ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
Last edited:
Your top 5 Ferentz teams
- Thread starter ColumbusHawk
- Start date
Section136
Well-Known Member
My Top 5
1- 2002
2- 2004
3- 2003
4- 2009
5- 2008
1- 2002
2- 2004
3- 2003
4- 2009
5- 2008
hmmm. This is an interesting topic.
2009
2002
2004
2003
2008
It's hard to choose any team over that 2002 team with maybe the best o-line in school history but that 2002 pass defense wasn't real good. I think the 2009 team was the most complete team in the Ferentz era but I think 2002 has the best offense and 2004 has the best defense.
2009
2002
2004
2003
2008
It's hard to choose any team over that 2002 team with maybe the best o-line in school history but that 2002 pass defense wasn't real good. I think the 2009 team was the most complete team in the Ferentz era but I think 2002 has the best offense and 2004 has the best defense.
thejumper5
Well-Known Member
I loved the '01 team, simply because they gave me hope for the future. IDK about an order, but my fav five would be '01, '02, '04, '08, and '09.
Section136
Well-Known Member
The reason the pass defense didnt statistically measure up well was because teams did not try and run on us. We were Top 5 in the nation against the run and with the way our offense rolled from their 1st possession teams were forced to pass and play catch up. That inflated the pass numbers against our defense.
Our D that year did snap Charles Rogers' NCAA record TD reception streak.
thejumper5
Well-Known Member
I sure hope '11 ends up on the list, since it hasn't happened yet.
uofihawkInation
Well-Known Member
2002. I was 9. I still remember where I was when Iowa lost to ISU that year. I loved Brad Banks. Favorite all time Hawk that Ive seen. Cemented my passion for Hawk football.
2009. Great run. Enjoyed every game. Watched every game.
2004. I think that season speaks for itself.
2001. I was just 8 so I dont remember much of it, but the Alamo Bowl is the first Iowa Football game I vividly remember.
2008. Mainly because of Greene. A late season surge gave momentum for the 09 season IMO.
2009. Great run. Enjoyed every game. Watched every game.
2004. I think that season speaks for itself.
2001. I was just 8 so I dont remember much of it, but the Alamo Bowl is the first Iowa Football game I vividly remember.
2008. Mainly because of Greene. A late season surge gave momentum for the 09 season IMO.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
There was the fact that team threw more than usual against us, but the pass defense wasn't really that good anyway. The linebackers weren't great in coverage outside of Steen. And our corners were kind of weak that year. Jovon and Antwan turned into a very good duo for us, but they were just freshmen in 2002, and D.J. Johnson wasn't spectacular by any stretch.
Best offense of the KF era: 2002 (though in some respects you can make a case for 2004, the 2002 offense was the most consistent and explosive unit that we've had under KF)
Best defense: 2008 (2004 was great too, but the 2008 secondary puts it over the top. Pretty much a wash everywhere else)
Best special teams: 2002 (Not even close, IMO)
Top 5 teams:
1. 2002 (Not really a lot of room for debate here)
2. 2008 (Best defense, best running back. The record didn't show it, but this is the best team since 2002.)
3. 2004 (Great defense, and their resiliency was above that of the 2009 team, IMO)
4. 2009 (Can't leave them off. The defense was a very slight tick below the 2008 unit, as Spievey/Prater wasn't quite as tough as Fletcher/Spievey. Offense was explosive at times, special teams solid.)
5. 2003 (Would probably be higher with a healthy Jermelle Lewis and Mo Brown)
Section136
Well-Known Member
Agree to disagree here. Teams did not try and run on us, of course that is going to expose our young corners.
We did have 2 outstanding safeties in Pagel and Sanders. Our D-line was top notch (any combo of Cole, Roth, Babineaux, Hodges, Clauss, Robinson, etc.). Our LB's were pretty average in coverage but got the job done.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
As far as the best teams, I think I'll go in this order:
2002
2004
2009
2003
2008
The 2002 team was easily the most dominant team Ferentz has had. Ran the table in the Big Ten, convincingly winning most games.
2002
2004
2009
2003
2008
The 2002 team was easily the most dominant team Ferentz has had. Ran the table in the Big Ten, convincingly winning most games.
Section136
Well-Known Member
I really like breaking it down like this. Here is my shot at it:
Best offense: 2002 and not even close. I forgot the actual number but this team scored TD's on almost every opening possession that season. That is a huge stat. Best o-line, best TE, best season for a QB and 2nd best RB of Ferentz era on this team.
Best Defense: I would go 2004. Best d-line of the Ferentz era. 3 played or still play in the NFL and Luebke could have maybe stuck with the Redskins but he had enough of the lifestyle of being a football player and having to eat enormous amounts of calories just to get up to an NFL playing weight. Greenway and Hodge are 2 of the best LB's in Iowa history and George Lewis was one of the "glue guys" on this defense. Secondary was the weakest part of this defense but still above average with Johnson and Allen at CB and Considine and Paschal playing the safety spots.
Best Special Teams: 2003. Kaeding as a senior. I know he was the Groza as a junior but he got screwed his senior year. I will never forget him drilling a long FG in Madison that year. Razor Ochoa making plays on punt returns (school record 495 punt return yards in a season). Hawks blocked 5 punts that year (single season record), 3 of those were returned for touchdowns. Iowa won every game in which they blocked a punt.
1977Hawkeye
Well-Known Member
I rated the 2008 team #5 on my list only because the overall record wasn't as good, but by the end of the season, that team was killing everyone and playing at a level pretty close to 2002. They outscored their opponents (including the bowl game) 86-10 the last two games of the season. It also had the best running back of the Ferentz era.
