The trophy breakdown

OK, yesterday's Cy-Hawk post and comments got me thinking about the trophies Iowa has and plays for on a regular basis.

So today, I'm ranking Iowa's trophies -- rivalry and bowl from the Kirk Ferentz era.

1. Floyd of Rosedale

It's a pig-shaped trophy, an actual piece of sculpture, a work of art. It's pig art, but art nonetheless.

Here's Scott Dochterman's great story on where Floyd is buried. The more you know, the more you have to dig the trophy.

No, the Hawkeyes and Gophers don't play for the Rose Bowl every year, but they do play for what might be a top 5 trophy in all of college football.

2. The 2010 Orange Bowl

It's big and it's full of Texas oranges straight outta Miami.

The bigness could represent what arguably is Iowa's biggest bowl victory since the 1959 Rose. It's a BCS bowl, it's a major step.

I think the glass orange bowl gives it a touch of class on a trophy that kind of reminds me of old school Lombardi Awards or a pyramid.

3. Big Ten championship trophies 2002 and 2004

These aren't great trophies. Just a big, bronze football drilled on top of a wooden pedestal.

But in Iowa City, these are golden chalices from the sun that mean the world. A Big Ten championship season is what it's all about. (Well, and a national championship season, of course.)

4. 2001 Alamo Bowl

It's hard to see in this photo, but it's basically a granite (I think, or granite-like) representation of the Alamo with a silver football sticking out of the top.

Not beautiful, but nice and fit with the community.

Also, this was the game when Ferentz said, basically, "We turned the corner." And the next season ended in Iowa's first Big Ten title under Ferentz. This was on the heels of 1-10 and a promising 2000 where Iowa was close didn't didn't quite make it over the hump.

5. 2009 Outback

This was a much cooler trophy than 2004. Sorry, I couldn't find one of an Iowa player or coach holding the '09 trophy, so here's Urban Meyer holding a trophy from some year you probably don't want to remember.

I remember Shonn Greene saying it weighed a ton. This was before I carried a camera to these things.

6. 2004 Outback

Careful, Kirk. Don't get slivers.

7. The Heartland Trophy

Aesthetically, I can totally get behind this one. It's kind of a cool bull sculpture with some heft to it on top of some classy wood with big plates for engraving.

I just think it's contrived to the hilt.

Want a trophy that represents Iowa and Wisconsin? Funnel cake. Can of Hamms. Keg. Fried food.

Something foody or beery. Trust me, having lived in both places, it fits.

8. 2005 Capital One

To paraphrase the immortal MC Hammer, "U can't touch this, Nick Saban."

I'm sure there's a story behind this statue of a trophy. It changed in 2007 when Wisconsin won it, more art deco, so it obviously didn't stick.

This is a statue and not a football trophy, IMO.

9. The Cy-Hawk Trophy

We talked about this unfortunate beast. Don't bother e-mailing Gary Barta or Jamie Pollard. They've got bigger fish to fry. Just hold out hope that someone comes to their senses at some point. (But don't bank on it.)

One quick fix: Get rid of the hardware on top and replace it with a centerpiece item. I can't believe that football hasn't shaken off over the years. Replace it with something Iowa. This trophy says absolutely nothing about Iowa. I think that's just wrong.

I was face-to-faceplate with this trophy in '98. I swear there was rust on it.

Here's your chance to be heard on the subject. Vote in the poll below.

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