The 1972 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1972 Big Ten football season. In their second year under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Hawkeyes compiled a 3–7–1 record (2–6–1 in conference game), finished in eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 208 to 109.[1][2]
The 1972 Hawkeyes gained 1,629 rushing yards and 825 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 2,724 rushing yards and 989 passing yards.[3]
The team's statistical leaders included Kyle Skogman (24-of-57 passing for 356 yards), Dave Harris (621 rushing yards), Brian Rollins (29 receptions for 378 yards), and Harris and Frank Holmes (24 points each).[4] Andre Jackson set a single-season Iowa record (still standing) with 171 total tackles in 1972.[5] Harris, offensive lineman Craig Darling, and linebacker Dave Simms were the team captains.[6] Defensive end Dan Dickel was also selected as the team's most valuable player.[7]
Prior to the 1972 season, Iowa renamed Iowa Stadium as Kinnick Stadium in honor of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick. Artificial turf was also installed with a block "I" at the center of the field for the 1972 season.[8] The stadium was called Iowa Stadium from its opening in 1929 through the 1971 season. Home attendance in 1972 totaled 220,833, an average of 44,166 per game.[9]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 16 | at No. 3 Ohio State | | L 0–21 | 77,098 | |
September 23 | Oregon State* | | W 19–11 | 51,229 | |
September 30 | at No. 13 Penn State* | | L 10–14 | 58,065 | |
October 7 | Purdue | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| L 0–24 | 54,576 | |
October 14 | at Northwestern | | W 23–12 | 31,149 | |
October 21 | at Minnesota | | L 14–43 | 44,196 | |
October 28 | Michigan State | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| T 6–6 | 46,852 | |
November 4 | at Wisconsin | | L 14–16 | 78,723 | |
November 11 | No. 4 Michigan | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| L 0–31 | 43,176 | [10] |
November 18 | at Indiana | | L 8–16 | 27,440 | |
November 25 | Illinois | - Kinnick Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| W 15–14 | 25,000 | |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
[11]
Game summaries
At No. 3 Ohio State
Iowa at No. 3 Ohio State
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hawkeyes |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• No. 3 Buckeyes |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
- Date: September 16
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 1:31p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2:21
- Game attendance: 77,098
- Game weather: Clear, 74 °F (23 °C)
Scoring summary |
2 | 4:06 | Ohio St | Keith 1-yard run (Conway kick) | Ohio St 7-0 |
|
3 | 0:26 | Ohio St | Henson 4-yard run (Conway kick) | Ohio St 14-0 |
|
4 | 10:04 | Ohio St | Henson 1-yard run (Conway kick) | Ohio St 21-0 |
Illinois
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Fighting Illini |
0 |
0 | 6 | 8 |
14 |
• Hawkeyes |
0 |
7 | 0 | 8 |
15 |
Scoring summary |
2 | 4:45 | Iowa | Mix 92-yard run (Kokolus kick) | Iowa 7-0 |
|
3 | 4:52 | Illini | Greene 4-yard run (kick failed) | Iowa 7-6 |
|
4 | 11:26 | Illini | Perrin 2-yard run (Roberson pass from Wells) | Illinois 14-7 |
4:10 | Iowa | Holmes 1-yard run (Caldwell run) | Iowa 15-14 |
Iowa closed the season with a win over Illinois. The Hawkeyes would not win again until upsetting No. 12 UCLA in the home opener of the 1974 season.
Roster
1972 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
References
- ^ "1972 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 242. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 265, 272.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 259-260.
- ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
- ^ Curt Sylvester (November 12, 1972). "Wolverines Rip Iowa, 31–0: U-M Alone Atop Big Ten". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 4E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1972-73 Football Schedule". University of Iowa Athletics. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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National championship seasons in bold |