The Daily Iowan Pregame – 11.23.18

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 IOWA VS. NEBRASKA KINNICK STADIUM

Fatherhood AFTER THE BIRTH OF HIS TWIN DAUGHTERS IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, DALTON FERGUSON REARRANGED HIS LIFE, COVERING HIS COMMITMENTS TO FAMILY AND FOOTBALL.

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

Remember when ...

Iowa Starters SE ­ TE LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB PK

12 87 77 59 69 61 74 38 84 4 10 36 91

Brandon Smith Noah Fant Alaric Jackson Ross Reynolds Keegan Render Cole Banwart Tristan Wirfs T.J. Hockenson Nick Easley Nate Stanley Mekhi Sargent Austin Kelly Miguel Recinos

6-3 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-4 5-10 5-11 6-1

219 241 320 295 307 296 320 250 205 242 210 245 193

SO. JR. SO. SR. SR. SO. SO SO. SR. JR. SO. SR. SR.

LE LT RT RE OLB MLB WLB LC SS FS RC PT

98 90 96 40 49 34 32 8 27 30 33 7

Anthony Nelson Sam Brincks Matt Nelson Parker Hesse Nick Niemann Jack Hockaday Djimon Colbert Matt Hankins Amani Hooker Jake Gervase Michael Ojemudia Colten Rastetter

6-7 6-5 6-8 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1

271 265 295 261 232 235 234 185 210 212 199 213

JR. SR. SR. SR. SO. SR. #FR. SO. JR. SR. JR. JR.

Nebraska Starters

Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan Iowa running back Akrum Wadley scores a touchdown during Iowa’s game against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 24th, 2017. The Hawkeyes defeated the Huskers, 56-14.

Akrum Wadley exploded for 159 yards and a touchdown in Iowa’s 56-14 beatdown of border-rival Nebraska on Nov. 24, 2017.

As a team, the Hawkeyes ran for 313 yards (46 more than the Huskers’ total yardage). Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley added 192 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Nebraska gunslinger Tanner Lee tossed 3 interceptions. Nebraska’s 42-point loss to Iowa was then-head coach Mike Riley’s final game, as the Huskers went on to hire Scott Frost (who has led the team to a 4-7 record in his much-hyped inagural season).

Publisher: 335-5788 Jason Brummond Editor-in-Chief: 335-6030 Gage Miskimen Managing Editors: 335-5855 Marissa Payne Katelyn Weisbrod Visual Arts Director: 335-5855 Lily Smith Pregame Editor: Adam Hensley

STAFF

Sports Editors: Pete Ruden, Asst. Anna Kayser Photo Editors: Nick Rohlman, Kat Zentz TV Sports Directors: Lucy Rohden Beau Bowman Copy Chief: Beau Elliot Business Manager: Debra Plath

Classified Ads/Circulation Manager: Juli Krause Production Manager: Heidi Owen Advertising Manager: Renee Manders Advertising Sales: Bev Mrstik Front by Lily Smith

GOT QUESTIONS FOR THE PREGAME STAFF OR A STORY IDEA FOR A FUTURE ISSUE? EMAIL US AT DAILY-IOWAN@UIOWA.EDU

WR ­ LT LG C RG RT TE WR WR QB RB RB PK

8 76 67 63 56 71 86 81 10 2 22 28 32

Stanley Morgan Jr. Brenen Jaimes Jerald Foster Tanner Farmer Boe Wilson Matt Farnoik Jack Stoll Kade Warner J.D. Spielman Adrian Martinez Devine Ozigbo Maurice Washington Barret Pickering

6-1 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-4 6-1 5-9 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-0

200 300 335 325 305 330 260 210 185 220 235 190 195

SR. SO. SR. SR. SO. SO. SO. #FR. SO. FR. SR. FR. FR.

DE DT DE OLB ILB ILB OLB LC SS FS RC PT

91 96 95 43 5 7 12 21 24 14 23 98

Freedom Akinmoladun Carlos Davis Ben Stille Tyrin Ferguson Dedrick Young II Mohamed Barry Luke Gifford Lamar Jackson Aaron Williams Tre Neal Dicaprio Bootle Isaac Armstrong

6-4 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-3 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-11

295 325 290 230 245 230 245 215 190 215 190 205

SR. JR. SO. JR. SR. JR. SR. JR. SR. SR. SO. JR.

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 3

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4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

ONE ON ONE

TRISTAN WIRFS

Sports Editor Pete Ruden caught up with Hawkeye offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs to ask him some of life’s most important questions.