Hawkfromnorwalk
Well-Known Member
5. 2008 - Great rebound year. Had the potential to be huge but lost four games by only 12 points. Nobody can forget the performances Shonn Greene had week after week, and the emergence of new stars like Tyler Sash, DJK, and AC. Got to end the season sticking it to the ol' ball coach.
4. 2003 - This was a fun year and when looking back through times it seems to get lost in the shuffle. Second 10 win season in a row and second top 10 finish. Good defense and loved ****-pounding Zook and the Gators in their backyard.
3. 2004 - On paper this season should have never panned out like it did. Iowa lost pretty much every running back they had that year and ended the season with the walk-on Sam Brownlee as the starter. Tate played out of his mind that season and it was probably one of the most dominant defenses we had in a while. And you have to love the impromptu "title" game with Wiscy at Kinnick. Plus there was the "catch".
2. 2002 - I'm sure most people will have this as number one on their lists but there are a handful of things that have me put it as second. First, losing to ISU. They had a decent team that year but collapsed after the halfway point and we had them dead to rights at halftime. We did make a BCS Bowl however got creamed by USC. Don't get me wrong, it was a great season, and probably will be one of the very few times anybody will get to see Iowa run the table in Big 10 play. Banks was unbelievable under center and it was a treat getting to watch him at New York.
1. 2009 - Some people are going to have a hard time justifying putting a team #1 when they didn't even win the Big 10 however there are reasons this goes here. It was the first time Iowa ever won the first nine games in a row, a feat that may not be matched again. Every game was a roller-coaster ride, starting with week 1 against UNI. It was a season that included Stanziballs and Wegherbombs. When Iowa was 9-0 going into the NW game it was one of the few times ever that I have heard Iowa's name legitimately brought up in BCS title conversations on ESPN. We made our second BCS Bowl game but unlike the first one, Iowa went into the Orange Bowl and dominated ending the season with another top 10 finish.
4. 2003 - This was a fun year and when looking back through times it seems to get lost in the shuffle. Second 10 win season in a row and second top 10 finish. Good defense and loved ****-pounding Zook and the Gators in their backyard.
3. 2004 - On paper this season should have never panned out like it did. Iowa lost pretty much every running back they had that year and ended the season with the walk-on Sam Brownlee as the starter. Tate played out of his mind that season and it was probably one of the most dominant defenses we had in a while. And you have to love the impromptu "title" game with Wiscy at Kinnick. Plus there was the "catch".
2. 2002 - I'm sure most people will have this as number one on their lists but there are a handful of things that have me put it as second. First, losing to ISU. They had a decent team that year but collapsed after the halfway point and we had them dead to rights at halftime. We did make a BCS Bowl however got creamed by USC. Don't get me wrong, it was a great season, and probably will be one of the very few times anybody will get to see Iowa run the table in Big 10 play. Banks was unbelievable under center and it was a treat getting to watch him at New York.
1. 2009 - Some people are going to have a hard time justifying putting a team #1 when they didn't even win the Big 10 however there are reasons this goes here. It was the first time Iowa ever won the first nine games in a row, a feat that may not be matched again. Every game was a roller-coaster ride, starting with week 1 against UNI. It was a season that included Stanziballs and Wegherbombs. When Iowa was 9-0 going into the NW game it was one of the few times ever that I have heard Iowa's name legitimately brought up in BCS title conversations on ESPN. We made our second BCS Bowl game but unlike the first one, Iowa went into the Orange Bowl and dominated ending the season with another top 10 finish.
5. TBD - I don't have a team other than the four below I would put on a list. I can see maybe 2003, 2001 for some people but I'll wait for another great year to add to the list (let's go Vandenburg!)
4. 2008 - It was hard pushing these guys to #4 as I think they were one of if not the best team of the Ferentz era so far. It just took the coaches too long to figure out how to make the team gel. 4 losses later and you get a somewhat disappointing season given the talent, but it was fun to see them go once they got rolling. Greene was a monster.
3. 2004 - I went to the ASU game that year where we were utterly embarrasssed. Team somehow pulled through and gave a great in-conference performance. Capped off with best bowl victory I've seen.
2. 2009 - There were just so many great memories made by all the crazy finishes that year. Best start to a Ferentz team, or Iowa team for that matter. Very entertaining year full of what ifs: what if Stanzi hadn't gone down, what if Greene had stayed...
1. 2002 - Great year for the Hawks. Remember watching that Purdue OSU game late in the season? OSU went for the endzone on 4th and 1 from like the 40 or something like that, sealed the NCG for them ahead of Iowa. Great year, great players. Being forced to watch the ISU game with a bunch of Cyclone fans sealed my hatred for them. We would have had a Heisman and played in the NCG if it wasnt for those fumbles.
4. 2008 - It was hard pushing these guys to #4 as I think they were one of if not the best team of the Ferentz era so far. It just took the coaches too long to figure out how to make the team gel. 4 losses later and you get a somewhat disappointing season given the talent, but it was fun to see them go once they got rolling. Greene was a monster.
3. 2004 - I went to the ASU game that year where we were utterly embarrasssed. Team somehow pulled through and gave a great in-conference performance. Capped off with best bowl victory I've seen.
2. 2009 - There were just so many great memories made by all the crazy finishes that year. Best start to a Ferentz team, or Iowa team for that matter. Very entertaining year full of what ifs: what if Stanzi hadn't gone down, what if Greene had stayed...
1. 2002 - Great year for the Hawks. Remember watching that Purdue OSU game late in the season? OSU went for the endzone on 4th and 1 from like the 40 or something like that, sealed the NCG for them ahead of Iowa. Great year, great players. Being forced to watch the ISU game with a bunch of Cyclone fans sealed my hatred for them. We would have had a Heisman and played in the NCG if it wasnt for those fumbles.
