Throughout the years, a number of Iowa football players have been honored by winning national awards for their outstanding play on the football field. The individual awards earned by the 2002 and 2003 Hawkeye football program are unprecedented in the history of Iowa football.
Offensive tackle Robert Gallery in 2003 was the recipient of the Outland Trophy, which goes to the best interior lineman in college football. Gallery was named the Big Ten Lineman of the Year and he was a consensus all-American. He is the third Hawkeye player to earn the Outland Trophy.
PK Nate Kaeding also earned consensus all-America honors in 2003 and he was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, which he earned as a junior. A total of five Hawkeye player earned first team all-Big Ten honors a year ago.
Along with having three players earn Player of the Year awards for their positions (QB Brad Banks, TE Dallas Clark and PK Nate Kaeding) in 2002, Iowa had a total of 11 players earn first team all-Big Ten honors. In addition to earning the Davey O’Brien Award as the top quarterback, Banks was named Associated Press National Player of the Year, placed second in the Heisman Trophy voting and was named the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Banks was also a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year.
Center Bruce Nelson in 2002 was a finalist for the Rimington Award, which goes to the top center in the nation, while Clark and OL Eric Steinbach earned consensus all-America honors. The 2002 and 2003 seasons marked just the third and fourth seasons in which Iowa has had more than one consensus selection. Steinbach, in 2002, preceded Gallery as the Big Ten Lineman of the Year.
In addition to the player honors, Coach Kirk Ferentz in 2002 was named national Coach of The Year by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Associated Press. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) selected Ron Aiken as the 2002 national Assistant Coach of the Year.
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy, selected by the Football Writers Association of America, honors the outstanding interior lineman each season.
Cal Jones, 1955
Alex Karras, 1957
Robert Gallery, 2003
 Cal Jones |
Alex Karras
Maxwell Award
Selected by the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia, this award is presented each season to the nation’s outstanding college football player.
Nile Kinnick, 1939
Chuck Long, 1985
 Nile Kinnick |
Chuck Long
Davey O’Brien Award
Presented by the Davey O’Brien Educational and Charitable Trust of Fort Worth, Texas, this award honors the No. 1 quarterback in the nation each season.
Chuck Long, 1985
Brad Banks, 2002
| Chuck Long |
 Brad Banks |
Associated Press National Player of the Year
Presented by the Associated Press, this award honors the college football Player of the Year, as selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the nation.
Brad Banks, 2003
| Brad Banks |
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award goes each year to the top kicker in the nation. The award is presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and is determined by a national voting panel of approximately 300 sportswriters, sportscasters, college conference officials, Division I-A head football coaches, professional football kickers and previous finalists. Along with winning the award in 2002, Nate Kaeding was one of three finalists for the 2003 award.
Nate Kaeding, 2002
 Nate Kaeding |
John Mackey Award
Presented by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the John Mackey Award goes each year to the best tight end in the nation. The winner must demonstrate outstanding athletic abilities, be in good academic standing and exhibit positive sportsmanship qualities.
Dallas Clark, 2002
 Dallas Clark |