Hyde brothers not sharing about Badgers

IOWA CITY - Iowa sophomore cornerback Micah Hyde joined his brother, Michigan State safety Marcus Hyde, in intercepting a pass Saturday.

Micah Hyde picked off Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier in the third quarter and returned it 4 yards. Marcus Hyde, a senior, had a 30-yard interception return against Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase in a 26-6 Spartans win.

“We talked a little bit. I told him good game,” Micah Hyde said. “I didn't get to watch his game but my mom told me how good he did.”

Marcus Hyde had five tackles in a 34-24 win against Wisconsin three weeks ago. He hasn't dispensed any knowledge to his younger brother about the Badgers.

“It's one of those things,” Michah Hyde said. “He has to prepare for his own team, and I have to prepare for mine.”

Tattoo you

Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema, a former Iowa team captain, has a Tiger-Hawk tattooed on his lower calf with the words “believe” and “achieve.” He said Monday in his news conference that Iowa coaches use his ink against him in recruiting battles.

“Every time somebody goes to visit there, the first thing - I can write it down to a T - they're going to come back and say, ‘Coach, can we see your tattoo?'” Bielema said. “Every Iowa coach says that to him, so I know their routine, and it's nothing surprising.”

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that he doesn't have a tattoo and hasn't mentioned Bieleman's to a recruit.

“I've never said a word,” Ferentz said. “That's all I can say. I've never said a word.”

Bielema also coached at Iowa until leaving for Wisconsin in 2001.

Just for kicks

Iowa's much-maligned kickoff coverage has improved, but it faces a huge test against Wisconsin.

The Badgers' David Gilreath returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State. He owns the Big Ten record for kickoff return yardage at 2,677.

In the last three games, Iowa has given up less than 21.5 yards per return after allowing nearly 50 yards to Arizona and more than 40 to Iowa State.

“I thought we played better on special teams, and I thought our kickoff coverage was better,” Ferentz said. “Now we'll have to amp it up even more because, certainly Gilreath's an excellent returner. (A) quick way to get in trouble is to give up a kick return. Not the way you want to start a game, and certainly not the way you want to start any half or after you score, give one right back to them. So we'll have to be at our best.”

Reisner nominated

Iowa tight end Allen Reisner of Marion was named to the John Mackey Award semifinal watch list. The award, which former Hawkeye Dallas Clark won in 2002, goes to the nation's best tight end.

Reisner, a 6-3, 248-pound senior, has caught 19 passes for 229 yards and has started every game this year.