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Iowa did not get the momentum-building victory it was looking for Friday night at the Insight Bowl, but some things transpired during 31-14 loss to 19th-rated Oklahoma which will benefit the Hawkeyes as they work toward 2012.
Freshman Jordan Canzeri, while not perfect, illustrated potential at the running back position. His skills as a receiver – he caught the first six passes of his collegiate career against Oklahoma – will only make more valuable moving forward.
The play of sophomore Brett Van Sloten at right tackle when lingering problems from an illness forced senior Markus Zusevics off the field may have positioned him to make a strong bid for one of at least two vacancies Iowa will needs to fill on its offensive front next season.
In general, coach Kirk Ferentz liked the attitude and willingness to work he saw from his team throughout bowl preparations.
That effort translated into the demeanor Ferentz wanted to see during the game.
“I thought our guys really competed. That all starts with how you prepare,” Ferentz said. “I think we have enought players right now where we will build on that and we will start thinking about that here in a day or two.”
There are holes to fill – Iowa loses 18 seniors including 10 who started against Oklahoma – and questions to answer.
“That’s college football,” Ferentz said.

Kirk Ferentz has never been a fan of playing non-conference football games on the West Coast, but the dean of Big Ten football coaches is willing to give the new collaborative effort between the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences a try.
“With the tradition of the Rose Bowl and the two conferences, it makes some sense,” Ferentz said.
Iowa has scheduled more Eastern non-conference opponents in recent seasons, in part because Ferentz does not care for playing Saturday night games in the West and then arriving home at about the same time the sun rises on Sunday morning.
“Hopefully, if we end up playing at 6 on a Saturday night in the West they can play at 11 when they come to Kinnick,” Ferentz said.
“It’s just a personal preference, prefer to keep the schedule pretty much the same from one week to the next.”
Ferentz does not mind one byproduct of the new agreement.
The deal which begins in 2017 ends the thought of a nine-game Big Ten conference schedule.
Ferentz was among a number of league coaches who had concerns about the inequity that could present with five home games and four road in one year followed by four home games and five on the road the next.
“If adding a Pac-12 team keeps us from playing the ninth Big Ten game, I’m for that,” Ferentz said. “That was something I was not in favor of.”
Ferentz said the new agreement, which encompasses all sports, will likely end future scheduling of home-and-home games against teams from the East.
“If we are playing a Pac-12 team, we won’t be playing a Syracuse or Pitt like we have in the past few years,” he said. “That will be something we have to take into consideration.”

During today’s media day at the Insight Bowl, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz found himself dealing with a somewhat touchy subject.
Ferentz, who has been less than forthcoming when talking about some of the distractions his team has dealt with during preparations for Oklahoma, was asked what he thinks are fair questions from the media and asked what questions get under his skin.
Ferentz smiled, then said, “Now, there’s an open-ended question. I don’t think we have time. This is only an hour session, right? I’m just teasing.”
Ferentz said he understands that dealing with challenging questions is part of his job.
“Obviously, I’d rather be focused on who is out there practicing, the team we’re playing, that’s what I really enjoy, the football part of things and what have you,” Ferentz said.
“The other part is part of coaching, too. If I don’t like it, then I need to get out. It’s as simple as that.”
Ferentz said that things are scrutinized by a wider audience now than when he got in the business.
“I think we’re getting close to being ridiculous. I understand that’s the world with all the media outlets now and what you, but a lot of it is silly talk and silly questions,” Ferentz said.
It’s also part of the job today.
“The world is changing. I recognize that. At the time when I can’t deal with it, I’ll get out,” Ferentz said. “If that drives me out of coaching, it drives me out, but I doubt it will. I can tolerate a lot of things.”

