Dec. 6, 2004
Iowa has produced many outstanding quarterbacks over the years, but some of the best were not starters as sophomores.
Two played for Coach Forest Evashevski nearly 50 years ago. Kenny Ploen (1956) and Randy Duncan (1958) were both all-Americans and Big Ten most-valuable players who led their teams to conference titles and decisive Rose Bowl victories. But neither started as a sophomore.
Chuck Hartlieb was all-Big Ten in 1987 and 1988 and owns many of Iowa’s passing records. He quarterbacked the Hawkeyes to a Holiday Bowl victory as a junior and the Peach Bowl as a senior. He did not start a sophomore.
As a senior in 2002, Brad Banks quarterbacked the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten championship and an Orange Bowl berth. His many honors that year included being named the Associated Press Player of the Year. Banks came to Iowa from junior college and did not start until his senior season.
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