Nile Kinnick’s Heisman Trophy acceptance speech is on Page 268 of the Iowa football media guide. The 2003 edition won’t have Brad Banks’ remarks printed adjacent to Kinnick’s 63-year-old oration.
Banks finished second to Southern Cal quarterback Carson Palmer. Both were in New York last month for the Heisman presentation, and both will be on the Pro Player Stadium field for Thursday night’s Orange Bowl.
And Banks may get to deliver a victory speech after all. That the prize is a trophy overflowing with Florida citrus rather than a bronze statue is fine with him.
The 69th Orange Bowl is only the third postseason game in college history to have the top two Heisman vote-getters on the same marquee. Two years ago winner Chris Weinke of Florida State and runner-up Josh Heupel of Oklahoma went head-to-head for the national title. Archie Griffin won his second consecutive Heisman in 1974 before leading Ohio State to a Rose Bowl meeting with runner-up Anthony Davis’ Trojans.
In both cases, the runner-up enjoyed some vindication. Davis helped USC nip the Buckeyes 18-17 for a share of the national championship. Heupel’s Sooners stunned Weinke’s favored Seminoles 13-2.
“It really is a unique situation,” Hawkeyes center Bruce Nelson said. “I think [Banks and Palmer] are both excited about it, and both of them would say if either one of them played bad and they won, they’d be extremely happy. They’re team guys, and that’s what makes both players so special. I don’t think either one of them is out there to outdo the other one.”
Since arriving here for the “Rose Bowl East,” as many have tabbed this traditional Pac-10-Big Ten matchup, the Hawkeyes have not publicly sounded a Banks battle cry.
“I just go out and do what I am supposed to do, and I leave it at that,” said Banks, the Asociated Press player of the year. “I don’t try to prove anything to anybody. I’ll just play my game.”
Whatever happens Thursday night won’t detract from Palmer’s achievement. He became the Pac-10’s career passing and total-offense leader after throwing for 3,639 yards with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
“You earn your Heisman for the season you play,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “Obviously, there is a heightened awareness of what Carson is about going into the game. He has something to carry in his life that has changed his life. Hopefully he’ll be able to go out and to play his game like he always does.”
If Banks can do the same, the game may be the season’s best bowl.
“They have a successful line like we haven’t faced all year long,” USC safety Troy Polamalu said. “The best thing we can do is play solid gap-control defense to stop the run and play smart on the back end. As long as everybody does their technique to perfection, then we should do an all-right job of trying to contain their offense.”
For the Hawkeyes, containing the Trojans’ offense won’t revolve around slowing Palmer and his crew of gifted receivers. Even with a Heisman quarterback and a freshman wideout in Mike Williams who had 75 receptions for 1,166 yards and 13 scores, USC remained remarkably balanced.
The Trojans ran three more running plays (466) than pass plays in 2002.
Opponents “really didn’t do anything unusual, and I don’t suspect Iowa will do anything unusual to try and take Carson Palmer away,” USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “We have enough balance where it would be tough to do.”
What Iowa has is the nation’s second-leading rushing defense, at 68.2 yards per game. Penn State’s Larry Johnson, the nation’s leading rusher (167.9 ypg), carried 18 times for 68 yards on the Iowa defense.
However pivotal the role of the running games, all eyes will be on the guys under center.
“They are two of the best quarterbacks, Banks and Carson winning the Heisman,” USC receiver Kareem Kelly said. “It’s going to be a real test to see who’s really the best.”
ORANGE
Iowa vs. Southern Cal
At a glance
When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Orange Bowl, Miami.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7.
Line: Southern Cal by 6.
Records: Iowa 11-1 (8-0 in Big Ten Conference); Southern Cal 10-2 (7-1 in Pac-10 Conference).
Series record: USC leads 6-2.
Last meeting: 1976, Southern Cal 55-0.
Coaches: Kirk Ferentz, 22-25 in fourth season at Iowa (34-46 overall); Pete Carroll, 16-8 in second season at Southern Cal.
Bowl history
Iowa: 9-7-1. Won 19-16 vs. Texas Tech in 2001 Alamo Bowl.
Southern Cal: 25-15. Lost 10-6 to Utah in 2001 Las Vegas Bowl.
Orange: 69th game. Florida beat Maryland 56-23 last year.
How they match up
CATEGORY IOWA USC
Total offense 432.9 440.9
Scoring offense 38.9 35.6
Rushing offense 222.1 133.8
Passing offense 210.8 307.1
Total defense 339.1 281.8
Scoring defense 18.2 18.6
Rushing defense 68.2 80.2
Passing defense 270.9 201.6
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Individual leaders
Passing
Iowa: Brad Banks, 2,369 yards, 25 TDs
Southern Cal: Carson Palmer, 3,639, 32 TDs
Rushing
Iowa: Fred Russell, 1,219, 9 TDs
Southern Cal: Sultan McCullough, 738, 7 TDs
Receiving
Iowa: Maurice Brown, 903, 10 TDs
Southern Cal: Mike Williams, 1,166, 13 TDs
