Hawks raise a ruckus for Wednesday drills

Neighbors surrounding the Kenyon Football Complex are used to heavy metal Wednesdays by now.

IOWA NOTEBOOK

Each week football support staff line up speakers that blare Metallica, Van Halen, Boston and British crowd noise during the Wednesday practice. It's part of a routine to help Iowa players prepare for loud venues, both home and away.

“For a long time I just thought that was all garbage,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We used to do it in the '80s, and we did it when I was in the NFL. I thought it was kind of overhyped, but last year I figured we'd give it a shot. It's part of our routine. I don't know if it helps or not. If they think it helps, then it helps. That's good.”

Paul Federici, Iowa's director of operations, selected the music and sounds with Ferentz's approval. Federici picked up a compact disc last year with crowd noise from United Kingdom sporting matches.

Iowa plays at Penn State this week, and Beaver Stadium holds 107,282 people. Ferentz concedes it's impossible to simulate that type of atmosphere in practice.

“It's pretty hard to hear anything when we have the music piped up and the crowd noise,” Ferentz said. “Although up on the line usually they can hear a little bit if the quarterback bends down and yells, but out on the perimeter you can't hear a thing. That's how it'll be Saturday.”

A few Iowa players enjoy the music, and linebacker Pat Angerer has submitted requests like Kid Rock and Johnny Cash.

“It makes practice a lot more exciting, especially when they put on a song that you like,” Angerer said. “It makes you a little faster.”

Leaps and bounds

Iowa running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have taken aerial routes to the end zone this year in consecutive weeks.

Wegher, a freshman, dove headfirst over the pile against Iowa State two weeks ago and did the same last weekend in the game-clinching drive against Arizona. Robinson jumped headfirst into the end zone for his two touchdowns against Arizona.

“I don't know if it was follow the leader or what, but Brandon did it up at Iowa State two weeks ago, and then we saw them both do it the other day,” Ferentz said. “I'm OK with that as long as it works. It takes a fearless guy to do that.”

Heat isn't on

Penn State players were asked about last year's game at Kinnick Stadium, a 24-23 Iowa victory. One question centered on Penn State players not receiving sideline heaters, unlike Iowa.

“The weather was for both teams,” Penn State tight end Mickey Shuler said. “I don't think many of those guys had long sleeves on. They might have had heaters, but we had wind jackets and things like that. The weather was tough, no question about that, but that wasn't a factor.”

Circle the dial

Iowa will play on the same network in consecutive weeks.

ABC will air the Iowa-Penn State game in prime time Saturday, one week after showing the Iowa-Arizona game. The Iowa-Arkansas State game Oct. 3 will air on either ESPN Classic or ESPN2.