Iowa media day notebook: Replacing Angerer and Edds, Parker not retiring, Iowa ranked 10th
The names of Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds no longer grace the Iowa football team roster.
Instead, they're playing for a paycheck in "The League."
Head coach Kirk Ferentz is well-aware of the void left behind in their absence — so aware he mentioned their names no less than three times each on Friday.
"Defensively, our focus is on replacing a couple of outstanding graduates we had," Ferentz said at his press conference at Kinnick Stadium, which kicked off the 2010 Iowa Football Media Day. "Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds were excellent players, and tremendous leaders, as well."
But as huge as their roles were on the squad's defense last year — not only physically, but in their communication — the Hawkeyes' cupboard is definitely not empty.
Everyone knows about Iowa's front four on the defensive line that boasts the likes of Adrian Clayborn, Broderick Binns, Christian Ballard, and Karl Klug.
So much so that the back two — the safety pairing of Tyler Sash and Brett Greenwood — can be overlooked, as good as the duo is.
"That's for you guys to come up with," Sash said. "But we're just going to go out and play the best football each and every week. I know that sounds cliché, but that's all I'm going to say. I'm not going to be a big quote guy."
The now 12-year Hawkeye head coach even caught himself mentioning the losses of Angerer and Edds a little too frequently during his press conference. Ferentz talked about the safety position as if it was one of the positions he was most comfortable with entering the season.
And rightfully so — Sash and Greenwood have combined for 18 career interceptions.
"I keep harping on losing Angerer and Edds, but we have got two guys back there that are really veteran guys," Ferentz said. "You know, those [positions] are critical — I think it's good for any defense to be strong up the middle, certainly. And safety play is really important in most teams' defense, certainly is in our scheme."
Parker not going anywhere
Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker reaffirmed what Ferentz said earlier this week at the 2010 Big Ten Football Media Days: he has no plans of retiring.
Rumors of the 68-year-old coach's impending retirement made the rounds on Twitter early Monday morning before Ferentz doused said rumors.
On Friday, it was Parker himself completely stamping out those questions
"I heard that was a roar," Parker said. "But there was no truth to that. Probably the only two ways I'll leave is if they carry me out or Kirk [Ferentz] will fire me. One of the two."
Parker had multiple toes removed last year due to infections, and as a result, he coached from the press box in multiple games last season. He is expected to be there for every one of Iowa's games in 2010.
Parker is entering his 12th season as Iowa's defensive coordinator and is also a diabetic.
Griggs to transfer
Ferentz also announced during his press conference that redshirt sophomore tight end J.D. Griggs had informed the staff he plans to transfer to a school "somewhere closer to home out East."
The 6-5, 260-pounder hails from Piscataway, N.J.
"We certainly wish him the best," Ferentz said.
Hawkeyes ranked 10th
Iowa is ranked 10th in the USA Today preseason coaches' poll, which was also released Friday. At No. 2, Ohio State is the highest ranked Big Ten team. Other league members slotted in the top 25 include Wisconsin (12) and Penn State (14). Michigan State and Northwestern missed out on the Top 25 but both schools received votes.
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