Disciplined Defense: How Phil Parker Brought Out the Best in Micah Hyde

By Wayne Drehs

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Micah Hyde can still feel it. The blisters. The torn skin. The limp. In summer 2009, he was fighting to survive one of his first training camp practices at Iowa. Earlier that day, a mix of sweat and damp grass soaked through his cleats. For that night’s session he’d make a terrible rookie mistake, swapping into a shiny new pair. Stiff, unforgiving, not broken in. Within minutes, his feet were shredded.

Hobbling around Iowa’s defensive backfield, Hyde told coach Phil Parker his feet were “killing” him. Hyde says Parker responded, “I don’t give a s---,” then sent the freshman onto the field to line up against Iowa’s No. 1 offense. “I damn near wanted to cry,” Hyde says now, chuckling.

Instead of tears, the 18-year-old gutted it out. Every rep. Every cut. Every painful step. Afterward, Parker pulled Hyde aside. “I know you were hurting,” he said. “Way to push through.”

That was the lesson, Hyde’s first glimpse at the standard Parker has built over 28 seasons at Iowa. Even on a good play, there’s always something to correct. A better angle. A quicker step. A higher goal.

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