American college football season
1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football Conference Big Ten Conference Coaches No. 15 AP No. 18 1981 record 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten) Head coach Offensive coordinator Bill Snyder (3rd season)Defensive coordinator Bill Brashier (3rd season) MVP Mel Cole Captain Tracy Crocker Pete Gales Bruce KittleAndre Tippett Brad Webb Home stadium Kinnick Stadium Seasons
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf
Overall
Team
W
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 * W 10–760,160
September 19 at Iowa State * Cyclone Stadium Ames, Iowa (Cy-Hawk Trophy )L 12–2353,922
September 26 No. 6 UCLA * Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 20–760,004
October 3 at Northwestern No. 18 Dyche Stadium Evanston, Illinois W 64–030,113
October 10 Indiana No. 15 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 42–2860,000
October 17 at No. 5 Michigan No. 12 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, Michigan W 9–7105,915
October 24 Minnesota No. 6 ABC L 10–1260,000
October 31 at Illinois No. 16 Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois L 7–2466,877
November 7 Purdue Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 33–760,114
November 14 at Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wisconsin ESPN W 17–778,731
November 21 Michigan State No. 19 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 36–760,103
January 1 vs. No. 12 Washington * No. 13 NBC L 0–28105,611
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[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.
#
Name
Class
TE
87
John Alt
So
C
69
Bill Bailey
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
G
55
Joe Levelis
So
QB
16
Chuck Long
Fr
T
65
Dave Mayhan
Sr
T
79
Brett Miller
Jr
WR
5
Dave Moritz
So
WR
83
Lon Olejniczak
Jr
RB
22
Eddie Phillips
So
T
71
Paul Postler
Sr
OG
66
Jon Roehlk
So
WB
25
Ivory Webb
Sr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DL
63
Mark Bortz
Jr
LB
31
Mel Cole
Sr
LB
32
James Erb
Jr
DB
46
Tracy Crocker (C)
Sr
DL
58
Pat Dean
Sr
DB
10
Jim Frazier
Sr
DB
43
Lou King
Sr
DT
77
George Little
Fr
DL
74
Jim Pekar
Sr
LB
37
Todd Simonsen
Sr
DB
41
Bob Stoops
Jr
DB
2
Mike Stoops
So
DE
99
Andre Tippett (C)
Sr
DL
94
Brad Webb (C)
Sr
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
3
Tom Nichol
Fr
K
83
Lon Olejniczak
Jr
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 movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = 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
2 3 4 Total
No. 7 Cornhuskers
0
0 0 7
7
• Hawkeyes
7
3 0 0
10
Date: September 12, 1981Location: Kinnick Stadium , Iowa City, Iowa Game attendance: 60,160Referee: John Nealon
Scoring summary 1 9:16 Iowa Eddie Phillips 2-yard run (Olejniczak kick) Iowa 7-0
2 Iowa Olejniczak 35-yard field goal Iowa 10-0
4 11:45 Neb Roger Craig 1-yard run (kick)Iowa 10-7
[4]
at Iowa State [ ]
Iowa at Iowa State
1
2 3 4 Total
Hawkeyes
0
6 0 6
12
• Cyclones
10
7 3 3
23
Date: September 19, 1981Location: Cyclone Stadium , Ames, Iowa Game attendance: 53,922
Scoring summary 1 ISU Quinn 7-yard run (Giffords kick) ISU 7-0
1 ISU Giffords 48-yard field goal ISU 10-0
2 ISU Crutchfield 3-yard run (Giffords kick) ISU 17-0
2 Iowa Phillips 1-yard run (kick blocked) ISU 17-6
3 ISU Giffords 40-yard field goal ISU 20-6
4 ISU Giffords 34-yard field goal ISU 23-6
4 Iowa Blatcher 1-yard run (pass failed) ISU 23-12
[5]
UCLA [ ]
#6 UCLA at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 6 Bruins
0
7 0 0
7
• Hawkeyes
7
0 3 10
20
Date: September 26Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IowaGame start: 1:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:45Game attendance: 60,004Referee: Glen Fortin
Scoring summary 1 5:02 Iowa Gales 16-yard run (Olejniczak kick) Iowa 7-0
2 10:47 UCLA Tom Ramsey 1-yard run (Johnson kick)Tied 7-7
3 9:48 Iowa Nichol 35-yard field goal Iowa 10-7
4 13:37 Iowa Mark Bortz recovered fumble in end zone (Nichol kick)Iowa 17-7
6:24 Iowa Nichol 43-yard field goal Iowa 20-7
See also: 1981 UCLA Bruins football team
[6]
[7]
at Northwestern [ ]
#18 Iowa at Northwestern
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 18 Hawkeyes
30
0 20 14
64
Wildcats
0
0 0 0
0
Date: October 3, 1981Location: Dyche Stadium , Evanston, Illinois Game start: 1:00 p.m. CDT Game attendance: 30,113Referee: Otho Kortz
