Each team had their battles with injury, throughout the season and within the game. The Hawkeyes battle cry "Next Man In" became popular during the season as little known Ramon Ochoa and Tyler Luebke played prominent roles. The Badgers went through three different quarterbacks against the Hawkeyes, and resorted back to the starter who suffered from concussion-like symptoms.
The game started out with the Badgers taking a commanding 21-7 lead in the second quarter. The Hawks scored ten points before intermission narrowing the deficit to 4. I looked into the stands to a friend at halftime and said, "We score ten, we win." The second half momentum switched as starting Wisconsin quarterback, Jim Sorgi was sent to the sidelines by the Iowa Defense. Matt Schabert came in, but failed to move the Badger offense as the Hawkeyes took the lead. It came down to one last Wisconsin drive headed by John Stocco. The Iowa Defense had stepped up the entire day rotating fresh players, but the defensive line had no one left. Iowa City native Tyler Luebke came running to the sidelines, only to be met by Defensive Line coach Ron Aiken who forced him back in. Luebke said he had nothing left in his tank, and Aiken responded, "We don't have anyone else." Stocco drove the Badgers down, but with no timeouts, completed a pass over the middle with less than fifteen seconds running on the clock. A pass with no more than a second on the clock was batted down in the end zone and the Hawkeyes went on to victory and an 9-3 win. It was the second trip for Kirk Ferentz to Wisconsin since his initial visit as a head coach in 1999. That year was a coronation of the Badger team who celebrated Ron Dayne's national rushing record and a Big Ten Championship with a trip to the Rose Bowl. Four years later the Hawkeyes went home victorious with a 27-21 win.
Amy T #7 - 2008 Iowa 55 - Minnesota 0. The Hawkeyes closed out the metrodome in style shutting out the Gophers and keeping the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for one more year.
Phil Haddy #7 - 2003 Iowa 27 - Wisconsin 21
Pete Van Elswyk's #7 - 2002 Iowa 45 - Minnesota 21. The Hawkeyes traveled to the Twin Cities in attempt to finish the Big Ten season at 8-0 and take at least a share of the Big Ten title back to Iowa City. Not only did Flod and the Big Ten Trophy leave the Metrodome that day, so did the goal posts as the Hawkeye fans stormed the field and walk out the stadium with the poles high above their head.
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Al's #7 - 2002 Iowa 42 Penn State 35 (OT). The 2002 season had many high points and this was the starting point. The Hawkeyes rolled into Happy Valley still tasting the bitter pill of the ISU loss and looked to take it out on the Nittany Lions. Iowa jumped out to a nice 23-0 lead behind Heisman runner up Brad Banks, Fast Freddie Russell and an ever improving defense. Standing on the sideline during the early 4th quarter things seemed as if they couldn't get any better. The poo quickly hit the fan though and PSU ripped off 22 4th points to take it to OT. Fans who left early came scrambling back in letting us know, "They are, Penn State." The tremendous comeback fell short though. Iowa struck first with a Banks to Jones TD pass. Freshman Antwan Allen made a huge play coming up and making a great open field tackle to setup a 4th and game situation. The final Zach Mills pass fell incomplete and the Hawks stormed the field much like they did in 2000. Iowa proved in this game they could handle adversity behind their cool and collected QB. On a side note, Pip and myself made the opening to Sportscenter that night and the next day with our jubilant celebration. Nice sweater vest!
Pip's #7 - 2003 Iowa 30 Michigan 27. Iowa fell behind by two touchdowns early in the game. However, they fought back and took a 30-20 lead on touchdown from Chandler to Roman Ochoa midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan scored to cut the lead to three and Iowa had to hold on for the win. Iowa was the only Big Ten team to beat Michigan in 2003 and the win helped Iowa reach the Outback Bowl.
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