1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 0–28 vs. Washington
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 15
AP No. 18
1981 record 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach Hayden Fry (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator Bill Snyder (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator Bill Brashier (3rd season)
MVP Mel Cole
Captain Tracy Crocker
Pete Gales
Bruce Kittle
Andre Tippett
Brad Webb
Home stadium Kinnick Stadium
1981 Big Ten football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 15 Ohio State + 6 –2 –0  9 –3 –0
No. 18 Iowa + 6 –2 –0  8 –4 –0
No. 12 Michigan 6 –3 –0  9 –3 –0
Illinois 6 –3 –0  7 –4 –0
Wisconsin 6 –3 –0  7 –5 –0
Minnesota 4 –5 –0  6 –5 –0
Michigan State 4 –5 –0  5 –6 –0
Purdue 3 –6 –0  5 –6 –0
Indiana 3 –6 –0  3 –8 –0
Northwestern 0 –9 –0  0 –11 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the 1959 Rose Bowl. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James's Washington Huskies, 28–0. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.

Several Iowa players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Lou King led the conference with eight interceptions.[1]
  • Phil Blatcher ranked fourth in the conference with 708 rushing yards.[1]
  • Tom Nichol ranked fourth in the conference with 11 field goals made.[1]
  • Jeff Brown ranked fourth in the conference with 137 punt return yards and 6.5 yards per punt return.[1]
  • Quarterback Gordy Bohannon ranked 10th in the conference with 1,303 total yards.[1]

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 12 No. 7 Nebraska* Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa W 10–7   60,160
September 19 at Iowa State* Cyclone Stadium • Ames, Iowa (Cy-Hawk Trophy) L 12–23   53,922
September 26 No. 6 UCLA* Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa W 20–7   60,004
October 3 at Northwestern No. 18 Dyche Stadium • Evanston, Illinois W 64–0   30,113
October 10 Indianadagger No. 15 Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa W 42–28   60,000
October 17 at No. 5 Michigan No. 12 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 9–7   105,915
October 24 Minnesota No. 6 Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale) ABC L 10–12   60,000
October 31 at Illinois No. 16 Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois L 7–24   66,877
November 7 Purdue Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa W 33–7   60,114
November 14 at Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin ESPN W 17–7   78,731
November 21 Michigan State No. 19 Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa W 36–7   60,103
January 1 vs. No. 12 Washington* No. 13 Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl) NBC L 0–28   105,611
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

[2]

In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent.The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State.
Iowa did not play Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their bowl game, the 1981 Liberty Bowl over Navy, and finished at 9-3.

Roster

1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
TE 87 John Alt So
RB 28 Phil Blatcher Sr
QB 11 Gordy Bohannon Sr
WR 27 Jeff Brown Jr
QB 8 Dave Chambers Jr
QB 12 Pete Gales (C) Sr
RB 33 Owen Gill Fr
RB 26 Norm Granger So
G 76 Ron Hallstrom Sr
C 53 Joel Hilgenberg So
OT Bruce Kittle (C) Sr
QB 16 Chuck Long Fr
T 79 Brett Miller Jr
WR 5 Dave Moritz So
RB 22 Eddie Phillips So
OG 66 Jon Roehlk So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 63 Mark Bortz Jr
LB Mel Cole Sr
DL 58 Pat Dean Sr
DB 10 Jim Frazier Sr
DB 43 Lou King Sr
DT 77 George Little Fr
DB 41 Bob Stoops Jr
DE 99 Andre Tippett (C) Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 3 Nichol Tom Fr
P 7 Reggie Roby Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bill Snyder – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
  • Bill Brashier – Defensive Coordinator
  • Kirk Ferentz – Offensive line
  • Carl Jackson – Running backs
  • Del Miller – Offensive assistant
  • Dan McCarney – Defensive line
  • Barry Alvarez – Linebackers
  • Don Patterson – Defensive Backs
  • Bernie Wyatt – Defensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Bill Dervich – Strength and Conditioning
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final 
AP NR NR NR NR 18 15 12 6 16 NR NR 19 13 13 18 
Coaches NR NR NR NR 20 15 12 7 16 NR 18 17 11 11 15

[3]

Game summaries

Nebraska

#7 Nebraska at Iowa
1 234Total
#7 Cornhuskers 0 007 7
• Hawkeyes 7 300 10
Overall record Last meeting Result
11–23–3 1980 L 0–57