Iowa defensive players had their first chance to talk publicly about the upcoming retirement of defensive coordinator Norm Parker today and most heaped praise on the coach whose 48-year career ends after Friday’s Insight Bowl game.
“He’s taught us all so much,” Iowa linebacker Tyler Nielsen said.
Players were also asked about potential in-house candidates to replace Parker, and while they were quick to point out that they don’t get a vote in the process, all said frequently-mentioned possibility Phil Iowa defensive backs coach, would be a solid selection.
“He knows the system, and he does a good job with players,” Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater said.
Safety Jordan Bernstine said the Iowa defense would not miss a beat if Parker were selected.
“He has been my position coach since I’ve been here,” Bernstine said. “I’m sure if he were to step in, it would help the defense out a lot.”
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said the process of selecting a successor for Norm Parker, who is not related to Phil Parker, will begin in January.

Iowa running back Mika’il McCall may be doing some holiday shopping as his teammates are in Arizona preparing for a game.
McCall, suspended for a violations of team rules in mid-November, posted briefly on his facebook page that he was spending his holiday break shopping for a new school.
“I’M NOT GOING TO IOWA ANYMORE. LOOKING FOR A NEW SCHOOL” popped up briefly on his page late Christmas night.
The post was later deleted.
McCall, whose facebook posts questioning a lack of playing time as he returned from a broken ankle raised an eyebrow or two, has played since fumbling in the second quarter of Iowa’s win at Purdue on Nov. 19.
He was suspended two days later.

Iowa football team is celebrating Christmas together today in Arizona.
After the Hawkeyes hold their second practice on the fields at Chaparral High School, the team will celebrate the holiday together with a team dinner at their hotel.
The event is a family affair, open to families of coaches, players and staff members who have already made the trip to Arizona.
Iowa players will lift early on Christmas morning and then have the rest of the day off.
“Christmas Day actually times up with a Monday of game week, so it’s kind of a players’ day off,” Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They’ll lift that morning, and then have the rest of the day to themselves. They all voted to have the team dinner on (Christmas) Eve instead of Christmas Day.”

Iowa’s football team cracked the top 20 today without ever stepping on the field.
The Hawkeyes are listed for the first time ever in Forbes magazine’s list of college football’s most valuable teams, checking in at No. 20.
The publication ranks college football programs based on four primary areas. The most-heavily weighted are revenue directed toward university programs including scholarships and revenue generated to support other athletic programs. Dollars generated through bowl revenue and television revenue are also a factor.
Forbes places a value of $48 million dollars on the Hawkeye football program, which generated a profit of $24 million and created $45 million in revenue for the unversity in the most recent year.
The Hawkeyes are the only newcomer on this year’s list, replacing Oklahoma State in the 20th spot.
Author Chris Smith writes, “Academic contributions comprised a significant portion of the Hawkeyes’ value of $48 million. For example, the Iowa athletic department contributed $9 million to the brand new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center last year.”
Iowa’s numbers pale in comparison to the program which tops the rankings — Texas.
Forbes places a value of $129 million on the Longhorns’ program, value that is driven largely by the $71 million in profit generated by the Texas program.
According to the publication, the Longhorn program generated $96 million in revenue last year, including $36 million from ticket sales, $30 million from contributions tied luxury suites and club seating and $10 million in corporate sponsorships.
The 20 teams rated have an average value of $83 million, riding growth in television revenue to a $4 million increase since 2009.
Iowa is one of seven Big Ten institutions ranked on the Forbes list, which ranks Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU and Michigan behind Texas.
The publication notes that Penn State’s value is likely to tumble in its next ranking as a result of fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
Its current rankings place a value of $100 million on the Penn State program and $94 million on the Michigan program. The two generated profits of $53 million and $47 million, respectively in the last year.
No other Big Ten programs rank in the top 10, but Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin hold the 13-15th spots with values of $78 million, $77 million and $67 million respectively. Michigan State ranks 19th, just behind USC and just ahead of Iowa, with its value of $59 million.
Of the top 20, Wisconsin generated the lowest revenue and the least profit. The Badgers generated $43 million in revenue and $20 million in profit, according to the Forbes report.

