2004 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa
in the 2004 college football season
. They played their home games in Kinnick Stadium
and were coached by Kirk Ferentz
. Finishing the 2003 season with a 10-3 record and an Outback Bowl
victory, the Hawkeyes began the season 2-0 with wins over and . But after rocky performances at Arizona State
and Michigan
, the Hawkeyes sat at 2-2 going into their game with Michigan State
.
The Hawkeyes handily defeated the Spartans 38–16, and turned their attention to Ohio State
, a team whom the Hawkeyes had not beaten at home since 1983. Behind a strong defensive performance that allowed only 177 yards, the Hawkeyes easily defeated the Buckeyes by 26 points, the largest margin of victory over Ohio State in Iowa history. However, tragedy struck soon thereafter, when head coach
Kirk Ferentz's father died. In the emotional game that ensued, the Hawkeyes narrowly defeated Penn State
6–4 on two Kyle Schlicher field goals
.
The Hawkeyes then raised their record to 8-2 with victories over , Purdue
, and Minnesota
. With a share of the Big Ten championship on the line, the Hawkeyes met Wisconsin
in the final regular season game of the year. Iowa won the game, and thousands of Hawkeye fans swarmed the field in celebration. Several weeks following the victory, Iowa accepted a bid to play the LSU Tigers
in the 2005 Capital One Bowl
.
In a game that was originally thought to be a defensive matchup, the Hawkeyes took a 24–12 lead early in the fourth quarter. But behind freshman
quarterback
JaMarcus Russell
, the Tigers stormed back, and took a one-point lead with 46 seconds remaining. However, LSU's comeback was all for naught, as Iowa's Drew Tate
completed a 56-yard touchdown
pass to Warren Holloway
as time expired, giving Iowa the 30–25 win and a 10-2 final record.
in the Outback Bowl. Despite falling behind early on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Chris Leak
to Kelvin Knight, the Hawkeyes reeled off 27 straight points en route to a 37–17 victory. It was a milestone victory, as it gave Iowa its second consecutive 10-win season along with the first Hawkeye victory in a January bowl game since the Rose Bowl in 1959.
Following the season, five Iowa players were selected in the 2004 NFL Draft
. Robert Gallery
, the 2003 Outland Trophy
winner, became the second-highest pick in school history when he was selected 2nd by the Oakland Raiders
. Following Gallery in Iowa's draft order were Bob Sanders
, taken 44th by Indianapolis
, Nate Kaeding
, taken 65th by San Diego
, Jared Clauss
, taken in the seventh round by Tennessee
, and Erik Jensen, who was taken in the seventh round by St. Louis
.
, and Ramon Ochoa on offense. Defensively, the Hawkeyes looked to replace Howard Hodges, Jared Clauss, Grant Steen, and Bob Sanders.
Replacement starters on offense were Drew Tate, Champ Davis, Jermelle Lewis, Calvin Davis, Tony Jackson, Lee Gray, Mike Elgin, and Chris Felder. On defense, Derreck Robinson
, Tyler Luebke, George Lewis, and Marcus Paschal assumed their roles on the starting lineup. On special teams, David Bradley returned for his senior season as punter, while Kyle Schlicher replaced Nate Kaeding as the starting kicker.
, which was February 4, 2004. The Hawkeyes added another commit to the class with the late addition of defensive lineman Ettore Ewen.
Another recruit, Kyle Williams, later de-committed from the Hawkeyes and committed to the Purdue Boilermakers.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in the 2004 college football season
2004 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss...
. They played their home games in Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium, formerly known as Iowa Stadium, and known in the area simply as Kinnick, is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, in the sport of college football...
and were coached by Kirk Ferentz
Kirk Ferentz
Kirk James Ferentz is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 1999. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He has also served as an assistant coach...
. Finishing the 2003 season with a 10-3 record and an Outback Bowl
2004 Outback Bowl
The 2004 Outback Bowl featured the Florida Gators, and the Iowa Hawkeyes.Florida appeared to come out of the gates swinging, with quarterback Chris Leak throwing a 70-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelvin Kight to take an early 7-0 lead. Iowa got on the board following a 3 yard touchdown pass...
victory, the Hawkeyes began the season 2-0 with wins over and . But after rocky performances at Arizona State
2004 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. It played its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.-Schedule:...
and Michigan
2004 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2004 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2004 college football season. The team's head football coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium...