[4]

Iowa State

Iowa at Iowa State
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 606 12
• Cyclones 10 733 23
Overall record Last meeting Result
18–10 1980 L 7–10

[5]

UCLA

#6 UCLA at Iowa
1 234Total
#6 Bruins 0 700 7
• Hawkeyes 7 0310 20
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 60,004
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–5 1977 W (UCLA Forfeit)

[6] [7]

Northwestern

#18 Iowa at Northwestern
1 234Total
• #18 Hawkeyes 30 02014 64
Wildcats 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
27–14–3 1980 W 25–3

[8]

Indiana

Indiana at #15 Iowa
1 234Total
Hoosiers 7 777 28
• #15 Hawkeyes 14 2170 42
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 60,000
Overall record Last meeting Result
25–19–4 1980 W 16–7

[9]

Michigan

#12 Iowa at #5 Michigan
1 234Total
• #12 Hawkeyes 6 030 9
#5 Wolverines 0 700 7
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–25–3 1978 L 0–34

The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.

[10] [11]

Minnesota

Minnesota at #6 Iowa
1 234Total
• Golden Gophers 0 903 12
Hawkeyes 0 0100 10
Overall record Last meeting Result
22–50–2 1980 L 6–24

[12] [13]

Illinois

#16 Iowa at Illinois
1 234Total
#16 Hawkeyes 0 700 7
• Fighting Illini 3 1407 24
Overall record Last meeting Result
15–28–2 1980 L 14–20

[14]

Purdue

Purdue at Iowa
1 234Total
Boilermakers 0 007 7
• Hawkeyes 17 1330 33
  • Date: November 7
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 60,114
Overall record Last meeting Result
16–39–2 1980 L 13–58

The 33-7 win was Iowa's first over the Boilermakers since 1960, and secured the Hawkeyes' first winning season since 1961.[15]

Wisconsin

Iowa at Wisconsin
1 234Total
• Hawkeyes 3 1400 17
Badgers 0 007 7
Overall record Last meeting Result
23–34–1 1980 W 22–13

[16]

Michigan State

Michigan State at #19 Iowa
1 234Total
Spartans 0 700 7
• Hawkeyes 16 01010 36
  • Date: November 21
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 60,103
  • Game weather: Mid-60s° F
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–10–1 1980 W 41–0

Iowa earns first Rose Bowl since 1958 with Michigan's loss to Ohio State, which was announced with 6:14 left in the first quarter.[17]

Statistics

  • Phil Blatcher 27 Rush, 247 Yds[18]

[19] [20] [21]

Rose Bowl

#12 Washington vs. #13 Iowa
1 234Total
• Huskies 0 13015 28
Hawkeyes 0 000 0
  • Sources:
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 1964 W 28–18

[22] [23]

Postseason Awards

Team players in 1982 NFL Draft

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Ron HallstromG122Green Bay Packers
Andre TippettLB241New England Patriots

[24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  2. ↑ "1981 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com.
  3. ↑ "Iowa 1981 AP Football Rankings".
  4. ↑ "IOWA UPSET NEBRASKA, 10-7". The New York Times. September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Iowa State 23, Iowa 12". The New York Times. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.C.L.A. Is Upset By Iowa". The New York Times. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "IOWA'S PERFORMANCE SURPRISES ITS COACH". The New York Times. September 28, 1981. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  8. ↑ "64-0!". Chicago Tribune. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ "'Surprise' get Iowa untracked". Chicago Tribune. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "3 Iowa Field Goals Stop Michigan, 9-7". The New York Times. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Iowa Defeats No. 5 Michigan". Washington Post. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Minnesota kicks Iowa back down". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Iowa linebacker Mel Cole is a contradiction on a football team making a lot of noise this fall". UPI. October 27, 1981. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Illinois turns to defense". The Pantagraph. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Iowa 33, Purdue 7". The New York Times. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Wisconsin's odor is not of roses". Chicago Tribune. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  17. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
  18. ↑ Iowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
  19. ↑ "IOWA WINS TRIP TO ROSE BOWL". The New York Times. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Iowa Goes to Rose Bowl as Michigan Loses". The Washington Post. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Hawkeyes make Iowa sick with Rose Bowl fever". Chicago Tribune. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Iowa flat embarrassed by Washington romp". Chicago Tribune. January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0". The Washington Post. January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  24. ↑ "1982 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com.
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