Iowa’s best football victory of the last 50 years
- Thread starter HawkeyeHypnosis
- Start date
This was probably the best but the all black helmet win at OSU after the campus shootings as well as Hartlieb to Cook to beat OSU are two awesome games.
I also have to say the 2002 team's beatdown of Michigan giving them one of their most lopsided home losses was a top 5 I think.
HawkeyeHypnosis
Well-Known Member
I was just going to say, if it was the best win in the last 25 years, what game would be the number 1
STILLBUSTER
Well-Known Member
TOP 5 (in exact order)
#1 = #1 Iowa vs #2 Michigan, 1985 (what more do you want?)
#2 = #1 Iowa vs Michigan State, 1985 (awesome, late-game-winning naked boot to stay #1)
#3 = #19 Iowa vs Michigan State, 1981 (clinch 1st Rose Bowl berth since the 50's)
#4 = every one of 2004, culminating with "the Catch"
(to overcome the decimation of the most important aspect of KirkFer's offense - rushing attack - and post 10 wins; not even debatable the best coaching job KirkFer has ever or will ever turn in)
#5 = #7 Iowa @ Michigan State, 2009 (another awesome finish - "7 got 6" - to stay undefeated in what was an extremely physical game; despite the low score, a truly great game for it's spectrum of big, exciting plays (MSU's hook & lateral) to it's shear brutality -- worth a rewatch whenever it's on!)
#1 = #1 Iowa vs #2 Michigan, 1985 (what more do you want?)
#2 = #1 Iowa vs Michigan State, 1985 (awesome, late-game-winning naked boot to stay #1)
#3 = #19 Iowa vs Michigan State, 1981 (clinch 1st Rose Bowl berth since the 50's)
#4 = every one of 2004, culminating with "the Catch"
(to overcome the decimation of the most important aspect of KirkFer's offense - rushing attack - and post 10 wins; not even debatable the best coaching job KirkFer has ever or will ever turn in)
#5 = #7 Iowa @ Michigan State, 2009 (another awesome finish - "7 got 6" - to stay undefeated in what was an extremely physical game; despite the low score, a truly great game for it's spectrum of big, exciting plays (MSU's hook & lateral) to it's shear brutality -- worth a rewatch whenever it's on!)
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
My top are - and some of this is just my emotional experience of the games
1) 1985 Michigan
2) 1981 Nebraska and UCLA
2) 2002 Michigan
3) 2010 Orange Bowl (09 season)
4) 2002 Penn State
Freedom Bowl vs Texas
Peach Bowl vs Tennesee
Outback vs FLA
OSU 2004
I didn't see OSU 97 or 91?
1) 1985 Michigan
2) 1981 Nebraska and UCLA
2) 2002 Michigan
3) 2010 Orange Bowl (09 season)
4) 2002 Penn State
Freedom Bowl vs Texas
Peach Bowl vs Tennesee
Outback vs FLA
OSU 2004
I didn't see OSU 97 or 91?
thejumper5
Well-Known Member
Solid list. You really can't go wrong putting Iowa-Michigan '85 at the top. In my mind, the only game that tops it in ALL of Iowa history is the 1959 Rose Bowl because it catapulted Iowa to a share of the 1958 national title. Here's what I would have as the top 5 in the past 50 years:
1. '85 vs. Michigan
2. '91 at Ohio State
3. 2005 Cap One Bowl
4. 2010 Orange Bowl
5. '81 vs. Nebraska
1. '85 vs. Michigan
2. '91 at Ohio State
3. 2005 Cap One Bowl
4. 2010 Orange Bowl
5. '81 vs. Nebraska
HawkeyeHypnosis
Well-Known Member
Clinching the Big Ten Title at Minnesota in 2002 was pretty sweet too. Maybe it was because I was there and watching Hawk fans tear down another teams goal post and carry them out the dome doors was pretty memorable
This will be on the list for people whe attended. I agree with you. That was a great feeling.
MiniMoeHawk
Well-Known Member
Any win over the SEC
#5. Sat, Sept 13 2008 vs Iowa State W 17-5
Iowa State was unlucky to miss three field goals, and Iowa's second leading rusher on the day was a young stud named Jake Christensen. Its not every year you can beat an In-State Rival coached by a future national championship winning head coach.