, the Hawkeyes sat at 2-2 going into their game with Michigan State
2004 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2004 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in NCAA Division I-A college football during the 2004 season. Michigan State competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans...
.
The Hawkeyes handily defeated the Spartans 38–16, and turned their attention to Ohio State
2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2004-2005. The team's head football coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games at Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a record of 8-4, and a Big Ten...
, a team whom the Hawkeyes had not beaten at home since 1983. Behind a strong defensive performance that allowed only 177 yards, the Hawkeyes easily defeated the Buckeyes by 26 points, the largest margin of victory over Ohio State in Iowa history. However, tragedy struck soon thereafter, when head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Kirk Ferentz's father died. In the emotional game that ensued, the Hawkeyes narrowly defeated Penn State
2004 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2004 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2004 college football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.-Preseason:...
6–4 on two Kyle Schlicher field goals
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
.
The Hawkeyes then raised their record to 8-2 with victories over , Purdue
2004 Purdue Boilermakers football team
The 2004 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University in the 2004 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Tiller and played its home games at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue played twelve games in the 2004 season, finishing with a 7-5 record and a loss in the...
, and Minnesota
2004 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2004 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team represented the University of Minnesota in the college football season of 2004-2005. The team's coach was Glen Mason. It played its home games at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota....
. With a share of the Big Ten championship on the line, the Hawkeyes met Wisconsin
2004 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2004 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2004 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Barry Alvarez, the Badgers completed the season with a 9-3 record, including a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten Conference, good for a third-place...
in the final regular season game of the year. Iowa won the game, and thousands of Hawkeye fans swarmed the field in celebration. Several weeks following the victory, Iowa accepted a bid to play the LSU Tigers
2004 LSU Tigers football team
The 2004 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2004–2005. Coached by Nick Saban in his last season at LSU, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team finished with a 9–3 record and an...
in the 2005 Capital One Bowl
2005 Capital One Bowl
The 2005 Capital One Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the LSU Tigers on January 1, 2005, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Spread bettors favored LSU by seven points, but Iowa won, 30–25, when quarterback Drew Tate completed a 56-yard pass to...
.
In a game that was originally thought to be a defensive matchup, the Hawkeyes took a 24–12 lead early in the fourth quarter. But behind freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
, the Tigers stormed back, and took a one-point lead with 46 seconds remaining. However, LSU's comeback was all for naught, as Iowa's Drew Tate
Drew Tate
Drew Tate is a professional American and Canadian football quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Iowa....
completed a 56-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass to Warren Holloway
Warren Holloway
Warren Holloway is an American football player who played the wide receiver position for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2001 to 2005. He later played in the af2 league for the Everett Hawks...
as time expired, giving Iowa the 30–25 win and a 10-2 final record.
Previous season
In 2003, Iowa began the season 4-0 and would eventually complete the regular season with a 9-3 record that included wins over Iowa State, Michigan (Iowa's second straight victory against Michigan), and Minnesota. However, the Hawkeyes lost to Michigan State, Ohio State, and Purdue. Finishing fourth in the Big Ten standings, the Hawkeyes accepted a bid to play the Florida Gators2003 Florida Gators football team
The 2003 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2003 college football season...
in the Outback Bowl. Despite falling behind early on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Chris Leak
Chris Leak
Christopher Patrick Leak is an American professional football player who is currently a quarterback for the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League. He played college football for the University of Florida, and led the Florida Gators to victory in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game...
to Kelvin Knight, the Hawkeyes reeled off 27 straight points en route to a 37–17 victory. It was a milestone victory, as it gave Iowa its second consecutive 10-win season along with the first Hawkeye victory in a January bowl game since the Rose Bowl in 1959.
