Harvard and other notes

Yes, Kirk Ferentz has read the Wall Street Journal story about Hayden Fry's coaching tree at the University of Iowa coaching. It landed on his desk this week.

The story is headlined "Iowa: The Harvard of Coaching," and it features an interview with Fry and lists the number of Iowa graduates who are coaching in FBS at 16, the most of any school in the country.

Obviously, Ferentz will be head-to-head with one of those Iowa alums in the Insight Bowl. OU coach Bob Stoops was an all-Big Ten safety for the Hawkeyes.

"He's done a wonderful job with the program in his 13 years," Ferentz said. "They have a talented team, but they're well coached, too."

Fry's tree doesn't end with the big names like Stoops and Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema.

"Every one of us has come through Hayden Fry," William Inge, Buffalo's defensive coordinator, told WSJ. "He's the one who molded us into the coaches we've become."

-- On the academics front, Ferentz said "as far as I know" everyone is eligible. He said he would know for sure Dec. 26 and wished he could find out sooner.

"I'm not really concerned about things, but we'll see," he said.

Quick slants

-- Tackle Riley Reiff practiced Friday at Chaparral High School, but was missing late. He was replaced by junior Matt Tobin when he was out.

Running back De'Andre Johnson wore a red jersey. He has been nursing a concussion. TE Brad Herman was out. TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, who left the Nebraska game with an ankle injury, went through practice and seems fine.

"Health-wise, we have a couple of guys nicked up, but no one is ruled out of the game at this point," Ferentz said.

-- Senior linebacker Tyler Nielsen will play middle linebacker against the Sooners. Injuries have forced Iowa's defense to adjust at the position. The lineup will likely be Nielsen in the middle, sophomore James Morris at weakside and sophomore Christian Kirksey on the outside.

-- Iowa will practice on Christmas Eve and then there's a team dinner at their hotel. On Christmas Day, players will lift in the morning and then have the rest of the day off.