Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz said his players' health is his top priority Tuesday while responding to criticism from former ESPN analyst Ed Cunningham.
Ferentz stressed his dedication to player health in a statement released through the school, viaAdam Rittenbergof ESPN.com, and noted he defers to the medical staff when deciding whether someone is healthy enough to play.
The comments come after Cunningham—who was a broadcaster for Iowa's 30-3 loss to Florida in the Outback Bowl—discussed the decision to keep quarterback C.J. Beathard in the game after a hamstring injury on ESPN's Mike and Mike.