Bowl Season '08: Iowa Clobbers South Carolina, Then Kisses Shonn Greene Goodbye

FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.

So what do you want to hear, Iowa fans, the good news or the bad news? Since it's the first day of a new year, and everyone's feeling particularly cheery, let's start with the happier news.

Iowa kicked the bejesus out of South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, a 31-10 win that was not that close -- the Hawkeyes led 31-0 after three quarters before the Gamecocks decided to show up a little. It was an all-around effort for Iowa, which got 150 passing yards from Ricky Stanzi, 132 rushing yards from Shonn Greene and forced four Gamecock turnovers.

The stellar effort landed Iowa its ninth win, and was an emphatic performance against the mighty SEC.

There's the good. If you Iowa fans want to stop reading here, go ahead, because here comes the bad. Almost immediately after the game ended, Greene -- the only back in the FBS to top 100 yards in every game this season -- declared for the NFL draft.

"I don't blame him," Hawkeye linebacker A.J. Edds said. "What else does the guy have to prove? If I'm in his shoes, I do the exact same thing."

Hard to blame Greene for the decision. He came out of nowhere in a muddled Iowa backfield to rush for 1,729 yards and 17 touchdowns in the regular season. Today's three touchdown performance provided a nice farewell. Depending on how he does in workouts, Greene is probably going to hear his name called on the draft's first day.

Another potential downer for Iowa comes from Greene's coach. Once again, Kirk Ferentz's name is being bandied about NFL circles -- specifically as Romeo Crennel's possible replacement in Cleveland.

The Boston Herald reported Tuesday that Browns owner Randy Lerner is prepared to make a "huge" offer to New England Patriots personnel director Scott Pioli to run the team and hire Ferentz - Pioli's first choice as coach. Pioli and Ferentz worked together in Cleveland 15 years ago.

Ferentz's exit from Iowa seems to be an annual discussion, but this Cleveland move appears a definite possibility. Iowa's never been able to truly ascend to the Big Ten's top in Ferentz's time, but he's been a steady hand there. More than that, though, is that Iowa looked to be lined up for a very strong 2009 (even without Greene). Ferentz's departure might stymie some expectations.