Iowa Hawkeye Football: Top 10 Plays of the Year

Okay, it wasn't what we had in mind in August.

In fact, in my own preview, I envisioned the Hawks at 7-5 in the "worst case scenario." It's funny, but looking back at that Indiana game, it seems that they could have indeed done "worse."

Nevertheless, there were some memorable moments that can leave us feeling optimistic about next year's Hawks. There were even two plays that will go down in Hawkeye lore as two of the more memorable all-time Iowa moments.

Finally, as I've previously mentioned, I am not a Pollyanna. This team did unquestionably underachieve and, at times, left something on the field.

However, those looking for an all-out purging of the coaching staff might well consult their history books. Before Hayden Fry came along, Iowa went 19 seasons without a winning record. This program does not have the inherent advantages of Ohio State or Texas. It could easily fall back into that sort of situation.

In short, yes, the Iowa Hawkeye football team could do better, and it would be a crime if we didn't expect them to do better. More specifically, the 2010 Iowa football team should have done better.

But the lesson of Tom Davis is as follows: Be careful what you wish for.

A-Rob 75-Yard Run vs. Iowa State

I'm not going to give this play any huge buildup, because by the time it happened, Iowa was firmly in the lead, 21-0. Iowa State had been manhandled, and Iowa was pretty much dictating the way the game went.

However, in a year that many would call a disappointment, Adam Robinson was, for the most part, solid, at least until the end of the season.

Since last year, he was consistently the spark plug to this offense.

Listed at 5'9", 205 pounds, he was not terribly large. He was also not terribly fast, nor did he have acceleration that would wow any scouts.

He just had an uncanny knack for making would-be tacklers miss, for getting seven yards when the team needed six, and for doing whatever had to be done to help the Hawkeyes win.

Now he is part of Hawkeye past, but his play over the last two years is worth remembering.

This particular play was probably not vintage A-Rob. At the very least, there are not many defenses that he could outrun.

***By the way, watch the downfield and second-level blocking on this play. Marvin McNutt rides his man down the field, and not quite as obviously, DJK takes an Iowa State safety completely out of the play. Twice. Also, tight end Brad Herman (No. 39) owns his man.

As often as not, the difference between a nice eight-yard scamper and 75-yard touchdown comes from downfield blocking.

Stanzi to McNutt vs. Indiana

There was 3:42 left in what had been a very ugly game for 6-2 Iowa.

They found themselves down 12-13 to lowly 4-4 Indiana, an Indiana team that had averaged over 30 points allowed in its previous eight games. Moreover, those eight games included four out-of-conference games that would make Bill Snyder blush.

The Hawks started their final drive at their own 12. Ricky Stanzi, who had looked off for much of the game, connected on two successive mid-range passes to his top receiver, DJK.

After those passes, Iowa had a 1st-and-10 at their own 48 with three minutes left.

The Hawks lined up in an I-formation with two wide receivers. Stanzi went under center. The ball was snapped and Iowa's signal caller took a seven-step drop. Indiana rushed four and put everybody else back in coverage.

Stanzi pump faked short...

Binns' Pick Six vs. Arizona

Forget how the game turned out. Forget how the year turned out. And forget this announcer's obnoxious voice.

Try and put yourself back where you were when you watched this game.

It was past midnight in Iowa. The game had started out with the Hawks making mistake after mistake. Iowa more or less spotted the Wildcats 14 points. It was 0-14 before the first five minutes of play were over.

Yet, here we were. The middle of the fourth quarter, and Iowa was back to within a touchdown. Moreover, Arizona was going up against Iowa's defense, a defense and a team that had completely taken back UA's earlier momentum. In Arizona's own stadium. There was no way the Cats would be able to move the ball on them.

The Wildcats were in a four-wide set with Arizona quarterback Nick Foles in the shotgun. Iowa was in its base 4-3.

Foles took the snap, and defensive end Broderick Binns faked a pass rush. Then he pulled back into zone coverage...

Prater Pick Six vs. Penn State

The Hawkeyes were up 17-3. Iowa had dominated Penn State in the first half. However, much to the chagrin of the Kinnick Stadium black-and-gold, Kirk Ferentz had gone into ultra-vanilla mode for the second half.

His conservative play-calling would have made William F. Buckley blush.

Nevertheless, it worked. With 1:55 remaining in the game, Penn State had the ball at their own 17. Despite Iowa's conservatism, the Nits had been unable to mount any substantial drive since early in the third quarter.

On the other hand, if they moved the ball quickly here, they could score. If they did so with time left on the clock, they could go for the onside kick and score again.

Stranger things had happened.

True freshman quarterback, Rob Bolden lined up under center. He had three wide receivers, a running back and a tight end.

He took the snap and dropped back...

Stanzi to A-Rob Michigan

This is one of those plays that gets forgotten in light of flashier plays that go for touchdowns and turnovers. In fact, due to that, I couldn't find quality video of the play, which explains why what I could find is so shoddy.

Nevertheless, the score was 35-28 with the Hawks in the lead.

They had all but finished the Wolverines off before UM, led by backup quarterback Tate Forcier, had climbed to within one touchdown.

