Saturday Quotebook: Welch's Preparation Pays Off In Return From Injury
Kristian Welch has been preparing every week to be back in Iowa’s starting lineup.
And then he would have to wait another week.
Finally, the Iowa linebacker got back on the field in Saturday’s 23-19 win over Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium. And all the senior did was lead the Hawkeyes with 11 tackles, including a sack, and a pass breakup.
Welch suffered a stinger in the Oct. 12 loss to Penn State, then missed the next three games.
“With that type of injury, you never know when the nerves are going to come back and heal,” said Welch, who matched a career high in tackles. “It’s been really frustrating, being a senior, not being out there. The whole experience has been really frustrating. You never really did know if you’re going to be cleared.”
Welch had an 8-yard sack of Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan in the second quarter with Iowa up, 20-3. The play, with the Gophers having a first down at the Iowa 25, killed a possession that ended with the Gophers having to punt.
“You always hate to lose a veteran player,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “It's harder for the player because they're sitting there watching that clock tick on their career. That's hard. You hate to lose a veteran guy, but to get one back is a real benefit.
“I think the other guys were playing well. Kristian is a veteran guy who has been playing his best football. That's what you hope with a guy that's a senior, to get him back. Just really happy about that.”
“It’s frustrating, any game at all, not being with your teammates,” Welch said. “It obviously felt good being out there with my guys again.”
Fleck flagged
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the third quarter after a fourth-down incompletion.
Wide receiver Tyler Johnson dropped a pass inside the Iowa 10-yard line for an incompletion. As Johnson came up from the turf, he was knocked down by Iowa’s Dane Belton, who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
But Fleck was given the same penalty because he ran out on the field. Fleck said he was concerned about Johnson, who was down on the field after the hit from Belton.
“I was told I ran onto the field too fast,” Fleck said. “I get that. But I didn’t know there was a red light or a green light for when we could go onto the field.”
Game notes
• Iowa is 2-1 in trophy games this season.
The Hawkeyes defeated Iowa State for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, and Floyd of Rosedale comes back for the fifth consecutive year with the win over the Gophers.
Iowa lost to Wisconsin last week, allowing the Badgers to keep the Heartland Trophy.
Iowa plays to retain the Heroes Game Trophy on Nov. 29 at Nebraska.
Iowa has won 15 of its last 19 rivalry games since losing all four trophy games in 2014.
• Ferentz has 95 Big Ten wins, tying Penn State's Joe Paterno for fifth all-time.
Former Iowa coach Hayden Fry is fourth with 96.
• Iowa kicker Keith Duncan had a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, his 23rd this season, a new single-season record.
• Iowa wide receiver Tyrone Tracy had a career-high six receptions for 77 yards.