Scoring summary 1 13:39 Iowa Phillips 12-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 7-0
11:29 Iowa Granger 6-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 14-0
8:52 Iowa King blocked punt for a safety Iowa 16-0
6:39 Iowa Phillips 15-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 23-0
4:43 Iowa Webb 29-yard interception return (Nichol kick) Iowa 30-0
3 13:15 Iowa Brown 24-yard pass for Bohannon (Nichol kick) Iowa 37-0
11:34 Iowa Moritz 26-yard pass for Bohannon (kick failed) Iowa 43-0
2:40 Iowa Gill 20-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 50-0
4 6:58 Iowa Buggs 2-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 57-0
4 5:46 Iowa Brown 74-yard punt return (Nichol kick) Iowa 64-0
[8]
Indiana [ ]
Indiana at #15 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Hoosiers
7
7 7 7
28
• No. 15 Hawkeyes
14
21 7 0
42
Date: October 10Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IowaGame start: 1:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:11Game attendance: 60,000Referee: Tom Quinn
Scoring summary 1 13:14 Indiana Gunn 58-yard pass from Laufenberg (Greenstein kick) Indiana 7-0
8:27 Iowa Granger 2-yard run (Nichol kick) Tied 7-7
0:54 Iowa Jones 51-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) Iowa 14-7
2 10:40 Indiana Roggeman 1-yard run (Greenstein kick) Tied 14-14
10:24 Iowa Granger 99-yard kick return (Nichol kick) Iowa 21-14
8:41 Iowa Hufford 21-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) Iowa 28-14
6:04 Iowa Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 35-14
3 13:05 Indiana Gunn 71-yard pass from Laufenberg (Greenstein kick) Iowa 35-21
11:08 Iowa Hufford 11-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) Iowa 42-21
4 3:12 Indiana Hines 2-yard run (Greenstein kick) Iowa 42-28
[9]
at Michigan [ ]
#12 Iowa at #5 Michigan
1
2 3 4 Total
• #12 Hawkeyes
6
0 3 0
9
#5 Wolverines
0
7 0 0
7
Date: October 17Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan Game attendance: 105,915
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Tom Nichol 20-yard field goal IOWA 3–0
Q1 Iowa Nichol 36-yard field goal IOWA 6–0
Q2 MICH Anthony Carter 17-yard pass from Steve Smith (Haji-Sheikh kick) MICH 7–6
Q3 IOWA Nichol 30-yard field goal IOWA 9–7
See also: 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team
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
2 3 4 Total
• Golden Gophers
0
9 0 3
12
Hawkeyes
0
0 10 0
10
Date: October 24Location: Kinnick Stadium , Iowa City, Iowa Game attendance: 60,000Television network: ABC
Scoring summary 2 Minn Gallery 52-yard field goal Minn 3-0
2 Minn Gallery 31-yard field goal Minn 6-0
2 Minn Gallery 33-yard field goal Minn 9-0
3 IOWA Nichol 34-yard field goal Minn 9-3
3 IOWA Blatcher 2-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 10-9
4 2:22 Minn Gallery 27-yard field goal Minn 12-10
[12]
[13]
at Illinois [ ]
#16 Iowa at Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
#16 Hawkeyes
0
7 0 0
7
• Fighting Illini
3
14 0 7
24
Date: October 31, 1981Location: Memorial Stadium , Champaign, Illinois Game attendance: 66,877
Scoring summary 1 Illinois Bass 27-yard field goal Illinois 3-0
2 Illinois Burgard fumble recovery in end zone (Bass kick) Illinois 10-0
2 Illinois Williams 56-yard pass from Eason (Bass kick) Illinois 17-0
2 Iowa Brown 12-yard pass from Bohannon (Nichol kick) Illinois 17-7
4 Illinois Williams 4-yard pass from Eason (Bass kick) Illinois 24-7
[14]
Purdue [ ]
Purdue at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Boilermakers
0
0 0 7
7
• Hawkeyes
17
13 3 0
33
Date: November 7Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IowaGame attendance: 60,114
Scoring summary 1 Iowa Nichol 42-yard field goal Iowa 3-0
1 Iowa Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 10-0
1 Iowa Bohannon 12-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 17-0
2 Iowa Crocker recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) Iowa 23-0
2 Iowa Bohannon 7-yard run (Nichol kick) Iowa 30-0
3 Iowa Nichol 48-yard field goal Iowa 33-0
4 Purdue Feulner 1-yard run (Clark kick) Iowa 33-7
The 33-7 win was Iowa's first over the Boilermakers since 1960, and secured the Hawkeyes' first winning season since 1961.[15]
at Wisconsin [ ]
Iowa at Wisconsin
1
2 3 4 Total
• Hawkeyes
3
14 0 0
17
Badgers
0
0 0 7
7
Date: November 14Location: Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin Game attendance: 78,731Television network: ABC Sports
