Bob Brooks' Top 10 Memories of Iowa Football

Bob Brooks has covered University of Iowa athletics for over 50 years. He's seen its highs and lows. For my final project blog component, I spoke with Brooks as he recanted his Top 10 moments of Iowa football.

10. 2008 -- Murray Last-Second FG Lifts Iowa
Placekicker Daniel Murray knocked in a last-second field goal to give Iowa a win over then-No. 3 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium last November.



Brooks: "I got knocked down in the melee down there [on the field]. I had no doubt that he would make it."

9. 1981 -- Iowa Smells Roses In Win Over Michigan State
After 20 seasons of losing, third-year head coach Hayden Fry took the Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl, thanks to their win over Michigan State and an Ohio State loss to underdog Michigan. It was Iowa's first Rose Bowl trip since 1958.


8. 2002 -- Clark Catch Seals Iowa's Big Ten Title
Tight end Dallas Clark was on the receiving end of a 94-yard pass from quarterback Brad Banks, as Iowa came from behind to beat Purdue and win the Big Ten title. Just watch the first 30 seconds.




7. 1985 -- Long's Bootleg "Something Else"
Quarterback Chuck Long called his own number, running a bootleg with 31 seconds left to cap a 12-play, 78-yard drive to give Iowa a win over Michigan State. He fooled the defense so badly,. he held the ball high over his head from the five-yard line in. Long, the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Auburn's Bo Jackson, went completed 30-of-39 passes in that game.

6. 1958 -- Fleming's Second Half Stuns Wolverines
Freshman running back Willie Fleming torched Michigan's defense in the second half to give Iowa the win and cement him as a legend.

Brooks: "The Michigan folks didn't know much about him, but neither did Iowa because he didn't play a whole lot. We heard these stories coming out of scrimmage that this guy was something else. Willie didn't play in the first half and Michigan had a one touchdown lead over Iowa going into halftime. [Iowa head coach Ray] Eddie put him in at the start of the second half and he ran all over them. Went on to be an all-star in Canadian football."

5. 1985 -- Houghtlin's FG Pushes #1 Iowa past #2 Michigan
Placekicker Rob Houghtlin's 29-yard field goal from the right hash went through the uprights as time expired, giving #1 Iowa a 12-10 victory over #2 Michigan and Bo Schembechler.



Brooks: "I remember the officials taking away Scott Helverson's diving touchdown grab at the end of the first half which would have given Iowa the lead. With Michigan winning and time winding down, linebacker Larry Station would stuff two Jamie Morris runs to force a punt. Chuck Long would nickle-and-dime the defense to set up a perfect storybook ending for Houghtlin. It was probably Hayden's signature win.

4. 1956 -- Eddie, Iowa Smell Roses For The First Time
#7 Iowa beats #6 Ohio State, 6-0, to earn their first-ever Rose Bowl trip. Jim Gibbons caught a touchdown in the corner of the end zone to win the game.

3. 1952 -- Evashevski's First Win Comes At OSU's Hayes' Expense
In Forest Evashevki's first year, the Hawkeyes beat Ohio State and Woody Hayes, 8-0, in the middle of the season after previously being blanked in the win column.

2. 2004 -- Tate-To-Holloway
Every Hawkeye fan remembers this moment as one of the best in Iowa history. Drew Tate threw a hail mary touchdown pass to Warren Holloway as time expired to give Iowa a dramatic win over LSU. Get to the 4:52 mark to witness greatness.



Brooks: "I was shocked. I ran to the middle of the field and did a dance with the President on the 50-yard line. The fans were more shocked than the players. I remember Gallery going down to the end zone after it was over and waving that Hawkeye flag like it was a toothpick."

1. 1939 -- Kinnick Magic
In the 1939 season, Brooks saw every one of Nile Kinnick's games and even got to meet the man. Kinnick went on to win the Heisman Trophy. To date, he is the only Iowa player to win the award and the current stadium is named in his behalf.

Brooks: "I knew then, for better or worse, this [broadcasting] was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be around Iowa. It shaped the whole deal."

Brooks is still running strong. At 82 years old, he rarely misses an Iowa football game, home or away. He bleeds black and gold. You can catch Brooks on the radio daily at 4:30 p.m. on KMRY 1450 (AM) out of Cedar Rapids.