Iowa's Top 10 "Game-Changers": From Houghtlin To Banks To Greene

As an Iowa Hawkeye football fan for the past 20-plus years, I’ve seen an awful lot of great individual performances. The names read like a “Who’s Who” of Iowa Hawkeye players: Tate, Long, Greene, Harmon, and Houghtlin. So, with no further ado, here’s my Top 10 “game-changers:"

10.  Ronnie Harmon Fumbles Four Times in the 1985 Rose Bowl Game

Unfortunately, Ronnie makes the list here for the wrong reasons—four of them, as a matter of fact. Harmon fumbled four times in the 45-28 destruction of the Hawkeyes by the UCLA Bruins, led by running back Eric Ball. Harmon became somewhat of a joke among Iowa faithful after this game, which was sad because he had provided so many wonderful positive memories to Iowa fans.

9.  Drew Tate Throws a “Hail Mary” To Win the 2005 Capital One Bowl

I remember sitting watching this game with my parents and in-laws, and complaining because it looked for all intents and purposes like Iowa had blown a very good defensive performance, and was about to lose. Somebody forgot to tell Drew Tate that, though. Calmly, he engineered the final drive and final, 56-yard “Hail Mary” touchdown pass to Warren Holloway for a 30-25 come-from-behind victory that will go down in many people’s eyes as the greatest moment in Hawkeye history. However, there are a few that rank higher, in my opinion.

8.  Air Raid Over Texas: Chuck Long Throws for 461 Yards in Rout

Chuck Long, considered by many to be the greatest QB ever to don the black and gold, was in the midst of what would ultimately be the closest Heisman Trophy race in history against Auburn running back Bo Jackson. During the Freedom Bowl against the Texas Longhorns, Long threw for 461 yards and six touchdowns to lead Iowa to a 55-17 rout. Many felt that this performance would guarantee a Heisman victory for Long, but it wasn’t to be, as Jackson won the aforementioned race by the slimmest margin in history. Unfortunately, Jackson would also best Long in the NFL career department.

7.  Greene’s Bad Ankle Doesn’t Stop Him

Shonn Greene, who sat out the 2007 season due to academic problems, sprained an ankle on the second attempt of the Iowa-Indiana game in 2008, and many Hawkeye fans grimaced right along with him. Greene was beginning to garner talk among Heisman Trophy watchers, and an injury this early could permanently torpedo his chances. However, on one leg, Greene still rushed for 115 yards to help the Hawks break a three-game losing streak with a 45-9 defeat of the Hoosiers.

6.  It’s a Hail “Murray” Over Penn State

This game-changer was actually a game-ender. Daniel Murray, who had last kicked a field goal in 2007 against Pittsburgh (and missed), was now being called on to attempt the game-winning field goal against No. 3 ranked Penn State. Why Murray? Coach Kirk Ferentz said, “We were leaning towards experience. The wind was a little tricky, tough situation. We just leaned towards experience.” Murray’s experience over Trent Mossbrucker was evidenced on the final play of the game, which had been a defensive struggle up to this point. Murray came out with six seconds left and Iowa down 23-21, and the winds made the kick an adventure, that some players didn’t even watch.  However, as kids might say today, it was “all good.”

5.  Bright Spot

This game-changer didn’t apply to just one person, but the entire Hawkeye team. On Nov. 1, 1991, a doctorate student of physics murdered three professors, a rival classmate, and a University Vice President, as well as making another student a quadriplegic before killing himself. The Hawkeyes could have scrapped the game they were scheduled to play the next day against the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they “sucked it up,” as the old saying went, and gutted out a 16-9 victory over the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. With their helmets stripped of all decals in honor of the victims of the massacre, and after losing their all-Big 10 QB, Matt Rodgers, to a knee injury, the Hawkeye defense stepped up and kept OSU out of the end zone, marking one of the most emotional victories in Hawkeye history.

4.  Holloway Serves Up a Miracle

I mentioned this one at No. 9, but it was so good, I thought it deserved another mention. Warren Holloway’s 56-yard, game-ending TD reception at the end of the Capital One Bowl in 2005 was one of the most beautiful receptions I’ve ever seen. The amazing part of it was, he was so open! Somebody in the secondary (either one fell down or two) blew their coverage assignment, because there was nobody between Holloway and the game-winning score. In the words of the broadcaster calling Kurt Gibson’s one-legged home run during the World Series, “I don’t believe what I just saw! I DON’T BELIEVE what I just saw!”

3.  “Banks-a-mania” Running Wild

In 2002, the Iowa Hawkeyes had one of the most dangerous backfields in years. Not only were RB’s Fred Russell & Jermelle Lewis tearing up Kinnick Stadium and opposing fields, but QB Brad Banks was running wild, leading to a runner-up finish in the 2002 Heisman Trophy race. One of Banks’ better individual performances came in the Hawks’ game against the Michigan State Wolverines, won 44-16 by the Hawkeyes. Banks ran for a couple of TD’s, and RB’s Freddie Russell & Jermelle Lewis torched the Kinnick Stadium floor.

2.  Greene’s Final Show

Shonn Greene had made many tacklers miss during the 2008 campaign, and the ones who didn’t miss, usually got hurt. Greene was one of those backs who would just as soon run over somebody as run by him. Iowa had once again been invited to the New Years’ Day Outback Bowl against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and Greene turned the game into what would eventually become his going-away party, rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns, leading Iowa to a 31-10 rout. Greene announced after the game that he was throwing his name into the NFL draft, and nobody would argue that he was making a bad decision after his performance against an over-matched South Carolina squad.

So, we’ve covered the top nine “game-changers”, in my opinion.  But, what’s No. 1, you ask?  Okay, then:

1.  Robby, Robby, Robby!  

This game looked more like a heavyweight championship boxing match. No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Michigan, with Iowa boasting Heisman Trophy candidate Chuck Long at QB, and Michigan having, as usual, a tough defensive unit. The game was back and forth all the way, until finally, with :02 showing on the clock, placekicker Rob Houghtlin strode out for a potential game-winning field goal, Iowa trailing 10-9 at this point.  After Michigan called a timeout, Houghtlin stood with his arms on his knees, praying for “strength and direction.” When play resumed, Houghtlin calmly nailed a 29-yard field goal.  Iowa 12, Michigan 10. Many fans began making travel plans for Pasadena at this point.

Of course, this only covers the last 20 years or so, and, as I stated before, it’s only my opinion. But, there you have it: my top 10 picks for “game-changers” in recent Hawkeye history. I’m sure, however, that the next 20 years (and beyond) will produce many more memorable plays like these.