Following the season, five Iowa players were selected in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. Robert Gallery
Robert Gallery
-Oakland Raiders:In 2004, he started 15 games at right tackle and gave up 3 sacks. In 2005, he started all 16 games at right tackle and gave up 3.5 sacks. The Raiders moved him to left tackle at the beginning of the 2006 preseason...
, the 2003 Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
winner, became the second-highest pick in school history when he was selected 2nd by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Following Gallery in Iowa's draft order were Bob Sanders
Bob Sanders
Demond "Bob" Sanders is a professional American football safety who is currently on the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League. Sanders was drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts...
, taken 44th by Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
, taken 65th by San Diego
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Jared Clauss
Jared Clauss
Jared Clauss is an American football defensive tackle for Team Michigan of the All American Football League. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa.Clauss attended Valley High School in West Des Moines,...
, taken in the seventh round by Tennessee
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, and Erik Jensen, who was taken in the seventh round by St. Louis
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Before the season
Prior to the season, the Hawkeyes looked to replace seven offensive starters and four defensive starters. Key losses from 2003 included Maurice Brown, Robert Gallery, Nate Chandler, Fred RussellFred Russell (football player)
Fred "The Hussell" Russell is an American football player who was previously on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad. He played his college football at Iowa and played high school football at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan...
, and Ramon Ochoa on offense. Defensively, the Hawkeyes looked to replace Howard Hodges, Jared Clauss, Grant Steen, and Bob Sanders.
Replacement starters on offense were Drew Tate, Champ Davis, Jermelle Lewis, Calvin Davis, Tony Jackson, Lee Gray, Mike Elgin, and Chris Felder. On defense, Derreck Robinson
Derreck Robinson
Derreck Robinson is an American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Iowa.Robinson has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas...
, Tyler Luebke, George Lewis, and Marcus Paschal assumed their roles on the starting lineup. On special teams, David Bradley returned for his senior season as punter, while Kyle Schlicher replaced Nate Kaeding as the starting kicker.
Recruiting class
Iowa signed 21 players on National Signing DayNational Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
, which was February 4, 2004. The Hawkeyes added another commit to the class with the late addition of defensive lineman Ettore Ewen.
Another recruit, Kyle Williams, later de-committed from the Hawkeyes and committed to the Purdue Boilermakers.
Schedule
Schedule note
Due to the Big Ten's rotating schedule, the Hawkeyes did not play either or .Strength of schedule rankings
- FootballFantasy.com - 13th
- Russell Rankings - 18th
- AndersonSports - 18th
Kent State
Iowa State
Arizona State
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Illinois
Purdue
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Louisiana State
Team players in the NFL
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Matt Roth Matt Roth Matthew M. Roth is an American football defensive end and outside linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Defensive End | 2 | 46 | Miami Dolphins 2005 Miami Dolphins season -Schedule:-References:... |
| Jonathan Babineaux Jonathan Babineaux Jonathan Joel Babineaux is an NFL defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted with the 59th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.-High school career:... |
Defensive Tackle | 2 | 59 | Atlanta Falcons 2005 Atlanta Falcons season -Roster:-Preseason:-Regular season:-Awards and honors:* Michael Vick, Pro Bowl selection-References:... |
| Sean Considine Sean Considine Sean Considine is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football at Iowa, starting as a walk-on before earning a scholarship in his sophomore year.... |
Defensive Back | 4 | 102 | Philadelphia Eagles 2005 Philadelphia Eagles season -Schedule:-Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons:at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Eagles' 2005 season-opener on Monday Night Football was more famous for what happened before the game, when Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was ejected for a scuffle near mid-field during pre-game warmups... |
| Tony Jackson | Tight End | 6 | 196 | Seattle Seahawks 2005 Seattle Seahawks season The 2005 Seattle Seahawks season saw them advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's history. They were the NFC representative in Super Bowl XL, a game they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks compiled a 13-3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West and... |
| Pete McMahon Pete McMahon Pete McMahon is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
Tackle | 6 | 214 | Oakland Raiders 2005 Oakland Raiders season The 2005 Oakland Raiders season was their 46th in the league. They were unable to improve upon their previous season's output of 5–11, instead only going 4–12. The team finished the season on a six game losing streak.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:... |