The Hlog by Mike Hlas
Wednesday’s Hawkeyes Reading Room – Mark Dantonio on the grieving process, Iowa remains one of the best vs. the pointspread
Posted on Oct 28, 2009 by Mike Hlas.
Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio was still a little down in the dumps Tuesday morning. It was the third day after the Spartans’ 15-13 loss at Iowa.
From this Detroit News story:
Dantonio received some encouragement from players at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday when he arrived at MSU’s football facility. As some players were on their way out of the building, they saw Dantonio and slapped him on his behind to help him get fired up for Saturday’s visit to Minnesota.
“We’re in this together,” said Dantonio of the gesture. “It’s a good feeling.”
Dantonio explained how the grieving process works in this Associated Press story:
“First, there’s shock and denial,” Dantonio said of the last-play 15-13 loss to the Hawkeyes. “It’s ‘How could this happen? From complete celebration to their last drive, it couldn’t happen, not again!’ Next comes pain and guilt.”
Dantonio continued with stages three through six: anger and bargaining, depression and reflection, the upward turn and reconstruction and working through.
“Finally, there’s acceptance and hope,” Dantonio said. “That’s where we’re at. We have to move on. When you’re in a family, it doesn’t mean everyone always gets along. But in times of crisis, you come together.”
Indiana, which plays at Iowa Saturday, has already suffered a loss this week as this Indianapolis Star story tells us:
Indiana football’s recruiting class of 2010 took a major hit this week when prized recruit Jibreel Black withdrew his commitment to the Hoosiers and announced his decision to play for his hometown team, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.
Black, a 6-2, 253-pound defensive end from Wyoming High School in Cincinnati, was considered IU’s top-rated recruit. He committed to the Hoosiers in late June.
Former Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis, who gave Iowa fits (along with splendid wide receiver James Hardy), is in legal trouble at his new school, Valdosta State.
Lewis, the starting quarterback for that Division II team, was charged with battery on Oct. 15.
Kellen Lewis in happier times
In 2006, Lewis completed 19 of 25 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns to lead Indiana to a 31-28 upset of the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes in Bloomington. Hardy caught all three of the TD throws.
The next year in Iowa City, Lewis threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns. One was fumbled and taken 71 yards for a TD by Lewis himself in the Hoosiers’ 38-20 win.
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz noted Tuesday that Indiana and Northwestern, Iowa’s next two opponents, have both won two of their last three games against the Hawkeyes.
Finally, sure, Iowa is 8-0 and Indiana is 4-4. But in Las Vegas, the two are equals. This item tells us they both are 5-2 against the spread this season. Only Ohio State, at 6-2, is better in the Big Ten.
Illinois is the league’s worst cover team at 1-6.
As the Wiz of Odds laid it out brilliantly earlier this month, Iowa entered this season third among all FBS teams in covering the point-spread this decade with a 58.9 percent success rate. That has only gone up with this year’s performance to date.
Jeebus
28. Oct, 2009
Third against the spread in the last decade? Wouldn't that mean the national perception of Iowa football is lower than it should be? Maybe there is something to this; "lack of respect" thing.
FishinIowa
28. Oct, 2009
The spread can also FAVOR a team, this is usually where Iowa comes up short, they don't blow teams out as expected, UNI and Ark St for instance. Respect for the team has little to do with setting the line, it all about buisness. The bokies don't like any team and set the line on that, they work much harder than that.
Jeebus
28. Oct, 2009
I understand that the bookies don't care.
Iowa "Lost" versus the spread in the games you mentioned. This article was about how often they've "won" against the spread.
What I was implying was that in order to get people to jump in on the "iowa" side of the bet the bookies are having to give Iowa more points than they need.
For example: When the line came out with Iowa favored against Michigan State, the money all went to the Michigan State side of the bet. In order to even out the books, the line moved in favor of MSU so that people would take Iowa.
What this means is that the "betting public" has a perception of Iowa that is beneath what they are in reality.
Trailbandit
28. Oct, 2009
Colin Sandeman took a devastating hit to the head last week, leaving him twitching in a state of unconsciousness. The coach now says, “All is clear” from a medical standpoint. “The CT was negative!”
But don’t you feel some responsibility as a media outlet to discuss whether or not this player should be considered for the next game, or even the rest of the season?
If you would bother to do even the smallest amount of research, it would reveal that football and traumatic brain injury go hand-in-hand. The CT machine can’t show damage such as a bruised brain or blood vessels preparing to burst. The team physician should be well-versed in sports injuries and the risk of repetitive head trauma. He probably has the power to suggest to the coach that the season is over for this young man. He certainly has a medical and moral obligation to consider what could happen if that head is slammed again inside the helmet. Perhaps even a legal obligation to protect the player?
Trailbandit
28. Oct, 2009
I don’t want to see this young kid suffering from dementia when he’s 40. I don’t want to see him suffering from cognitive dysfunction when he’s 30. I don’t want him drooling on his tux at his daughter’s wedding in a few years. A pro football player judges risk and reward and makes decisions as a full adult. A college player has coaches, trainers, and team doctors to help him make those decisions.
It would be good if the media put some pressure on the listeners, readers, and bloggers to consider the effect of putting this player back in the game this week. What if he doesn’t get up the next time he’s hit?
Carl_Spackler
28. Oct, 2009
Head injury is SO tough since the *players* want so much to be in the game.
Playing with a few muscle aches is part of the game. So if all you have is a low level headache, it's too easy to pound your chest and scream, "Coach!! Let me in!!!"
MikeHlas
28. Oct, 2009
Trailbandit, the Sandeman situation has been lost in the shuffle a bit.
However … I highly doubt he'll be playing this week. From every indication Kirk Ferentz gave Tuesday, he won't be.
What Sandeman's situation will be after this week, I have no idea. It will bear watching, and your concern is fully justified.
MikeHlas
29. Oct, 2009
Ferentz said tonight that Sandeman is at least a week away.