Open date

And that’s precisely what Ferentz and his Iowa football team have this week.

No game. No road trip. No third-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State to prepare for.

That can wait. The trip to Columbus for a crucial game against the Buckeyes is next week.

Meanwhile, Iowa has some healing to do.

"If we had to play this Saturday, I don’t even know who we’d put out there on the field," Ferentz said today. "I had an injury report meeting this morning, and it’s a little bit concerning.

"We’re really hobbled up right now. We’re the kind of football team that, at this point, we have to expend every ounce of energy we have to (a) get to the game and (b) to try to survive in a game.

"So we really need a break. It’s been a long six weeks. Throw a couple weeks of (preseason) camp on top of that and our No. 1 focus right now is just getting our players’ feet under them and letting them catch their breath. Hopefully, we can have a good week of preparation next week for Ohio State."

"A year ago, probably the worst thing to happen to our team would have been to have a bye week," Ferentz said. "We had a nice rhythm. We had a veteran ballclub and no injuries to speak of. The last thing we wanted was to stop play when we were really in a groove."

Although Iowa is fresh off a 30-27 victory over Michigan that improved its records to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, Ferentz said, "We’re kind of a work in progress right now. Anytime you play a team (such as Ohio State) that is the defending national champion and hasn’t lost in quite some time, it’s going to be a great, great challenge—I guess the biggest we’ve had this year."

"So the Cubs’ fans can sell out the Marlins’ stadium."

"This is a big one, no doubt about it," he writes in an e-mail. "Maybe one of the biggest.’

"It looked bleak. Lousy secondary, impotent offense. And then, POW! Hit ‘em right in the kisser. The second half stats speak for themselves. This is why we pay these coaches the way we do. This is why Kirk Ferentz picked the men he did to lead the Hawks.

"I harken back to Ron Maly’s column (last week) in which he kept saying Michigan was beatable because Lloyd Carr is the Michigan coach.

"Between (announcers) Bob Griese and Ed Podolak, they were scratching their heads all day long. Take heart Hawk fans—Michigan was outcoached….and our players have more heart and soul.

"A bye week will help us get healthy, but going to Columbus is another huge task. I think (at Michigan State) we proved that our youngsters don’t play well at the enemy’s den. But one thing I learned (in the Michigan game), I don’t think we will ever be blown away, home or away.

"Our defense is good enough, in spite of a horrendous number of yards for Michigan. We’ve seen that before with Ferentz’s teams. And still we win. Podolak prodded Clauss after the game to repeat his comment s from last season. Yards don’t win Rose Bowls. Wins do.

"I still wonder why we start so slowly and give up so many points early. I can’t argue with the obvious adjustments our fine coaches make at halftime. As one ABC analyst mentioned: Iowa has adjusted before our very eyes.

"Podolak mentioned twice that this was the best game he has ever seen at Kinnick. I have to agree because I think all the odds were against us and we fell behind early.

"Also, the Fred Russell run was a touchdown. It was a tough call. He never stepped out of bounds and the ball went inside the pylon. It was a TD, to be sure, but that’s the kind of thing you have to deal with in this league.

"In the first half, we almost went left, and I wondered why. I think it’s because Michigan was loading up for it and expecting it. In the second half, we started going left toward Robert Gallery. Obviously, it worked.

"I didn’t think this team had it in them to beat Michigan….especially after (the previous) week. In the Big Ten, you have to hold serve at home to have an impact.

"Our offense is good enough. Just good enough. And it didn’t hurt that we had Mr. Automatic kicking field goals. Clauss won the radio player of the game, but it was Jensen who won the TV player of the game. Jensen is no Dallas Clark after the catch, but he ran great routes and caught the freaking ball when we sorely needed it.

"It seemed to me the team carried the attitude of last year’s team. Never quit. And that should bode well for us in Columbus.

"I know Ed loved this game above all others, and I would put my feelings in that category. We beat a team that many thought would be in the BCS championship game.

"Kirk may really have something going here…..Beating Michigan is sweet, but beating the Buckeyes at their place would be sweeter.

"This wasn’t No. 1 vs. No. 2 (like the 1985 Iowa-Michigan game was), but it is further proof Ferentz has this team on the right track."