Fans, Facebook and frustration

Trey Stross dropped three passes Saturday, including a possible TD. Monday, he dropped the invisible wall between athlete and fan.

Two days after the Hawkeyes' 27-24 overtime loss at Ohio State, the senior wide receiver from Avon Lake, Ohio, apologized to fans through his Facebook.com account. He also alluded to some harsh e-mails he received.

“Trey Stross on the best team in the nation, w/the best fan base, thanx for all the support every1, after 30+ games I had the worst game of my career&it's a shame that it was against OSU I really APOLOGIZE, I tried my best & it just didn't come to me.”

The topic didn't sit well with coach Kirk Ferentz and Stross' teammates during Tuesday's news conference.

“I was asked if he should feel the need to apologize to fans,” offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga said. “Not at all. He shouldn't have to do that. The fans don't deserve an apology from him.

“He's been here for five years and he's worked hard and played in a lot of big games and big plays. He doesn't need to apologize to anybody.”

Social media, including Facebook and Twitter, has become a conflict in sports in the last year. The Kansas City Chiefs released running back Larry Johnson over a gay slur he made on Twitter. Some leagues have tried to ban players from using Twitter.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is not a fan, telling The Gazette this summer, “You never say never, but if you see me with a Twitter account, just hit me with a baseball bat. Go ahead, take a whack at me.”

Tuesday, he was asked about Stross' Facebook apology.

“I wouldn't recommend that,” Ferentz said. “I don't understand the phenomenon quite frankly. I don't know why people go on that. But I also understand I'm 54 and not 20.

“I don't see any benefit of going on that stuff (social media), but we live in America.”

In the first quarter, Stross dropped what would've been a touchdown pass from freshman quarterback James Vandenberg. In the second, Stross dropped one that would've gone for a 13-yard gain and a first down.

In the third, Stross dropped what would've been a tough catch at OSU's 1.

“You have to feel for him now,” ABC play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough said during the broadcast. “He's like a putter with the yips.”

Hawkeyes receivers dropped five or six passes Saturday, which ended in Iowa's second straight loss after a 9-0 start.

Stross also addressed heated e-mails he received. Players' e-mail addresses are easily accessible.

“&all the people that wrote me e-mails, I understand if u were bein(g) emotional, trust me I understand, I think I spiked the ball after a TD 1 time and didn't realize it, but if really feel the way you do, I don't blame you.it wont happen again.”

During the 2007 Indiana game, a 38-20 Iowa defeat, Stross caught a batted ball and scored a 33-yard TD. After, he spiked it, receiving a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and pushing the Hawkeyes' second-half kick from the 30 to the 15.

Iowa assistant Eric Johnson and Stross had a heat-of-the-moment exchange on the sideline.

Stross was appropriately contrite after the game.

“He's (Johnson) been here a long time. When you have kids like Dallas Clark and Ed Hinkel, who never did that stuff, that's what the program was built on,” Stross said. “Yet, for a red-shirt sophomore to do that, who really hasn't done anything here yet . . . it was just my mistake.”

Stross has 4,240 Facebook “friends” or followers, most of whom are Iowa football fans. The majority left messages of support on his Facebook home page.

“This is a team sport! win or lose you guys gave us the best times I can remember! Thanks for all you have done.”

“It's unfortunate but things like that happen. Just didn't go your way. Come back strong next weekend. We are proud of all the Hawkeyes, and the way you had fought out there.”

Not all were totally supportive.

“Wat the hell are you guys doing saying it's not trey's fault and all this [bleep]? yea its his damn fault and he knows it. that doesn't mean I don't support him he's a beast but excusing 3 dropped passes doesn't make any sense. get em next week!”

After hamstring injuries limited Stross for large chunks of the last two seasons, he's having a career year, with career-highs of 27 receptions for 379 yards to go with a touchdown.

“It's kind of devastating as a teammate to see people look down on him,” sophomore wideout Marvin McNutt said. “He's been there for us all season.”