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Iowa K Keith Duncan suggests this will be his final season with Hawkeyes
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Apparently Keith Duncan has blown his final kisses to Scott Frost in an Iowa football uniform.
The Hawkeyes’ senior All-American kicker has indicated he likely will not return to Iowa City on the extra year of eligibility offered as a result of the opt out clause in place during the Covid-19 pandemic season.
Saturday against Wisconsin may be the last time Duncan trots onto the field-grass at Kinnick Stadium as Iowa’s trusted place kicker, an anti-climactic, near-empty stadium end for a player who became a Hawkeye legend.
Duncan was quoted in The Gazette of Cedar Rapids:
“If we don’t have one next week [home game for B1G Championship Week], I think it will be,” said All-America kicker Keith Duncan. “It’s been great being an Iowa Hawkeye, have loved every single second of it. Wouldn’t trade it for the world. But, yeah, I think this will most likely be my last home game. It’s a very emotional thing to say, it’s been great being here. But I think it’s time to move on.”
Duncan will depart as one of the greatest special teamers in the history of the program, and that is an accomplishment considering the many standout players that have suited up in Iowa City, from punter Reggie Roby under Hayden Fry, to fellow All-American Nate Kaeding in the early years of the Kirk Ferentz era.
Duncan has been excellent this season for the 5-2 Hawkeyes, but he was magnificent last year in Iowa’s 10-3 campaign. Duncan kicked 29 field goals in 34 attempts to the set the Big Ten single-season record, a mark that placed him sixth on the NCAA’s all-time list.
His greatest individual moment was thudding home a 48-yard line-drive in the twilight in Lincoln, Nebraska to give Iowa its fifth straight win in the rivalry series. It was there that Duncan blew his famous kisses toward the Cornhuskers sideline and head coach before the team came together in a jubilant mass.
In addition to consensus All-American honors Duncan was also an academic All-Big Ten performer and a finalist for the prestigious Lou Groza Award.
From freshman walk on to an all-time record holder, Duncan leaves behind many memories in Iowa City. Sometimes it’s just time to move on.
Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.