What an awesome game. That game made Dallas Clark a star TE and put Brad Banks on his way to Heisman runner-up.
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Iowa vs. Purdue 2002
- Thread starter Hawkangler
- Start date
I was planning a wedding and had to listen on radio. At least something good came out of that day.
Took a blocked punt and a blocked FG for Tds before any of the more memorable stuff happened, and still needed the Adolphus Shelton pick to seal the deal. But everything went the right way from that moment until the second half of the Orange Bowl. One of the most exciting and nerve wracking games I've seen in person.
After they won that game, you knew there was some magic brewing. PU made the Hawks look bad for a big part of that game. But, ya know what they say ..... big play are a killer.
I missed a good portion of the game, I was at a job interview. I told the guy interviewing me that I better get the job because I was missing an Iowa game. He said "no kidding, my cousin played football at Iowa." I asked who it was and he said "you probably wouldn't know." I said "if he played after 1980 there's a good chance I'll know." He said, "okay, he played D-Line for the 49ers." I was like, "John Harty?" He was pretty impressed. I worked 7 years at that porn store.
Big John, Sioux City Heelan. If I recall correctly he signed his LOI in Governor Robert Ray's office.
Adolphus Shelton with the game sealing int to prevent a chance at a game tying TD. Basically a hit wonder for the hawks. Never really heard of that guy before the play pretty much after.
Two things make me sad.
1- I was in high school and was so pissed at the first half I stopped watching. My dad came home (must have been coaching my sister) and yelled at me to get the TV back on and that, I believe, it was Antwan Allen returning the pat for 2. I was glued to the rest of the game. I rarely, if ever, stop watching an Iowa football game... unless we are getting smashed by PSU or OSU. I stopped watching after we would refuse to put a reserve QB in ever. Or if we did, they weren't allowed to throw... but I digress...
2- I loved that 2002 team. Still my favorite Iowa team. With time, and age, I'm forgetting so many of those guys. Sucks. I completely forgot Shelton.
All I could think of as we were on the cusp of losing that game is how tragic it would be to win a thriller in Happy Valley and to then return home and lose to Purdue.
I was there w my brother. We almost left the stadium as it was looking grim. Then the last drive was amazing and then the pick. Purdue outplayed us for a bunch of the game but the boys pulled it out. Dallas was incredible and Banks on that last drive was equal to that. Fun day