Iowa notebook: Lost helmets, injury update and next-men-in
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kinnick Stadium was more than just the scene of a wild post-game celebration this past Saturday.
It also became a souvenir shop for delirious fans as they rushed on to the field to celebrate Iowa’s 14-13 victory over then No. 2 Michigan, which was decided by Keith Duncan’s 33-year field goal as time expired.
During the commotion, several of the Iowa players lost their helmets, including senior quarterback C.J. Beathard.
Most of the helmets were returned by Sunday, but Beathard told reporters on Tuesday that his helmet was reportedly found by a police officer who spotted somebody wearing it Saturday night in downtown Iowa City.
“I really wasn’t even thinking about it,” Beathard said of losing his helmet. “Honestly, that’s the last thing I was thinking about was my helmet. I figured we’d get them back. In the end, we did.”
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters on Tuesday that the number of helmets missing after the game numbered in the teens.
“I think I got that word Sunday sometime,” Ferentz said. “There was some concern there. But it sounds like they all got back in the nest yesterday morning, I think the last one got returned.”
Ferentz praised his team managers for doing all they could to collect the lost items during the chaos on the field.
“The student managers were helping after the game, because anything that wasn't nailed down was being accosted,” Ferentz said. “So I guess those guys, they deserve gold stars for the week.”
INJURY REPORT: Senior cornerback Greg Mabin might have played his last game as an Iowa Hawkeye.
Ferentz said Tuesday that Mabin has a lower-leg fracture and will miss the rest of the regular season.
Mabin saw his string of 31 consecutive starts end against Michigan because of the injury, which occurred last week in practice. He was replaced at cornerback by true freshman Manny Rugamba, who intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Senior offensive lineman Cole Croston also is expected to miss the Illinois game on Saturday because of a leg injury. Croston watched the Michigan game from the sideline with crutches and his leg in a boot.
The news was only slightly better for senior tight end George Kittle, who is doubtful for the Illinois game because of a lingering foot injury.
Starting strong safety Miles Taylor left the Michigan game early in the first quarter with an apparent head injury and did not return. Offensive lineman Ike Boettger also left the game in the second half with an injury and didn’t return.
Senior Anthony Gair replaced Taylor at strong safety, while redshirt freshman Levi Paulsen stepped in for Boettger.
“We’ll take that day-by-day (with Taylor and Boettger), but we can’t count on them to be ready to go,” Ferentz said.
Redshirt freshman walk-on Nate Wieting helped to fill the void left by Kittle’s absence at tight end.
Kittle hasn’t been ruled out for the Illinois game, but Ferentz didn’t seem very optimistic on Tuesday about Kittle's availability for Saturday.
“George Kittle has not been ruled out, but hasn’t done much this week, so I’m not overly optimistic on that front,” Ferentz said.
GAIR SHINES: Iowa’s next-man-in approach was severely tested against Michigan on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes already were missing four starters if you include senior receiver Matt Vandeberg, who has been out since Sept. 26 with a broken foot.
The number quickly climbed to five missing starters after junior strong safety Miles Taylor was removed from the game early in the first quarter with an apparent head injury and didn’t return.
Taylor was replaced by fifth-year senior Anthony Gair, who finished with seven tackles.
Gair’s situation was different than the other players who filled in for starters because Gair had no way of knowing that he would play such a major role, whearas Rugamba had a few days to prepare.
“Yeah, we talked about Manny being a good story; he had 48 hours or 36 to think about it,” Ferentz said. “Anthony had no time at all. And tale of two cities. You've got the first-year guy versus the fifth-year guy.”
Gair has earned Ferentz’s respect for more than just his contributions to the football team.
“He's done a great job, will graduate here in December, graduate school in the spring,” Ferentz said of Gair, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Plano, Texas. “But to have that opportunity, you talk about a showcase moment for him, that's something he'll remember all his life.
“To have a good football team you need the young guys stepping in and doing it, a fifth year senior doing it. And doing it without any real warning, other than, all the guys know if you're not a starter, you always have to be ready.”