Daily Iowan: If you could switch lives with any TV or movie character, who would it be?

Tristan Wirfs: That’s tough. I’d probably go Jim from “The Office.” “The Office” is my favorite show. First thing that came to my head.

DI: What’s your favorite restaurant in Iowa City?

Wirfs: My favorite restaurant in Iowa City is probably Blaze Pizza. I love Blaze.

DI: Why did you choose your major?

Wirfs: I’m a communications major and I just declared it [three] weeks ago. I was going to do elementary education. I love working with kids. There’s just a lot of stuff that goes into it and if I wanted to graduate with that, you have to apply for it. So I wouldn’t be able to get in until next fall if I even got in with the tests you have to take.

I just felt like that was a lot of work, so I wouldn’t graduate with two years left.

DI: What’s the best candy?

Wirfs: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

DI: What were your favorite teams growing up?

Wirfs: I didn’t really have a favorite football team, but I just liked watching certain players. My favorite baseball team was the Cardinals. I was a big Cardinals guy.

DI: Who was your favorite player to watch?

Wirfs: When I was a younger kid it was Michael Oher and when I got into high school, it was always Tyron Smith - he’s the Cowboys left tackle. Those two guys, I love watching them.

DI: What’s your favorite memory as a Hawkeye?

Wirfs: Probably last year after Ohio State. Just kind of the feeling we had. Even in the fourth quarter, everyone just knew. You could see the fans coming down to the edge of the stadium and stuff and you’re like, “Alright, they’re swarming the field.” It was just so cool to be a part of that my first year. It was really special.

DI: If you could sign an endorsement deal with any brand, what would it be?

Wirfs: Probably Champion. They make really big sweatpants. Their sweatpants are always really big. They fit me.

DI: What’s your dream concert?

Wirfs: I have no idea - I’ve never been to a concert before. I’d say probably Luke Combs.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 5

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6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS “Things I’m thankful for: my family, friends, health, and the fact that I wasn’t born into a family of Husker fans. Emphasis on the last one.”

ADAM HENSLEY

adam-hensley@uiowa.edu

1) Michigan (10-1):

Oh, the places you’ll go (with a capable quarterback).

2) Ohio State (10-1):

8) Purdue (5-6):

Jeff Brohm to Louisville?

9) Maryland (5-6):

Always keep your text receipts, Urban.

Middle-school me could have made that game-winning pass against Ohio State.

3) Penn State (8-3):

10) Nebraska (4-7):

Put this team in the West, and it wins the division.

4) Northwestern (7-4):

The Wildcats’ strength and condition coach only eats creatine. #Unit

Imagine giving your golden child the keys to the Porsche, and then he crashes it. 2018 Nebraska football.

11) Indiana (5-6):

If Indiana is God’s country, he must not like football.

5) Wisconsin (7-4):

12) Minnesota (5-6):

Biggest disappointment in college football?

It’s always cold in Minnesota, but when will P.J. Fleck’s seat get warm?

6) Iowa (7-4):

13) Illinois (4-7):

I bet Iowa wishes it played Illinois every week.

7) Michigan State (6-5):

The Spartans aren’t going for wins. They’re trying to see how many seasons L.J. Scott can suit up.

Lovie Smith went to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman.

Why can’t he make the College Football Playoff with A.J. Bush?

14) Rutgers (1-10):

*Turns on basement light* Oh, jeez. You’re still down here?

BIG TEN SCHEDULE Nebraska at Iowa (-8) 11 a.m. | FOX

This is Nebraska’s Super Bowl. The Huskers have nothing to play for except pride and bragging rights. Meanwhile, eight wins could get Iowa a decent bowl game. Guard Jalen Foster said that he “can’t wait to beat Iowa” last week. With a defense giving up 31.3 points per game, that isn’t happening.

Michigan (-4) at Ohio State 11 a.m. | FOX

This is usually the best game of the season, as far as Big Ten games go, and that’s true again this year. These teams hate each other, and luckily, we get to see that hate unfold in the form of a football game. Jim Harbaugh hasn’t beaten Ohio State. If you’re not beating the Buckeyes, then what are you doing for the program?

Purdue (-4) at Indiana Noon | ESPN2

Well … this one should be … interesting? I’m confident many will forget about this contest with many other better games on TV at the time, but who knows, maybe this will end up being a shootout. That’s worth changing the channel at a commercial break to check on.

Illinois at Northwestern (-18) 2:30 p.m. | BTN

Northwestern is going to win this one. Pat Fitzgerald was mad his team was listed as an underdog against Minnesota last week. That’s not the case in this game. ’Cats by 30.

