Does it get any better than this?

Seriously, does it get any better than this?

The Hawkeyes were 97 seconds from history, and more than a few of the Iowa faithful were probably not optimistic after Michigan State scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:37 to go. Speaking for myself, I hadn’t given up because anything is possible. Drew Tate and Warren Holloway showed us that on January 1st of 2005.

Yet, I was not exactly upbeat, either.

Rick Stanzi orchestrated something that will forever be known as ‘The Drive’ in Iowa City. 30 years from now, for those that watched the game, if you mention, ‘Do you remember The Drive?’, everyone will know exactly what you are talking about

This game wasn’t pretty; it looked a lot like the sluggish football played in the Southeastern Conference, didn’t it?

Before Michigan State’s touchdown, it was 58:23 of smashmouth defense and five field goals. Even Iowa’s three field goals were ugly.

So if you were not exactly confident that Iowa could march 70 yards over the last 1:30ish of the game, you are forgiven. However, 10 plays later, the Iowa team was celebrating in the endzone after pulling off one of the most amazing winning finishes in Iowa football history.

The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes become the first team in school history to start a year 8-0. They have a 12 game winning streak, the second longest in school history. In their last six games away from Kinnick Stadium, they have outscored their opponents 177-46. They have won at Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State this year, with one road game remaining. They are the first team to beat PSU, Wisconsin and MSU on the road in the same season since Michigan in 1997. By the way, that Michigan team wasn’t necessarily the prettiest, but it was pretty enough to win a National Championship.

Now, Iowa is down to a four-game season for more history. The Hawks will host Indiana and Northwestern before going to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. They have just two wins in that stadium since the late 1950′s. BUT WHO CARES, right? This is the 2009 Iowa football team we are talking about.

They ain’t pretty, but their ours. They ain’t the best offense, but they are good enough when they have to be and they haven’t lost yet.

Neither team committed a turnover in this game, and I thought my statement of ‘If Iowa doesn’t turn the ball over, they will win every game on their schedule’ was in some jeopardy. Nah, no worries, mate. Just your standard 70-yard game winning drive in 1:30, and the fourth down play from the seven yard line with just :02 to play.

What the heck, right?

Some will say, after the euphoria wears off, that this team shouldn’t have been in this situation. The running calls on 2nd and goal from the 13 were interesting, to say the least.

But for now, I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t want to pick nits on this night…on this historic night. No way…we can do that all week long if we have to.

This was epic, to the definition of the word.

This was one we will never forget.

Bigger than Tate to Holloway? I think so, because let’s be honest, as amazing as that was, and it was amazing, it was flukish. This was not a fluke. This was a 10-play drive; no flukes involved. Cue the freaking Rocky music, will ya?

Speaking of Rocky, how about this comment from our Monday Morning Quarterback, Jared Clauss, from last Sunday night:

“We are the Rocky Balboa of college football right now. We look shaky early, but we are to fight. We take a lot of hits but don’t go down, we fight on and we always come out on top.”

I can’t top that, and won’t even try. Enjoy the night. Enjoy the week. Enjoy this freaking season, Iowa fans. Your Iowa Hawkeyes are 8-0.

Tags: Big Ten Football, hawkeye football, Hawkeye Nation, hawkeyenation.com, Iowa football, iowa hawkeyes, Jared Clauss, Jon Miller, Marvin McNutt, Michigan State, Rick Stanzi, Rose Bowl