2003 Iowa Hawkeyes football team


The 2003 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following a 2002 season that saw the Hawkeyes finish 11–2 with a Big Ten Conference championship, expectations for a third straight bowl game were well warranted. With four offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning from the 2002 season, the Hawkeyes looked to be a primarily defensive team going into the season.
The Hawkeyes opened the season strong, winning games over Miami (OH), Buffalo, [2003 2003 Iowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State] and [2003 2003 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State] en route to a 4-0 record. Undefeated and ranked ninth in the country, the Hawkeyes headed into East Lansing, Michigan for their Big Ten opener. Playing a Michigan State Spartans team that had just beaten Notre Dame a week earlier, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over four times and committed ten penalties in a 20-10 loss. However, with Michigan next up on the schedule, things would get no easier for the Hawkeyes. Before the game, Michigan held a 37-9-4 lead in the series between the two teams.
Down by 14 in the first quarter for the second straight game, the Hawkeyes came back to take a 30-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan threatened the Iowa lead late, but the Hawkeyes held on for the 30-27 victory. After the victory, Iowa lost on the road to [2003 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State], but followed with home wins over Illinois and Penn State. With a loss to [2003 2003 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue], Iowa's record was 7–3 with two regular season games remaining. Playing against [2003 2003 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota] and the Big Ten's top-ranked offense, the Hawkeyes scored 33 points before the Gophers scored a touchdown.
Following the 40–22 victory, the Hawkeyes fell behind unranked [2003 2003 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin] 21–7 during the second quarter. Needing a pass deflection in the end zone by Sean Considine with no time remaining, the Hawkeyes scored 20 straight points and escaped with a 27–21 win and a 9–3 regular season record. Playing in the 2004 Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, the Hawkeyes won their first game in the state of Florida with a 37-17 victory over the Florida Gators. The win was also Iowa's first in the month of January since 1959.

Before the season

Recruiting class

On National Signing Day, February 5, 2003, the Hawkeyes signed 22 players on football scholarships.

Preseason rankings

Entering the season, Iowa was unranked by both major polls. However, the Hawkeyes would debut in the Coaches Poll as the 25th-ranked team before their first game against Miami University.

Game summaries

Miami (OH)

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Future NFL star Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted four times on this opening day victory for the Hawkeyes. The win would prove more impressive as the season progressed as the Redhawks went on to win their last 13 games and were the eventual MAC conference champion.
StatisticsM-OHIOWA
First downs2217
Total yards304361
Rushing yards54232
Passing yards250129
Turnovers41
Time of possession33:3426:26

Buffalo

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Nathan Chandler and the Iowa offense were unstoppable in this one-sided affair. Future NFL player Sean Considine returned a fumble for a touchdown and Ramon Ochoa returned a punt 70 yards for a score as well as the Hawkeyes were clicking in every phase of the game.
StatisticsBUFIOWA
First downs1928
Total yards285442
Rushing yards227292
Passing yards58150
Turnovers30
Time of possession31:5228:08

at Iowa State

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Iowa was able to end the five-year losing streak to their in-state rival in this dominant win. Iowa State had the ball for almost 10 more minutes but the Hawkeyes held them to just a touchdown through the first three quarters of play. Four field goals by future NFL kicker Nate Kaeding kept Iowa in control throughout the game.
StatisticsIOWAISU
First downs1022
Total yards243390
Rushing yards17171
Passing yards72319
Turnovers12
Time of possession25:2334:37

No. 16 Arizona State

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After surrendering a safety early, the Hawkeyes made sure they were the only team to score for the remainder of the game. Nathan Chandler threw three touchdowns on the day with two of them going to Ramon Ochoa. The Iowa defense clamped down on the Sun Devils, allowing only 184 total yards and just 24 rushing yards. Iowa was off to a 40 start for the first time since 1997.
StatisticsASUIOWA
First downs1219
Total yards184307
Rushing yards24153
Passing yards160154
Turnovers12
Time of possession26:4033:20

at Michigan State

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Four turnovers had the Hawkeyes playing from behind all day. A Nate Kaeding field goal early in the third quarter made it a one possession game, but the Iowa offense was unable to score again. Michigan State went on to start 40 in Big Ten play and vault to No. 9 in the AP poll before a late season slide.
StatisticsIOWAMSU
First downs1417
Total yards265263
Rushing yards10745
Passing yards158218
Turnovers40
Time of possession26:4733:13

No. 9 Michigan

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Still smarting from the loss to Sparty, Iowa put together their most impressive win of the season by handing the eventual conference champion Wolverines their only Big Ten loss.
StatisticsMICHIOWA
First downs1814
Total yards463295
Rushing yards74100
Passing yards389195
Turnovers11
Time of possession29:0430:56

at No. 8 Ohio State

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All three touchdowns scored in this slugfest came on special teams plays. While holding Ohio State to just 185 yards of offense, Iowa made too many mistakes to overtake the Buckeyes in Columbus.
StatisticsIOWAOSU
First downs1511
Total yards219185
Rushing yards6656
Passing yards153129
Turnovers31
Time of possession29:5230:08

Penn State

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StatisticsPSUIOWA
First downs920
Total yards176386
Rushing yards38212
Passing yards138174
Turnovers13
Time of possession26:4933:11

Illinois

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The Hawkeyes rolled up over 500 yards of total offense in a balanced attack and thorough dismantling of the Illini.
StatisticsILLIOWA
First downs1224
Total yards265505
Rushing yards59244
Passing yards206261
Turnovers21
Time of possession23:4936:11

at No. 16 Purdue

StatisticsIOWAPUR
First downs1616
Total yards301321
Rushing yards98154
Passing yards203167
Turnovers10
Time of possession28:1931:41

No. 19 Minnesota

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Coming off a loss to the Boilermakers, No. 19 Minnesota didn't stand a chance in Kinnick Stadium. Two Rhys Lloyd field goals gave the Gophers a 6–3 lead before the Hawkeyes rattled off 37 straight points. Iowa led 40–6 before two Minnesota TDs in the last five minutes.
StatisticsMINNIOWA
First downs2915
Total yards563344
Rushing yards175134
Passing yards388210
Turnovers51
Time of possession35:3425:26

at Wisconsin

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StatisticsIOWAWIS
First downs917
Total yards267365
Rushing yards201171
Passing yards66194
Turnovers34
Time of possession27:1532:45

vs. No. 17 Florida (Outback Bowl)

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A Chris Leak-led Florida team had the initial score in Iowa's first Outback Bowl appearance but from that point the game belonged to the Hawkeyes. Iowa scored 27 unanswered points and put up over 400 yards of total offense as they controlled the ball and field position for the majority of the contest.
StatisticsIOWAUF
First downs2216
Total yards408325
Rushing yards23857
Passing yards170268
Turnovers10
Time of possession34:1025:50

Postseason awards

Team players in the 2004 NFL draft

Robert GalleryTackle12Oakland Raiders
Bob SandersFree Safety244Indianapolis Colts
Nate KaedingKicker365San Diego Chargers
Jared ClaussDefensive Tackle7230Tennessee Titans
Erik JensenTight End7237St. Louis Rams