Rank the Top Ten games of the Ferentz Era

[cuinknk]

I started doing this after reading Marc Morehouse's blog, I decided to come up with a list of my own. As Jon said in his important games thread, there are many different criteria for coming up with a top ten. I tried to come up with a list that put an equal emphasis on importance, excitement, and what was accomplished.

This was much more difficult than I thought, and althought I am happy with the ten games I chose, putting them in order was a toss-up in many cases.

Here is my top ten:

10. Ohio State, 2009 - This is the only loss on my list, but with the Rose Bowl on the line, and Vandenberg at QB (with zero starting experience), taking the Buckeyes to OT in the Horseshoe deserves to make the list, IMO.

9. Ohio State, 2004 - Coming off a bye week with 3-2 record and a revamped offense, and pasting the Buckeyes 33-7 to win the second game of what would end up being an 8 game winning streak to close out the season.

8. Wisconsin, 2004 - Ohio State upsets Michigan, giving the winner of the Inaugural Heartland Trophy game a Big Ten co-championship as well.

7. Michigan State, 2009 - A hard fought defensive game where neither team found the endzone in the first 58 minutes of the game (terrific goalline stands by both defenses), before both scored TDs in the final two minutes. Stanzi to McNutt as time expired was unforgettable, without that play there would not have been an Orange Bowl win.

6. Penn State, 2009 - Pooring rain, defense gets burned on the first play from scrimmage, only to limit PSU to 3 points the rest of the game. The Clayborn punt block and return for a TD is arguable one of the top five plays of the Ferentz era.

5. Purdue, 2002 - Maybe the most back-and-forth games of the Ferentz era. Dallas Clark had the longest TD reception in Kinnick Stadium history and also caught the game-winning TD on 4th and goal.

4. Penn State, 2008 - Iowa was 5-4 with all 4 losses coming by a total of 12 points. This is the game that finally reversed the trend of losing close games. It also proved to be a momentum builder for the 2009 season.

3. Michigan, 2002 - Beating Michigan 34-9 in the Big House proved to the nation that the Hawkeyes were legitimate.

2. LSU, 2005 - Easily the most dramatic finish in the Ferentz era. When I watch the replays, I still think the only people that knew the clock was running after the false start were the people in the stands and watching on TV.

1. Georgia Tech, 2010 - Iowa gets it's first BCS level bowl win in 51 years as Georgia Tech's highly touted option offense gets completely shut down.

I'm curious to see how other posters rank the top ten games of the Ferentz era.

 

[ChosenChildren]

gotta rank Ga Tech in the Orange Bowl #1 - big stage on national TV

 

[tm3308]

I'd maybe move MSU 2009 and Wisconsin 2004 ahead of PSU 2009. It was a great game, but not as good as the MSU game was. And Wisconsin 2004 was the last game with a Big Ten title riding on it, and we yanked away a Rose Bowl berth from a rival.

 

[cuinknk]

I'd maybe move MSU 2009 and Wisconsin 2004 ahead of PSU 2009. It was a great game, but not as good as the MSU game was. And Wisconsin 2004 was the last game with a Big Ten title riding on it, and we yanked away a Rose Bowl berth from a rival.

Good point on the Wisconsin game.

The reasons I put PSU 2009 ahead of MSU 2009 are PSU's ranking (#5 at the time), the game was on ABC (bigger stage than the BTN), and that game propelled us back into the rankings.

Like I said in the original post, a lot of them were toss-ups, and I could make a good argument for putting MSU ahead of PSU also. I also know that there are a lot of very deserving games that I didn't have room for.

 

[Saginawbay]

I would agree with all ranking the 02 Michigan game and 08 Penn St game have been biggest momentum games in Ferentz era too date.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

10) 2001 Alamo Bowl: Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
--Cliff Kingsbury didn't light up our D, our starting RB
(Ladell Betts) was out, yet we still got KF his first
bowl victory
9) 2003 Wisconsin: Iowa 27, Wisconsin 21
--Dismal start with multiple TOs, yet hung on to get a
January 1 bowl bid (Outback)
8) 2004 Outback Bowl: Iowa 37, Florida 17
--Florida gets a big play early...and that was the end
of the SEC-speed-trumps-Big Ten-brawn b.s. We
absolutely *****-slapped them and proved that 2002
was just the beginning of Iowa being a team that
"could" win big games against "big time" teams
7) 2002 Iowa State: ISU 36, Iowa 31
--My 1st loss on list. Seneca Wallace was supposed
to be the next big thing, and while he DID bring ISU
back, any Hawk fan knew we gave that game away.
But the loss kept us under the radar long enough to
make the rest of the season that much sweeter
6) 2003 Orange Bowl: USC 38, Iowa 17
--Exhilirating start, and some good moments in 1st
half, tempered by mistakes and a 2nd-half beatdown
to the early days of U$C(ash) revisited. But a great
lesson learned by the staff. We have NEVER been
embarrassed in a bowl game since...
5) 2002 Michigan: Iowa 34, Michigan 9
--This made EVERYone realize that, yes, we ARE a
very good team. HUGE confidence leap from this
game
4) 2009 Indiana: Iowa 42, Indiana 24
--Dismal 2 1/2 quarters of football. And yet, the turn-
around made it seem like no big deal. ESPN "hacks"
continued to focus on the "escape" against UNI, but
as a fan, I knew we could be "explosive" and not
merely "good"
3) 2008 Pitt: Pitt 21, Iowa 20
--Yep, another loss. But...it ended The Jake Era...nuff
said
2) 2008 PSU: Iowa 24, PSU 23
--We never gave up, we held their Spread HD to FGs
three times, and we got to (for once) spoil some
other team's unbeaten season
1) 2010 Orange Bowl: Iowa 24, Ga Tech 14
--KFs first BCS bowl win, redemption for the heartache
of games 10 and 11...

