Jan. 2, 2006
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IOWA BOWL RECORDS
Iowa established several bowl records in the 2006 Outback Bowl loss to Florida. Those include: QB Drew Tate set records for pass completions (32), pass attempts (55) and total plays (58). Ed Hinkel tied the record of two touchdown receptions and the mark of two touchdowns scored. Abdul Hodge set a record with 19 tackles (breaking his own mark from a year ago). Damian Sims matched Kevin Harmon’s record of five kickoff returns.
OUTBACK BOWL RECORD
LB Abdul Hodge’s 19 tackles broke the Outback Bowl record of 16 set in 1988 by Michigan’s Allen Bishop.
Florida won the toss and elected to defer, with Iowa electing to receive. The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 72 of their last 79 games. Iowa has started on offense in 74-of-85 contests under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa started on offense in nine of 12 regular season contests this year. Purdue (10/8/05), Michigan (10/22/05) and Minnesota (11/19/05) are the only Hawkeye opponents to start on offense this season.
Iowa failed to score on its opening possession for the fifth time in 12 games. The Hawkeyes scored touchdowns on their first possession in games against Ball State, Northern Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Northwestern and Minnesota.
Florida failed to score on its first offensive possession. Only two Iowa opponents scored (both touchdowns) on their opening possession this season (Purdue and Ohio State).
Today marks the second time in five bowl games under Kirk Ferentz in which Iowa did not score first. Iowa scored first vs. Texas Tech in the 2001 Alamo Bowl, vs. Southern Cal in the 2003 Orange Bowl and vs. LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl. Along with today, Florida scored first vs. Iowa in the 2004 Outback Bowl.
Iowa was out-scored 7-0 in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes this season outscored their opponents 119-37 in the first period. Iowa boasted a 91-0 advantage in its six home games.
Senior DB Antwan Allen became the first Iowa player to start in four January bowl games. He is the only current Hawkeye to start each of the last four bowl games.
Senior LB Abdul Hodge had a game-high 19 tackles (14 solo) today to raise his final career total to 453. He ranks third on Iowa’s career tackle chart. Hodge recorded double digit tackles 22 times in his career and eight times in 2005. The 19 tackles by Hodge in the 2006 Outback Bowl establishes a new Outback Bowl record. The previous mark of 16 tac kles was held by Allen Bishop of Michigan in 1988. Hodge, as a junior a year ago, established a Capital One Bowl record with his 16 tackles in Iowa’s win over LSU.
The punt block by Florida in the first period marked Iowa’s first blocked punt of the season. The last time an Iowa opponent blocked a punt was by Penn State in Iowa’s 6-4 win at Penn State on Oct. 23, 2004. The last time an Iowa opponent returned a blocked punt for a touchdown was by Ohio State’s Donte Whitner, who recovered a blocked punt in the endzone, Oct. 18, 2003 at Ohio State. When Iowa defeated Florida in the 2004 Outback Bowl, Iowa’s Matt Melloy blocked a Florida punt and recovered the ball for a touchdown.
Instant replay was used twice in the first half. Replay confirmed an Iowa pass reception by Calvin Davis in the second quarter and confirmed a Florida TD reception just before halftime.
The pass interception and return for a score by Florida marks the second straight game an Iowa opponent has returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown. Minnesota also had a 60-yard return for a score in Iowa’s 52-28 win over the Gophers in the final regular season game. Iowa opponents returned three interceptions for scores this season.
Damian Sims’ 47-yard KO return in the second period marked Iowa’s longest KO return of the season. The return led to Iowa’s second period touchdown, a 20-yard pass from Drew Tate to Clinton Solomon. Solomon’s touchdown reception is the 14th of his career, which is the fifth-highest total in Iowa history. The senior also caught a 57-yard touchdown in last year’s Capital One Bowl victory.
QB Drew Tate completed 32-55 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns vs. Florida. Tate also had three TD passes at Purdue (2005), vs. Ohio State (2004) and at Wisconsin (2005). Today marked the third time thisseason (357 yards at Purdue & 351 yards vs. Minnesota) and the sixth time in his career that the junior topped 300 yards passing. The 346 yards passing ranks 16th most in a single game at Iowa. Today is the 35th time an Iowa QB has thrown for 300 yards or more.
Tate’s final two scoring passes were to Ed Hinkel (four and 14 yards), raising his career total to 43. Tate is tied with Matt Sherman for second in career scoring passes . The junior ranks fifth in both career passing yards and total yards. Tate tossed two touchdown passes or more in nine of 12 games this season. He has thrown two touchdown passes or more in 17 career games, including 14 of his last 17 games dating back to last year.Tate’s 2005 season passing yards (2,828) ranks fifth best for a single season and his 22 scoring passes tie Chuck Long (1984) for third best in a single season.
Senior WR Ed Hinkel had touchdown receptions of four and 14 yards, raising his career total to 15, which ranks fourth highest in school history. Hinkel had at least two touchdowns in five games in his career (at Michigan in 2004, at Illinois in 2004, vs. Illinois in 2005, vs. Minnesota in 2005 and vs. Florida today). Hinkel also has one punt return and one rushing touchdown in his career. Hinkel had nine catches for 85 yards vs. Florida, while his career highs are 10 catches (vs. LSU) and 151 yards (Minnesota, 2005).
LB Chad Greenway, with nine tackles vs. Florida, ended his career with 416 career stops. He ranks fifth on Iowa’s career tackle list. Greenway posted double digit tackles 25 times in his career, including 10 times this year.
The 24 points scored by Florida marks the most points scored against Iowa in one half this year. Northwestern and Minnesota scored 21 points in the second half, while Ohio State scored 17 points in the first half.
Today was the final game for 24 Hawkeye seniors: DB Antwan Allen, TE C.J. Barkema, LB Bret Chinander, OL Ben Cronin, OL Brian Ferentz, DL Mike Follett, P John Gallery, OL Ben Gates, LB Chad Greenway, WR Ed Hinkel, LB Abdul Hodge, DB Jovon Johnson, LS Kyle Kesselring, WR Matt Melloy, QB Cy Phillips, DL Nate Roos, RB Marcus Schnoor, RB Adolphus Shelton, FB Kevin Sherlock, RB Marques Simmons, WR Clinton Solomon, OL David Walker, DB Richie Williams and FB Paul Wilson.
Iowa’s record in bowl games now stands at 11-9-1. The Hawkeyes have played in five straight bowl games, including four straight January contests.
Iowa’s senior class has amassed 38 wins over the last four years, a total that matches the 2001-04 Hawkeye teams for the most in school history over a four-year span. Additionally, the 2002-05 Hawkeye senior class has accumulated 25 Big Ten Conference victories, a total that equals Iowa’s 1982-85 and 2001-04 squads for the most league wins over a four-year span.