Gophers assembled a depleted secondary against Iowa

IOWA CITY – The Gophers were without their two starting cornerbacks, Antonio Shenault and Kiondre Thomas, for Saturday's game at Iowa.

That forced Minnesota to start senior Adekunle Ayinde, a converted safety, and Justus Harris, a true freshman, at cornerback. Starters at safety were junior Jacob Huff and senior Duke McGhee.

Shenault missed his second consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury. Thomas suffered a leg injury Oct. 7 at Purdue, missed the Michigan State game and returned last week against Illinois only to leave the game in the fourth quarter.

In addition, the Gophers again were without safety Antoine Winfield Jr. because of a hamstring injury he aggravated Sept. 30 against Maryland.

On offense, running back Shannon Brooks, tight end Brandon Lingen and guard Vincent Calhoun, who all missed last week's Illinois game because of injuries, returned against Iowa.

Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who coaches from the press box, shouted several obscenities, including a homophobic slur, after the Hawkeyes lost the ball on a video review late in the second quarter.

Iowa's James Butler had a 19-yard reception to the Minnesota 21 with 44 seconds left in the first half, but officials ruled Gophers defensive back Ken Handy-Holly forced and recovered the fumble.

Afterward, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, Brian's father, said he would address the matter.

"I don't know all the details at this given point. What I heard, it's not acceptable,'' the elder Ferentz said. "We're just not going down that road. There's a certain level of professionalism that you have to be operating with, and we'll plan on doing that in the future.''

At the end of the first quarter, the Gophers joined Iowa and its fans in waving to patients in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital that overlooks Kinnick Stadium. Minnesota's players moved from their sideline to the left hashmark and saluted the children.

"That's my favorite tradition in college football. I know it's just started, that is my favorite," Fleck said earlier in the week. "For them to be able to do that, that's special. Those are moments and memories, fans, players, the children in that hospital are going to remember the rest of their lives."

• Iowa has its team stand on the sideline for the national anthem, and the Gophers followed suit, too.

• The Gophers entered the game tied for second nationally in penalties per game (3.6) and fifth in penalty yards per game (32.9). They had five penalties for 37 yards vs. Iowa.

• Entering the game, the Gophers had given up only four sacks this season, which is tied for fifth fewest nationally. And they had allowed only seven tackles for loss, which was the fewest in FBS. But Iowa sacked Demry Croft four times, and the Hawkeyes had seven tackles for loss.

• Saturday's game offered a family feud of sorts. Gophers LB Bailey Schoenfelder, who plays on special teams, is a cousin of former Hawkeyes and Vikings great Chad Greenway. Both played prep in South Dakota, Schoenfelder at Huron and Greenway at Stickney-Mount Vernon.