BIG TEN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: MICHIGAN VS IOWA

December 4, 2021

Alex Padilla

Iowa Hawkeyes

Lucas Oil Stadium

Press Conference

Michigan - 42, Iowa - 3

Q. What are the emotions like after a loss like this?

ALEX PADILLA: As you can imagine, obviously disappointed when you put so much work into it and it doesn't go how you planned. Obviously very disappointing. Thought we battled hard today, but just the outcome isn't what we hoped it would be.

Q. Is there any deflation in the offense (inaudible)?

ALEX PADILLA: With our guys, we always want to fight down to the very end. That's the kind of team we have. Wouldn't say there's deflation, but we always want to end the game the right way. We play to a certain standard every time out no matter what the score is.

Q. The spot you got put into, try to move the team back. Not like you can run the whole offense at that point. What was kind of your mindset? What were you told?

ALEX PADILLA: There's not too much time to think about it. Have to go in and play. Just run the offense as best you can. It was obviously a tough situation being down like that against a really good team. They made it hard on us told. A lot of things we can improve on. Let's get back to work and improve on things we can.

Q. You warmed up at one point and put the red hat back on and came back. Did they say something at halftime like you might have to go in for Spencer?

ALEX PADILLA: We knew he got dinged up at some point in the first half. Thought he would be able to go. But kind of overtook him as the game wore on and as he took more shots. But, yeah, that was that.

Q. In this game how (indiscernible) do you think (inaudible)?

ALEX PADILLA: As you can expect, they're a really great team, great defense, tremendous players all around. I thought we moved the ball really well on a portion of our drives. Just couldn't execute well enough to finish.

We knew coming in that they were a great team, had a great defense, that was going to be tough sledding all day. And that's what it was.

Q. Was that fourth-and-three play, I think it was, is that a pass back to the tight end? Is that what you were you're looking for? (Inaudible)?

ALEX PADILLA: They covered it well. Wasn't a whole lot we could do on that. But credit to them.

Q. Seemed like that first drive had a little bit of spark going. What went right there?

ALEX PADILLA: I just thought we executed well on that drive. Had a good rhythm going, kind of mixing up the run and the pass, kind of keeping them off balance. But I thought we had a good drive there. Obviously wasn't able to finish it. That's the most important part. But that was a good drive for sure.

Q. (Indiscernible) a week and a half or whatever, you have the flu and then the Nebraska game? What's this been like for you to ride this roller coaster?

ALEX PADILLA: It's been an up-and-down experience. Obviously having the flu and then playing the game coming out, a whole bunch of uncertainty. It's been a roller coaster, like you said.

But credit to my teammates. They've handled the situation really well. Credit to Spencer as well. He's helped me a lot. I've helped him a lot. Kind of like we've been saying all week, that we've been in each other's corners all the way. He's helped me out a lot. And our entire team helps us out with the whole situation.

Q. Did the flu bother you against Nebraska?

ALEX PADILLA: I would say so. But not really thinking about the past anymore. Just focusing on this game, how that went. But, yeah.

Q. (Indiscernible) have you and Spencer talked about coming back this spring or anything like that at this point?

ALEX PADILLA: Haven't really talked too much in the future. We were just kind of focused on this game and this game solely. It's a conversation for down the road. But we were just focused on this game and focused on our improvement moving forward.

Q. How much more difficult is it when you don't have a game (inaudible) to be able to move your focus to (indiscernible) and just sit there for a while?

ALEX PADILLA: Obviously this one will sting for a little bit because, like I said before, we've been putting so much effort into it and so much work over the course of the 11 months. This one will sting a little bit. But I'm confident we'll get back on our feet, get back to work and get ready for the ball game.