Tuesday Talk

Injuries

Linebacker Jeff Tarpinian broke his hand in practice two weeks ago. He returned this week, but is limited with a splint and padding over the hand.

Monday, senior center Josh Koeppel was injured in a moped-truck accident. A truck turned in front of him and he was hit. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz doesn't see him playing this week.

"He was taken to the emergency room and got back here from a function yesterday and I actually caught him leaving the building about 1:30," Ferentz said. "He was walking out of the building and saw him again this morning.

"You know, not to make light of it, but it looks like he just walked out of our wrestling room a little bit. He's got a lot of scrapes, and as you might imagine, he's pretty sore right now."

Ferentz said three or four players have "soft tissue" injuries and will be monitored during the week for availability against Eastern Illinois.

Junior corner Shaun Prater is definitely one of those players. He said Tuesday that he's nursing a hamstring injury. He'll likely be out this week. Sophomore Greg Castillo is listed as the starter.

Ferentz said a couple offensive linemen are among the injured and will be watched during the week.

"I think we're fairly settled and injuries always play into everything," Ferentz said. "We have a couple of guys nicked up right now, so we'll see how the week plays out. But the picture becomes more clear I think with each day; that being said, though, we're still trying to decide a few things. But I think we have a pretty good idea who our top seven are for sure, and then after that it's a little bit cloudier."

Personnel

Junior offensive lineman Cody Hundertmark's status with the team is up in the air, Ferentz said.

"We're in a gray area right now," Ferentz said. " . . . He's trying to figure out what his future is right now."

Running back Brandon Wegher remains absent from the team. Ferentz hopes the sophomore is going to class on a routine basis. As far as Ferentz knew, he said, he thought Wegher was in class.

Ferentz said the team is in season now and is moving forward.

"We're thinking long term now rather than short term," Ferentz said. "I haven't had any indication what he'll do and I wouldn't want to try to project it. We're in the season now and have to move forward with the team but our thoughts are still with him."

Freshmen in

Linebackers James Morris and Christian Kirksey, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and kicker Mike Meyer will shed their redshirts and play for the Hawkeyes on Saturday.

Ferentz said another four to six freshmen are under consideration for play in 2010.

"We'll just see how the week develops and take it a week at a time," Ferentz said. "But I think those guys have caught on pretty quickly and done some good things."

Stanzi loves America, hates interceptions

OK, I tried to get all metaphorical with the interception question and QB Ricky Stanzi.

His dad, Joe, was a Golden Gloves boxer in Cleveland. I asked Ricky if his dad ever had him box. He said he messed around with it, but never really took a straight punch to the face. But, he did go through five years of Karate.

Anyway.

I explained that was a long way around to the interception question, if they feel like a punch to the face.

And he said . . .

"I don't know what feels worse than an interception, I don't know," he said. "Probably someone burning an American flag would hurt a little bit more inside than someone throwing an interception. That's all I can think of. I don't know, man, that'd be pretty bad."

The latest in the "Love it or Leave it" chronicles.

"Sash is trash"

Strong safety Tyler Sash pointed at the young dudes wearing the "Sash is trash" T-shirts when the Hawkeyes won at Iowa State last fall.

All was good. Sash, a former Oskaloosa prep, knew those guys. They were friends of his from Oskaloosa.

This gag started at Pella. When Sash was starring at Osky, Pella was the school's biggest rival and "Sash is trash" T-shirts showed up at a football or basketball game.

So, his buddies, three of whom attend ISU, took the idea with them to Ames. All in good fun, of course.

No, Sash doesn't own one.

"I don't have one," he said. "I would like one someday, but not right now."

Don't listen to dad

Sophomore Greg Castillo likely will get his second career start Saturday with junior cornerback Shaun Prater nursing a sore hamstring.

This begs the question, will Greg Castillo ask his dad for a bit of advice?

Juan Castillo, Greg's dad, is the offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It's kind of tough him helping me out, O-line and cornerback," Castillo said. "The funny thing about is, I watch him coach and it's about repititions and muscle memory on the offensive line. As a corner, you kind of translate that, too. When you come out of your breaks, it's like muscle memory, just like that. Those two kind of translate."

6-7 always is good

According to senior tight end Allen Reisner, Fiedorowicz will be the No. 3 or 4 tight end in Saturday's game.

Fiedorowicz is listed at 6-7. Reisner wants everyone to know that's not an exaggeration.

"Yes, yes, he definitely is, yeah," Reisner said. "He has to crouch walking through some doorways, I think. He's definitely 6-7. It's legit."

What does that mean for a tight end?

"Obviously, he has the height advantage over all the linebackers," Reisner said. "There's not going to be an linebacker over 6-3 or 6-4, so that helps. Same with safeties. That definitely helps. He just needs to keep his pads low in the run blocking."