Iowa notes: Beathard was ready; 40-plus throws net a Hawkeye loss

IOWA CITY - There's a reason why Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz prefers a balanced offensive attack. When the Hawkeyes are forced to pass more than 40 times, they generally lose.

Over Ferentz's 16 years and 194 games as head coach, Iowa has thrown 40 or more passes just 25 times. In those games, the Hawkeyes' record is 4-21. Two of those wins took place this year - Northern Iowa (41) and Ball State (55). Iowa threw 48 times to beat Pittsburgh in 2011 and passed 46 times against Purdue in 2004.

'I never know what number we're at,” Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock said. 'I never see it until after the game and I'm like, ‘Wow.' You're just taking the calls and going with them.”

Iowa is 1-4 under Ferentz when his quarterbacks throw at least 50 passes. Iowa has thrown at least 55 passes twice this year (Ball State, Maryland). In Ferentz's first season in 1999, Iowa threw 51 passes against Minnesota and 60 against Indiana. The only other game was the 2006 Outback Bowl loss against Florida (55).

In the Hawkeyes' 38-31 loss to Maryland two weeks ago, Rudock passed 56 times, the program high since 1999.

'If you're built like we are, if you throw the ball 50-some times, it usually means you're chasing somebody from behind,” Ferentz said Tuesday. 'It wasn't by design, but that's sometimes the bottom line. If we get in that situation again, we're going to have to find a way to be more successful than we were that day.”

BEATHARD WAS READY, IS READY

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard suffered a hip pointer against Indiana but said he was available to play against Maryland. In fact, there was some discussion that he would go in the game.

'There was a point at halftime where (offensive coordinator Greg) Davis was telling me we're going to try to get you in in the second half,” Beathard said. 'But it just didn't work out.”

When asked if Beathard was in the plans for this week, Ferentz said, 'I think he's fine and Jake's fine, so we'll let them both go.”

Beathard replaced an injured Rudock against Pittsburgh and led the Hawkeyes to a comeback victory. Beathard started the next week at Purdue, and Iowa won 24-10. During the Hawkeyes' first bye week, Davis said he planned to play both quarterbacks against Indiana. Rudock threw 27 passes while Beathard tossed five that game.

The workload in practice hasn't changed, Beathard said.

'Nothing's really different,” he said. 'Maybe I got a few reps here and there, but it wasn't like I was working in a lot with the ones.

'It can be frustrating at times, but I've just got to keep the faith and it's all going to work out. Just got to be positive in everything and try to make the best out of every opportunity that you have. You have to be positive and keep your faith with God, talk to God. I talk to my family about everything.”

TIGHT SIDELINES

Tight sidelines at Kinnick Stadium lead to proximity between opposing players and Iowa fans. Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald knows this all too well going back to his playing days in the mid-1990s through his current job as head coach.

'It's definitely unique in Kinnick. I really enjoyed as a player playing out there because they knew more about me than I knew about myself,” Fitzgerald said with a laugh. 'They're a well-educated fan base, they do a great study on Twitter and Facebook of knowing who your friends are and your family. They demonstrate good sportsmanship, and it's a good environment to play in.

'It's a challenging place to play, but as a road team it's fun to play in those types of environments. The fans are awesome.”

Northwestern freshman running back Justin Jackson visited Iowa before picking the Wildcats. He and his teammates have discussed Kinnick's atmosphere in preparation for Saturday's game.

'I've heard a lot of stories,” Jackson said. 'A lot of great stories, a lot of funny stories. I can't wait to experience that because I know it's going to be wild. I'm sure those fans do their research. You've got to be ready for it.”

ALL-TIME GREAT

Beathard's grandfather, Bobby Beathard, was among the 11 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's inaugural contributors' category. Bobby Beathard served as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs in the mid-1960s, player personnel director for the Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s, general manager of the Washington Redskins from 1978 through 1989 and general manager of the 1990s San Diego Chargers. In all, he worked for or guided eight different teams to the Super Bowl. Four of his teams - two in Miami, two in Washington - won Super Bowl titles.

C.J. Beathard traveled to his Tennessee home during the bye and saw his parents and his grandfather.

'He's so humble, he's not going to say much about it,” C.J. Beathard said. 'I think without a doubt he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Over the next five years, eight contributors will be discussed for Hall of Fame enshrinement. This year's selections include former Packers general manager Ron Wolf and former Colts, Panthers and Bills executive Bill Polian. The Hall of Fame selection committee votes on candidates on Jan. 31.

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