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A guy has to feel comfortable in his own skin.
That’s one reason it is hard to fault A.J. Derby for making the decision he made when he asked for and was granted a release from his scholarship from the Iowa football program.
It’s obvious that Derby first and foremost wants to be a quarterback, something that wasn’t going to happen as long as he continued to wear an Iowa uniform.
He did earn a role as a back-up at the onset of the 2011 season, but the reality was that Derby would have never beaten out James Vandenberg for the starting position and with talented freshman Jake Rudock prospect redshirting last fall, it is reasonable to assume that the opportunity to take controls of the Iowa offense probably wasn’t going to be there once Vandenberg’s career is completed after next season.
Coming off of a suspension, Derby did accept the chance to make a move to the defensive side of the ball in mid-October.
He worked out at linebacker the rest of the season but despite the number of injuries Iowa dealt with there, it seems unlikely that the athletic Iowa City High product would have ever been comfortable there or at any other spot on the defensive side of the ball.
Derby’s statement issued Monday seems to indicate that he believes his best potential lies elsewhere on the field, most likely in a return to the quarterback position he filled as a high school player and was recruited at by Iowa.
He’ll have to go elsewhere to make that happen, but it’s tough to blame a guy who simply wants to play a game he loves from a position that leaves him in his comfort zone.

Iowa football recruit Drew Ott is among high school players named to the Parade Magazine all-American team that you can read about in Sunday’s Quad-City Times.
The versatile 6-foot-4, 245-pound Ott was named to the team as a lineman and committed to the Hawkeyes last summer as a defensive end.
He plays eight-man football at Giltner High School in south-central Nebraska and he lined up at a multitude of positions this season for the Hornets, who finished 10-1 and reached the Class D2 state quarterfinals.
On offense, Ott played tight end, fullback and quarterback and enjoyed success at each.
He recorded 52 receptions for 960 yards and 18 touchdowns, rushed for 62 yards and scored twice on 13 carries and completed 7-of-8 passes for 99 yards and one score.
He was equally effective on defense, where he saw playing time as an end and linebacker.
Ott recorded 122 tackles, forced four fumbles and intercepted four passes on a defense which allowed an average of 165 yards per game.
Other than creating that type of havoc on the football field, Ott finds time to maintain a 3.98 GPA in the classroom and is a standout on the basketball and track teams at Giltner.
Ott is among 18 players who are currently committed to the Hawkeye program, the bulk of which will sign binding letters of intent on Feb. 1.

When the Iowa football team trots onto the turf at Chicago’s Soldier Field next September to open its 2012 schedule against Northern Illinois, the Hawkeyes will open the year with a new opening-day body at running back for the fourth straight season.
Marcus Coker’s departure from the program on Tuesday guarantees that.
It is likely the dirty little details of Coker’s suspension for violation of university policy and the school’s student-athlete code of conduct and his subsequent decision to not seek reinstatement will remain shrouded in the secrecy of privacy laws and regulations.
Coker isn’t talking. University officials certainly are not talking. And the next time Kirk Ferentz steps behind a microphone at a news conference, don’t expect any earth-shattering developments.
While it is known that Coker was investigated for an alleged assault, no charges were filed in part because the unidentified victim in this instance did not want them pursued.
That does not preclude the university from handing out its own discipline, which apparently resulted in Coker’s suspension from the Insight Bowl.
University officials will not say the investigation and suspension are related, saying only that Coker violated university policies and thus, also violated the student-athlete code of conduct.
Now released from his scholarship and free to search for a place to complete his collegiate career, Coker does claim on his Facebook page that he had been punished for something he did not do.
Ferentz chose in this instance, as he did when Mika’il McCall left the program a week earlier, not to comment on the early exits.
No thanks for your contributions, best wishes for the future.
The silence speaks volumes.
In today’s world, that silence is heard by recruits, some of whom turned to social media to question what is taking place within the Hawkeye program.
Verbal commits Jaleel Johnson and Maurice Fleming are among those who told the world through Facebook and Twitter that they question what is taking place and wonder why another gifted running back has taken his game and left Iowa City.
With the start of the NCAA’s signing period for football three weeks from today, they’re looking for some answers.
Maybe they’ll get them even if the program’s fans are being left in the dark.

