Readers' No. 10 -- Michigan 2003

No. 10 -- 2003 Michigan -- Rise of Ramon

Great response from Hank: Michigan leaped out to an early 14-0 lead and it looked like our dominance over the Blue would be short-lived. Iowa came back and held on to a thrilling home victory to make it two in a row over the cream of the conference. Personally, it was the culmination of the 48 greatest sporting hours of my life. Friday, on our way to Iowa City with my in-laws my brother called: he had an extra ticket to the Cubs/Braves NLDS game. At Rebecca's insistence, I got out of the car in Chicago and went to the game with my brother and then drove to ICIA the next morning. The three of them went to the Homecoming parade at my alma mater without me. Now you know why we will be married forever. . .

From yayhawkeyes: Great second-half comeback.

draw73: Down 14-0 early, Chandler and the defense fight back and then Chandler to Ochoa happens. Still one of the coolest single plays of the Ferentz era. I think that was the game that Chandler barreled in for a TD and put Marlon Jackson out for the year. When Mich was driving at the end is still the loudest I've ever heard Kinnick.

Ross: Something about Michigan frequently brought out the best in Iowa in the 2000s; this might be my favorite game that I ever attended. The atmosphere was incredible, there was a great comeback led by some unlikely heroes (like Ramon Ochoa), and it was an incredibly exciting and intense game.

Aaron: Iowa battles back from an early 14-0 deficit to beat the No. 4 Wolverines, despite a solid performance from Navarre and Chris Perry. Freddy Russell logged one of his many great performances that year, with Ochoa and Calvin Davis coming up big in this back-and-forth battle. I'd have to pull the stats, but behind 1985, this might be the highest-ranked Michigan team Iowa's ever beat. A signature win for the season, and for Ferentz's career.

31 votes

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Headline: No-names know how

IOWA CITY -- The names that pop up for this team.

Ramon Ochoa, Erik Jensen, Nathan Chandler.

No-names from nowhere no one wanted.

Calvin Davis, Matt Neubauer, Chigozie Ejiasi.

The names that pop up. Too short, too slow.

Too wonderful.

The Hawkeyes have turned themselves into a verb. Down two touchdowns, down 40 or 50 all-American pedigrees, they just find a way to out-Iowa you.

That's maybe the only way to go with No. 23 Iowa's 30-27 victory over No. 9 Michigan before 70,397 fans Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

When all else fails, when all conventional explanation goes kerplooey, they Iowa you.

"When I look back on this, I think that's going to be the biggest thing," senior defensive tackle Jared Clauss said. "We've got guys no one wants playing out there. Michigan has blue-chippers everywhere.

"It makes you feel pretty good when you beat a team like that. When you know they didn't want you out of high school. Everyone trusts everyone on this team."

When Chandler, the fifth-year senior from a California juco, throws a 31-yard TD pass to Ochoa, a too short, too slow wideout from East LA, you've been Iowa'd.

When Jensen, a tool-box tight end from Wisconsin, catches a third-and-9 for a 14-yard gain, and the drive stays alive for Ochoa, you've been Iowa'd.

When Davis, a skinny Iowa City High kid who skipped his junior season of football because he wanted to go D-I in basketball, catches seven passes for 60 yards and pops up hit after hit asking for more, you've been Iowa'd.

"I think we all know we're not the most talented team in the world, and we're not claiming to be," Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We're not the smartest staff and we're not claiming to be. But we've got a team, at least. That's where it all starts."

No one can go Iowa (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) with Iowa. Michigan (4-2, 1-1) can't go Iowa with Iowa.

When your offense rolls up 463 yards, your quarterback completes 26 of 49 for 389 yards and two TDs, your defense generally herds the opposition's offense for most of three quarters and you still lose, you've been Iowa'd.

"I think anytime you lose, it's disappointing,"

Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. "you have to deal with it. That's one of the values of the game."

The Hawkeyes took a lead after Michigan's punt unit tried to get a little bit too cute.

UM kicker Garrett Rivas ran to the right and punted once in the first half. The Wolverines tried it again late in the third quarter. Rivas ran right, but this time safety Chris Smith blocked the punt and gave Iowa first down at Michigan's 14-yard line.

Four plays later, Nate Kaeding booted a 32-yard field goal to give Iowa a 23-20 lead with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

"I don't really know what that was," Kaeding said about Michigan's punt formation. "It's a credit to our special teams. They respect you if they're willing to try something totally different."

Different, yes. Effective, no.

"I take full responsibility," Carr said.

The Hawkeyes held the 23-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

With 9:39 left, Iowa drove the ball only the way Iowa can.

Third-and-11 from their own 20, Chandler rolled right and drilled a pass to Jensen for a 24-yard gain. Try to remember that Jensen came into the season with eight receptions.

"Didn't look like it on that play, did it?" said Chandler, who completed 17 of 34 for 195 yards, two TDs and an interception. "When you have a team like ours, everyone has everyone's back. We believe in each other. We know the other guy will come through."

On third-and-9 from Michigan's 44, Chandler hit Jensen for a 13-yard gain. Try to remember that Chandler was roundly booed by

Iowa fans after a Iowa's offense went three-and-out three straight possessions to start the game.

"I didn't hear them booing when he was throwing touchdown passes," said Ochoa, who, with kick and punt returns, put up 169 all-purpose yards.

"Hey, it comes with the territory. You can't let it get you down. We won't let it get us down."

Then, with 5:16 left, Chandler hit Ochoa for 31-yards and a 30-20 lead. They out-Iowa'd the boo-birds.

"The coaches trust us, we trust each other," said Davis, whose 6-yard TD grab with 19 seconds left in the first half pulled Iowa within 20-17. "I think a lot of what we're doing goes to great coaching. We get coached to do the things we do."

The Wolverines stormed back.

Quarterback John Navarre, who completed 26 of 49 for 389 yards, two TDs and an interception, threw a 41-yard laser to wideout Braylon Edwards to pull Michigan within 30-27 with 3:43 left.

Iowa went three-and-out. Michigan had the ball at its 27 with 2:44 left.

Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker broke out the 3-and-everyone-drop defense. Iowa had seven defensive backs in.

Some of them you might even have heard of.

On Michigan's last play, Navarre threw incomplete in a crowd that included sophomore Antwan Allen, a too short, too skinny kid from Tampa, Fla., and Smith, a fifth-year senior whose name is on the depth chart in pencil.

"You've just got to believe in the guy next to you," Smith said. "No matter who he is or where he's from, you've got to believe he'll be there."

And that's how Iowa out-Iowas people.