1974 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1974 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record3–8 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorHoward Vernon (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorLarry Coyer (1st season)
MVPRob Fick
Captains
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
1974 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 12 Michigan State 6 – 1 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
Wisconsin 5 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Illinois 4 – 3 – 1 6 – 4 – 1
Purdue 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Minnesota 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Indiana 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 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 1974 Big Ten football season. In their first year under head coach Bob Commings, the Hawkeyes compiled a 3–8 record (2–6 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 308 to 157.[1][2]

The 1974 Hawkeyes gained 1,982 rushing yards and 1,193 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 3,180 rushing yards and 723 passing yards.[3]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Robert Fick (79-of-165 passing, 1,059 yards), running back Jim Jensen (659 rushing yards), Bill Schultz (25 receptions for 432 yards), Rod Wellington (30 points scored), and Dan LeFleur (115 total tackles).[4] Defensive back Earl Douthitt received first-team honors on the 1974 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Douthitt and offensive guard Dan McCarney were the team captains.[5] Fick was selected as the team's most valuable player.[6]

The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 291,600, an average of 48,600 per game.[7]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 14at No. 6 Michigan
L 7–2476,802
September 21No. 12 UCLA*
W 21–1047,500
September 28No. 19 Penn State*
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 0–2746,500
October 5at No. 9 USC*
L 3–4152,095
October 12Northwestern
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 35–1051,200
October 19at Minnesota
L 17–2348,579
October 26Illinois
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 14–1249,400
November 2at Purdue
L 14–3851,107
November 9Wisconsin
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 15–2848,300
November 16No. 4 Ohio State
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 10–3548,700
November 23at No. 14 Michigan State
L 21–6051,002
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

At Michigan

Iowa at Michigan
Team 1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 007 7
• No. 6 Wolverines 7 7100 24
 
Scoring summary
1MichChuck Heater 2-yard run (Mike Lantry kick)Michigan 7–0
2MichMark Elzinga 2-yard run (Mike Lantry kick)Michigan 14–0
3MichChapman 10-yard pass from Mark ElzingaMichigan 21–0
MichMike Lantry 30-yard field goalMichigan 24–0
4IowaRod Wellington 1-yard field run (kick)Michigan 24–7
See also: 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team

[8]

UCLA

See also: 1974 UCLA Bruins football team

The victory over the 12th ranked Bruins snapped a 12-game losing streak and was only Iowa's second win in its last 19 games.[9]

Penn State

See also: 1974 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

At USC

See also: 1974 USC Trojans football team

Northwestern

See also: 1974 Northwestern Wildcats football team

At Minnesota

See also: 1974 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Illinois

See also: 1974 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

At Purdue

See also: 1974 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Wisconsin

See also: 1974 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry

Ohio State

See also: 1974 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

At Michigan State

See also: 1974 Michigan State Spartans football team

Roster

1974 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OL 72 Joe Devlin Jr
FB 48 Mark Fetter Jr
QB 17 Butch Caldwell   Jr
QB 15 Rob Fick Sr
RB   Tom Grine So
RB 22 Jim Jensen Jr
OL 60 Dan McCarney Sr
QB 9 Bobby Ousley
RB 41 Rod Wellington
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 20 Andre Jackson Jr
DB 21 Jim Caldwell So
DB 46 Earl Douthitt Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P   Joe Heppner
K   Nick Quartaro So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Howard Vernon – Offensive Coordinator
  • Larry Coyer – Defensive Coordinator
  • Dave Beckman – Offensive line
  • Kent Stephenson – Offensive line
  • Dennis Green – Running backs
  • Bill Whisler – Defensive line
  • Dan McDonald – Defensive tackles
  • Tom Cecchini – Linebackers
  • Bernie Wyatt – Defensive ends
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Team players in the 1975 NFL draft

Main article: 1975 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Earl Douthitt Defensive back 7 178 Chicago Bears

[10]

References

  1. ^ "1974 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 242. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.
  4. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280.
  5. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
  6. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
  7. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
  8. ^ "Hawks fall to Wolves, but look good" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 16, 1974. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "Hawks upset mighty Bruins 21-10!" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 23, 1974. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "1975 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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