Of all the opinions surrounding Iowa’s winter workout probe -- and believe us, there have been some strong ones -- I’ve noticed that there hasn’t been a lot said in support of Kirk Ferentz, his staff or university officials.
Consider that relative silence broken.
One such voice of support has come from former Iowa linebacker and current Indianapolis Colt Pat Angerer. In a statement released through his agent, Jack Bechta, Angerer expressed his, well, anger over the negative media attention surrounding the hospitalization of 13 Hawkeyes.
Specifically, Angerer praised Iowa strength coach, Chris Doyle, while taking a slightly different view point involving the strenuous workout routine so publicly lambasted. Here’s his full statement ...
As a former Hawkeye I am tired of all the negative attention the Iowa strength staff is getting. However, the people who are bringing the negative attention to the Iowa program have never stepped under the weight bar as Iowa strength coach, Chris Doyle, gets you fired up to do a lift.
No matter how tired I was, having Coach Doyle spot and encourage me gave me strength that I couldn’t get on my own. Every time I stepped into the weight room I knew I was going to be pushed hard, but I also knew I was going to be a better man when I was finished. I was never pushed beyond my means, but Coach Doyle pushed me places that I couldn’t have gone on my own.
I have done the “100 squats” workout more than once and it is a very tough workout. After the workout, your legs are going to be sore for a couple days and you’re going to be tired. No matter how hard it was, after I was done my teammates and I felt like we had accomplished something great together. It helped us grow closer as a team and helped us get the edge on the rest of the teams in the country.
The workout made us mentally tough and helped us look at challenges as great opportunities. The workout DID NOT push us too far, it just pushed us places where most people couldn’t have gone on their own. Without Coach Doyle and the Iowa strength staff, the Iowa football program would not be anywhere near as talented as they are today. Coach Doyle showed me how to work hard and be a man, on and off the field.
I am very blessed and thankful that I got the privilege to workout under Coach Doyle. He took an undersized Iowa kid, that wasn’t ready to play college football, and turned him into the 63rd pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Coach Doyle changed my life.