Maryland at Penn State (-13.5) 2:30 p.m. | ABC

If there’s any Big Ten game that has the chance for an upset, it’s this one.

Penn State struggled with Rutgers last week, and Maryland went toe-totoe with Ohio State (and should have won). Who knows which Penn State team will show up?

Minnesota at Wisconsin (no line) 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2

If this game was at the beginning of the season, I’d say Badgers by 30.

Now, it’s a tossup. Wisconsin is on a downward spiral filled with disappointment to end the season, but Minnesota is fighting for bowl eligibility, and the Gophers are hungry (but is a 6-6 season in P.J. Fleck’s second year anything to really celebrate?).

Rutgers at Michigan State (-27) 3 p.m. | FOX

Scott Frost, Nebraska head coach

Let’s file this under “games Adam won’t watch.” Chris Ash’s days as the head coach of Rutgers are numbered, but I’m not sure who wants to take this job. Meanwhile, Michigan State doesn’t have much to be proud of this season, either.

Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/TNS

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 7

BRASKA CORNHUSKERS

NNICK STADIUM | 11:00 AM | FOX

NEBRASKA

1 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 18 19 19 21 21 22 22 23 24 25 25 26 26 28 29 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 39 40 40 41 41

Tyjon Lindsey Adrian Martinez Tony Butler Will Honas Jaevon McQuitty Caleb Tannor Avery Anderson Dedrick Young II Eric Lee Jr. Mohamed Barry Stanley Morgan Jr. DaiShon Neal JD Spielman Austin Allen Vaha Vainuku Katerian Legrone Luke Gifford Justin McGriff JoJo Domann Tre Neal Andre Hunt Braxton Clark Noah Vedral Ethan Cox Andrew Bunch Cam Taylor Matt Masker Tre Bryant Guy Thomas Mike Williams Marquel Dismuke Mikale Wilbon Lamar Jackson Devine Ozigbo Alex Davis Dicaprio Bootle Aaron Williams Greg Bell Antonio Reed Miles Jones CJ Smith Maurice Washington Austin Rose Bennett Folkers Cam'ron Jones Bo Kitrell Quayshon Alexander Eli Sullivan Keaton Henry Collin Miller Pernell Jefferson Barret Pickering Jaylin Bradley Breon Dixon Simon Otte Moses Bryant Caleb Lightbourn Christian Banker Spencer Jordan Reid Karel Wyatt Mazour Corbin Frederick Brody Belt Damian Jackson Andrew Thurman Bradley Bunner Cole Frahm Brandon Robbins Grant Jordan Justin Holm Deontai Williams

WR QB DB LB WR LB DB LB DB LB WR DL WR TE DL TE LB WR DB DB WR DB QB DB QB DB QB RB LB WR DB RB DB RB LB DB DB RB DB RB DB RB RB WR DB RB LB DB TE LB LB PK RB LB LB DB P WR LB DB RB DB RB DL WR DB PK WR LB WR DB

5' 9" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 2" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 1" 6' 7" 5' 9" 6' 8" 6' 3" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 6" 6' 1" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 4" 6' 1" 5' 10" 6' 1" 6' 0" 6' 1" 5' 11" 6' 3" 5' 10" 6' 2" 5' 9" 6' 3" 6' 0" 6' 5" 5' 10" 5' 11" 6' 0" 6' 2" 5' 8" 6' 2" 6' 1" 6' 1" 6' 2" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 0" 6' 0" 5' 11" 6' 1" 5' 11" 6' 3" 6' 1" 6' 2" 6' 3" 5' 9" 5' 11" 5' 8" 6' 2" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 5" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 6" 6' 1"

200 220 205 235 205 210 180 245 215 230 200 310 185 245 325 235 245 230 225 215 190 200 200 185 210 205 220 200 230 185 200 220 215 235 255 190 190 205 215 175 205 190 240 195 200 225 250 195 234 245 250 195 210 205 205 200 250 190 210 205 200 205 185 270 205 190 235 195 205 185 200

SO FR SO JR #FR FR JR SR JR JR SR JR SO #FR JR FR SR FR SO SR FR FR SO #FR SO FR FR JR #FR JR SO SR JR SR JR SO SR JR SR FR FR FR SR FR FR SR SO SO SO SO SO FR SO SO FR FR JR #FR SO JR JR FR FR #FR #FR #FR #FR #FR SO FR SO