#4. Sat, Sept 12 2009 @ Iowa State W 35-3
This was the game after the UNI debacle that kept the Hawkeye's perfect record intact going into a crucial week three.
#3. Sat, Sept 11 2010 vs Iowa State W 35-7
The score might not tell the story of how tough the Iowa State Cyclones were on the field that day. The Hawk's were lucky to sneak away with a victory here.
#2. Sat, Sept 10 2011 @ Iowa State L 44-41 OT
This was a loss but it felt like a win because we took Iowa State to overtime on the road, and Paul Rhoads is tough to beat in overtime on the road.
#1 Sat, Sept 14 2013 @ Iowa State W 27-21
It might seem to soon to call this the biggest victory in the past fifty years. But this win kept Iowa State from building on their bowl run in the previous year. It might have stopped Paul Rhoads from building a dynasty so great the Hawkeye's could never catch up.
Iowa State was unlucky to miss three field goals, and Iowa's second leading rusher on the day was a young stud named Jake Christensen. Its not every year you can beat an In-State Rival coached by a future national championship winning head coach.
#4. Sat, Sept 12 2009 @ Iowa State W 35-3
This was the game after the UNI debacle that kept the Hawkeye's perfect record intact going into a crucial week three.
#3. Sat, Sept 11 2010 vs Iowa State W 35-7
The score might not tell the story of how tough the Iowa State Cyclones were on the field that day. The Hawk's were lucky to sneak away with a victory here.
#2. Sat, Sept 10 2011 @ Iowa State L 44-41 OT
This was a loss but it felt like a win because we took Iowa State to overtime on the road, and Paul Rhoads is tough to beat in overtime on the road.
#1 Sat, Sept 14 2013 @ Iowa State W 27-21
It might seem to soon to call this the biggest victory in the past fifty years. But this win kept Iowa State from building on their bowl run in the previous year. It might have stopped Paul Rhoads from building a dynasty so great the Hawkeye's could never catch up.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
The 5 BIGGEST upsets in Iowa history. /thread
Hawknick
Banned
Some candidates for top 5 not listed would be:
1968 at Oregon State
1974 vs UCLA
1976 at Pedo State
1977 vs the Cyclowns
1981 vs UCLA
1981 at Michigan
1983 vs O$U
1984 vs Texas
1990 at Illinois
1991 vs Illinois
1996 at Pedo State
2000 vs Northwestarn
2001 vs Texas Tech
2003 at Wisconsin
2004 vs Wisconsin
2008 vs Pedo State
2009 at Pedo State
2010 vs MSU
2011 vs Michigan
1968 at Oregon State
1974 vs UCLA
1976 at Pedo State
1977 vs the Cyclowns
1981 vs UCLA
1981 at Michigan
1983 vs O$U
1984 vs Texas
1990 at Illinois
1991 vs Illinois
1996 at Pedo State
2000 vs Northwestarn
2001 vs Texas Tech
2003 at Wisconsin
2004 vs Wisconsin
2008 vs Pedo State
2009 at Pedo State
2010 vs MSU
2011 vs Michigan
HawkeyeDenis
Well-Known Member
#2 loss was a game were Iowa didn't have a very good team and it showed. This was on of Iowa State's best teams against one of Iowa's worst performances. And they only won by a field goal. Yet Clown fans thought that their momentum was on the way up. Silly clowns!
Motigerhawk
Well-Known Member
81 Nebraska was the game that turned the program around in my opinion.
85 Michigan is 1 vs 2. That has to be up there.
Every win in the 70s was big for me. That was when I was a pup. 3-13, age-wise. Iowa didnt have many wins so any win was special.
85 Michigan is 1 vs 2. That has to be up there.
Every win in the 70s was big for me. That was when I was a pup. 3-13, age-wise. Iowa didnt have many wins so any win was special.
Hawknick
Banned
Here is when the Des Moines Resister did for this. They picked 25.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/topic/7af579ad-ed95-4282-9325-5b101439ca04/
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/topic/7af579ad-ed95-4282-9325-5b101439ca04/
Saginawbay
Well-Known Member
Really enjoyed this list of the past 50 years, so many great memories. Maybe we can add too the list this season, with something special Go Hawks!
