The Walk Through

Good morning!

The Dolph said the corn on the Iowa landscape has turned an Iowa 'old gold.' Well, sure. But old gold hasn't been a part of Iowa's color scheme since . . . at least before Hayden Fry. That old myth that these are the Pittsburgh Steelers uniforms is absolutely true. Fry actually reached out to the Steelers and they sent photos and were totally open to Iowa copying their uniforms, this according to one of Kirk Ferentz's recent radio shows.

Can you imagine that happening today? I can't. Oh, how things once were.

I digress.

— Gary Dolphin just said on the radio that junior Jake Rudock will be the starter and he foresees maybe a half dozen series for sophomore C.J. Beathard.

After today, we'll have tangible measurement of what this can or might be. That's a good thing.

— I get a lot of e-mails. E-mailer Eric brings up this stat:

Has Iowa ever scored 21 offensive points in a quarter under OC Greg Davis? I'm not picking on Davis. I thought it was a great question and I wanted to see if it's happened.

I think it's happened once: 2012 Minnesota — TD 14:55 Mark Weisman 8 Yd Run (Mike Meyer Kick) 0 10

TD 13:03 Jordan Cotton 47 Yd Pass From James Vandenberg (Mike Meyer Kick) 0 17

TD 08:50 James Vandenberg 1 Yd Run (Mike Meyer Kick) 0 24

So, you have some homework.

— Also from e-mailer Eric: We asked on the podcast who you'd want to QB if you need a winning or tying score with four minutes left and the ball at your 30. Scott Dochterman and I picked Rudock on our podcast.

Eric turns that question around: On 3rd and 10, who do you throw to in a situation where the receiver will be defended and the ball will be on target?

I go with Kevonte Martin-Manley. He's been great on third down this year. Eric's pick: For me... it's Tevaun Smith.

Who would you pick?

— Scott from Minneapolis writes: 'Thought I'd pass along something I noticed in Iowa's upcoming football schedule. Starting with Maryland, Iowa plays 4 consecutive teams that will be coming off bye weeks. Not sure if there are stats showing impact of playing off a bye but it doesn't give me a good feeling as a Hawkeye fan. Iowa also has a bye prior to NW so maybe that one balances out.'

We talked about the bye thing during the summer. You can't really sweat it, I don't think. Everyone has circumstance to deal with. Here's what you like about Iowa's schedule: Nebraska played at Michigan State. Iowa's crossovers are Indiana, today's opponent, and Maryland. Iowa won that, but can it cash that in?

I like the e-mail thing. Perhaps I should start a mailbag post?

— Today's game is 11:01 and on ESPNU, wherever that is.

— The QBs have been out. CJB had a ponytail going. Keep in mind, Rudock is now three weeks to the day out of a hip pointer. He said this week his health was OK, but he didn't want to get into it. He took most of the reps with the No. 1s during the bye week. No idea how that split went this week.

— There is rumor that WR Derrick Willies won't be dressed today. He might've had a surgery, but can't totally confirm. So, he might not be in uniform today. We'll see in a few minutes.

Check back for more.

— The specialists are out. I don't expect a change there. I think the door is shut on Connor Kornbrath and Iowa has moved on with Dillon Kidd, for better or worse. Two punters on schollie, I've heard that quite a bit this week.

— Ahh, Marshall Koehn just kicked a 58-yard field goal that was good by a lot.

— Sophomore WR Matt VandeBerg is in uniform today. He missed the Purdue game with an unspecified injury. Willies is not in uniform. I believe he had some sort of surgery, possibly appendix. Will update when I can. We might not hear anything on that until KF after the game.

— No sign of RB Damon Bullock yet, but RBs aren't out.

— KF on radio: Jake starts with first couple of series. End of 1st or early in 2nd, CJB will go in. And then see from there.

— Here's IU coach Kevin Wilson on Iowa playing two QBs:

Q. Iowa plays two quarterbacks. Do you prepare for both or is their style so similar it doesn't matter?

COACH WILSON:

'It's not like one becomes the athletic zone read or one's just a running quarterback. One's a throwing. They're going to run similar stuff, and I don't know if it's due to just how they played or if the one guy that starts got maybe nicked up a little, I don't know.

'They're very fortunate because I remember going back and listening to preseason where they thought they had depth in the position, so I think it's just the nature of where they are offensively, but I don't think it changes dramatically. They're going to do what they do, and they execute it really well, and I'm sure that Coach Davis and Kirk will get the guy they think is going to give them the best chance to win, and it's kind of nice they got two guys they can do it with.'

— Radio on Iowa's concussion protocol from team physician Dr. Ned Amendola: Iowa does everything everyone else does. Concussion means you're out of the game. Any level, out of the game. Trainer, coach, physician know that. Helmet is taken away. That's the standard protocol. Have they had a concussion or not? Athletes like to play. If you notice something, they should be assessed. Trainers and doctors communicate that with the head coach. Trainers and physicians wear headsets. Head coach is the first person who knows when a decision is made.

— FB Macon Plewa has fought off a shoulder injury. He's back and fully cleared. No word on specifics with Bullock and MVB.

Willies has a muscle strain, according to radio. Redshirt freshman OG Boone Myers also is out today. Injury undisclosed.

— Starting lineup is the same.

— No. 2 DL: Spears, Ekakitie, Johnson and Hardy. Second OL: Boettger, Simmons, Gaul, Keppy and Croston.

OK, let's kick this thing off.

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