Corona, CA Fresno, CA Lakewood, OH Wichita, KS Columbia, MO Stone Mountain, GA Surprise, AZ Peoria, AZ Milton, MA Grayson, GA New Orleans, LA Houston, TX Eden Prairie, MN Aurora, NE Salt Lake City, UT Atlanta, GA Lincoln, NE Tampa, FL Colorado Springs, CO Atlanta, GA Palm Dale, CA Orlando, FL Wahoo, NE Blair, NE Thompsons Station, TN Montgomery, AL Kearney, NE St. Louis, MO Miami, FL Lake City, FL Calabasas, CA Chicago, IL Elk Grove, CA Sachse, TX Riviera Beach, FL Miami, FL Atlanta, GA Chula Vista, CA Memphis, TN Miramar, FL West Palm Beach, FL Stockton, CA Lincoln, NE Gothenburg, NE Mansfield, TX Ashland, NE Prospect Park, NJ Longmont, CO Albion, NE Fishers, IN New Orleans, LA Birmingham, AL Bellevue, NE Loganville, GA York, NE Elkhorn, NE Washougal, WA Omaha, NE Omaha, NE Seward, NE Albion, NE Mansfield, TX Omaha, NE Las Vegas, NV Stilwell, KS Clarkson, NE Omaha, NE Bellevue, NE Omaha, NE Lincoln, NE Jacksonville, FL

42 42 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 52 53 54 55 55 56 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 65 66 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 75 76 81 82 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 90 91 91 92 92 93 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 98 98 99

Chad Alioth Jr. Jeramiah Stovall Connor Ruth Tyrin Ferguson Cameron Jurgens Mick Stoltenberg Ty Chaffin David Alston Corbin Ruth Branden Hohenstein Matt Jarzynka Bryson Krull Lane McCallum Austin Hemphill Isaiah Stalbird John Raridon Jake Archer Anthony Banderas AJ Forbes Joseph Johnson Ryan Schommer Chris Walker Jordan Paup Collin Shefke Boe Wilson Jacob Weinmaster Chris Cassidy Brian Perez Mitchell Balenger Cole Conrad Tanner Farmer Christian Gaylord Hunter Miller Jerald Foster Will Farniok Matt Sichterman Matt Farniok Nick Virka Broc Bando Jalin Barnett Trent Hixson Fyn Anderson Brenden Jaimes Kade Warner Kurt Rafdal Colton Feist Bryan Reimers Jordan Ober Wyatt Liewer Jack Stoll Conor Young Jaron Woodyard Todd Honas Ben Lingenfelter Jackson Walker Freedom Akinmoladun Cameron Pieper Tate Wildeman Chase Urbach Damion Daniels Khalil Davis Cade Meuller Ben Stille Alec Cromer Carlos Davis Noah McCashland Deontre Thomas Casey Rogers Isaac Armstrong Peyton Newell

WR DB RB LB TE DL WR LB DB TE DL TE DB RB DB OL LB LB OL LB DL DL LB OL OL LB LB OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL WR TE DL WR LS WR TE WR WR WR DL P DL LS DL LS DL DL LS DL P DL PK DL DL P DL

6' 2" 5' 11" 5' 11" 6' 2" 6' 3" 6' 5" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 2" 5' 11" 6' 0" 6' 4" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 6" 6' 3" 6' 3" 6' 3" 6' 0" 6' 1" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 6" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 6" 6' 6" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 6" 6' 1" 6' 7" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 1" 6' 3" 6' 4" 6' 2" 5' 11" 5' 11" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 4" 6' 3" 6' 5" 6' 3" 6' 2" 6' 2" 6' 0" 6' 5" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 1" 6' 3" 6' 4" 5' 11" 6' 3"

195 195 205 230 270 315 210 225 200 225 260 240 210 225 195 320 210 225 290 235 250 290 245 300 305 225 225 230 305 300 325 310 325 335 290 310 330 234 315 330 300 285 300 210 250 255 220 225 185 260 175 190 200 275 260 295 210 275 210 340 310 212 290 230 325 180 290 275 205 300

#FR JR FR JR FR SR SO FR #FR SO SR FR #FR JR FR SO FR FR FR FR FR #FR #FR FR SO JR FR SO FR SR SR JR #FR SR FR #FR SO JR #FR JR #FR JR SO #FR #FR FR SR SR FR SO JR JR SO #FR JR SR FR FR JR #FR JR FR SO SO JR FR SO FR JR SR

