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Ferentz: Booing Iowa fans 'smelled a rat' with Penn State's injuries

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Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz showed his support for fans who booed Penn State players when they appeared to be faking injuries during the Hawkeyes' 23-20 win last Saturday.

"Our fans thought they smelled a rat, I guess, I don't know, so they responded the way they responded," Ferentz said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

"Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, Ferentz added. "But I think probably (the booing) is a reaction to, there were a couple of guys that were down for the count and then were back a play or two later. Our fans aren't stupid. They're watching, they know what's going on."

Ferentz noted it was only "the second time" he's ever seen an opposing team's players fake injuries in his 23 years on the sidelines for the Hawkeyes.

However, the Iowa coach pointed out that some Penn State players appeared genuinely injured, specifically Sean Clifford. The Nittany Lions quarterback didn't finish the contest after suffering an injury in the second quarter.

Penn State head coach James Franklin expressed disappointment in the booing Hawkeyes crowd following Saturday's loss.

"I do have a little bit of a hard time with our players getting hurt and the (Iowa) fans and the coaches and the staff booing our players," Franklin said. "We had some guys get injured, and I just don't know if I necessarily agree. I don't think that's the right thing for college football, booing guys when they get hurt, however it looks."

Meanwhile, Hawkeyes cornerback Riley Moss will likely miss a couple of weeks after sustaining a knee injury during Saturday's first half. Moss currently leads the Big Ten with four interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns.

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