Video: Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz vs. Ualbany
Head coach Kirk Ferentz meets with the media ahead of his first week of showdown with Ualbany.
Iowa City – Jared Ambrose seems unable to escape Mark Gronowski.
In the spring of 2021, Ambrose's Delaware staff, Gronowski, was a true freshman in South Dakota when the two teams met in the FCS playoffs. In 2023, Ambrose met Gronowski again in the FCS playoffs among staff at Albany.
In both games, Gronovsky threw 427 yards and five touchdowns. Jackrabbits won two games in a blowout manner.
And now, Ambrose will once again stand against quarterbacks in his first season as an interim football coach at Albany.
“We have a clear understanding of all the talents Mark has,” Ambrose told the registry: “and then there are some people.”
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This time Gronowski will be in a different unity. The Iowa football game begins on August 30 against Albany at Kinnick Stadium. Apart from the familiarity of the quarterback, the game also coached his 27th season at the helm, and another one didn't even guarantee a second.
The Greater Danes’ former head coach Greg Gattuso resigned in February to work at his alma mater, Penn State, and the Hawkeyes will face it in 2025. As a result, Ambrose was promoted from deputy head coach (also offensive coordinator/quarter guard coach) to interim head coach.
This is the first time Ambrose has taken this role in his coaching career. He is indeed the acting head coach of Albany in 2023 against Hawaii. But this is a deal. Now, he is at least one season's seat.
“A good job earns a contract,” Ambrose said. “I think, I don't know, hitchhike.”
The Big Danes will start Jack Shields at quarterback. Shields started his career at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, starting his career in the Old Dominion before spending a season in Buffalo before moving to Albany.
“I think he's a very, very good passer,” Ambrose said. “He's a very above average athlete. He's very similar to Mark. He's not as big as Mark… but a very similar game. They can run when they have to, get out of the situation and get medicine.”
Ambrose is bullish in the wide receiver room, which makes Week 1 dynamic. The secondary of Hawkeye, especially the cornerback, has been in the microscope state after showing some vulnerabilities in 2024. Veterans TJ Hall and Deshaun Lee won the job of starting guard and will face Saturday's first Test.
“I wouldn't sit there and say they're the NFL caliber, because that's what other people decide,” Ambrose said of his wide receiver. “But, just being able to be very athletic on the route and on the route, catching up with the ball and falling behind people. They've got enough speed to do that. We're very deep there.”
Video: TJ Hall feels like Iowa football has a “hungry” defensive force
Defensive back TJ Hall meets with the media ahead of Iowa’s first week showdown with Ualbany.
But Iowa can be exploited through its defensive line. Albany lost some serious work on the offensive line heading to the transfer portal – last season's unit set out for Arizona, Cincinnati and Memphis. Since Iowa’s defensive line has the potential to be one of the strongest position groups on the ball, this could be a game for the Hawkeye.
Defensively, Albany returned to four of last season’s top tacklers, including defender Ron Holmes, who took 88 tackles in 2024 and forced two turnovers in 2024. Gronowski and Iowa's offense attracted a lot of attention from the outside world, so it's interesting how they fight Albany's defensiveness.
“I think our defense may be stronger,” Ambrose said.
Ambrose outlines three things that Great Danes needs to accomplish to put yourself in the best position to succeed:
- Stop running
- Don't let special teams beat you
- No self-wound
None of these are easy to play against Iowa.
The Hawkeyes have a stacked running room and an offensive line for three veterans. Between Drew Stevens, Rhys Dakin, and Kaden Wetjen, Iowa has an explosive special team unit. On top of that, Iowa is known for not beating itself, although it is more likely to be in trouble at the start of the season.
“If we go there and we pass the ball to one of the best defenses in college football history, then we're going to give that running game, those linemen… more chances to play some games,” Ambrose said.
He added: “We have to mitigate any damage we have to ourselves to put ourselves in the best position. I don't think there is anything special schematic that you can rely on (beat) Phil Parker's defense. And I don't think you have anything that is really ready to stop Tim Leicester's offense.”
Video: Aaron Grave’s emotions on the final season of Iowa Football
Defensive winger Aaron Graves meets with the media ahead of Iowa’s first week showdown with Ualbany.
Like Ambrose, taking power in late winter was not ideal. But he was at least familiar with the plan. Ambrose will try to turn Albany around after a 4-8 overall record last season. It starts with facing tough challenges in a strong environment.
“You look at coach (Kirke) Ferencz, there’s a lot of continuity there,” Ambrose said. “What do you know about being Hawkeye when you’re a kid who’s been watching Iowa football and recruiting there.
I think that's everyone's goal – being able to develop children. Because this is indeed what I belong to at the end of the day. How do you introduce people and send them out in the way they are ready to attack the world and become great leaders and people in society? Our guys did a great job in this. When we get out there (Saturday), we will walk with caution to see if we can put pressure on that squad. ”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @tyler_t15contact by email ttachman@gannett.com