Omaha, NE Omaha, NE Malcolm, NE New Orleans, LA Beatrice, NE Gretna, NE Burwell, NE Saint Paul, MN Malcolm, NE Jackson, NE Loup City, NE North Platte, NE Norfolk, NE Gretna, NE Kearney, NE West Des Moines, IA Omaha, NE Lincoln, NE Bellevue, NE Gretna, NE Norfolk, NE Lincoln, NE Central City, NE Lincoln, NE Lee's Summit, MO Loveland, CO Lincoln, NE Hartley, IA Leonardtown, MD Fremont, NE Highland, IL Baldwin City, KS Stromsburg, NE Lincoln, NE Sioux Falls, SD Cincinnati, OH Sioux Falls, SD Morse Bluff, NE Lincoln, NE Lawton, OK Omaha, NE LINCOLN, NE Austin, TX Scottsdale, AZ Carmel, IN Yutan, NE Lincoln, NE Las Vegas, NV Oneill, NE Lone Tree, CO Cozad, NE Gaithersburg, MD Aurora, NE Cherokee, IA Overland Park, KS Grandview, MO Lincoln, NE Parker, CO Grosse Pointe, MI Dallas, TX Blue Springs, MO Gretna, NE Ashland, NE Beatrice, NE Blue Springs, MO Lincoln, NE Mustang, OK Syracuse, NY Lincoln, NE Hiawatha, KS

8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

Rachael Westergard/Contributed

A balance of football & twins

After the birth of twin daughters in early September, Dalton Ferguson has rearranged his life to cover his commitments to his family and football.

BY ANNA KAYSER anna-kayser@uiowa.edu

On Sept. 7, Dalton Ferguson’s life changed forever.

In the early hours of the morning before Iowa’s home matchup against Iowa State, he got just two hours of sleep around the premature birth of his twin daughters, Ella and Hazel.

The girls had an extended stay in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital after being born at 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Now, they are home, and Ferguson’s life has shifted focus from his own well-being to his family’s.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, Ferguson spends his nights in Iowa City, focusing

on school and football while his girlfriend, Rachael Westergard (a former DI photographer), lives at his parents’ house with the twins.

On Wednesday, he commutes to Marion. He travels home to take care of the kids, comes back to Iowa City for football meetings, and travels back to take the kids’ feeding night shift on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I’ve really had to put some of my needs behind me, like sometimes on Wednesdays and Thursdays, you know, I’d go to a movie or I’d hang out with friends, but now I’m hanging out with my family,” Ferguson said.

“I’m taking care of the kids, making sure everything’s normal with them. The shift really just is toward my kids and less personal for me.”

The decision to split up the week between football in Iowa City and his family out of town didn’t come without arguments.

Among practice, meetings, dinners, and commuting home to be with his kids, time management is a big thing that has been more closely monitored in Ferguson’s life.

“He’s definitely strapped for time, but it’s to be expected,” Westergard said. “He’s done everything he can to be there, so he’s been an awesome dad.”

With everything in Ferguson’s life being major commitments, it has added stress and a feeling of being pulled in opposing directions.

His commitment to Westergard, his parents, the coaching staff, and his team keep him busy, but his life is filled with prioritiz-

ing and doing what he can.

“You get pulled in many different directions, but you just have to remember that it’s all going to work out, and you just have to stay level headed,” Ferguson said.

That stress and attention to time commitment is something that is evident to the people around Ferguson, but it hasn’t changed the way he approaches football or how he treats his teammates.

“Obviously, he’s a little sharper on what he does and just a little more detailed,” Keegan Render said. “He’s definitely done a good job being there for his teammates still, and I know he’s home with his family a lot, too. He might be stressed out, but he doesn’t show it much, and I think he’s done a good job of staying focused on everything.”

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 9

Ferguson’s dedication to being a father was evident from the beginning, when the kids were born and through their stay in the hospital.

Luckily for him, the hospital was in walking distance from his everyday football routine. During those days, he went back and forth from football practice and meetings to spend every waking moment outside of the sport with his family.

“He’s probably better with them than I am,” Westergard said. “He’s just extremely good with kids. When they were in the NICU, I don’t give him enough credit, he was going to practice at like 4:30-5 in the morning and then coming back at like 11, being there in the hospital for three or four hours, then going directly back for meetings and dinner. He’s trying really hard to make this all like really work and he definitely deserves a lot of credit for that.”

With Ferguson busy with football half of the week, Westergard and the twins living with his parents has been helpful for everyone.

On the nights when he is in Iowa City busy with football, being alone with twins has been stressful on Westergard. Having a strong support system in the same house during this arrangement has made all the

Rachael Westergard/Contributed

Rachael Westergard/Contributed

difference in making the situation easier.

