Jan. 14, 2005
Drew Tate’s 56-yard touchdown pass to Warren Holloway came on the last play of the last game of an unforgettable Iowa football season.
It was an unbelievable play that left 70,000 fans at the Capitol One Bowl and a national television audience amazed. Most of us — maybe none of us — had ever seen a big game end as dramatically.
When the aftershock subsided and we realized our eyes weren’t playing tricks, some Iowa fans began wondering if there had ever been a bigger play in the history of Hawkeye football.
My first reaction was: Oh, come on, Iowa has been playing football for 115 years and there have been lots of big plays in that time.
But after thinking it over for a week or so, my conclusion is: Nope, there was never a bigger play. The 56-yard pass that beat LSU 30-26 in Orlando was the biggest play in Iowa history.
Bigger than the field goal by Aubrey Devine in 1921 that beat Notre Dame 10-7, ending a 20-game winning streak by the Irish. Iowa went on to a perfect season.
Bigger than the touchdown by Nile Kinnick in 1939 that beat Notre Dame 7-6. The legendary star of the Ironmen also drop-kicked the extra point.
Bigger than the fumble return by Joe Williams at Michigan State in 1960. The Spartans led 15-14 and were killing the clock in the final minutes when Ferguson grabbed a fumble in midair and ran 80 yards for a touchdown.
The dramatic play was pivotal in helping Iowa earn a Big Ten co-championship and No. 3 national ranking.
Bigger than Chuck Long’s bootleg for a touchdown in a 35-31 victory over Michigan State in 1985. The fourth down play was vital in Iowa’s winning an undisputed Big Ten crown.
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Those are a half dozen dramatic plays that were important in winning bowl games and Big Ten championships for the Hawkeyes. But none were as big as the play that won the Capitol One Bowl.
What sets that spectacular touchdown pass apart from other great plays in Iowa history is this: Given the same circumstances, Iowa probably couldn’t succeed again in 100 chances. Or perhaps 1,000 chances. Maybe even 10,000 chances. |
Bigger than Rob Houghtlin’s field goal against Michigan later in that same 1985 season. It was his fourth field goal of the game and came as time expired in a 12-10 Iowa victory.
Bigger than Houghtlin’s field goal in the 1986 Holiday Bowl that gave Iowa a 39-38 victory over San Diego State. That kick also came on the last play of the game.
Those are a half dozen dramatic plays that were important in winning bowl games and Big Ten championships for the Hawkeyes. But none were as big as the play that won the Capitol One Bowl.
What sets that spectacular touchdown pass apart from other great plays in Iowa history is this: Given the same circumstances, Iowa probably couldn’t succeed again in 100 chances.
Or perhaps 1,000 chances.
Maybe even 10,000 chances.
Of the plays mentioned earlier, the fumble return by Williams would be hardest to duplicate, but it was not made on the game’s final play.
Another play that gave Iowa a dramatic win was made at Ohio State in 1987. Chuck Hartlieb’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Marv Cook on fourth down produced an unlikely 29-27 victory. But there was still time on the clock, and the victory had no significant meaning.
When the game ended at the Capitol One Bowl, the stunned LSU fans silently and quickly filed out of the stadium. The euphoric Iowa fans stayed around for a long time, cheering their team for its unbelievable victory.
Hawkeye fans had good reason to celebrate. Their team had once again found a way to win, this time with the biggest play in school history.
Editor’s Note: George Wine, the University of Iowa’s long-time sports information director who is now retired and living in Coralville, Iowa, is the author of George Wine Online. George has remained very close to the intercollegiate athletics program at the UI since his retirement and, in fact, has authored two books during that time. The first was a collaboration with the subject of today’s editorial, Hayden Fry, and named “A High Porch Picnic.” The second, “Black & Gold Memories, The Hawkeyes of the 20th Century,” included many of the essays George originally wrote for “The Voice of the Hawkeyes.” As he wrote in the book, “Collectively, they serve as a historical reference, and hopefully provide entertaining reading.” “Black & Gold Memories” is currently available at Barnes & Noble book stores across Iowa and on the world wide web.