(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Hawkeye football team is hosting media day today (Friday) in Iowa City. Coach Kirk Ferentz says it’s exciting to get a new start every season. “It feels like we are back into a football mode. It doesn’t matter what year it is –you always have that excitement as the season approaches and come. So, it’s great to be back in camp with everybody,” Ferentz says.

He says it’s a time every year where you are looking to build a new team with the newcomers and returning players. “Really what it’s all about is the challenge of filling some voids of really good players, good leaders. And then it creates opportunities for players. A good chance for anybody to step up and show they are worthy of helping the football team be successful,” according to Ferentz.

Iowa is ranked 19th in the preseason poll of the coaches and Ferentz was asked if the team is aware of that ranking. He says he doesn’t know how many players are aware and says he is aware that the coaches have a “really bad record of predicting suff. Ferentz says “most of us kind of live in a closed environment.”

Iowa is coming off a 9-4 record that included a victory over Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes open August 31st against Miami of Ohio.