Iowa notes: 2012 memories, Nate Meier, crazy special teams

IOWA CITY — Tevaun Smith wore a different number and didn't register a statistic the last time Iowa traveled to Indiana in 2012.

The Hawkeyes lost to the Hoosiers 24-21 that rain-soaked, lightning-filled evening. It was one of five Iowa losses by six points or less in that dreadful 4-8 season, and the defeat at Indiana was perhaps the one that symbolized the entire season.

Smith, then No. 81, played as a true freshman in a game Iowa led 14-0 in the first quarter. For most, memories from that game and disappointing season have faded. But Smith said the result fueled him and his current teammates who made the trek to Bloomington. It's also made them appreciate the journey from 4-8 to top-10 status.

'It's special for you because these guys have worked hard the last four years it's finally paying off,' Smith said. 'The class that came in with me definitely always talk about, 'I remember when I was a freshman and we were 4-8.' Now it's like we're 8-0. We can do something special. There's a lot of teams in Iowa history that haven't done what we're doing right now ... potentially. We're definitely trying to do something special for Iowa.'

The journey wasn't always easy for Iowa's seniors. They endured the rough 2012 season, made progress in 2013 at 8-5 before they fell a step back at 7-6 last year.

'You know how it feels to lose a bunch of games,' Smith said. 'So it makes you work even harder in the offseason.

'We're definitely taking pride in all that. We remember that 4-8 season like it was yesterday, and we never liked that feeling. All the teams that we were so close to beating last year or the year before, this is our chance this year.'

MEIER READY FOR SATURDAY

Iowa defensive end Nate Meier had his arm in a sling following the Hawkeyes' win against Maryland. Monday, Meier was listed as a starting defensive end. Tuesday, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Meier expects to play Saturday against Indiana.

'It's an irritation. That's what it came down to,' Ferentz said. 'Some inflammation in there. MRI, everything is good. He's a tough guy. I expect him to play.'

BOYLE NOT DRESSED

True freshman quarterback Ryan Boyle was not in uniform for Saturday's game against Maryland. Ferentz said dressing out for a game 'is a privilege' which was why Boyle wasn't in uniform.

'Our guys earn the right to dress. Simple as that,' Ferentz said. 'We have criteria you have to meet every week to get there. If guys don't meet that criteria, they don't dress out.'

Boyle, an elite all-state quarterback at West Des Moines Dowling last year, took snaps with the team's second unit three weeks ago in preparation to face Northwestern.

CRAZY ENDING

The ending of last week's Miami-Duke game involved eight laterals on the game's final play. After Duke scored the apparent game-winning touchdown with six seconds left, Miami returned the kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

Forget the fact that penalties weren't enforced and the ACC officiating crew was suspended for two games for missing an obvious knee touching the ground. The score counted, and it's a play that all teams work on, Ferentz said.

'I think they'd probably admit, too, there's a lot of luck involved in that play,' he said. 'It's one of those deals, everything has to fall right. To their credit, they got it done. That's a tough play to execute.'

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