2008 Woodie Awards
Tending the Hawks' garden
Charlie Kautz - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: PreGame
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Reliving his brief moment in the Hawkeye spotlight in a double-overtime win against Michigan State on Oct. 27, junior cornerback Drew Gardner couldn't help but smile Tuesday standing outside the Hayden Fry Football Complex.
It was only three days earlier that Gardner's game-saving tackle of Michigan State wideout Devin Thomas in double-overtime was rejoiced by a mob of Hawkeye fans on the field in Kinnick Stadium.
It was also more than two years after Gardner, playing his first and only season at Widener University, made the decision to transfer to Iowa - knowing full well he'd have to wait a year, if not longer, to experience the very moment he created last weekend against the Spartans.
"That was the greatest moment of my life," Gardner said about the final play of the Hawkeyes' 34-27 win. "It was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me."
In a season plagued by significant injuries, perhaps it was only fitting that Gardner's moment in the limelight came after two Hawkeye defensive backs were banged up in the second half.
Buried on the depth chart behind senior and starting cornerback Adam Shada, as well as junior Bradley Fletcher, it took an ankle injury and an unhealthy hit before Gardner's number was called by defensive coordinator Norm Parker.
Having recorded sparse playing time and only four tackles during his sophomore season, even Gardner admitted he wasn't expecting to enter the game on Oct. 27.
"I didn't really have any time to react; I just wanted to run out there and get somebody on the field," he said.
Aware that Thomas - who had reeled in nine catches for 139 yards, including a key 40-yarder that set up the game-tying field goal - would get a look from quarterback Bryan Hoyer, Gardner tried his best to calm his nerves and seal the victory with a final tackle.
"Just make a play," Gardner recalled thinking. "If they come my way, just make a play. Hustle, get pursuit to the ball. Coach Parker, you know, he preached that all week - pursuit, pursuit, pursuit. Even if the ball's on the other side of the field, just run to it.
It was only three days earlier that Gardner's game-saving tackle of Michigan State wideout Devin Thomas in double-overtime was rejoiced by a mob of Hawkeye fans on the field in Kinnick Stadium.
It was also more than two years after Gardner, playing his first and only season at Widener University, made the decision to transfer to Iowa - knowing full well he'd have to wait a year, if not longer, to experience the very moment he created last weekend against the Spartans.
"That was the greatest moment of my life," Gardner said about the final play of the Hawkeyes' 34-27 win. "It was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me."
In a season plagued by significant injuries, perhaps it was only fitting that Gardner's moment in the limelight came after two Hawkeye defensive backs were banged up in the second half.
Buried on the depth chart behind senior and starting cornerback Adam Shada, as well as junior Bradley Fletcher, it took an ankle injury and an unhealthy hit before Gardner's number was called by defensive coordinator Norm Parker.
Having recorded sparse playing time and only four tackles during his sophomore season, even Gardner admitted he wasn't expecting to enter the game on Oct. 27.
"I didn't really have any time to react; I just wanted to run out there and get somebody on the field," he said.
Aware that Thomas - who had reeled in nine catches for 139 yards, including a key 40-yarder that set up the game-tying field goal - would get a look from quarterback Bryan Hoyer, Gardner tried his best to calm his nerves and seal the victory with a final tackle.
"Just make a play," Gardner recalled thinking. "If they come my way, just make a play. Hustle, get pursuit to the ball. Coach Parker, you know, he preached that all week - pursuit, pursuit, pursuit. Even if the ball's on the other side of the field, just run to it.
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