Hlas: Meade switches sides, but still a loyal Hawkeye

Travis Meade, team player.

He started seven games at offensive guard as a sophomore. But the on the first day of spring practice, senior-to-be Meade was asked to shift from offensive lineman to defensive tackle.

Some players would balk or sulk. After getting assurance moving to defense was how he could best help his team, Meade agreed to the switch on the spot.

He's only taken a couple of snaps on defense through four games, those late in the 35-3 win over Iowa State. Tackles Karl Klug and Christian Ballard won't cede meaningful playing time anytime soon.

Other than his role on Iowa's field goal and PAT units, Meade may not play today against Arkansas State unless Iowa builds a considerable lead.

But when I recently asked Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz to name an unsung guy on his team who matters, it was as if he couldn't name say Meade's name fast enough.

“You really respect guys like that,” Ferentz said. “If you're Bryan Bulaga or Adrian Clayborn, right now everybody knows who they are. But here's a guy who isn't getting a lot of fanfare, but he's there every day making a good contribution.”

A state wrestling champion at Iowa City West, Meade walked on at Iowa to play football. He gradually earned playing time at guard as a red-shirt freshman. A scholarship followed.

The offensive line got depleted in 2007, and Meade went from second-team center in the spring to starting left guard for the season-opener. He played every offensive down in Iowa's game at Penn State that year.

But Bulaga emerged at guard in midseason that year, and the O-line's lineup was a tough nut to crack in 2008. Meanwhile, Iowa's defensive line depth wasn't great entering this season.

Defensive coordinator Norm Parker and defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski saw Meade as someone with the size and skills to handle a change like that. Meade said offensive line coach Reese Morgan concurred.

“Coach Morgan said ‘I hate to lose you, with your game experience and you being an older guy, but right now it's probably your best fit,'” Meade said.

The coaches weren't snowing him. Meade is a second-team defensive tackle. He won't budge Klug or Ballard from the lineup, but neither would forklifts.

“I do know that if you're on the field, you've earned it,” Meade said. “That's the best thing about playing at Iowa.”

But he has helped. He is the only senior on the defensive line two-deeps.

“He's been a good mentor out there,” Ferentz said. “He's an older player who understands how hard you have to work. He's an example of a guy who when he's been called upon, he's been ready and did his absolute best.”

“It was kind of funny,” Meade said. “That first day of spring ball, as soon as I walked into the (defensive line's) room those guys all said ‘All right, Meade, all right!'”

Which says plenty, since those D-linemen had battled Meade in practice.

They have helped him grasp assignments. In return, they pick his brain to learn what offensive linemen look for on the line of scrimmage.

Meade, who has made those seven starts, doesn't want to play tackle today unless it's to mop up for Ballard or Klug.

“I'd rather have it be because of a rout than an injury,” Meade said.

There's a name for that. Team player.