Sure, I'm leaving out 2005 Cap One. But as a "pivotal" game, that really doesn't rank. In fact, you might argue that implanted the "fat cat" attitude KF alluded to throughout the 2006/2007 "malaise". And the beatdown of OSU in 2004 was, to be fair, a win against a team struggling mightily at the time.

But, hey, it's just a list!

 

[HawkIMalaise]

2007 Loss to Western Michigan.
Any year we had far more talent and managed to dribble a runny brown substance down the inside of our leg to Iowa State, none more memorable than the other. (see 2002)

2001 was the make up game because of 9/11 and was played as the last game of the season. I remember sitting in cold crappy Jack Trice watching that dumpster fire unfold. Well worth the trip from the Quad Cities to Ames.

 

[Section136]

10) 2002 at Minnesota. Clinched an undefeated Big 10 season, a Big 10 Title and a BCS berth at the Dome. Still remember Bob Sanders whiffing on a tackle on a punt return then getting up and forcing a fumble from behind. Hawk fans rush field and tear down goal posts.

Iowa at Minnesota Box Score, November 16, 2002 | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

9) 2010 Orange Bowl vs Ga Tech. First BCS level win for program since the 50's. Dominant defensive performance against an offense that had been unstoppable. I put more of an emphasis on regular season wins is the reason this is lower on my list.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Recap - January 05, 2010 - ESPN

8) 2004 at Penn State. In the midst of the magical 2004 season. 6-4. Ferentz takes a safety with a 6-2 lead in the 4th because he knows PSU cant score on the defense that day. Game was played just days after KF's dad passes away. Still remember the clip of KF, Brian and a young James hugging on the sideline as the final seconds tick away and KF's postgame interview on the field.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - Recap - October 23, 2004 - ESPN

7) 2009 at Michigan State. Was a defensive slugfest and Iowa was still playing for an undefeated season. Hawks lose Sandeman, Greenwood and Dace in this game. 7 got 6 at the end.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans - Recap - October 24, 2009 - ESPN

6) 2008 at Minnesota. Last game in the Dome for the Gophers. 55-0. Shonn Greene breaks Iowa single season rushing record. Was at the game and will never forget the PA announcer kept reminding Gopher fans to stick around for the final performance by the Gopher Marching Band in the Metrodome after the game. I think Iowa fans were the only ones left.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers - Recap - November 22, 2008 - ESPN

5) 2003 at Wisconsin. A game that gets forgotten as one of the greats, IMO. Rainy, cold season finale in Madison and the Hawks are down 21-7 I believe. Kaeding drills a couple long field goals and the defense takes over. Hawks hold on after Wisky's last second play at the goal line is incomplete.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers - Recap - November 22, 2003 - ESPN

4) 2004 vs Ohio State. KF's only win against OSU. 2:30 kickoff on ABC. After the game people started to realize this team is special, IMO. Defense was dominant. Drew Tate windmilling down the field after hitting Solomon for a long TD.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Iowa Hawkeyes - Recap - October 16, 2004 - ESPN

3) 2009 at Penn State. Primetime, white out at the Beave. All the talk about a revenge game from PSU fans after Iowa ruined their perfect season in 2008. Iowa down 10-0 early. Clayborn with the punt return and it all unravels for PSU after that.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - Recap - September 26, 2009 - ESPN

2) 2004 vs Wisconsin. OSU beats Michigan earlier in the day so this game is for a share of the conference title. Bucky is playing for a Rose Bowl berth. Tate throws 2 early INT's. Solomon hauls in a long TD before half to make it 14-6. The atmosphere in Kinnick was a electric as I have ever felt. Iowa dominates in the 2nd half. Fans rush the field and Big 10 trophy presentation on the field after the game, something that will never happen in Kinnick again. Will never forget KF's postgame interview on the field with Holly Rowe.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes - Recap - November 20, 2004 - ESPN

1) 2002 at Michigan. Teams didnt dominate Michigan like that back then, especially at home. Iowa did that day. Offense marched down the field on the 1st possession and scored a TD. The most unbelievable performance I have seen from an Iowa team.

NCAA Division I College Football - Iowa vs. Michigan