Wednesday notes

So, a couple Hawkeyes offensive linemen are walking back to the Fontainebleau and a Range Rover rolls up on them.

Some ladies in the back roll down the window and ask the fellas if they're football players. They're wearing Iowa gear and answer yes. Down rolls a window up front.

It's Jamie Foxx, the Academy Award-winning actor and star of "Any Given Sunday," Oliver Stone's satirical take on professional football.

"I guess he was real cool," center Rafael Eubanks said. "He rolled the back windows down and the girls were back there. . . . So, then the front window comes down and it's Jamie Foxx, 'Man, you guys are big.' And then, he drove off. It took a second, but they realized, hey, that was Jamie Foxx."

This week has been a study in celebrity for the Hawkeyes, whose per diems might last them three days in and around the tony Fountainbleau, not to mention Miami in general.

Dennis Rodman, Houston Texan wide receiver Andre Johnson, rapper Lil' Wayne and John Travolta just to mention a few.

Of course, pop singer Lady Gaga is playing the Fountainbleau on New Year's Eve. The cost for the general admission ticket is somewhere between $400 and $800. No one has exactly nailed that down yet.

Today (Thursday) is an off day for Iowa football. They players only business is a weightlifting session.

"Are they buying?" Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said, responding to a question about players wanting to take him down to South Beach. "If they're buying, I'll go. I don't think any of us can afford it.

"They've got a big deal at our hotel on New Year's Eve. I don't think any of our guys would last five minutes at that thing, money-wise. We can't hang with this crowd, I'll you that."

One celebrity appearance that Ferentz could relate to was Bill Parcells, who is now the football operations guy for the Miami Dolphins. Parcells, a Super Bowl winning coach in the NFL, visited Iowa's practice earlier this week.

"It was great," Ferentz said. "It was an honor for everyone involved, myself included. We were very appreciative he took the time to talk to the team. He delivered a great message. It was an exciting moment for all of us."

Does Ferentz consider the Hollywood-ness of the Fountainbleau a distraction?

"Not really," he said, before relating the Jamie Foxx story. "That's not something that happens too often in Iowa City. The guys are having a great time, I know they're enjoying it. But the nicest thing about it is they can't afford to do too much, which is good."

Try to follow along -- As far as game week goes, who knows where the Hawkeyes are.

The Hawkeyes (10-2) face Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl next Tuesday (Jan. 5). The Hawkeyes came down on Dec. 27. The extra few days have been great preparation for Tech's "flexbone" offense, but it's also thrown Iowa's schedule off kilter.

"I think all of us feel really discombobulated right now," Ferentz said. "I don't know if it's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It's kind of like a Thursday for us, but it's kind of like a Sunday, too, because tomorrow is our Monday game week-wise.

"This is really strange. It's been kind of strange for two weeks now."

Tech arrives -- The Yellow Jackets joined the party on Wednesday.

"I can't wait to take this tie off and this suit jacket off," A-back Anthony Allen said. "It's nice outside. We're ready to get to business, go ahead and get a win and have some fun. Oh man, it was cold in Atlanta."

Jonathan Dwyer, Tech's leading rusher, said "Iowa is a team that's going to play hard, give it all they have. They play team-oriented ball. They're athletic. They're talented. They're a well coached team and they're going to be ready to play, so we're going to have to strap our pads on and be ready to play as well.

"Everybody's focused. Everyone knows we are going to have fun but we are going to go out here and be ready to play. This is going to be a fun game to be in but this is a business trip."

Quick slants

Safety David Cato is fine and practicing after an auto accident during Thanksgiving break back in his home town of Arlington, Texas.

Ferentz said he expects all Iowa players to be eligible for the Orange Bowl. "They've been working on the grades. As far as I know. I don't want to say we're out of the woods, but I think we are," Ferentz said.

Cornerback Jordan Bernstine is back practicing in full pads and has been since the Thanksgiving break. Ferentz said he looks great, but will not play in the bowl game. Bernstine is taking a redshirt season and will be a junior next year.

Running backs Jewel Hampton (ACL) and Jeff Brinson (ankle) are at different stages of working their ways back into the lineup. Hampton took a redshirt this year after suffering a torn ACL in June. He went through some sprint drills Wednesday and said he's feeling great. Brinson, who had surgery on his right ankle during the season, struggled through sprints, which also included wide receiver Trey Stross, who has a knee injury but is expected to play.

Running back Adam Robinson and safety Brett Greenwood wore red "no-contact" jerseys Wednesday. Cornerback Shaun Prater sat out practice with an undisclosed injury. Ferentz said he'll play next Tuesday.

On tackle Bryan Bulaga and cornerback Amari Spievey possibly enterting the NFL draft, Ferentz said they're about where they were when this discussion began about a month ago. The deadline for juniors to declare for the draft is Jan. 15. Bulaga and Spievey are juniors.

"We've shared information, the information I've gathered, shared that with the players," Ferentz said. "And just encouraged both guys right now not to be thinking about that but be thinking about this game. If they are going to go, that's the best thing they can do. Play well this last game. If they're not going to go, you would hope they'd play well anyway. We'll handle that after the game."

Last week, junior defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who has 9.5 sacks, announced that he's staying for his senior season.

"I'm not happy, I'm thrilled," Ferentz said. "We can't recruit anyone close to him. He's a great football player and a great leader."

O-lineman

Dace Richardson could come back next season on a medical hardship waiver, but that also remains up in the air, according to Ferentz.