Scoring summary Q1 6:48 IOWA Tom Nichol 35-yard field goal IOWA 3–0
Q2 IOWA Phil Blatcher 1-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) IOWA 10–0
Q2 IOWA Phil Blatcher 2-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) IOWA 17–0
Q4 Wisc IOWA 17–7
[16]
Michigan State [ ]
Michigan State at #19 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Spartans
0
7 0 0
7
• Hawkeyes
16
0 10 10
36
Date: November 21Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IowaGame attendance: 60,103Game weather: Mid-60s° F
Scoring summary 1 Iowa Blatcher 9-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7-0
1 Iowa Safety, blocked punt through end zone IOWA 9-0
1 Iowa Phillips 1-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 16-0
2 Michigan St Hodo 1-yard pass from Clark (Andersen kick) IOWA 16-7
3 Iowa Nichol 26-yard field goal IOWA 19-7
3 Iowa Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 26-7
4 Iowa Nichol 23-yard field goal IOWA 29-7
4 Iowa Campbell 9-yard pass from Gales (Nichol kick) IOWA 36-7
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]
vs. Washington (Rose Bowl) [ ]
#12 Washington vs. #13 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Huskies
0
13 0 15
28
Hawkeyes
0
0 0 0
0
Date: January 1, 1982Location: Rose Bowl , Pasadena, California Game attendance: 105,611Referee: Rich McVayTV announcers (NBC ): Dick Enberg , Merlin Olsen
Scoring summary 2 UW Robinson 1-yard run (Nelson kick) UW 7-0
2 UW Coby 1-yard run (pass failed) UW 13-0
4 UW Robinson 34-yard run (Pelluer pass to Skansi) UW 21-0
4 UW Cowan 3-yard run (Nelson kick) UW 28-0
See also: 1981 Washington Huskies football team
[22]
[23]
Postseason Awards [ ]
Hayden Fry – Big Ten Coach of the Year
Andre Tippett – Consensus first-team All-American (Defensive end)
Reggie Roby – Consensus first-team All-American (Punter), NCAA single-season record with a 49.8-yard average
Team players in 1982 NFL Draft [ ]
Main article: 1982 NFL Draft
Player
Position
Round
Pick
NFL club
Ron Hallstrom
G
1
22
Green Bay Packers
Andre Tippett
LB
2
41
New England Patriots
[24]
References [ ]
^ a b c d e "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016 .
^ "1981 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" . sports-reference.com .
^ "Iowa 1981 AP Football Rankings" .
^ "Iowa Upset Nebraska, 10-7" . The New York Times . September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Iowa State 23, Iowa 12" . The New York Times . September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "U.C.L.A. Is Upset By Iowa" . The New York Times . September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Iowa's Performance Surprises Its Coach" . The New York Times . September 28, 1981. Retrieved November 15, 2017 .
^ "64-0!" . Chicago Tribune . October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ " 'Surprise' get Iowa untracked" . Chicago Tribune . October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "3 Iowa Field Goals Stop Michigan, 9-7" . The New York Times . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Defeats No. 5 Michigan" . Washington Post . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Minnesota kicks Iowa back down" . Chicago Tribune . October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "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 .
^ "Illinois turns to defense" . The Pantagraph . November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa 33, Purdue 7" . The New York Times . November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Wisconsin's odor is not of roses" . Chicago Tribune . November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
^ Iowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
^ "Iowa Wins Trip to Rose Bowl" . The New York Times . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Goes to Rose Bowl as Michigan Loses" . The Washington Post . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Hawkeyes make Iowa sick with Rose Bowl fever" . Chicago Tribune . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa flat embarrassed by Washington romp" . Chicago Tribune . January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0" . The Washington Post . January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "1982 NFL Draft" . pro-football-reference.com .
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