Seth Wallace: 'We had some of what you would call the norms in the first game'

Iowa's offense started slow in the first half of their game against Illinois State giving fans a flashback to last season. The Hawkeyes managed to score just six points in the first half, two field goals as poor quarterback play and penalties plagued Iowa yet again.

The Hawkeyes were without head coach Kirk Ferentz on the sideline for the first time since 1998 due to a self-imposed one-game suspension due to recruiting violations with quarterback Cade McNamara. Assistant coach Seth Wallace stepped in for Ferentz today and coached the Hawkeyes to a 40-0 win against Illinois State.

"I'm very proud of our staff. I'm very proud of our team, our players specifically," Wallace said in a postgame press conference. "What they did today under the circumstances was really pretty cool, and we're excited to get the win."

The first half truly was a nightmare for Iowa and Hawkeye fans everyone, but luckily everyone was able to wake up in the second half as the offense woke up as well. McNamara was nearly perfect in the second half with three touchdowns, including two to freshman wide receiver Reece Vander Zee. The wide receiver group has been a big question mark for the Hawkeyes for quite some time and Vander Zee seems to be an answer.

" Reece probably for the first two weeks of camp was a freshman, and he was in a freshman role, and then I think our offensive guys started to see some things that he was doing that gave them the confidence that let's put him in there and see how he swims with some of these other guys," Wallace said.

Vander Zee looked like anything but a freshman in the second half with some of the plays he made. His second touchdown was one that a lot of players would not make as he climbed the ladder and took the ball away from the defender.

The defense was the true star of the game today after pitching a shutout with three turnovers and not even allowing Illinois State to get in field goal range. Phil Parker came out with a plan adn executed it to perfection on defense and showed why he is the longest-tenured coordinator in the Big Ten.

Even without Ferentz on the sideline Iowa was able to get the job done and Wallace feels that his head coach will be pleased with the Hawkeyes' performance today.

"Certainly knows we have a lot of work to do," Wallace said. "Like I think he'd stand up here just like I did and tell you the same thing. Like we got a lot of work to do. We have good kids. We have a great staff. We have a great head coach, and there's a lot of work to be done going into this next week."

Iowa has a tough week ahead of them as they have to prepare for to take on their in-state rival Iowa State in Week 2. Ferentz will be back on the sideline for the Hawkeyes and this team should be at full strength for their second game in Kinnick Stadium.