Iowa City, IA (U-WIRE) -- A Kirk Ferentz rule is being bent, if not broken.

The Iowa football coach says his team can dwell on losses for only 24 hours. At Tuesday's press conference, three days after a frustrated Drew Tate hurled the ball into the Ohio State turf and screamed at receivers during Iowa's nationally televised 31-6 loss at Ohio State, tension still surrounded the team.

A reporter asked Tate if he'd crossed the line between being fiery and going too far.

"I don't know," the quarterback said, his back pressed literally against a stone wall. "Sorry, I can't answer that."

The Baytown, Texas, native was asked if it was something he could improve on.

"Haven't really thought about it," he said, almost inaudibly soft. "Sorry I don't have an answer to that, but I haven't thought about it."

The 6-0, 185-pound gunslinger wasn't rude - just exemplifying his words in Columbus that he had to grow up - but he wasn't a teddy bear, either. Tate said that he didn't care about fans' perceptions of him but did say the Hawkeyes were still a good team and close to showing it, despite last weekend's one-sided affair.

It's exactly that confidence and intensity that alternately makes Tate look like a top-notch jock and a first-class jerk.

"I think we all figured out pretty early that Drew has fire," Ferentz said. "He's an outwardly emotional guy. So it's a fine line, and we had those conversations.

"The bottom line to me, the way I look at it, is it's pretty clear that Drew cares ... I hope our team looks at it the same way."

At least one of Tate's teammates agrees.

"He's not trying to be mean about it or anything," said captain Ed Hinkel, who lives with the All-Big Ten quarterback. "He just wants to win, wants to move the ball. He just really cares."

Despite all the turbulence, despite the disappointing losses, despite the on-field temper tantrums and off-the-field terse comments, Tate has a remedy for the team's spirits.

"Just win, and play well, I think, in all areas," he said. " It's pretty simple - it's just hard to do, sometimes."

Walking wounded

Starting safety Marcus Paschal is questionable for the Homecoming game against Illinois. He has shin-splints, and Ferentz says the junior may receive a week of rest to alleviate them. If Paschal can't go, junior Miguel Merrick and sophomore Charles Godfrey will start.

Backup linebacker Chris Brevi is still recovering from his injury, tailback Marques Simmons is at full speed, and offensive lineman David Walker and receiver Matt Melloy are practicing but not in game shape, Ferentz said.

Tickets available

Around 500-700 tickets remain for the 11:10 a.m. kickoff against Illinois, and tickets for both the Oct. 15 Indiana matchup and the Nov. 19 Minnesota game will go on sale online today at 6 a.m. Iowa's 20-game home winning-streak is the third best in the nation.

(C) 2004 The Daily Iowan via U-WIRE