Iowa football: Five most marketable Hawkeyes in Kirk Ferentz era

By Andrew Wade | Nov 2, 2019

TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: (L-R) De'Andre Johnson #30, Ricky Stanzi #12, Marvin McNutt #7, Adrian Clayborn #94 and Jeremiha Hunter #42 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to take the field for the Insight Bowl against the Missouri Tigers at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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TEMPE, AZ – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks off the field after defeating the Missouri Tigers in the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Ricky Stanzi

So, I could have probably listed three or four quarterbacks on this list like Heisman runner-up Brad Banks or gunslinger Drew Tate, but I felt that would be cheating so I chose just one and that’s none other than Stanzi the Manzi.

His bravado and confidence, not to mention his ability to stay cool, calm and collected under pressure have made him one of the most beloved former Hawkeyes in the history of the Iowa football program.

But what would have made him so marketable is the fact that he had already hit the national stage by the time he was a junior after leading the Iowa football team to the 2010 Orange Bowl.

That would have given him a year to basically run Iowa City and endorse literally anything he wanted to.

And he could have had a pretty sweet t-shirt line too leading with his Orange Bowl quote, “Love it or leave it!”.

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