HawkeyeReport.com - Hawkeye Post Game: Christian Ballard

October 31, 2009

Tom Kakert
Publisher

For a while it looked like Christian Ballard's offside call on a 4th down play might become an important play. But, the junior defensive tackle played an even bigger role on Tyler Sash's pinball interception that was returned for a touchdown that changed the course of Iowa's win over Indiana. He talks about both plays and how the Hawkeyes respond to the national media saying that they aren't that good of a football team.

Watch the video interview with Christian Ballard here:

Link: Ballard Video

Q: On Norm Parker

BALLARD: He is just like us as a defense. He is resilient, never gives up and never sulks. He has some problems, but he is doing great. He is fighting through it, just like I would fight through it. He is a great guy, awesome coach, and a great person. We love him and wish him the best.

Q: If you had to dress up as one teammate for Halloween, what would you do?

BALLARD: Adrian Clayborn with the long hair, I guess. (laugh)

Q: On the 4th down play where you jump offside. How bad did you feel?

BALLARD: I felt terrible. I started looking around hoping that somebody else jumped with me. I was thinking quick count, but it obviously wasn't. I talked to Adrian and Broderick and said, my bad. I tried to make a play on the next play and we got pressure three times in a row and forced a turnover. I kind of redeemed myself, but you have to be smarter than that.

Q: The Sash interception bounced off you, right?

BALLARD: Yeah. It hit my hand. I batted it down with my hand and then Sash picked it off somebody's shoulder, I guess. He took it down the field and that was great.

Q: Have you ever been in a more bizarre game?

BALLARD: I have never been in a more bizarre season. But, it's great. It's crazy.

Q: Was there ever a moment where you thought maybe this was it?

BALLARD: We have been down so many times this year that you can never know what to expect. We knew that Indiana was going to come in here and give it their best shot. They showed a lot of toughness out there and I give them a lot of credit for that. We just came out and played, slowed them down a little bit, and did what we do.

Q: What do you say to the pundits on TV right now that call you the ugliest 9-0 team in the country?

BALLARD: I'd say that we are still 9-0. (laugh) They can say what they want. It's great if they say that because it gives us a little spark in the locker room. Stuff like that doesn't matter to us because we just come and play every single week. 9-0 is 9-0 and you can't take that away from us. If we go 12-0 it is going to be 12-0. We are just looking for the next game and we know that Northwestern is going to be a good team and we are going to have to prepare really hard and they are going to try and beat us.

FEATURED PRODUCT