Iowa-Western Michigan notebook: Lightning delay, Luke Lachey injured, happy to be 3-0
By John Bohnenkamp
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The lightning delays that made Iowa’s home game against Nevada last season go from a Saturday night into Sunday morning weren’t forgotten when the Hawkeyes and Western Michigan were sent to the locker room in the first quarter of Saturday’s game.
At least this time the Hawkeyes were prepared, even if the delay wasn’t quite as long as last season.
The Hawkeyes’ 41-10 win on Saturday included a 42-minute weather delay when a lightning strike was recorded within the 8-mile radius necessary to stop play.
Iowa, though, was ready.
“We said, ‘Just eat and drink water,’ honestly,” left tackle Mason Richman said. “I told the guys, it was just like last year. Third game (of the season), a ‘Gold Out.’ It was, like, textbook.”
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said it all came down to planning.
“You discuss it a little bit in the preseason, and then we had the one in 2019 (at Iowa State),” Ferentz said. “We’ve had practice, and unfortunately it’s ‘Call out for food,’
The delay, though, was short, with a seven-minute warmup after the teams returned.
“It was just one delay. Kind of like halftime a little bit, maybe a little bit extra,” Ferentz said.
Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor, in his first season as head coach, said his staff began putting together a plan this week once the forecast became somewhat clear. Everything was talked about, from getting food and drinks to the players to making sure everyone stayed ready, and then having a procedure for getting prepared to play again.
“I think our guys handled it well,” Taylor said. “I think our guys came out with the right intensity after the delay.”
It’s nothing new for the Hawkeyes.
“It does help,” Ferentz said of the past delays. “I guess in the back of your mind, you know how badly you don’t want this to continue to be a delay because we’ve been through that and boy, it’s rotten.”
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LACHEY INJURED: Iowa lost tight end Luke Lachey to what Ferentz described as a “fairly significant” injury to his right ankle.
Lachey was undercut on an incomplete pass in the first quarter and had to be helped from the field.
“We’ll know more about that in a couple days,” Ferentz said. “They’re assessing that. That’s the one downside (to the game) right there.”
Lachey was Iowa’s leading receiver heading into the game, with 10 catches for 131 yards.
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BEST IN THE WEST? Iowa is the only undefeated team left among the Big Ten West Division teams, but Ferentz looks at the Hawkeyes’ record differently.
“We’re 0-0 in the West — but I’d much rather be 3-0 right now — believe me, I’m not minimizing that,” he said. “That is the goal to win every time you go out there.”
Ferentz did point out that the Hawkeyes are now even in the series against Western Michigan at 2-2.
“I’m just happy to be .500 career-wise now against Western Michigan,” he quipped. “I don’t know if you guys can pile it on there. That hasn’t exactly been a great series for me to be involved.”
The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play next Saturday at No. 7 Penn State.
“I’m happy to be where we’re at,” Ferentz said. “Tomorrow will be a great opportunity to see some things we can get better at, and we’re going to have to. It was like last week, we’re walking into a tough environment. We’re going into another one and playing a really good football team.
“We’ll figure that out tomorrow and start working on that. I’m just happy for our guys and happy to be where we are right now.”
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ANTERIO THOMPSON’S BIG MOMENT: Dubuque native Anterio Thompson had his first big moment as a Hawkeye as he blocked a punt in the third quarter that led to a safety.
The reserve defensive lineman then met with the media afterwards to talk about his play.
“I’ve just been waiting for my name to be called because I knew that I could impact this team in many ways,” Thompson said. “And they ended up putting me on special teams, and with my quickness and size, I just knew I could get back there and I knew I could make a play.”