Entering the 2010 football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are in a unique position for its program’s history. They won their first BCS level bowl game since the 60s, have a 2-yr win total of 20 games and winning percentage 80%, thus they are beginning to earn back the respect on the national college football landscape, and approaching the ability to claim elite status.

When Kirk Ferentz began to execute his vision early in the 21st century, the hawks were known as the bullies of the...