ORLANDO, Fla. - That was then. This is now.

It took the Louisiana State football team some time to realize that this season, but a 3-2 start cured any hangover the Tigers had after sharing the national championship in 2003.

"After we got humiliated at Georgia (45-16), people seemed a little more willing to listen," coach Nick Saban said.

It didn't start that way.

LSU lost 10 starters and plenty of leadership from the 13-1 team that defeated Oklahoma 21-14 in the BCS Championship Game. mThe Tigers will start just five seniors in Saturday's Capital One Bowl against Iowa, and Saban said it took time for this group to mature.

"We had a bunch of young men who waved towels around on the sidelines last year who thought that they were the rooster who created the dawn, but once they got on the field for real this year, they were still playing like they were waving towels," Saban said.

Saban said the early losses a 10-9 setback at Auburn and the lopsided rout at Georgia forced his team and staff to regroup.

"We had to find an identity for this team and once we lost at Georgia, people were finally ready to say, 'Let's forget the past,' and focus their energies on seeing what we could do with this team," Saban said.

Tigers cornerback Travis Daniels, one of the team's few seniors, said taking the field as defending national champions this season has been different.

"Once we figured out that everybody was going to be ready to go after us, we got things straightened out and started to play. I think it probably took that for us to come together."

Twice as nice

Iowa junior C.J. Barkema kept a close eye on Iowa State's 17-13 win over Miami (Ohio) in Tuesday's Independence Bowl.

Barkema's brother, Ben, made his first start at tight end for the Cyclones in the game and delivered a key block on Iowa State's first touchdown drive of the game.

"I'm making time to watch it. I'm happy for Ben. He thought going into the year that he had a chance to start by the end of the season and he made that happen," said C.J., a former Muscatine prep.

The games have kept Barkema's parents busy. They drove to Shreveport, La., for the Iowa State game and were scheduled to make the 14-hour drive from the Cyclones' bowl site to Orlando on Wednesday.

"They're getting some good highway time this week,'" the Iowa offensive lineman said.

Larsen's last stand

Saturday's game will be the last for Blake Larsen in an Iowa uniform.

The offense lineman, a Parade all-American as a prep at Atlantic High School in Atlantic, said that he will call it a career when the Hawkeyes' game with Louisiana State is over.

"I graduate in May and I've decided to move on," Larsen said.

Regarded as one of the top high school linemen in the state's history, Larsen has seen only minimal playing time as a reserve during a career that has been filled with injury problems.

Larsen said he plans to pursue a career in law enforcement after picking up his degree in health and sports studies.

"I don't have any regrets. Could things have worked out differently if I would have went somewhere else? Maybe, but I still feel like I made the right decision for me at the right time," Larsen said. "I still believe that."

A new position

Eric McCollom sees the handwriting on the wall.

With Drew Tate entrenched at the starting quarterback position for in all likelihood the next two seasons and more recruits on the way, the Hawkeyes' back-up quarterback is working out as a receiver this week in practices.

"I'll do whatever I can to help the team," McCollom said. "With Drew playing so well, I just don't see any time for me at quarterback, and I want to be on the field."

McCollom, who has completed 5 of 8 passes this season, sees the position change as a way to make that happen.

He competed as a receiver a year ago in three games, helping Iowa overcome a number of injuries at the position. McCollom did not catch any passes in those games.

"It gave me an idea of what to expect and I see some possibilities at the position," McCollom said. "Mostly, I want to play."

McCollom said he did not consider transferring to continue his career as a quarterback.

McMahon improving

Injured starting offensive tackle Pete McMahon is showing steady improvement as he works his way back from a foot injury.

"He's practiced well the last two days," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We could sure use him."

Proper attire

Asked what keeps him at Iowa, Ferentz talked about coming to Iowa City for the first time to be interviewed by Hayden Fry for an assistant coaches' position.

"When I saw in a book that coach Fry was a square-jawed ex-Marine, I went out and got a coat and tie for the interview," Ferentz said. "I interviewed in June, so I really thought about it being more of a practice interview for the following year, but after visiting, I went back home to Pittsburgh wanting that job more than anything."

Hawkeye fans huddle

Iowa fans continue to make their way to the Orlando area. The majority of charter groups were scheduled to arrive on Wednesday or today.

They will be greeted by large holiday week crowds at most of the area's major attractions. The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World each closed their gates at times during each of the first three days this week because of large crowds, a common occurrence during this season.

The University of Iowa Alumni Association will host its Hawkeye Huddle a free event featuring Iowa cheerleaders, mascot Herky and the Hawkeye Marching Band from 7-9 p.m. today at the Orange County Convention Center.

Organizers are expecting a crowd of around 12,000 Iowa fans at the event.

Warming up

The weather in Orlando has taken a turn for the better.

After a cloudy, soggy start to their stay, the Hawkeyes and Tigers worked out under sun-filled skies in 70-degree weather on Wednesday.

"We're starting to have to hydrate again during practice. I think that's a good sign. We're in Florida. It's supposed to be warm," Iowa quarterback Drew Tate said.

Numerology

36

Number of consecutive games that LSU's defense has recorded at least one sack. This season, the Tigers have 34 sacks for losses totaling 263 yards.

They said it …

"He was too short for LSU. He is. Just look at him." Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, offering his own answer to a question directed to 6-foot quarterback Drew Tate about whether the Tigers had recruited him.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.