“It’s been extremely helpful; his parents have been awesome, and we’re extremely grateful for that,” Westergard said. “I don’t know how we would do it if we weren’t living with his parents at least for this time being.

Obviously, the goal is to move out, hopefully soon, but while he’s in football and can’t be around as much, his mom has been amazing.”

With Iowa football’s regular season ending Friday, things will start to shift away from football and toward the family’s plan for the future.

Ferguson is an education major, and Westergard said he is debating on whether to go back to school to become a teacher or to go into player development.

“We may both go back to school; we just don’t know, we need to figure that out,” Westergard said. “Right now, it’s just kind of been hard to talk about that kind of stuff just because football is the main focus at the moment.”

Despite all the stress that this life change has brought on Ferguson during football season, fatherhood has some irreplaceable perks.

“I mean, it’s pretty fun,” he said. “You get to hold the kids, feed them. The dad bod, you don’t get shame for being chubby.”

Iowa’s Dalton Ferguson (76) waits at the line of scrimmage during the Iowa/Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The Hawkeyes defeated the Fighting Illini, 63-0.

Lily Smith/The Daily Iowan

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

IOWA HAWKEYES vs. NEB

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018 | KIN

IOWA 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 27 28 28 30 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 43 44 45

Wes Dvorak Ryan Gersonde Peyton Mansell Trey Creamer Keith Duncan Tyrone Tracy Jr. Nate Stanley Josh Turner Ihmir Smith-Marsette Spencer Petras Colten Rastetter Matt Hankins Kordell Stillmunkes Geno Stone Mekhi Sargent Michael Ojemudia Connor Kapisak Brandon Smith D.J. Johnson Henry Marchese Joe Evans Kyle Groeneweg Dallas Craddieth Terry Roberts Ryan Schmidt Devonte Young Drew Cook John Milani Max Cooper Mike Timm Julius Brents Ivory Kelly-Martin Samson Evans Dominique Dafney Jaden Snyder Jayden McDonald Kaevon Merriweather Amani Hooker Jack Koerner Toren Young Jake Gervase Henry Geil Aaron Mends Djimon Colbert Riley Moss Kristian Welch Barrington Wade Brady Ross Mitch Riggs T.J. Hockenson Monte Pottebaum Nate Wieting John Carlson Parker Hesse Turner Pallissard Colton Dinsdale Drew Thomas Shaun Beyer Dillon Doyle Seth Benson Ben Campos

DB P QB DB PK WR QB DB WR QB P DB RB DB RB DB QB WR DB WR LB WR DB DB QB DB TE DB WR LB DB RB WR WR DB LB DB DB DB RB DB RB LB LB DB LB LB FB LB TE FB TE LB DE FB DB WR TE LB LB LB

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197 198 210 190 180 187 242 188 175 227 213 185 180 209 210 199 195 219 170 195 210 186 197 171 235 203 250 201 185 220 180 200 205 225 205 220 195 210 200 221 212 215 228 234 185 238 233 245 230 250 210 250 200 261 220 215 189 240 227 205 225

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Parkston, SD Milwaukee, WI Belton, TX Cartersville, GA Weddington, NC Camby, IN Menomonie, WI Delray Beach, FL Newark, NJ San Rafael, CA Guttenberg, IA Lewisville, TX Hazel Green, WI New Castle, PA Key West, FL Farmington Hills, MI South Windsor, CT Lake Cormorant, MS Indianapolis, IN Vernon Hills, IL Ames, IA Inwood, IA St. Louis, MO Erie, PA Marion, IA Waldorf, MD Iowa City, IA Iowa City, IA Waukesha, WI Delafield, WI Indianapolis, IN Plainfield, IL Crystal Lake, IL West Des Moines, IA Larchwood, IA Suwanee, GA Belleville, MI Minneapolis, MN Des Moines, IA Madison, WI Davenport, IA Green Bay, WI Kansas City, MO Shawnee Mission, KS Ankeny, IA Iola, WI Skokie, IL Humboldt, IA West Des Moines, IA Chariton, IA Larchwood, IA Rockford, IL Bondurant, IA Waukon, IA Frankfort, IL Reinbeck, IA Humboldt, IA Shellsburg, IA Iowa City, IA Sioux Falls, SD West Des Moines, IA

45 46 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 50 52 53 54 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 60 61 64 65 66 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 84 85 86 87 89 90 91 91 92 93 94 94 95 96 97 98 99

