Iowa Football: At Long Last, The Hawkeyes Won A Bowl Game

The last time the Hawkeyes won a bowl game, gas was a quarter, milk was a nickel, and Calvin Coolidge was in the White House. No, that is not entirely accurate, as the last bowl win before the Pinstripe Bowl victory was in 2010, but it was a long time coming.

2556 days was the time between the Insight Bowl (now the Cactus Bowl) and the 7-point win over Boston College in the frozen confines of Yankee Stadium. In the last bowl win the MVPs for Iowa were RB Marcus Coker (didn’t last at Iowa) and Micah Hyde (now a Pro Bowler for the Buffalo Bills). This time around the MVP of the game was senior running back Akrum Wadley.

Wadley who was playing in front of dozens of family and friends who came in from his native Newark, New Jersey ended his terrific Iowa career on a fairytale note. Wadley gained 88 yards and got a key touchdown. He was able to get things going for Iowa when they needed it in the second half, after electric freshman RB AJ Dillon got it done for Boston College in the first half.

Akrum Wadley now heads to the NFL where he could be a great fit for any team that wants a potential dynamic back who can catch out of the backfield. Which is a near must-have in the current day NFL. In Dear Old Gold’s First prediction, Wadley is a 4th rounder to the Baltimore Ravens.

Iowa was able to seal the victory in the 4th quarter with the goal line touchdown by senior fullback Drake Kulick. Kulick from Muscatine, Iowa delivered a ‘memorable Hawkeye moment’ to go out on with the goal line plunge. This came after sophomore tight end Nate Wieting caught his first pass of the season, which by most eyes looked like a touchdown.

Before Kulick’s power dive into the endzone in the Bronx, the Hawkeyes were at risk of losing their sixth straight bowl game, dating back to the times after quarterback Ricky Stanzi graduated. But, it wasn’t to be as Iowa was able to send All American Josey Jewell, Sean Welsh and the seniors out on a high note. This secured that this group of seniors would not lose every bowl game that they were apart of.

Another player that in all likelihood played his last game for the Hawkeyes was another unanimous All-American in cornerback Josh Jackson. Jackson took the nation lead in interceptions with his 8th on the year in the game to cap off the victory. He is expected to announce his NFL decision soon. Many ‘draft experts’ have him going in the middle of the 1st round.

Another NFL decision looming is that of center James Daniels. Daniels who has been starting since he was a freshmen could join his brother LeShun (Washington Redskins) in the NFL. On the ESPN top prospects list during the game, he was ranked as the #2 center in the 2018 Draft.

In a season that will be hard to study for years to come. Wins against Ohio State, trophy rivals (save Wisconsin), and an epic contest against Penn State. And, losses to an upstart Purdue and Michigan State.

Finishing it with a win for once leaves a pleasant taste in the mouths of Hawkeye nation.