1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team explained

Year:1981
Team:Iowa Hawkeyes
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:Big Ten
Coachrank:15
Aprank:18
Record:8–4
Conf Record:6–2
Hc Year:3rd
Oc Year:3rd
Def Coach:Bill Brashier
Dc Year:3rd
Captain:Tracy Crocker
Pete Gales
Bruce Kittle
Andre Tippett
Brad Webb
Mvp:Mel Cole
Champion:Big Ten co-champion
Bowl Result:L 0–28 vs. Washington

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:

Schedule

[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. Iowa was awarded the Rose Bowl berth because it had not been to Pasadena since the 1958 season, while Ohio State went two years earlier.

Rankings

[3]

Game summaries

No. 7 Nebraska

See also: 1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and Iowa–Nebraska football rivalry.

[4]

At Iowa State

See also: 1981 Iowa State Cyclones football team and Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry.

[5]

No. 6 UCLA

See also: 1981 UCLA Bruins football team.

[6] [7]

at Northwestern

See also: 1981 Northwestern Wildcats football team.

[8]

Indiana

See also: 1981 Indiana Hoosiers football team.

[9]

At No. 5 Michigan

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

See also: 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.

[12] [13]

At Illinois

See also: 1981 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.

[14]

Purdue

See also: 1981 Purdue Boilermakers football team.

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

See also: 1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry.

[16]

Michigan State

See also: 1981 Michigan State Spartans football team.

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

[19] [20] [21]

vs. No. 12 Washington (Rose Bowl)

See main article: 1982 Rose Bowl.

See also: 1981 Washington Huskies football team.

[22] [23]

Postseason Awards

See also: 1981 College Football All-America Team and 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Team players in 1982 NFL Draft

See main article: 1982 NFL draft.

Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Ron HallstromG1 22 Green Bay Packers
2 41 New England Patriots
[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. November 19, 2016.
  2. Web site: sports-reference.com. 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results.
  3. Web site: Iowa 1981 AP Football Rankings.
  4. News: September 13, 1981 . Iowa Upset Nebraska, 10-7 . The New York Times . November 8, 2015 .
  5. News: September 20, 1981 . Iowa State 23, Iowa 12 . . November 18, 2015 .
  6. News: September 27, 1981 . U.C.L.A. Is Upset By Iowa . The New York Times . November 8, 2015 .
  7. News: September 28, 1981 . Iowa's Performance Surprises Its Coach . The New York Times . November 15, 2017 .
  8. News: October 4, 1981 . 64-0! . . November 18, 2015 .
  9. News: October 11, 1981 . 'Surprise' get Iowa untracked . . November 18, 2015 .
  10. News: October 18, 1981 . 3 Iowa Field Goals Stop Michigan, 9-7 . The New York Times . November 8, 2015 .
  11. News: October 18, 1981 . Iowa Defeats No. 5 Michigan . Washington Post . November 8, 2015 .
  12. News: October 25, 1981 . Minnesota kicks Iowa back down . . November 18, 2015 .
  13. Web site: October 27, 1981 . Iowa linebacker Mel Cole is a contradiction on a football team making a lot of noise this fall . . October 9, 2017 .
  14. News: November 1, 1981 . Illinois turns to defense . . November 18, 2015 .
  15. News: November 8, 1981 . Iowa 33, Purdue 7 . The New York Times . November 18, 2015 .
  16. News: November 15, 1981 . Wisconsin's odor is not of roses . . November 18, 2015 .
  17. Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
  18. Iowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
  19. News: November 22, 1981 . Iowa Wins Trip to Rose Bowl . The New York Times . November 18, 2015 .
  20. News: November 22, 1981 . Iowa Goes to Rose Bowl as Michigan Loses . . November 18, 2015 .
  21. News: November 22, 1981 . Hawkeyes make Iowa sick with Rose Bowl fever . . November 18, 2015 .
  22. News: January 2, 1981 . Iowa flat embarrassed by Washington romp . . November 18, 2015 .
  23. News: January 2, 1981 . Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0 . . November 18, 2015 .
  24. Web site: pro-football-reference.com. 1982 NFL Draft. 2018-03-28. 2007-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202828/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm. dead.

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