Tuesday Talk

The Hurts -- Iowa WR Colin Sandeman, who's also the team's fine punt returner, is out this week. He's dealing with a little bit of a shoulder injury related to the hit he took at MSU, but Iowa's medical staff is also waiting for concussion effects to clear.

"We met this morning and they are confident it will clear by the end of the week," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We don't envision him being back, he may exercise this week but he can't right now."

Iowa is still searching for answers on punt return. CB Amari Spievey and WR Keenan Davis, both of whom fumbled last week, are still in the mix. Ferentz said S Tyler Sash could be, too.

Safety Brett Greenwood is iffy this week. He's still has neck and shoulder soreness left over from running into teammate Tyler Sash against Michigan State. He lasted one series against Indiana.

"I can't promise you anything about Greenwood other than we're optimistic," Ferentz said. "We thought we had a chance last week, and he felt fine, but he just didn't feel like he could tackle. It was a play he came up and tackled and it just didn't -- it wasn't feeling good. He's not at risk or he wouldn't be on the field. He's been cleared medically.

"The best way to describe it, it's like a sprain. So there's inflammation right now. There's soreness, that's the issue. So it's a matter of that getting worked out.

"We're hopeful and optimistic it will be this week, but we're preparing like it's not. We're ready to go both ways."

Senior Joe Conklin replaced Greenwood and is listed No. 1 on the depth chart this week.

There are whispers that RB Adam Robinson will be back for next week's Ohio State game. He suffered a high-ankle sprain against Michigan State two weeks ago and sat out the Indiana game. He leads the Hawkeyes with 629 yards. I think this is a big, big stretch. Ferentz didn't shed any light on it Tuesday.

"He's doing well," said Ferentz, who was then asked if there's a chance Robinson could be back before the end of the season. "There's a chance for anything. We are not thinking about it right now."

No Greene days -- As Shonn Greene's amazing 2008 started rocketing into the stratosphere, Ferentz kinda knew the running back wouldn't return for his senior year.

"I was hoping he would be here, but I realized as he had continued success, I knew he had a decision to make. I am all for whatever decisions the players make, as long as they have good information. It has worked well for him, but it would be nice to have him." 

Interception reaction -- Ferentz was asked about DJK's reaction to Stanzi's interceptions in the third quarter. DJK was twice the target for what would've been TDs. But the 17 mph wind held the ball up in the air and Indiana defensive backs simply had to fair catch.

On the second pick, DJK stomped and clapped his hands before chasing the defensive back.

"Derrell is still learning, too," Ferentz said. "He more than made up for what he might have missed. He had some great blocks and did well in the receiving game. It's a team effort. It didn't have to be as catastrophic, but we'll all learn."

Norm update -- Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker, 68, coached from the press box for the first time since 2004 last Saturday because of an ongoing struggle with a foot infection. Parker spent some time in the hospital last week dealing with it and went back to the hospital last Saturday night.

"Doing well. We're gaining progress and making ground," Ferentz said. "He's got a sense of humor. It's a good one. It's what he thinks about. No, he's doing well."

Parker won't be on the practice field this week and will likely spend the rest of the season coaching from the press box.

"No, we're keeping him off his feet. We're keeping him in the box," Ferentz said. "I don't know if it will be the whole season or not, but we've been pushing the envelope. And, we just need to get him through this season right now, that's the most important thing."

Tracking the Hawkeye bashing -- This is a full-time job these days. Ferentz doesn't seem to be as PO'd as Hawkeyes fans seem to be.

"I only know there is bashing because people tell me," he said. "I tried to watch Saturday night and I couldn't stay away, I do get a kick out of Mark May and Lou Holtz, that is good entertainment. I enjoy it.

"Someone said (Terry) Bradshaw said something, but he's my guy. Pittsburgh Steelers. My wife went to hear him in Des Moines a month ago. I love him on Fox. I didn't know they talked college on that show. Bradshaw can say whatever he wants, he's my guy. I love Terry Bradshaw I think he's great."

Apparently, ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike Show had at the Hawkeyes at some point recently.

"They are Notre Damers, what do you expect?" Ferentz said.

Actually, Mike Greenberg went to Northwestern.

"That makes it worse, Notre Dame and Northwestern, what do you expect from that show?" Ferentz said. "If you want to talk talk shows, I am Tony Bruno all the way."

No Hannah Montana, but . . . -- No, Ricky Stanzi doesn't listen to Hannah Montana. He's got some Pink Floyd and some alt-rock on the iTunes.

He's big into Marvel Comics, with SpiderMan being at the forefront.

"My room is decorated with all sorts of stuff you would not expect to see in a college football player's room," Stanzi said.

Comic books, Harry Potter and Twlight stuff.

Twilight?

"You see?" he laughed. "I'm surprised I'm even telling you guys this. I've got all these microphones in front of me and I'm telling you what's in my room. I guess that's my personality, like a big kid, I guess."

Not sci-fi, but superheroes and comic books, Harry Potter (since grade school) and he started reading the "Twilight" series this summer.

Cooler to be a werewolf or a vampire?

"Vampire," Stanzi said. "There are better things if you're a vampire.

"You live forever. You're never cold, you're never hot. You're the perfect temperature. Everything athletic comes easily. You've got to read the books to understand. Believe me, you want to be on the vampire side of this. Believe me. If you read it, you'd understand it. Vampires are the winners."

Everyone knows werewolves are savages.

Iowa on SI cover -- There it is above.

Most of the Iowa players are too young to even know about the SI cover jinx. Ferentz isn't buying it. In fact, he wondered why the World Series wasn't on the cover.

"We're not on the cover, are we? Oh, we are. Oh, Geez, thank you," Ferentz snorted, alluding to the cover jinx. "So, what game was it with the black cat running out? Was that Penn State? We survived that.

"You've got to be kidding me? We're on the cover? Isn't the World Series going on right now? I do know the second baseman hit five home runs, four home runs? Five. Okay, wow. Chase Utley, right? I figured he'd be on there a little ahead of us. We're talking baseball, now we're cooking. That's good. All right. I'm going to go to a World Series one of these days."

It was a wacky Tuesday.

Coach Ferentz - 11 03 09