Joe Ludwig Austin Kelly Tommy Kujawa Logan Klemp Lane Akre Nick Anderson Jack Hockaday Bryce Schulte Nick Niemann Jackson Subbert Amani Jones Garret Jansen Daviyon Nixon Matt Fagan Luke Empen Brian Sadler Chauncey Golston Jake Newborg Ross Reynolds Nathan Nelson Jake Morrison Cole Banwart Kyler Schott Tyler Linderbaum Dalles Jacobus Levi Paulsen Levi Duwa Landan Paulsen Keegan Render Kyle Sorenson Mark Kallenberger Coy Kirkpatrick Cody Ince Austin Schulte Tristan Wirfs Jeff Jenkins Dalton Ferguson Alaric Jackson Trey Winters Jack Plumb Ben Subbert Calvin Lockett Blair Brooks Nick Easley Austin Spiewak Nate Vejvoda Noah Feldman Noah Fant Nico Ragaini Sam Brincks Miguel Recinos Brady Reiff John Waggoner Brandon Simon A.J. Epenesa Caleb Shudak Cedrick Lattimore Matt Nelson Jack Kallenberger Anthony Nelson Noah Shannon

LB FB TE LB FB LB LB TE LB LS LB DL DT OL TE OL DE OL OL DE DE OL OL DL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL TE WR WR WR LS TE TE TE WR DE PK DL DL DE DE PK DL DE DL DE DL

6’ 0” 5’ 11” 6’ 3” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 2” 6’ 1” 6’ 3” 6’ 4” 6’ 3” 6’ 0” 6’ 2” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 5” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 4” 6’ 3” 6’ 2” 6’ 4” 6’ 2” 6’ 2” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 6” 6’ 6” 6’ 4” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 4” 6’ 7” 6’ 5” 6’ 8” 6’ 3” 6’ 2” 6’ 2” 5’ 11” 6’ 1” 6’ 5” 6’ 4” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 6’ 1” 6’ 3” 6’ 5” 6’ 0” 6’ 5” 5’ 8” 6’ 3” 6’ 8” 6’ 5” 6’ 7” 6’ 1”

233 245 230 210 242 225 235 244 232 240 238 280 306 245 230 285 265 290 295 230 205 296 290 270 280 305 270 305 307 250 282 290 260 275 320 270 308 320 315 250 235 170 180 205 232 250 230 241 191 275 193 272 245 250 277 179 295 295 272 271 300

FR SR #FR FR JR JR SR #FR SO JR JR JR SO FR FR FR SO JR SR FR FR SO #FR FR SO JR #FR JR SR FR #FR FR FR SO SO FR SR SO FR FR FR FR FR SR SO JR #FR JR FR SR SR JR FR SO SO SO JR SR JR JR FR

Middleton, WI Hickory Hills, IL Greendale, WI Jewell, IA Geneseo, IL Waukee, IA Forsyth, IL Cedar Rapids, IA Sycamore, IL Williamsburg, IA Chicago, IL Pella, IA Kenosha, WI Council Bluffs, IA Clinton, IA Jesup, IA Detroit, MI Inwood, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Waukee, IA Ottosen, IA Coggon, IA Solon, IA Palo, IA Moville, IA Kalona, IA Moville, IA Indianola, IA Waukee, IA Bettendorf, IA Madrid, IA Luck, WI Pella, IA Mount Vernon, IA Crystal Lake, IL Solon, IA Detroit, MI Ankeny, IA Green Bay, WI Williamsburg, IA Largo, FL Cedar Rapids, IA Newton, IA Rolling Meadows, IL Homer Glen, IL West Liberty, IA Omaha, NE East Haven, CT Carroll, IA Mason City, IA Parkston, SD West Des Moines, IA Newark, NJ Glen Carbon, IL Council Bluffs, IA Redford, MI Cedar Rapids, IA Bettendorf, IA Urbandale, IA Montgomery, IL

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 11

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12 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

BY THE NUMBERS:

NEBRASKA

BY JORDAN ZUNIGA | jordan-zuniga@uiowa.edu

As the Thanksgiving turkey cools and the shopping frenzy begins, Iowa prepares for its final regular-season matchup against Nebraska.

The Huskers (4-7, 3-5 Big Ten) lead the overall series between the two (29-16-3), but the Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-4) have won four of the last five matchups, including last season, when they trounced Nebraska, 56-14.

123.8

Devine Ozigbo’s yards per game

It’s no secret that Nebraska struggled right out of the gate this season, dropping the first six games.