The last of three releases sent by the Iowa sports information office today involving the Iowa football program today spoke loudly about the times we live in.
Iowa issued a statement this evening announcing that coach Kirk Ferentz had reaffirmed his commitment to Iowa.
It’s the third time in less than three weeks that Ferentz has stated that fact, first at a Dec. 4 news conference when he was asked if he had been contacted about the coaching vacancy at Penn State and last weekend by CBS in reference to his interest in the vacant Kansas City Chiefs job.
In both instances, Ferentz repeated that he was happy at Iowa and intended to be on the Hawkeye sideline next fall.
He repeated those intentions again Tuesday, hours after Iowa announced the departure of an assistant coach and the suspension of its top running back for the upcoming bowl game.
“There continues to be public speculation and questions, as recently as the December 4th press conference, regarding my coaching future at Iowa or elsewhere,” Ferentz said. “To emphasize what I have said previously, I am very happy at Iowa. We have a great staff and group of student athletes, and we receive outstanding support from President Sally Mason and Director of Athletics Gary Barta. I fully intend to be at Iowa next year and well beyond 2012.”
Ferentz attempts to accomplish two things with the statement he released. First, he attempts to put an end to the recurring questions that crop up whenever a job opens that he may even have a remote tie to.
More importantly to his program, he is attempting to reassure recruits that he will be at Iowa next year and into the future. Don’t think that for a minute that rival recruiters haven’t planted other thoughts in the minds of Hawkeye recruits who are wondering what is going on at Iowa, given the departure of the defensive line coach and the announced retirement of defensive coordinator Norm Parker.
Just as this is the season when assistant coaches change jobs, we are also approaching the point in recruiting where rival recruiters have been to embelish situations if they think it may give them an edge.
By being proactive, Ferentz attempts to quiet those thoughts and protect the work Iowa has already done in securing 16 commitments for its 2012 recruiting class.

Following today’s suspension of running back Marcus Coker, the Iowa football program finds itself in a familar position.
For the second straight year, the Hawkeyes are now preparing for a bowl game with running backs who have limited experience.
It’s the same spot that Adam Robinson left Iowa in a year ago when he was suspended from the team prior to the Insight Bowl.
As he was cruising the streets of Des Moines with friends, Coker made the most of an opportunity and responded with 219 rushing yards to help Iowa beat Missouri 27-24.
The Hawkeyes have no shortage of backs who have been waiting in the wings for a chance.
But, there is a difference. Coker had carried 83 times last season before Iowa put the ball in his hands 33 times against Missouri.
This season, De’Andre Johnson, Jordan Canzeri, Damon Bullock and Jason White have combined for 38 carries.
The Hawkeyes’ inability to establish a true back-up back – Mikai’l McCall’s early-season injury and end-of-season suspension derailed the most-likely possibility – may come back to haunt the Hawkeyes as they work toward the Dec. 30 date with Oklahoma.
Coach Kirk Ferentz issued only a brief statement today and does not expect to address the situation before the team leaves for Arizona on Thursday.
In it he concludes, “During the next 10 days, we will focus and continue to prepare the players that are able to participate.”
Next man in, but this time that man will be receiving on-the-job training.

Iowa defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski is being mentioned as a possibility to fill an assistant coaching vacancy at Nebraska.
FootballScoop.com, a coaching website whose tips tend to fairly credible, reports that the fifth-year Hawkeye assistant is among individuals Cornhuskers coach Bo Pelini is considering for a vacancy on his defensive staff.
The web site reports, “Sources close to the program tell us Bo Pelini has targeted Iowa defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski to fill the defensive opening he has. We continue to hear that John Papuchis will be named defensive coordinator.”
Pelini said Friday he will announce his new staff member “when the time’s right,” possibly wanting to wait until after the bowl season to make any move official.
Kaczenski recruits Florida, Georgia and metro Atlanta for the Hawkeyes. He has been on the Iowa staff as an assistant for five years after serving as a graduate assistant with the Hawkeyes for two years.
Kaczenski is a Pennsylvania native and Notre Dame graduate who played for Kirk Ferentz mentor Joe Moore.
Before arriving at Iowa, Kaczenski spent time coaching at Elon, East Tennessee State, South Carolina State, South Carolina and Erie Cathedral Prep in Pennsylvania, his prep alma mater.