While HawkeyeNation.com is en route to Chicago this Sunday, and the events don’t get going here until late Monday morning, here are a few fun Hawkeye videos to tide you over unto the unofficial start of the 2010 football season begins later on Monday aftenroon with Kirk Ferentz’s first meeting with the Iowa press.

Here are some clips of the best Iowa plays from the Ferentz Era…or rather, the best Iowa plays of the decade we could find online, and some other cool Iowa videos to whet your appetite

Tate to Holloway.  I just watched this again for the 150th time or so, and I still shake my head and laugh in disbelief that that actually even happened.  I was there, I was standing on the goal line in the endzone where Holloway caught the ball, and it still seems like a Hollywood movie.

Banks to Clark:  Brad Banks launched his Heisman campaign on this drive, mostly with his legs on two of the three previous plays or so.  But this is a play that sealed the comeback, and a play Iowa has used with much success in recent years.  The key on this is the quarterback waiting, waiting, waiting, selling the fact he is looking one way, with all of the direction going that way, then come back to the tight end sneaking underneath the opposite direction.  Watch it a few times, and  focus on different aspects…watch Banks once, Clark once, the offensive line once.  A think of beauty.

Sanders Field Goal Block, Allen Return: Well, before Banks could even throw it to Clark for it to matter, the Hawks had to stage a comeback. They were down 14-3 in the waning minutes of the first half, and Purdue was looking to go up 17-3 when Bob Sanders blocked a field goal and Antwan Allen took it all the way back. It’s at the :40 second mark of the video

Stanzi to McNutt:  It was a four-yard pass on 4th down with :02 to go.  It was the game.  11 game winning streak on the line for the Hawks, and this had been the first effective drive of the game for Iowa when they needed it most.  McNutt runs a slant, and the defender somehow let him get inside, a mistake.  It was then pitch and catch, but the drama was amazing.  Nothing beats a walk off win in college football.

Murray Field Goal vs PSU: This wasn’t a long field goal; a 31-yarder. But considering the rough start Murray had in 2008, and how he had won back the job, nothing was taken for granted. This was a huge play, but Rick Stanzi had made two or three huge plays on that drive, including a cat burglar like call from Ken O’Keefe to DJK to make the field goal 31 yards instead of 44.

Greene Wrecks Wisconsin: Shonn Greene’s 34-yard spin cycle run against Wisconsin in 2008 was spectacular. As the clip says from the voice of Gary Dolphin, Ed Podolak called this arguably the greatest run he had ever seen from an Iowa back.

Clayborn Punt Block: Iowa has had several punt blocks in the Ferentz era, but this one stands out. Iowa’s offense had been unable to do much of anything against Penn State, so special teams needed to spark something. Clayborn got the block and scooped it up and Iowa never trailed again.

CJ Jones, CU Later: 2003 Orange Bowl, 100 yard opening kickoff return…unreal. Other than Tate to Holloway, probably the most amazing single play from an emotional standpoint of the Ferentz era. By the way, look who speeds up and gets closest to Jones on the run, in a Hawkeye uniform

Here are a couple general videos..

Iowa Highlights from 2002 Michigan Stompdown: This never, ever gets old

The Rise of the Hawkeye:  This is just a great video from last year, a highlight reel.  The creator disabled the embedding option, so you will have to click on this link to check it out