Guillory, a juco All-American at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College last season, was listed as the Hawkeyes No. 2 running back as recently as last week and was expected to play in the season opener Saturday against Maine. Ferentz said he is not sure where Guillory is headed, saying only that he expects the Houston native to land somewhere “closer to home.”
“He did a good job, practiced well,” Ferentz said. “He just made the decision to move on. We wish him all the best. He leaves here in good standing, good person, good guy, and he did a nice job.”
Guillory, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, struggled to pick up the offense in the spring but showed progress in the past month through training camp. He was in competition with junior Shonn Greene and sophomore Paki O’Meara for the starting job.
Greene, who played at Iowa in 2005 and 2006 before spending last year at Kirkwood Community College to get his grades in order, was announced the starter Tuesday and will be backed up by O’Meara on Saturday. With the departure of Guillory, it is very likely true freshmen Jeff Brinson and Jewel Hampton will play this season.
Like Greene, Guillory has two years of eligibility remaining, and he wasn’t going to get a chance to be the featured back at Iowa, which Ferentz said might have played a part in his decision to leave.
“He was performing well in this camp, but it was stiff competition,” Ferentz said. “The difference with him coming in as opposed to a young player is his clock is ticking. I’m sure that was in his mind.
“I didn’t interpret it as a selfish move at all. We wish him well. I don’t think he left mad. We’re not mad he left. I think it’s one of those ones where he felt he had a better situation somewhere else.”
‘Good news’ at kicker
Two Saturdays ago, Hawkeyes place-kickers Daniel Murray and Trent Mossbrucker struggled at the team’s open practice, making only 15 of 27 field-goal attempts and missing the majority of their kicks from beyond 40 yards.
Ferentz said that was their worst performance of camp and that the play of the specialists has been “good news” as the season opener approaches.
Murray and Mossbrucker, a true freshman, are listed as co-starters. Murray will handle kickoffs. Ferentz isn’t sure who’ll get the first shot at a field goal or PAT. Murray, a sophomore, made 7 of 10 field goals and 16 of 18 PATs last season.
“Trent is pretty accurate, so I think he helped me be really focused in camp,” Murray said. “There weren’t too many days he’d go out and miss two or three in practice. The pressure of having him there really helped us in camp. I think we’ve both improved.”
Six on the line
After trying countless rotations throughout the spring and four weeks of training camp, Iowa has settled on a starting offensive line — almost.
Sophomore Bryan Bulaga will go at left tackle, junior Andy Kuempel or junior Rafael Eubanks at left guard, senior Rob Bruggeman at center, senior Seth Olsen at right guard and junior Kyle Calloway at right tackle.
“We rotate a lot,” Bruggeman said. “So, I’m really not worried about it. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who can play.”
The line, of course, gave up a Big Ten-high 46 sacks last season and will be tested by a Maine defense that ranked 15th in the FCS in sacks in 2007.
“I think we’re making progress,” Ferentz said of the group that gave up 17 sacks at the team’s open practice two weeks ago. “We’re getting there, but we’re not clicking yet. It’ll come.”
Extra points
Tight end Tony Moeaki (foot), receiver Trey Stross (hamstring), offensive lineman Dan Doering (hand) and tight end Michael Sabers (ankle) will miss Saturday’s game. Weakside linebacker Jeff Tarpinian (hamstring) is questionable. … Captains this week are defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, Bruggeman and linebacker Gavin McGrath, who will represent the special teams. … 2,600 tickets remain unsold for the Maine game. There are 3,400 still available for Iowa’s Week 2 matchup with Florida International. The Hawkeyes have a streak of 30 straight sellouts of Kinnick Stadium.
Eric Page can be contacted at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
Comments
Chad wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:15 PM:
" Larry: There's no question that he earned a raise for what he did previously but that does not mean earning a three year vacation on the job. Our performance last year was downright embarassing at times. Our recruiting for the past two years has been abyssmal not to mention the complete lack of discipline throughout. Sure, some people will they parts of this at the feet of the players themselves but some of it goes to coaching and recruiting. We paid him money to maintain the standard of excellence he showed previously, not to take a break from it.
Adam: I understand the competition for position and the need to start but being able to take talented guys and convince them of being able to contribute in a different way or at a different position is part of coaching. "
Adam: I understand the competition for position and the need to start but being able to take talented guys and convince them of being able to contribute in a different way or at a different position is part of coaching. "
Larry wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:11 PM:
" Wow! Another comment regarding Ferentz salary?!? Weird...
Why don't you check and see how much Ferentz made during his 3 year run having IA ranked #8 in the nation. The national buzz became what an incredible coach he was and how he was UNDERPAID. Ferentz is being paid what he is now based on his previous performance. It happens. In response to your "winds of change a blowin' " comment, it's not going to happen. The only way Ferentz ever leaves Iowa is on HIS OWN. It will be easier for you if you just accept that now.
As far as running backs. Who cares?! We have Greene, Paki, Brinson, Hampton, and A-Rob back there. Greene is a house, and he will rush for 1,000 yards this year. "
Why don't you check and see how much Ferentz made during his 3 year run having IA ranked #8 in the nation. The national buzz became what an incredible coach he was and how he was UNDERPAID. Ferentz is being paid what he is now based on his previous performance. It happens. In response to your "winds of change a blowin' " comment, it's not going to happen. The only way Ferentz ever leaves Iowa is on HIS OWN. It will be easier for you if you just accept that now.
As far as running backs. Who cares?! We have Greene, Paki, Brinson, Hampton, and A-Rob back there. Greene is a house, and he will rush for 1,000 yards this year. "
Adam wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:00 PM:
" Chad, unless you actually wanted to start a running back who's roughly the size of Shawn Johnson, there really wasn't any way to keep him. Shonn Greene is locked in as the starter for the next two years barring injury, and Guillory had already been passed up by Paki O'Mera of all people on the depth chart, with Hampton gaining quickly. He's too small and couldn't pick up the offense enough to get significant time, and he apparently wasn't too interested in a part-time role. If that's his choice then that's fine, but don't blame this on the coaches. It's not their fault he couldn't compete with the other backs on the roster. "
Chad wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:17 AM:
" Wow! What exactly is going on in Iowa City?!? We are paying Ferentz how much each year to keep losing players? This is the second RB we've lost in the last six months. I think I feel the winds of change a blowin'... "
