... team that exceeds low expectations.

During the early part of the decade, the Hawkeyes reached three consecutive January bowls - the Orange, Outback, and Capital One - in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively.

The team flew under the radar during the 2003 and 2004 offseasons, as many figured "they can't do it again."

But after an impressive 2004 campaign and a stunning last-second victory against LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl, the rest of the country realized what only Iowans had known the previous few years; Iowa is a legitimate national contender.

So in 2005, Iowa emerged from under the radar to a team filled with preseason hype. And why not? Quarterback Drew Tate was returning after a stellar sophomore campaign in 20...

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