Good-Timey Radio Hour

Hello, let's get it going.

I have to say up front that I'm eating sushi for this first part. Volcano roll and spicy salmon. Yummy, but messy keyboard and some slow typing ahead. You've been warned.

- The Dolph just said 'loaded for bear.” I'm trying to be careful with those old-timey phrases. I'm old and I don't want to use old references.

- The Dolph has a bug and is sort of losing his voice. Sounds rough. I hope he's well. I don't know how he does this schedule, the football and the men's basketball. It sure sounds like a dream job, I know, but that is a grinder. Be well, Gary.

This is your weekly Kirk Ferentz radio show highlight show post. It's stream of consciousness. Just know that going in.

- Dolph just used the term 'meat and potatoes.” I'm using sushi and Toppling Goliath.

- Dolph is talking about last weekend's nuttiness in college football. He puts Iowa in the race, with Nebraska, Wisconsin and the Hawkeyes as frontrunners. He then, rightly, goes into Northwestern, which has surged. Really, it has surged with two wins.

- Mike from somewhere, speak, my mang!

Something about Mississippi State and the Packers drafting a DT out of there. I'm a Packers fan and I have no idea what he's talking about.

Question: When Eric Johnson was the recruiting coordinator, he was one of the best in the country. Lost out on a DE from Minnesota when he departed (Jashon Cornell was never coming to Iowa). Question on Seth Wallace and staying ahead of the recruiting curve. That's an excellent question.

The Dolph said Wallace is recruiting the midwest right now, particularly Wisconsin (hmm, didn't know that). Dolph said Wallace was a good fit because of his previous experience at Iowa. Calls him rough around the edges. Dolph said way too much is put into recruiting coordinators. They track everything, but kids come to Iowa because of Kirk Ferentz. He's the closer along with the position coach. Recruiting needs structure, and Dolph believes Iowa has that.

Mentions RB coach/ST coach Chris White as an excellent recruiter. Dolph is spitting truth tonight.

- Kyle in Dundee, speak into the talking machine!

Comment: Spent time in Colorado. Lots of great Hawk fans. I wonder if he knows @ColoradoHawkeye?

Great memories from the KF era? Ed Podolak sold his Colorado home. (He knew Hunter S. Thompson.)

The Tate-Holloway is Dolph's fave, but there's more. He mentions Iowa's 2000 double OT victory at Penn State. Iowa was 1-9. That got Iowa believing it could be done. Beat Northwestern, a top-20 team, the next week. The 2001 season, Dolph brings up the 2001 Alamo Bowl. Elevated Iowa to a national stage. Then, 2002 happened. Three memories from Dolph.

The Orange Bowl 2010, Dolph called it Norm Parker's swansong. It kind of was. Iowa shut down Georgia Tech. Completely. Totally.

- Jerry in Waukee, you talk now!

Jerry hopes Dolph is well. The idea of play-by-play with Podolak is floated and shot down.

Jerry likes LB Josey Jewell. (What's not to like? He's off to a great start.) Dolph says a next star LB at Iowa. Mentions all the moving parts to Iowa's D.

Decorah Hawkeyes given credit. I credit Decorah for Toppling Goliath. Good job, Decorah.

KF is 10 minutes out.

The Dolph feels better than he sounds.

- Dolph says IU RB Tevin Coleman is a little guy. He's listed at 6-1, 210.

- Dolph running down some stats for the defense. They're not bad.

- Tommy!!!!!!!

Comment: Where's the offense? Let's hope we open it up. We have a great defensive coordinator. Where's the offense?

Dolph said he knows what Tommy is getting at. Iowa needs points. 22.8 points a game isn't going to cut it. Mentions drops, running game, injury at fullback. Says OL is solid. Jake, C.J. solid.

Defense is carrying Iowa right now. Offense is on a rollercoaster ride, he said.

Dolph getting real froggy now.

Talking running backs in the B1G West Division. There are good ones.

- KF is in the house.

Last week was developmental. Players got away. He really likes two bye weeks. Long season for the players.

What a Saturday to be off. KF: If you're a fan who likes watching football, what a day.

- Two practices in game-week mode. Jumped on some Indiana last week. There was focus during the bye week. Good start this week.

- IU is a really good offensive football team. They run and throw and high tempo. Forces communication problems.

- On Coleman: The Dolph calls him a little guy. He's not.

The O-line has good size, athleticism. They'll run the stretch and power. Other backs have also been effective.

- Jim driving through Illinios, look out for the deer!!

Jim saw the Iowa equipment truck . . . how much C.J.?

So, Jim the Trucker brings up QB.

It's . . . going to be a feel thing. CJB will play, significant minutes. Jake will do the same. Great situation. On the front of the truck (Mike Riggan is the guy). 'I don't think I've seen a truck kept cleaner. You could have surgery on that.”

- On Jake Rudock: KF said he's doing well. Glad he didn't play last week. He just couldn't open it up as far as sprinting.

- Dave from Bettendorf, speak into the miracle telephonic lines!

Says thanks to KF. Real nice. 'You talking like I'm going somewhere.” KF jokes his wife wants him to retire.

Two quick ?? Malik Rucker and George Kittle and Jon Wisnieski. How much does KF talk to the players and such during the week? Not a bad question.

Wisnieski: Had an ACL repair. Still rehabbing. Hoping maybe November or bowl prep. Kittle: Has played 46 snaps. Mostly special teams. Three TEs are ahead of them. Calls HKC one of the more improved players on the team. Rucker: Playing on special teams. Getting feet wet on ST.

