Ferentz talks about Robinson, Parker and more

Here's a quick update from Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz on injuries, Norm Parker, recruiting and the team's mood after dropping three straight games to finish the season:

Q: Does running back Adam Robinson expect to return?

A: “He had a concussion. I don't think it was anything more serious than that. So we're expecting him to be back. (Linebacker Jeff) Tarpinian is still questionable, and outside of that I'm trying to think - I haven't thought about that in a while. But I think we should be fairly healthy.”

Q: What about corner backs Shaun Prater and Micah Hyde, both of whom left the Minnesota game with injuries?

A: “I don't think we had anything serious last week outside of Tarp not being ready to go ... The guys we lost for the season we've lost for the season, but Jeff is a guy we're hoping to get back for the bowl game. That would be a real plus if we could get him back.”

Q: Will defensive coordinator Norm Parker have much of a role in preparing for the game?

A: “Well, I think last week was a good week for him, and that's encouraging news. Maybe I'd link him with Jeff Tarpinian, although Norm did more than Tarp last week, so I guess that's a good thing. But we think Tarp is on schedule maybe to have a chance to play in the Bowl, and certainly Norm I think is gaining ground.

“But it's going to be a process. You know, we maybe underestimated that back two months ago. It's been a long road back, and we're just going to take it a day at a time. But he's had a good week. He was in the office, as painful as it was, going back through the Minnesota game and spending time on that, and he was also on the field a couple days. We worked our younger players twice, and he was out there for both practices.

“Hopefully that's an indication where we're heading. I understand he was at the basketball game (Saturday), too, which was great. Those are all positives.”

Q: How will playing against Missouri affect future recruiting?

A: “I hadn't really thought about it that way. I think the good thing is we're playing a team that's really had a great season, is nationally ranked, and has proved that they're a very good football team ... if it helps us in recruiting, I guess it could hurt us, too, if we don't play well.”

Q: How has the staff been received on the recruiting trail?

A: “I think real positive ... I guess we're about two thirds of the way (done) or somewhere in that ballpark. But I think the reception has been great. I think things are positive, and next couple weeks will be real important for us to see how things start to fall into place for us.”

Q: Are there any positions that maybe you're identifying with this class?

A: “Pretty much everything. I don't know where ... wee're looking at everything, obviously ... hopefully we're well on the right track.”

Q: Do you plan to address the team's focus during bowl preparation after losing three straight games to end the season?

“What would you think? You know, to me it really doesn't matter what your record is. If you have a game scheduled ... it's all of our jobs to come and bring our best to the field every week, and that's - we didn't get that done ... we just have to try to do our best moving forward, and that's what we're going to do.”