2003 Orange Bowl Roster vs 2009 Outback Bowl Roster

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
19 of 44 players from Iowa's 2003 Orange Bowl two deep played in the NFL, including Nate Kaeding.

22 of 44 players from Iowa's 2009 Outback Bowl two deep played in the NFL, including Ryan Donahue, with four more possibles; Bernstine, Nielsen, Binns and Gettis.
 
It would be interesting to see the depth charts side by side. Could compare and see who would win the match-ups
 
As good as our D-Line was in 2008, I just think that 2003 OB team's O-Line would win that battle. Gallery, Steinbach, Nelson and Co. One of the best O-Lines in Big 10 history. Not to mention the amount of different playmakers. Russell, Lewis, Banks, Jones, Brown and Clark.
 
iahawks912 said:
Greene would tear up that 03 D
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I assume you meant '02. I don't think so. If Larry Johnson didn't tear it up then I don't think Shonn Greene is tearing it up. LJ had a good receiving day when our D was giving up lots of underneath stuff late.
 
JonDMiller said:
You mean the 2002 D, which is #2 all time at Iowa in fewest rushing yards allowed per game?
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That DL was made up of stone cold killers. Cole, Clauss, Hodges, Babs with Roth coming off the bench.

Not only did the stop the run and get to the QB, they hurt people. No dirty stuff, they just kicked the living crap out of the other team.

In my mind they're the best position group on the defensive side of the ball in KF era. Thats saying an awful lot considering in the other DL and LB groups they've fielded during that past 13 years.
 
Xerxes said:
That DL was made up of stone cold killers. Cole, Clauss, Hodges, Babs with Roth coming off the bench.

Not only did the stop the run and get to the QB, they hurt people. No dirty stuff, they just kicked the living crap out of the other team.

In my mind they're the best position group on the defensive side of the ball in KF era. Thats saying an awful lot considering in the other DL and LB groups they've fielded during that past 13 years.
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Ohh...good debate.

that DL or Babs, Roth, Robinson & Clauss in 2003? Ballard, Kroul, Clayborn and King in 2008?
 
JonDMiller said:
Ohh...good debate.

that DL or Babs, Roth, Robinson & Clauss in 2003? Ballard, Kroul, Clayborn and King in 2008?
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2002- Cole, Clauss, Babs, Hodges (Roth off the bench)
2003- Clauss, Babs, Hodges, Roth (Robinson off the bench, Hodges missed 1/2 the season
2004- Robinson, Lubke, Roth, Babs
2008- Kroul, King, Clayborn, Ballard (Binns of the bench)
2009- Ballard, Klug, Clayborn, & Binns

Yeah, you could debate until the end of time on that. All 5 groups were great.

I'll still go with the 2002 group with a star by 2009 because I believe Clayborn as a JR was the most dominant DL player individually over a season.

But you could have a great debate there too with King 2008, and Roth 2003 or 2004.
 
Great thread, 2002 may have been the better dline, but the 2009 version was the most exciting to watch. Got to agree with the Clayborn comment. The performance in Happy Valley will always be etched in my mind.
 
Xerxes said:
That DL was made up of stone cold killers. Cole, Clauss, Hodges, Babs with Roth coming off the bench.

Not only did the stop the run and get to the QB, they hurt people. No dirty stuff, they just kicked the living crap out of the other team.

In my mind they're the best position group on the defensive side of the ball in KF era. Thats saying an awful lot considering in the other DL and LB groups they've fielded during that past 13 years.
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This. That D punished people. Was that '02 or '03 when Sanders single-handedly took out Wisconsin's starting qb and back-up by the 3rd quarter?
 
Interesting thread. In light of how good the 02 team was, and the legendary status it has (rightly) obtained, this thread should remind everyone of how disappointing the 08 team was. It can be partially, but not completely, blamed on Ferentz's inexcusable decision to stick with Christensen for too long. It can also be blamed on an inability to win close games (save PSU), that also plagued the 2010 team (which was also probably the most disappointing team in the last 20 + years-save 1997).
 
I still think 2002 was the best team in the country. If it wasn't for happy feet Greving and Sanders and Russell getting hurt against ISU they would have gone undefeated.

I am also convinced that they were better than USC and got caught celebrating a bowl rather than playing a football game. Most people forget that the game was tied at halftime and I believe Iowa had the ball inside the 5 yard line twice and only got 3 points out of it. Then the 2nd half showed that they spent too much time having fun and not enough time getting ready. It was a very un-Iowa like performance with TO's and penalties.
 
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theboat said:
I still think 2002 was the best team in the country. If it wasn't for happy feet Greving and Sanders and Russell getting hurt against ISU they would have gone undefeated.

I am also convinced that they were better than USC and got caught celebrating a bowl rather than playing a football game. Most people forget that the game was tied at halftime and I believe Iowa had the ball inside the 5 yard line twice and only got 3 points out of it. Then the 2nd half showed that they spent too much time having fun and not enough time getting ready. It was a very un-Iowa like performance with TO's and penalties.
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Agreed. Have been saying it for the last decade. Also, the Hawks weren't just inside the 5 twice, first and goal at the 1 twice and got 3 points. Iowa didn't prepare properly for that game and it cost them.
 
theboat said:
I still think 2002 was the best team in the country. If it wasn't for happy feet Greving and Sanders and Russell getting hurt against ISU they would have gone undefeated.

I am also convinced that they were better than USC and got caught celebrating a bowl rather than playing a football game. Most people forget that the game was tied at halftime and I believe Iowa had the ball inside the 5 yard line twice and only got 3 points out of it. Then the 2nd half showed that they spent too much time having fun and not enough time getting ready. It was a very un-Iowa like performance with TO's and penalties.
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As much as I like the Hawkeyes my friend, Iowa lost to the best team in the country that year in the Orange Bowl. USC was hands down the best team, that team was loaded. I believe 40+ players off that 2002 USC team were drafted in the NFL.

Think about the QB's on USC roster that year. Carson Palmer, Matt Lienart and Matt Cassel.

Notables
Troy Polamalu, Lofa Tatupu
 
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