Iowa news and notes

Norm retiring? Not as far as Ferentz knows

University of Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz wasn’t ready for the shock he received around noon on Monday. That’s when he heard that Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker had announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2010 season.

“Just about 15 minutes ago, somebody mentioned he had announced he’s retiring at the end of the year, and I was a little upset because I was hoping he’d tell me maybe before the media,” said Ferentz, eliciting a laugh from the group surrounding him at the Big Ten Football Media Days. “I saw Norm last week. He’s fired up, ready to go. I think he’s ready for camp, excited about this year.

“He’s never indicated any thoughts of quitting.”

Ferentz said Parker will coach from the press box again this season, something he did for part of 2009.

“He’s diabetic, that’s not going to go away, not going to change,” Ferentz said. “He won’t be on his feet a lot. We’re going to try to be guarded with him.

New faces in the o-line mix

The big question mark this year for Iowa is the offensive line, which was gutted by graduation, leaving them with one veteran, Julian Vandervelde, with substantial starting experience. Riley Reiff was a revelation last year as a freshman, but this year several new faces have to break into the fold.

“Some of the guys that we’re really counting on are guys that I think really have a realistic chance to continue to improve,” said Ferentz. “(Markus) Zusevics is a guy that had a nice spring, and his growth is all in front of him. Adam Gettis is the same way.”

“I feel good about the group,” Ferentz continued. “Their attitude’s been great, and most of the guys in the top seven or eight right now are guys that have been around, with the exception of maybe Nolan MacMillan and Conor Boffeli, but we think those guys are going to have a chance to get in there and compete a little bit.”

Still, Ferentz said that based off what they saw at the end of the spring, the team wasn’t going to be beating many people up front. He is confident they’ll get there, though. That’s what the 29 days of practice between this Friday’s first practice and the opener are for.

Hampton, Binns suspended

Iowa will be down two potential starters when they open a promising 2010 campaign.

Running back Jewel Hampton and defensive end Broderick Binns have been suspended for the season opener against Eastern Illinois for off-field incidents, Coach Kirk Ferentz said Monday at the Big Ten Football Media Days.

Derby staying put

Despite reports surfacing in the last 48 hours, it appears as though Iowa City High standout A.J. Derby, an incoming freshman, will be remaining a quarterback.

It was reported this weekend that Derby was moving to the defensive side of the ball, becoming a linebacker to get on the field earlier than he would under center. Ferentz knew nothing of those reports, though, and said the team has no plans of moving him from quarterback.

"Our plans are to keep him there, unless he would come to us and say he wants to do something else,” said Ferentz.