Wine: A Homecoming Weekend for the Ages

Oct. 8, 2006

• Hawkeye All-Access
• Order the “Video Season Ticket”
  Iowa-Purdue Video: On the “Feature” page inside “Football”

Homecoming weekend at the University of Iowa was as good as it gets.

On Friday there was a gathering of three Rose Bowl teams, with legendary coaches and players in attendance. (More about that later.)

Then the Homecoming parade, with its pageantry and color, snaking through downtown Iowa City on a crisp autumn evening.

And Saturday’s big game at Kinnick Stadium, where the Hawkeyes pounded Purdue, 47-17.

A perfect weekend without a cloud in the sky, either literally or figuratively. “Sparkling” is the best word to describe both the weather and Iowa’s football performance.

Fans who have been pining for the Iowa offense to snap, crackle and pop saw their wishes fulfilled. There hasn’t been an explosion like this at Kinnick Stadium since the old press box was imploded last November.

The offense jumped off to a fast start for the first time in five games, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. The third period looked like jai alai on grass, with both teams scoring twice on long drives, but those were Purdue’s only TDs of the game.

When the game was over the Hawkeyes had a season high in rushing yards (286), total yards (539) and points (47). And they did it without their top tailback, Albert Young, who sat out the game with a leg injury.

The offense treated the Homecoming crowd to some really big plays. Drew Tate and Andy Brodell hooked up on a 52-yard pass. Dominique Douglas made a spectacular 37-yard catch. Damian Sims had runs of 36 and 44 yards, and Shonn Green had a 25-yard gallop.

But the biggest play of all was made by a defensive player, Adam Shada. The junior cornerback picked off a Purdue pass at the two-yard line and ran a serpentine route from sideline to sideline before reaching the end zone.

It will officially go down as a 98-yard interception return, but Shada ran at least 150 yards to score his first career touchdown.

Yes, the outcome had already been decided when Shada stole a pass and made his zig-zag run, but it might have been the most important play of the game. Big plays by Iowa’s defense and special teams have been few and far between the last season and a half, which has put an extra burden on the offense.

Maybe Shada’s spectacular theft and run will be an inspiration to the defense and special teams and we’ll see more big plays from them in the games ahead.

Hawkeye defenders have a lot to be proud about in their effort Saturday. Purdue came into the game averaging 37 points, best in the Big Ten. Iowa held the Boilermakers to less than half that total.

Perhaps the pivotal play of the game was made by Bryan Mattison. Purdue was in the red zone late in the third quarter when Mattison registered Iowa’s only sack of the game. It was an 11-yard loss on third down, forcing the visitors to try a field goal, which was missed. That pretty much settled the outcome.

Iowa will try to nail down the Three-I League title when it plays at Indiana Saturday. The Hawkeyes have already beaten Illinois, 24-7. Indiana kicked a field goal on the last play of the game to win at Illinois last week, 34-32.

ROSE BOWL TEAMS HOLD REUNIONS

The three winningest Iowa football coaches were among those attending a luncheon for three Rose Bowl teams. Forest Evashevski coached the 1956 and 1958 teams, Hayden Fry the 1981 team. Kirk Ferentz, who has won two Big Ten titles at Iowa, was also present.

Fry’s Iowa teams won 143 games in 20 years (plus conference championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 1985 and 1990). Ferentz, in his seventh season at Iowa, has 54 victories and counting. Evashevski had 52 wins in nine seasons (plus a third Big Ten title in 1960).

Two of the greatest quarterbacks in Iowa history were also present. Kenny Ploen introduced his 1956 teammates. Randy Duncan did the same for the 1958 team. Both led Iowa to Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl victories.

The private luncheon was held at the Iowa Hall of Fame. Earl Murphy’s “Garden Club” did a marvelous job of hosting the event, which brought together many Iowa football legends and renewed some wonderful memories of great Hawkeye teams.