Hlas column: On this day in Kinnick, green looked golden

IOWA CITY – Brett Greenwood would have enjoyed Iowa's football game Saturday.

The Hawkeyes' safeties, Jordan Bernstine and Tanner Miller, made strides in their second starts of the season. Safety, as much as any spot on the depleted defensive line, was a position that needed shoring up this season after Greenwood graduated and Tyler Sash left early for the NFL.

“I think we have the potential to be good back there,” said Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz after his team's 45-17 win over Louisiana Monroe. Maybe not as good as the last couple years, but that would ask a lot.

Greenwood was a four-year starter, a rock. If there is such a thing as a protypical Hawkeye, it might be him. He was a walk-on who developed into a good enough player to pick off a dozen passes as a collegian, who lasted until the final cuts of training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent.

Greenwood surely would have smiled watching Bernstine continue to show the senior-year spark he has displayed, a contagious passion coming from finally being healthy enough to play up to his capabilities.

Bernstine was a special-teams madman, downing an Iowa punt at the ULM 3-yard line and blasting a ULM defender to help spring fellow defensive back Micah Hyde for a 30-yard punt return.

Sophomore Miller is looking more and more like an answer to a question spot. He was in on seven tackles, got in plenty of good licks, and showed more comfort in defending against another of the spread offenses that have become weekly challenges to Iowa.

Maybe the best tribute to Greenwood is to imitate his focus and devotion.

“He was the smartest player I've ever played with,” said junior cornerback Hyde. “He would be in the film room 24/7.

“He was a great friend off the field, too. Even in my freshman year, when I needed a ride he was there. He was always looking out for his teammates.”

Saturday was “Wear Green for Greenwood” day at Kinnick Stadium, and thousands of fans did just that. It was a grassroots movement, the best kind. Someone, somewhere thought it should be done, and the rest of Iowa's fan base quickly nodded in approval.

Black, gold and green may not typically be an ideal merger of colors, but they seemed to blend beautifully this day.

The Hawkeyes did their part by wearing a small patch of green on the back of their helmets. It was about as understated a gesture as they could make and still make one. Which made it pitch-perfect since the Greenwood family wants to keep this as private as possible.

Yet, no one can blame the thousands of fans who are curious about the welfare of the young man from Bettendorf. He collapsed on Sept. 9 while working out on the football field of his high school alma mater, Pleasant Valley, a week after getting cut by the Steelers.

He was going to stay in football shape in case something else opened up on an NFL roster or practice squad. You can bet the Steelers didn't take lightly the decision to bid Greenwood farewell.

Greenwood's heart reportedly stopped beating. He was rushed to Trinity Bettendorf Hospital, and transferred that night to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he is now. Any additional information about his status belongs to his family and those with whom they care to share it, as it should.

Brett's parents, Dave and Michele Greenwood, were invited to Iowa's locker room after the game. Dave said a few words to the team.

“It's unfortunate,” Hyde said, “but it was a good feeling hearing his parents talk about how he's taking steps in the right direction. It's positive right now.”

“They said how appreciative they are of the team and everybody giving support to Brett,” Miller said. “It was a good moment we had in there. To hear Brett's making progress the way he is, it's pretty heartwarming.”

Miller is from Kalona. No offense to Mid-Prairie, which has had a terrific high school program for a long time. But it's a big leap from Iowa Class 2A to the Big Ten. He was lucky to have an older teammate who looked out for him.

“Brett was my mentor,” Miller said. “All last season he taught me what college football was all about, how to prepare, how to go through each week. That was huge for me. I can't thank him enough.”

Torn asunder by Iowa State's passing game two weeks ago, Iowa shuffled its secondary before last Saturday's 31-27 comeback win over Pittsburgh. Hyde returned to cornerback from safety, and Bernstine and Miller moved up to first-team safety. That's all starting to look like a fit.

“It looked like (the safeties) came out and played physically today, and that was good,” Ferentz said. “I think we have the potential to be good back there, and that's a good thing.”

Ferentz has been hesitant to publicly speak about Greenwood since the health crisis occurred, and understandably. First and foremost, it's to respect the man and his family.

The coach said he thought the green decal on the helmets “was a nice way to let Brett know we are thinking about him and his family.

“He's making progress slowly right now. That's probably all I can say about that, and I'll let the family handle the rest of it.”

Ferentz compared his team to Greenwood's situation, citing “slow progress.”

“Going to be a long road. Certainly I think it's safe to say that.”

He then added that if his players display “the determination, the hard-mindedness Brett has, he'll be OK and I'm confident we'll be OK. But it's going to take some time.”

Greenwood's situation is a tough, tough thing. But at least he and his family have a big support system surrounding them here.

Iowa linebacker James Morris said it plainly and perfectly:

“He's a member of our family.”