Several former Hawkeyes are on the move as January nears its midpoint.

Chad Greenway was named today to first-ever Pro Bowl assignment. A Hawkeye from 2002-05, Greenway completed his most productive season for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month, recording a career-high 174 tackles.
“Even though we didn’t have the kind of season we wanted to as far as winning games, we have guys who are proud and want to get back to the top,” Greenway said in a statement on the Vikings’ website announcing his selection.
“I’m honored to be thought of as a Pro Bowler and will make the most of the opportunity.”
Greenway, who recorded a career-high 22 tackles in a game against Oakland this season, replaces injured Chicago Bear Lance Briggs on the Pro Bowl roster.
Greenway has been getting things done off the field as well. The Vikings recognized him as their “Community Man of the Year” in 2011 for his charitable work in the Twin Cities.

As suspected, Mike Stoops wasn’t just hanging around on the sidelines with his brother at the Insight Bowl.
The former Hawkeye and ex-Arizona head coach will rejoin brother Bob Stoops’ staff at Oklahoma for the 2012 season. He’ll work as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the Sooners.

Two former Hawkeyes have been involved in a shake up of the staff at Notre Dame.
Bob Diaco was promoted to assistant head coach after working the past two years as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.
Diaco retains those responsibilities after coaching a unit which has allowed fewer than 21 points in each of the last two seasons — a first for Notre Dame in the past decade.
Former Hawkeye Kerry Cooks now has added responsibilities there as well. Cooks is now the co-defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, where worked as the outside linebackers coach in 2010 and cornerbacks coach in 2011.

Nobody should be surprised that Riley Reiff opted to take the money and run. The Iowa offensive lineman’s early exit for the NFL is the result of the work and effort he has put into his game since arriving at Iowa and as coach Kirk Ferentz alluded to last week, while he knows his 2012 team would be better with Reiff as part of its offensive line, he also realizes that Reiff had to do what was best for him.
The lifespan of linemen in the NFL is a short one and already 23 years old, Reiff made a wise decision to take his game to the next level where new challenges await.
A soft-spoken player in front of the media, Reiff learned well from watching Bryan Bulaga work and embracing the suggestions he made when Reiff was still cutting his teeth on the college game.
Now, Ferentz can only hope that Reiff has passed that along as well to younger players in the Hawkeye program.
Redshirt freshmen Andrew Donnal and Brandon Scherff and sophomore Brett Von Sloten have seen some time this season and freshman Jordan Walsh redshirted this year, but appears to have a promising future.
Left tackle isn’t the only area of change that the Hawkeyes are dealing with.
Mika’il McCall says he is going through with his plans to transfer. We’ll never know what type of career McCall would have had in an Iowa uniform. He had a promising start, gaining 61 yards on nine carries against Tennessee Tech after performing well in preseason practices.
McCall worked hard to return to the field after breaking an ankle in that season-opening game, but a fumble two carries into his return at Purdue and his suspension for violating team rules two days later brought his rookie season to an abrupt end.
The fumble wasn’t the only rookie mistake made by McCall, whose disgruntled rants on Facebook – where he complained about his lack of playing time and raised an eyebrow or two.
He later announced briefly that he was leaving the program, only to remove the post within a matter of hourse after being bombarded with messages from angry fans.
McCall reaffirmed what he posted Tuesday night, that he doesn’t plan to return to Iowa.
While he showed promise with his skill on the field, his off-field behavior seemed to hint that he was headed toward an oil-and-water existence with Iowa coaches and for a freshman, that has never been a good thing.
Iowa did land a highly-rated running back in Greg Garmon on Tuesday. The two-time all-state back is from Erie, Pa., a place that has sent Bob Sanders, Ed Hinkel and Jovon Johnson to the Iowa program in the past.
They’ve all brought a toughness to the program and played the game with an attitude which allowed them to succeed.
Garmon’s credentials are good. We’ll all learn together over time if that translates to success on the field.

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.