better job of maybe making him more comfortable, and that’s part of the process as you go along.
“I think about some of the good quarterbacks we’ve had, I’ll go way back to Brad Banks, nobody knew who he was, and then after three games they did know who he was and nobody liked him, and probably, I don’t know if Drew Tate was getting rave reviews after Arizona State. It’s just part of the process. When you’re getting on the field and going through things, you’re learning as you go, and my attitude is we look more at the big picture, there’s 12 games scheduled, we’re going to take it a week at a time. As long as we’re growing and getting better and moving forward, we’ll live with the results, and that’s really all you can do,” Ferentz said.
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While it is a lot easier said than done, the Hawkeyes should have one of their easiest “get-right” games on Saturday against a Minutemen squad that averages 297 passing yards surrendered per game. UMass also is reeling after a shocking 27-26 loss to FCS foe Bryant as 16.5-point favorites this past weekend.
With an Iowa win over UMass from Kinnick Stadium, Ferentz will secure win No. 206, surpassing Ohio State legend Woody Hayes for most all-time as head coach of a Big Ten institution in the conference’s 130-year history.
Saturday’s game is expected to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football, new QB still ‘learning’ about one another