KF talking to team: Review the film on Sunday. Talks to them before they leave. Starts team meeting on Tuesday. Tries to tell team what he thinks are the bullet points. Meets after practice with entire team. A little on Friday and very little on Saturday. Let's players concentrate on what they have to do.

- Jim from parts unknown, talk, talk, man!

Congrats to Dave on his retirement. Dave from Bettendorf announced his retirement.

Jim asks about fullback. He thinks it's a big deal.

Fullbacks are on the field maybe 40 to 55 percent depending on the game. It's an important job in Iowa's O. Year ago spring, they had no idea. They found two nice ones in Adam Cox and Macon Plewa. KF said Cox was playing as well at the end of last year as any FB Iowa has had. Iowa doesn't take it lightly. They tend to blend into the background. Plewa is better, has the shoulder injury and has missed two games. John Kenny has stepped in and played well.

The Dolph likes Iowa in 22, two backs and two TEs. KF said he learned the value of a good, tough fullback from Ted Marchibroda.

- Dan from Moville, talk into your phone thingie!

Moving guys in and out of the lineup and, oh yeah, quarterbacks. 'I know it's a dreadful subject right now,” Dan said. 'I don't think it's dreadful,” KF said.

Dan talks about subbing guys out in wrestling. You can't do that. Jake Rudock told me you can't do that in baseball with pitchers. I didn't know that, thank you, Jake! (Kidding, he zinged me.)

Dan is not a believer. KF gets a little facetious. Can't wait to see what position we all talk about next week.

KF said they're going to find out. Lots of speculation. He still claims they don't know which way it's going to go.

Dolph is a banker. He brings up deposits and trusts. KF said the biggest change is CJB has shown them something. KF references the ‘81 Iowa QB duo of Pete Gales and Gordy Bohannon.

- KCRG's Scott Saville will introduce KF at the Johnson County I-Club breakfast thingie on Friday morning. Last time I showed up to that, KF said let's not make this a regular thing, me showing up to that. Good times, good times.

- Bryce from Marshalltown, let's have chatty time!

Question on each team and the game ball that is used. Two other parts: Gary something in 1956. Naked bootleg. Matching up with IU receivers in passing game. IU has 6-4 or 6-5 guys (they don't, they have small guys this year). Shane Wynn is their best and he's 5-7, 167.

Game balls, each team has their own set. I'm going to back away from this one because it's a double-entendre explosion.

- Jackson in Iowa Falls, he's a lil' fella.

The gum question. Bubble Yum sugarless. Two to four pieces a quarter.

- Chris in Marion, speak!

Chris got married on Oct. 15. Made reception better. Chris is still married. Last two games, Pitt and Purdue and the natural grass. Is there a preference? In the NFL, you see more natural grass (Chris is a Bears fan, I'm sorry, dude).

KF prefers natural grass as long as it's in good shape. Mentions PSU in ‘09. One of the best they've ever played on. Agronomy school, so that helps. The artificial turf product is OK, so much better than the old AstroTurf.

KF CALLS OUT THE BEARS TURF AT SOLDIER FIELD. It's true, it sucks.

- Max in Spirit Lake, be a talker?

Good defense, good team. It looks like with Phil Parker, he's carrying the torch. Need to score a lot more points. Looks like the decisions on the offensive side. Mentions guard play to improve.

KF said it's a joint effort. Wants more points. Working on it. Time will tell. Definitely a process. If you look at offensive plays that have thudded, it's a joint effort, a multitude of wrongs, lots of variable. Chance to be a good offensive football team.

If you play well on defense and have a strong defensive team, you have a chance to win. Second thing Iowa tried to get good at. First was special teams.

The Dolph steps in for the guards. Every team has those situations, KF said. Dolph said Podolak believes Sean Welsh is one of the best young guards he's seen in awhile.

Dolph asks for texts. Gives a number. Hasn't read any texts in however many shows this season.

- Chris from Sioux City, you talk pretty!

Likes the play-action. What do you do for stress? Asks if KF meditates. KF said he exercises on a regular basis. Thought coaching the NFL was a good teaching time for him. You're not going to win them all. KF's wife reminds him of that. He doesn't like hearing it. Prepare as thoroughly as possible and live with the results.

Play-action, it's something they want badly. Helps the passing game. Five drops killed Iowa in the first half against Purdue. Involves younger guys and they'll get better. Drops happen. Keep pushing through.

KF said he read a headline about regaining faith in Jonathan Parker. He said he never lost faith even after two fumbles against Ball State. Parker, BTW, leads the Big Ten in kick returns.

- Steve in Urbandale, let's do this, man!

50-plus year Hawkeye fan. 1972 University of Miami grad. He watched the old Miami Dolphins. Loved Larry Csonka and Jim Kick (or was it Kiik? It was Kiik.). Weisman and Canzeri, can that happen?

They've toyed with it. Health issues have halted it. KF thinks it's a good idea. Making it work is another thing.

- Steamboat Rock Larry, do your thing!

Big Ten scholarships for four years. It's not a new thing at Iowa. Iowa's commitment has always been four years, player to graduate. Four or five or six, that was the commitment. Andre Tippett and Dallas Clark are examples. Long-standing commitment. This is BAU for Iowa. (In my experience, yes. What took the Big Ten so long to acknowledge this, I don't know, but that was the news today.)

KF said 99 percent of the players are capable of graduating. If they don't, they chose not to do the work.

- Back to Csonka-Kiik and Weisman-Canzeri: KF immediately quipped that if you could throw in Bob Griese and Paul Warfield, let's do it.

- On Indiana: The Missouri result didn't shock KF. Veteran team, improved. Tempo is the biggest thing.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com