My No. 7 -- 2002 Purdue

This was around the time that ESPN Classic started to gain some traction. Or exist, I can't remember which.

The week before, ESPN put Iowa's double-OT victory at Penn State right onto ESPN Classic. Maybe the highlight of that game was Joe Paterno chasing an official up the tunnel. Or maybe it was the blocked PAT Iowa returned for a point that mattered.

I believe this game ended up going the same route. I think it took another week or so, but I know Iowa-Purdue 2002 ended up on Classic.

I always got the feeling Kirk Ferentz held great respect for Purdue coach Joe Tiller and defensive coordinator Brock Spack. It you think about this game, you can understand why.

Didn't you just know that Dallas Clark was going to go pro after that 95-yard TD catch?

Just think, now they love him in Indiana.

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Headline: Stars of the late show

IOWA CITY - Last week, they made ESPN Classic network's "Instant Classic." The people at ESPN have that kind of power. They work in TV. They can turn last weekend into rerunable glory.

So if last week's overtime victory at Penn State earned "Instant Classic" status, what will the ESPN people do with the Hawkeyes now?

Anyone up for a double-instant super-mega classic?

That's where quarterback Brad Banks and tight end Dallas Clark took the Hawkeyes Saturday. The two hooked up for a 7-yard touchdown with 1 minute, 7 seconds left to rally No. 24 Iowa past Purdue, 31-28, before 68,249 at Kinnick Stadium.

Double-instant super-mega classic.

"In many ways, we're fortunate to win," Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. "But on the other hand, I have to compliment our players. They showed a lot of heart and character, especially when they needed it."

When they needed it, that's the phrase of the day.

The game had comebacks, with the Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) falling behind 14-3, taking a 24-14 lead late in the third quarter and then falling behind again on Jon Goldsberry's 2-yard TD run with 5:45 left.

Then they took the late, late lead. The play was a Y sneak open.

Don't know if Clark was the "Y," but he pivoted in front of a Purdue linebacker and sprinted toward the sideline. He was wide open.

"It's a play I think we've called once, and that was last year," said Clark, who caught three passes for 116 yards, including a Kinnick record 95-yard TD that gave Iowa a 24-14 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter. "At least I think we've called it once. It's sort of one of those plays where it either works or it doesn't."

And, oh yeah, it was fourth-and-7.

"Was it fourth down?" Clark asked. "I think I knew it was at the time. I guess you forget those details."

Banks waited as long as he could, and, just before defensive end Shaun Phillips wrapped around his ankles, he lofted a loose spiral into the big blue afternoon sky.

"When you're sitting back there, it seems like forever," said Banks, who had another quietly effective day, completing 14 of 22 for 226 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

"The guy was right there, I could feel him. I didn't know Dallas had it until his arms went up."

The Hawkeyes gave themselves one last chance when outside linebacker Grant Steen stopped Purdue quarterback Brandon Kirsch for a 2-yard gain on third-and-4 at Iowa's 42-yard line.

With all their timeouts called to save clock, Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe rolled the dice on first down. Banks took a perfectly timed quarterback draw 44 yards, taking the Hawkeyes from their 13 to Purdue's 43.

"This game was a tough nail-biter," said running back Fred Russell, who ran into a blitzing Purdue defense all game but still managed 109 yards on 22 carries, with one shoulder wrapped like a Christmas present. "A tough team fights through the bad things in a game. We had a lot of bad things, but we fought it. I think that shows a lot about our mental game."

Double-instant super-mega classics need their share of unlikely heroes. You know, the Rocky Balboa or the kids from Hickory.

Seemingly Saturday, Iowa had an army of Rockys from Hickory.

On special teams, safety Bob Sanders blocked a field goal and cornerback Antwan Allen returned it 85 yards for a score. Reserve safety Sean Considine blocked a punt and reserve safety Jermire Roberts covered it in the end zone.

And, finally, reserve cornerback Adolphus Shelton intercepted a Kirsch pass that caromed off receiver Taylor Stubblefield's shoulder and into the air, saving the day for Iowa with 14 seconds left.

All Stubblefield had done to that point was catch 13 passes for 149 yards. Iowa's media guide says Shelton is a red- shirt freshman from Dallas.

"I saw the quarterback throw the ball, the ball bounce off my guy's shoulder," Shelton said, "and I just got up under it and caught it."

With starter Kyle Orton on the sideline with a mild concussion, Kirsch sparked the Boilermakers, igniting a fourth- quarter comeback with a 16-yard TD run. Goldsberry's TD erased Iowa's 10-point lead and put Purdue ahead, 28-24, with 5:45 left.

"He (Kirsch) deserved better than that - to have the ball go off our receiver into their defender's hands," Purdue Coach Joe Tiller said. "He deserved better than that."

Maybe all of Purdue (3-3, 1-1 Big Ten) deserved better.

The Boilers hammered the Hawkeyes with 507 yards and held Iowa's offense to 158 yards rushing, a season-low. Take out Nate Kaeding's 51-yard field goal, Clark's 95-yard TD and the last drive, and Iowa's offense was stuck in a three-and-out extended play.

Push away all the bad - the conservative playcalling, David Bradley's 34.1 yards on seven punts, the nine penalties for 80 yards, Ed Hinkel's fumble that led to a Purdue score, those 507 yards - and allow yourself to plant a kiss on this one.

"Bottom line is, when we needed it, we had it," Ferentz said. "We weren't perfect out there, I think everybody recognizes that. But the outcome was just beaufiful."

Double-instant super-mega classics usually end with the boy getting the girl. Saturday, Shelton kept the ball he intercepted.

It wasn't perfect. They'll settle for beautiful.