At 3rd-and-8, with 3:44 left in the game, Iowa stood at the Michigan 40-yard line. Make the first down, and, at the very least, the Wolverines would have to burn all of their timeouts in order to have any shot at putting up a tying score.

The crowd, which had been quelled earlier in the game, was back into it. The momentum was fully on the Wolverines' side.

Iowa put Stanzi under center. They had three wide receivers on the field with A-Rob in the backfield.

Would Iowa go conservative and run the ball to keep the clock moving? Or would they put the ball in their senior quarterback's hands and attempt to pass for the first down?

***For a clearer viewing, be sure to check out MGovideo's video of every Michigan defensive snap (and thus, every Iowa offensive snap) of the game.

Stanzi to Herman Before Half vs. Michigan State

By the time this play happened, the Hawks appeared to have this game well in hand. However, that wasn't the point.

It was the second quarter. There were two minutes left before halftime. Iowa was up 23-0 and had absolutely dominated 8-0 Michigan State from their opening drive.

The Hawkeyes had a 3rd-and-1 from their own 39. In vintage Kirk Ferentz, ultra-conservative mode, every black-and-gold-clad viewer in Kinnick Stadium figured Ferentz would run a dive up the middle and run out the rest of the clock.

At the very least, most figured he would run a dive, get the first down and then maybe see if his offense could at least get across the 50 before trying anything risky.

Nevertheless, on this day, Ferentz was going for the throat.

Iowa sent out short yardage personnel. There were two tight ends, a fullback and halfback, and Marvin McNutt was split out wide.

Meanwhile, MSU had five down lineman, three linebackers and both safeties in the box.

Stanzi took the snap, and seemed to be looking for a handoff. It appeared that Ferentz would go with his usual tendencies, but it turned out that was not the case.

Instead, Stanzi pulled the ball away from tailback Marcus Coker and dropped back to pass...

Coker Pinball Run in Insight Bowl

It was Iowa's first possession of the second half, and they were up 17-10.

However, they started the drive pinned at their own three.

They ran two consecutive rushing plays to true freshman Marcus Coker, after which they found themselves facing 3rd-and-1 on the 12-yard line.

If they failed to convert the third down, they would have been forced to punt. Even if they had a good punt, Mizzou would still have the ball in decent field position. This was not something Iowa could afford.

Iowa lined up in a tight-I. Receiver Marvin McNutt was on the weak side of the field. Iowa lined up tight end Brad Herman on the line, and tight end Allen Reisner was off the line.

The backfield had fullback Brett Morse with Coker behind him. It looked like Iowa was going to try and power their way to the first down.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi came to the line and did a quick snap...

Penn State Fourth Down Goal Line Stand

Penn State had gone into the half down 3-17. Outside of their last drive of the second quarter, the Nits' offense had been swallowed up by the Hawk defense.

However, the PSU O made some solid halftime adjustments, and Penn State took their opening drive down the field.

In 13 plays, they drove from their own 29 to the Iowa one. In doing so, they took almost eight minutes off the clock.

Now, it was fourth down. If they score, they are only down 10-17. The momentum would be fully on their side, and the Iowa defense would be tired.

If Iowa holds them, the Hawks have all the momentum, they still have a 14-point lead, and half of the third quarter is gone.

Penn State called a timeout, and then came out with an empty set. True freshman Rob Bolden was in the gun. The Kinnick Crowd was electric...

Sash Lateral to Micah Hyde vs. Michigan State

It was 10-0 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Iowa was fully in control of undefeated Michigan State. However, MSU was driving. They started the drive at their own 22, and in five plays they had moved it to the 50-yard-line. Score a touchdown and the Spartans were right back in it.

Looking at 1st-and-10, Iowa had been eating up the Michigan State running game. Nevertheless, the MSU short passing game had had some success.

State lined up with three receivers. Their tight end was on the line, and true freshman Le'Veon Bell was in the backfield.

Iowa was in their base 4-3.

Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins took the snap from under center and faked the handoff...

***As an aside, I recall reading the Blackheartgoldpants MSU game thread, where a poster brought up a line from the movie Major League. The poster imagined that following the play, defensive back coach Phil Parker would greet Tyler Sash on the sideline with the following words: "Nice play Sash. Don't ever f$%@!&? do it again."

Micah Hyde Interception in Insight Bowl

Iowa was losing 20-24. There was 6:19 left to go in the game.

As had been the case so many times during the 2010 season, the Iowa offense couldn't move the ball in the second half, while the defense couldn't get off the field.

After intercepting an errant Ricky Stanzi pass, Mizzou started the drive at their own 31. After five consecutive complete passes, they had moved the ball down to the Iowa 29. Score a touchdown, and the game was, in all probability, effectively over.

By that point, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert had piled up over 400 yards through the air. They had abandoned their run game early in the first half, and it was unlikely they were going to run on this play.

The Tigers came out with a four-wide set. Gabbert was in the shotgun, flanked by a running back.

Iowa lined up in man-coverage. Gabbert took the snap and scanned the field. Then, the Iowa defensive line pressured Gabbert, and he was flushed out of the pocket...