ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quarterback Brad Banks led Iowa to an 11-2 record and No. 8 year-end ranking this season.
Banks making a run WAILUKU >> Quick feet. It's a sign of a good quarterback.
at an NFL dream
The Iowa quarterback came
out of nowhere to catch everyone's
attention this seasonBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comVery quick feet. It's a sign of a great one.
Few know better than Brad Banks what quick feet will get you. As a youngster in Florida, he made his pocket money chasing down rabbits for $2.50 a pop.
Now it's the pro scouts who are chasing down the record-setting Iowa quarterback. They are intrigued by his quickness and scrambling ability.
When: Tomorrow, 4 p.m. Hula Bowl Maui
Where: War Memorial Stadium (23,719)
Tickets: $25-$32.
TV: Live on ESPN2
Radio: KAOI (1110-AM, Maui)
Information: (808) 871-4141.
It's why they are taking long looks during this week's Hula Bowl practices and will take more looks when Banks suits up for the Aina in tomorrow's game at War Memorial Stadium.
Banks is undersized for a pro quarterback, measuring 6-foot-1 on a good day. A very good day.
But Banks more than measures up on the playing field, as evidenced by his selection as the Associated Press College Player of the Year and his second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. In one magical season, he went from nobody to everybody's All-American after leading the Hawkeyes to a share of the Big Ten title, an Orange Bowl appearance and a No. 8 final ranking.
Yesterday, he showed off his footwork and his throwing accuracy during a shower-plagued practice at the soccer field across from War Memorial Stadium. It was Banks' second workout with his Aina teammates since he arrived a day late after competing in the College All-Star Challenge held in conjunction with Super Bowl XXXVII last week in San Diego.
"It's been feeling good," said Banks, who also was the Big Ten Player of the Year and won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback. "This is my first time in Hawaii, but the weather is a little like home. I was excited when I got the invitation and I'm looking forward to the opportunity of playing here."
For all of his success, Banks has remained humble. Ask him about finishing No. 2 for the Heisman behind Southern California's Carson Palmer and he just laughs.
"I'm not disappointed at all," he said. "I never expected to even be considered for it. I was just happy to be there."
When he was named the player of the year last month, Banks was equally surprised.
"I'm kind of shocked to hear I've won this," he said in an Associated Press interview.
Prior to last season, Banks had never started a game for Iowa. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz aptly summed up his quarterback's amazing senior season when he told AP: "Brad wasn't on anyone's radar screen in late August. But he's improved every week and played his best in our biggest games."
During last season, Banks threw for 2,573 yards, with 170 completions out of 294 attempts, 26 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also ran for 423 yards and five touchdowns.
Banks finished with a .578 passing percentage and led the nation in pass efficiency with a 157.1 rating. Under their 22-year-old quarterback, the Hawkeyes finished undefeated in conference play (8-0) for the first time since 1922.
"Iowa was the right place for me," said Banks, who spent a redshirt season at Central Florida behind starter Daunte Culpepper before transferring to Hinds (Miss.) Community College.
Banks played wide receiver for Hinds as a freshman then took over as quarterback his sophomore season. He led Hinds to the state junior college championship, throwing for 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, and rushing for more than 500 yards and 13 scores.
It just continued the success he had at Belle Glade (Fla.) High, where he captained the team for three seasons, and led the squad to the state title as a senior. Banks accounted for more than 5,000 yards during his high school career and either threw or ran for more than 50 touchdowns.
Still, he was not highly recruited and ended up at Iowa almost by accident. Hawkeyes defensive line coach Ron Aiken was scouting another Hinds player when he was alerted to Banks and brought back a tape for Ferentz.
"We fell in love with what we saw," said Ferentz.
The defining game for Banks came against Purdue. It's his favorite memory as a Hawkeye and it resulted in a 31-28 victory.
Iowa trailed 28-24 and had the ball with 2:16 left and no timeouts. Banks drove the Hawkeyes 87 yards for the winning touchdown, a 7-yard pass to Dallas Clark on fourth down with 1:07 to go.
Now Banks is ready to step up again. He doesn't care which team drafts him, but admitted to rooting for his home state in Sunday's Super Bowl, a game won by Tampa Bay.
"I just love football," he said. "I love to watch it, I love to play it. I just want a chance."
Banks already has the autograph-signing and smile-for-the camera down, graciously accommodating the few fans who watched yesterday's practice. He is ready for the next level, he said, more than ready to put those quick feet to work.
Hula Bowl
