Hawks set to put loss in rear view

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By Steve Batterson | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:47 AM CDT | () comments

IOWA CITY — The soul searching ended at about the same time the attitude adjustment began Tuesday afternoon for the Iowa football team.

Still stinging from last week’s upset loss at Indiana, the Hawkeyes were ready to return to the practice field and turn their thoughts to Saturday’s game at second-ranked Michigan.

“Any loss is difficult, but when the outcome is something you don’t expect you tend to go back and re-evaluate everything that you did leading up to the game, looking for answers,’’ Iowa kicker Kyle Schlicher said.

Hawkeyes players are encouraged to limit their reflections to the day after each game, but that can be easier said than done.

“What happened last Saturday was unacceptable. It wasn’t Iowa football,’’ cornerback Adam Shada said. “It’s been tough to get the feeling from that one out my stomach. It was a tough loss for everybody.”

Coach Kirk Ferentz described his team’s mood at Sunday’s film session as “sullen.”

He also said his team needed to move forward beginning with Tuesday’s workout or risk turning one loss into a two-game streak.

“We didn’t play with the attitude we have to play with to be successful last weekend and that is something we have to do a better job with,” Ferentz said.

Shada expected the Hawkeyes to be greeted by an aggressive approach at Tuesday’s practice.

“I think the tempo will be set in practice the next few days,” he said. “I think we need to practice with more intensity and tempo, something that will get us all going again.”

Ferentz agreed, saying his team’s ability to compete with Michigan this weekend will likely be determined on the practice field in the days leading up to Saturday’s game.

“We dissected everything we need to do better — and there were a lot of things to dissect —on Sunday, but the proof will be in the pudding,” Ferentz said. “It will come down to how we choose to work and perform. If we perform the way we did last week, we’re probably not going to beat anybody in our conference, let alone an opponent with the abilities of Michigan.”

Ferentz, who called the 7-0 Wolverines “the best Michigan team we’ve prepared for in my eight years back” is hopeful that Iowa will regain the services of several players this weekend.

He gives Albert Young the best chance to return among the handful of Hawkeyes who sat out against Indiana because of injuries.

Young, who has missed the Hawkeyes’ last two games with a knee sprain, returned to practice on Tuesday.

He expects to be on the field in some capacity this weekend, although Ferentz said that will be determined by what he sees in practices the next few days.

“My knee is feeling better every day. It’s a matter of what role the coaches have in mind for me,” Young said. “I’m not 100 percent, but to me this week is like Ohio State week and it’s good enough to go.”

Ferentz lists two players who left last week’s game with slight knee injuries, receiver Dominique Douglas and running back Shonn Greene, as the next most-likely players to return this week.

He said that safeties Marcus Paschal and Marcus Wilson are both also expected to be available to face the Wolverines.

Ferentz indicated he is less hopeful about the return of defensive tackle Mitch King and offensive lineman Dace Richardson for Saturday’s game.

“So much will come down to how guys practice this week and what they show us by Thursday,” Ferentz said.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.

Iowa items

* Receivers Andy Brodell and Herb Grigsby will battle for a starting assignment this week, coach Kirk Ferentz said.

* Brodell currently is listed as the starter in place of Grigsby based on his recent play.

“They’ve got a pretty good battle going and we’ll see how practices go this week,” Ferentz said.

Trey Stross is listed as the starter at the receiver position injured Dominique Douglas has started at the past five games.

* Iowa players say they see a lot of similarities between Michigan and the Ohio State team the Hawkeyes lost to on Sept. 30.

“Both of those teams have so many athletes,” strong safety Miguel Merrick said. “Watching Michigan on tape is exactly like watching Ohio State, so we know what they’re going to bring.”

* Northern Illinois has returned around 400 tickets from its allotment for its 11 a.m. game on Oct. 28 game at Iowa. Those tickets are for sale at the Iowa athletic ticket office at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.