Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker said after the game that Iowa's defensive linemen told coaches they were good to go and didn't need substition late in the game. Iowa D-linemen said this, too, after the game. The rationale from Parker was they gave Iowa the best chance to win. The No. 2s must not be ready. At the physical pace they put up Saturday night, how long can they last. I saw Kenny Iwebema walk up a flight of stairs after the game. He looked sore, limping the whole way.
Kirk Ferentz gave a thumbs up to O-tackle Dace Richardson. Richardson played tackle after Julian Vandervelde left with an ankle injury. I think this is the O-line you're going to see for awhile -- Richardson and Seth O on the right, Raf at center and Meade and Calloway on the left. Vandervelde was cleared to go back into the game.
Tony Moeaki suffered elbow and hand injuries, Ferentz said. He suffered a dislocated elbow and a broken hand. On the same freaking play! No timetable was given, but he's out until the bowl or longer.
Andy Brodell suffered a severe hamstring injury, Ferentz said. Who knows on that one. Devan Moylan lost last season to a severe hamstring injury. Nine years of doing this, you can kind of read Ferentz's mood when he discusses injuries. He was grim last night.
Ferentz said the team grew, but that's not what they came to Madison for. He said the race is a lap in and there's a lot football left.
Here is referee Dave Witvoet's explanation of the P.J. Hill crazy fumble deal in the first half (I'm just pumping in his raw quotes because I don't know the rule and I don't care to know it at this point in the evening): "We had a whistle blown while the ball was loose in the end zone. It was an inadvertant whistle. By rule, come back and [the] offensive team has a choice to either replay the down or take the ball where the ball was fumbled. So Wisconsin would like to take the ball at the 3-yard line where it was fumbled."
Yes, Witvoet is the official that sent Ferentz into fits at Michigan last year.
More Witvoet (on why Wisconsin got the choice): "That's because the ball was loose. Nobody had the ball. When you blow an inadvertant whistle, nobody has the ball. You have to go back to the point where the ball was lost, which on this play was at the 3."
Who knows where he got the 3, but other than that, it sure sounds plausible.