One of the Huskers’ struggles was the lack of production from running back Devine Ozigbo. Through the first five games, Ozigbo averaged just 57.8 yards per game and managed just 3 touchdowns.

In the six games since then, he’s been on a tear. Ozigbo has averaged 123.8 yards in the past few games and has notched touchdowns. In the six games in which Ozigbo has been on his A-game, the Huskers are 4-2.

With Ozigbo leading the charge, Nebraska has put together the fifth-most rushing yards in the Big Ten this season.

5,074

Yards of total offense

Ozigbo isn’t the only one getting it done for this Husker offense recently, it’s been a group effort. This season, the Huskers have the second-most yards of total offense in the Big Ten. While Ozigbo has certainly been the focal point of the offense, Nebraska has also had some significant production out of true freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez. He has 2,358 passing yards with a 64.1 percent completion percentage and 15 touchdown passes. More importantly than the yardage and touchdowns, however, are points, and Nebraska has had plenty of those lately.

After starting the year averaging just 23.3 points per game during their six-game losing streak, the Huskers have averaged 38.4 since.

If you don’t have anybody to spend Thanksgiving with, come down and flock with the turkeys at The Deadwood.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 13

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SATURDAYS

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14 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018

ON THE LINE Matchups

Adam Hensley

Pete Ruden

Anna Kayser

Jordan Zuniga

Lucy Rohden

Beau Bowman

Jason Brummond

PREGAME EDITOR (32-23)

SPORTS EDITOR (35-20)

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR (36-19)

FOOTBALL REPORTER (37-18)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (37-18)

CO-DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (41-14)

PUBLISHER (38-17)

Nebraska at Iowa

IOWA Jalen Foster said he can’t wait to beat Iowa. File that under “things that won’t happen.”

IOWA Lol are there people who are actually picking Nebraska?

IOWA Nebraska beating Iowa this year would be like a National Championship for its fans.

IOWA If Iowa can’t win the West, the least it could do is beat Nebraska.

IOWA Forecast doesn’t call for any Frost.

IOWA Nebraska: running the read option on AND off the field since 1869.

IOWA Remember when Nebraska started 0-6? That was awesome.

OKLAHOMA Kyler Murray is a cheat code.

OKLAHOMA Last week, this would’ve been a game between No. 6 and No. 9. Nice.

OKLAHOMA OK? OK.

WEST VIRGINIA The Sooner Oklahoma gets a defense, the Sooner it’ll be in the playoffs.

OKLAHOMA Country roads won’t be taking me home.

OKLAHOMA Cue Rodgers and Hammerstein.

OKLAHOMA Bring on the Oklahoma-Texas rematch.

MICHIGAN I will wear khakis and a crew neck for this one.

MICHIGAN I disagree with Michigan’s choice to ever accept Tom Brady’s application.

MICHIGAN Nothing better than a good pair of khakis.

MICHIGAN This will be a nice preview of the team who will pulverize Northwestern next week.

MICHIGAN Please don’t mess this one up, Jimbo.

MICHIGAN Game of the year? Game of the year.

MICHIGAN Fortunately, Urban Meyer should have no problem forgetting this game.

WASHINGTON STATE Mike Leach looks and sounds like a wilderness tour guide.

WASHINGTON STATE I would love to talk to Mike Leach about air raid offenses and literally everything else.

WASHINGTON STATE Washington State won 69-28 last week. Nice.

WASHINGTON STATE This game is for the Apple Cup, and the trophy is not of an apple. What a disappointment.

WASHINGTON STATE Mike Leach is my president.

WASHINGTON STATE The only thing that gets Mike Leach more fired up than this game is sovereign immunity.

WASHINGTON STATE A Mike Leach tweet cost school $1.6 million, and that’s not in the top 10 strangest Mike Leach things.

ALABAMA Thank you, next.

ALABAMA War Tide. Roll Eagle.

ALABAMA Bama is a carbon copy of my old NCAA teams I used to make to dominate college football.

ALABAMA The skies are so blue.

ALABAMA I don’t see how ‘Bama doesn’t win the natty.

ALABAMA Auburn could return five missed FGs for TDs and it wouldn’t be enough.

No. 6 Oklahoma at No. 9 West Virginia No. 4 Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State No. 18 Washington at No. 8 Washington State Auburn at No. 1 Alabama

ALABAMA Can we start a petition to move Alabama to the NFL? This isn’t fun anymore.

IT’S UP. . .

AND IT’S GOOD!

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018 - 15

16 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 23, 2018