With coach ailing, Iowa’s defense rises, saves the day

IOWA CITY - After Iowa took its final knee Saturday, Norm Parker gathered himself and was helped back into his wheelchair.

Iowa's 68-year-old defensive coordinator spent time in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics this week receiving antibiotic treatment because of complications with a foot infection. He called Iowa's defense from the press box for the first time since 2004, when a similar foot situation kept him off the sidelines.

Parker called a masterpiece in No. 7 Iowa's 42-24 victory over Indiana.

The Hawkeyes (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) don't tweak their 4-3 defense a lot, but Indiana's spread/pistol/wildcat offense called for a ton of personnel changes, including a dime package that rushed three and had six defensive backs in coverage. Iowa doesn't do anything extravagant, but the personnel groups and one very well-timed cornerback blitz came from the last Iowa coach out of the press box.

“They said he was all fired up, so he must be doing all right,” linebacker A.J. Edds said. “We don't have a complex, intricate defense, but I don't want to take any credit away. He puts us in great positions.”

Parker, who struggles with diabetes, had a toe amputated because of infection in July. That was his second such amputation. He also lost a toe in 2004.

“He's been pushing the envelop,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He's got that foot (problem). Probably, realistically, he's been moving around more than he should the past 14 weeks or whatever. We're just trying to protect him.”

Ferentz said whether Parker returns to the sidelines will be evaluated on a weekly basis. Right now, he'll likely stay in the press box.

“We've got to get him set,” Ferentz said.

Norm's defense might've had its finest moment of the season in the third quarter.

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi set the table for the Hoosiers (4-5, 1-4) with four third-quarter interceptions. With starting field positions at Iowa's 4, 24 and Indiana's 46, the Hoosiers managed just three points, Nick Freeland's 37-yard field goal for a 24-14 lead.

Not only did Norm's D shut down the Hoosiers, it struck for the Hawkeyes on safety Tyler Sash's 86-yard interception return on a batted ball. A Stanzi interception gave IU a first down at Iowa's 4 with a 21-7 lead hanging over the Hawkeyes' heads.

“We never quit, that's how we're taught. Norm never lets us quit,” said D-tackle Christian Ballard, who got a hand on the Sash interception. “Everything he's been through, winning one for him was a priority today.”

This summer, Parker, who might've been back in the hospital Saturday night, joked that when he lost a toe in ‘04, Iowa won a Big Ten title and that, hey, why not make it two toes and two titles.

“I hope he's a prophet,” Ferentz said, “but he also said he's not willing to do this again.”