Bowl grind begins

PHOENIX -- The sun hid behind clouds here Tuesday afternoon. It even rained a little in the desert.

With the temperature ranging from mid 60s to low 70s, the Iowa Hawkeyes basked in what basically amounted to early October Big Ten football weather.

Iowa (7-5) can't rewind quite that far, but the Hawkeyes can regain a measure of what they might've thought they would be with a strong showing in next Tuesday's Insight Bowl matchup with No. 12 Missouri (10-2).

"We're a little sluggish, but that's after a day off or so," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after Tuesday's practice. "I thought the guys moved around, we got a lot accomplished and have a lot more to do."

The Hawkeyes arrived in Phoenix on Monday and went right to work Tuesday, when Iowa began installing the gameplan for the Tigers, who arrive today. After being stuck in the "Bubble" in Iowa City during the first phase of bowl practice, the Hawkeyes had plenty of room at Corona del Sol High School.

Ferentz said the focus now shifts from mental to physical.

"We've been throwing a lot at the guys mentally . . . just in terms of trying to match up to our opponent," Ferentz said. "They give you a lot of challenges in all areas. It's been a little bit rigorous that way."

Among some of the first questions Ferentz took off the plane Monday included the off-field toll of the last few weeks. Wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was arrested on drug-related charges. Running back Jewel Hampton decided to transfer. Running back Adam Robinson has been suspended for the Insight Bowl.

"We've moved on, certainly," Ferentz said. "The team's attitude has been great. We've had a great weekend of practice. It's no different than having a guy injured. We play with the guys who are healthy and able to go, and I think our guys are ready to pull together and do the best they can on the 28th.”

Ferentz said a couple players were held out of Tuesday's practice because they were "nicked," but said that everyone should be ready for the game.

Ferentz stressed tempo during Tuesday's practice.

"We're not at game-speed yet by any stretch, but I think the guys were working hard and they were attentive today," he said. "Concentration, for the most part, was good. There were less mistakes than we'd been making the last few weeks. We're not at game tempo yet, but we're moving in the right direction."

Iowa arrived two days ahead of Missouri. The reason behind the early arrival wasn't just to get used to the weather, Ferentz said.

"I think for us it's important to get a chance to work on the long throws and the kicking game, some of the stuff that's more challenging when you're inside," Ferentz said. "I like getting here a little early, too, just so the players can take care of the curiosity factor. We want them to enjoy their experience, so this gives them a little more time . . . We can have some later curfews on the front end, then we can kind of hone it down as we move along."

Pre-bowl practices also are closer to pure football. Just as in fall camp, there's no school. UI finals wrapped up last week.

"It's a grind getting to the plane," Ferentz said. "Once you make it to the plane, there's nothing better. Once you get on the plane, it's strictly about the bowl site, practicing and we're not doing recruiting visits and stuff like that. On campus, the month of December is just chaotic, so it's great to get to the bowl destination."

And, yes, the Hawkeyes are in Arizona, so the question about Arizona struggles came up Tuesday. The Hawkeyes have dropped their last two games in Arizona, a 44-7 loss in 2004 at Arizona State and Sun Devil Stadium -- where the Insight will be played -- and this year's gut-wrenching 34-27 loss at Arizona.

"I've gone on record with this, but I'm not wild about playing in the western time zones for regular-season games," Ferentz said. "I just don't think it's smart for a midwestern team to do it, nor do I think it's smart for a west-coast team to go to the midwest (Iowa did beat ASU and UA in Kinnick).

"But for a bowl game, it's a whole different deal. We're going to be here for eight, nine days. We'll be totally acclimated and in a routine. The challenge is when you go overnight and have to adjust your clock. It's a little bit of a challenge."