Victorious Hawkeyes Happy to Return Home

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Jan 6, 2010 at 10:30 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 6, 2010 at 11:32 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Hawkeyes have made a triumphant return home after beating Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl in Miami Tuesday night. While some players stayed in Florida for an extended vacation, the team plane landed at the Eastern Iowa Airport late Wednesday afternoon. The Hawkeyes are happy to be home, even though they traded sand on a beach for snow. Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz led his Hawkeyes off the team's charter at the Eastern Iowa Airport less than 24 hours after winning the Orange Bowl. "We've had nothing but great bowl experiences, but this one surpasses them all," says Ferentz. Iowa's first BCS bowl win had the Hawkeyes and their fans celebrating in Miami Tuesday night. "I think we all found our ways. We still had a little energy left. Most of us stayed up and visited with friends. It was a nice. Those 8:20 kickoffs push it late into the night, but it was great," says Ferentz. "The coaches and I hung out in the hospitality suite and relived the moments from the past season. It's rare when you win 11 games in one year," says Iowa Radio Broadcaster Gary Dolphin. After such a successful season, the football players had a lot of fun on their last night in Florida. Even the flight attendants noticed the less-than-energetic atmosphere on the plane. "They were tired from celebrating last night. Most of the time they slept. Once they ate, they were out like babies," says Chris King, a flight attendant. Iowa's winter weather woke up the roughly 200 players, football staff, and their families as they got off the plane and quickly boarded buses for Iowa City. "It makes it a lot better to win the Orange Bowl when you come back to that," says Mike Moriarity. But it wasn't just below freezing temperatures, snow was a few hours behind them. "Yea, that's what we heard, so welcome home," says Kelly Leusch. But weather doesn't really matter when you come home with an Orange Bowl trophy. WATCH: Kirk Ferentz Raw Interview

WATCH: Gary Dolphin Raw Interview

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