By FRANK PASTOR and ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published December 27, 2003
TAMPA - No offense to South Florida, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said, but the Hawkeyes are happy their itinerary doesn't include trips to the north Tampa university.
Originally scheduled to practice at USF, Iowa switched to Jesuit High School, a short drive from the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel where the team is staying, and just down the street from Raymond James Stadium.
"We just felt like this might be a little bit more practical from the standpoint that it's closer to the hotel," Ferentz said. "That was a 10-minute bus ride going home, which, believe it or not, that's No. 1 on the players' agenda. Keeping them off the bus is important. We just felt like this would be a comfortable location."
HERE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: After arriving Wednesday, Iowa celebrated Christmas with a meal Thursday. "We just ate together as a team, (tried to) make it feel as close as we could to a family atmosphere," running back Fred Russell said. "We just spent a lot of time together." Ferentz said arriving before Christmas allowed Iowa to work on its game plan and on areas it could not in Iowa City, such as throwing.
INJURY REPORT: Iowa wide receiver Ramon Ochoa did not practice Friday because of the flu.
"If we had played he could have played, but he's weak so we figured why screw around?" Ferentz said. "He'll be fine. The big thing now is, don't let anybody else get around him. But we've got him quarantined, so I think we're out of the woods."
Defensive back Bob Sanders was helped off the field, suffering from dehydration. He, too, is expected to be ready to play Thursday.
PRICE TO PAY: Tight end Tony Jackson and linebacker George Lewis did "crab crawls" after practice as punishment for missing curfew. "We're giving them a little rope," Ferentz said, "and now we're starting to reel it in a little bit."
FAMILIAR FACES: Jesuit coach Bill Schmitz and Armwood coach Sean Callahan attended Iowa's practice. Schmitz expects to be at the field for all Iowa practices. The Hawkeyes do not practice today and Schmitz will attend Otto Graham's funeral in Sarasota. Schmitz played quarterback under Graham at the Coast Guard Academy. Defensive backs Antwan Allen and Chris Brevi played for Callahan at Armwood.
HOMECOMING: Four Tampa natives return home this week with the Gators: freshman wide receiver Andre Caldwell (Jefferson), junior punter Jason Hunter (Tampa Catholic), freshman offensive lineman Zach King (Woodberry) and senior offensive lineman Shannon Snell (Hillsborough).
Snell said this second straight Outback appearance is an honor: "I know it's hard to believe, but it feels great to me. I'm going to end my career in Tampa. That's where I'm from and that's kind of one of my dreams was to end my college career here. It feels great just to know that it all started there and it's all going to end there."
The Gators convened Friday and practice today at the University of Tampa.
