Iowa football: 30 greatest players in Hawkeyes history

This might be the most controversial conclusion to this point, but what Ricky Stanzi did for the Iowa football program went above statistics or postseason awards. Stanzi was a winner, and all he did for the Hawkeyes was win in his three seasons as the starting quarterback.

Stanzi’s career record was 28-10, but his bowl game record was a perfect 3-0, which included Kirk Ferentz’s first BCS Bowl game victory when the Hawks knocked out the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2010 Orange Bowl. Furthermore, that 2009 Iowa football team finished the season ranked No. 7 overall, the best finish ever by a Kirk Ferentz squad.

For some Hawkeye fans, they almost look at the 2009 NCAA season as a disappointment because Stanzi got injured and missed a game and a half, both of which were losses. That’s how important he was to the team that year.

For his career, Stanzi threw for 7,377 yards and 56 touchdowns, both third best in the history of the program.

Again, while this selection for Stanzi at No. 20 may be controversial, I placed a lot of stock in him being undefeated in bowl games, which is something no Iowa quarterback has done before (although Nate Stanley has a shot if the Hawks win their bowl game this season).