1977 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1977 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLarry Coyer (4th season)
MVPs
  • Dean Moore
  • Rod Sears
Captains
  • Jim Hilgenberg
  • Dean Moore
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
1977 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 9 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 11 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Michigan State 6 – 1 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
Indiana 4 – 3 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 7 – 5 – 0
Purdue 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 6 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Illinois 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 8 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1977 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 1977 Big Ten football season. In their fourth year under head coach Bob Commings, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–6 record (3–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 229 to 171.[1][2]

The 1975 Hawkeyes gained 1,562 rushing yards and 1,276 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,992 rushing yards and 1,500 passing yards.[3]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tom McLaughlin (78-of-152 passing for 1,081 yards), running back Jon Lazar (411 rushing yards), Mike Brady (26 receptions for 357 yards), and kicker Dave Holsclaw (39 points scored).[4] Linebacker Tom Rusk set Iowa's single-season record (still intact) with 105 solo tackles during the 1977 season;[5] he also received first-team All-Big Ten honors. Center Jim Hilgenberg and linebacker Dean Moore were the team captains.[6] Moore and defensive back Rod Sears were selected as the team's most valuable players.[7]

The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 377,410, an average of 53,916 per game.[8]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 10Northwestern
W 24–053,725[9]
September 17Iowa State*
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
ABCW 12–1057,988[10]
September 24Arizona*
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 7–4153,110[11]
October 1at UCLA*
W 16–34 (forfeited by UCLA)35,636[12]
October 8Minnesota
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
W 18–657,640[13]
October 15No. 5 Ohio State
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 6–2760,070[14]
October 22at Purdue
ABCL 21–3462,443[15]
October 29at No. 6 Michigan
L 6–23104,617[16]
November 5Indiana
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 21–2449,620[17]
November 12at Wisconsin
W 24–871,723[18]
November 19Michigan State
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 16–2243,700[19]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Northwestern

Northwestern at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
Wildcats 0 000 0
• Hawkeyes 0 1077 24
  • Date: Saturday, September 10
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 53,725
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), clear skies, wind NW 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h)
Scoring summary
214:58IOWAArkeilpane 1-yard run (Schilling kick)IOWA 7-0
20:01IOWASchilling 41-yard field goalIOWA 10-0
36:22IOWALazar 10-yard pass from Commings (Schilling kick)IOWA 17-0
40:49IOWABrady 18-yard pass from Commings (Schilling kick)IOWA 24-0
See also: 1977 Northwestern Wildcats football team

[20]

Iowa State

#19 Iowa State at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
Cyclones 7 300 10
• Hawkeyes 12 000 12
Scoring summary
1ISUBuck 63 yard punt return (Kollman kick)ISU 7-0
1IOWAMosely 77 yard run (kick failed)ISU 7-6
1IOWALazar 10 yard run (run failed)IOWA 12-7
2ISUKollman 42 yard field goalIOWA 12-10
See also: 1977 Iowa State Cyclones football team and Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry

[21][22]

Arizona

See also: 1977 Arizona Wildcats football team

At UCLA

See also: 1977 UCLA Bruins football team

[23][24]

Minnesota

Team 1 234Total
Golden Gophers 0 006 6
• Hawkeyes 0 693 18
  • Date: October 8
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 57,640
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), Cloudy, Wind NW 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h)
See also: 1977 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry

Ohio State

Team 1 234Total
• Buckeyes 3 1077 27
Hawkeyes 0 006 6
See also: 1977 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

At Michigan

Iowa at Michigan
Team 1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 006 6
• No. 6 Wolverines 7 772 23
  • Date: October 29
  • Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Game attendance: 104,617
Scoring summary
1MICHR. Davis 63-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)Michigan 7-0
2MICHG. Johnson 6-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)Michigan 14-0
3MICHWhite 32-yard pass from Leach (Willner kick)Michigan 21-0
4IOWAMcLaughlin 1-yard run (run failed)Michigan 21-6
4MICHSafety, McLaughlin tackled in end zoneMichigan 23-6
See also: 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team

At Wisconsin

See also: 1977 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry

Iowa’s 24–8 triumph in Madison started an 18–game unbeaten streak (17–0–1) against the Badgers.[25]

Michigan State

Michigan State at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Spartans 17 032 22
Hawkeyes 0 1033 16
Scoring summary
1MSUSteve Smith 10-yard run (Nielsen kick)MSU 7-0
1MSUEarley 2-yard pass from Smith (Nielsen kick)MSU 14-0
1MSUNielsen 45-yard field goalMSU 17-0
2IOWAJim Swift 25-yard pass from Tom McLaughlin (Holsclaw kick)MSU 17-7
2IOWAHolsclaw 47-yard field goalMSU 17-10
3MSUNielsen 19-yard field goalMSU 20-10
3IOWAHolsclaw 48-yard field goalMSU 20-13
412:14IOWAHolsclaw 51-yard field goalMSU 20-16
4MSUSafetyMSU 22-16
See also: 1977 Michigan State Spartans football team

[26]

Roster

1977 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB James Arkeilpane
G 61 Doug Benschoter
WR 88 Mike Brady
QB Bobby Commings Jr. Fr
RB 28 Jesse Cook Sr
OL Rich Cunningham
TE Doug Dunham
WR Jim Frazier
QB Jeff Green
C 54 Jay Hilgenberg Fr
G 56 Jim Hilgenberg
RB 31 Joe Hufford
FB 44 Jon Lazar Jr
WR Chris Mackey
OL Mike Mayer
RB Dean McKillip
QB 11 Tom McLaughlin Sr
RB Rod Morton So
RB 18 Dennis Mosley So
OL Sam Palladino
QB Doug Piro
WR Brad Reid So
RB Tom Renn
RB 37 Ernie Sheeler Sr
TE Jim Swift So
RB John Thomas
OT 72 Barry Tomasetti Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 9 Dave Becker
DB Shanty Burks
DB Charles Danzy
DL John Harty
DL Darrell Hobbs
DL Joe Hufford
LB 43 Mike Jackson
DL Mark Mahmens
DL 83 Jim Molini So
LB 85 Dean Moore Sr
LB 47 Tom Rusk Jr
CB 19 Rod Sears Sr
DB Cedric Shaw
DB Chuck Sodergren
CB 38 Roger Stech
DE 45 Steve Vazquez Jr
LB Leven Weiss
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K, P Dave Holsclaw So
K Scott Schilling Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2021-Jan-03

Team players in the 1978 NFL draft

Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Dean Moore Linebacker 9 233 San Francisco 49ers
Barry Tomasetti Tackle 10 278 Dallas Cowboys

[27]

References

  1. ^ "1977 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 242. Retrieved May 20, 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. 265.
  6. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
  7. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
  8. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
  9. ^ "Iowa father-son duo is killer for Wildcats". Wisconsin State Journal. September 11, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Hawkeyes reign in Iowa". Chicago Tribune. September 18, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Arizona stuns Iowa, 41–7". Wisconsin State Journal. September 25, 1977. Retrieved October 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Hawks no match for UCLA". Quad-City Times. October 2, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Record field goal effort sinks Gophers". Argus-Leader. October 9, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Rugged Buckeyes conquer Iowa, 27–6". The Sioux City Journal. October 16, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Purdue rebounds; bounces Iowa, 34–21". Evansville Courier and Press. October 23, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Curt Sylvester (October 30, 1977). "U-M Back in Groove, 23–6: Leach Destroys Iowa". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 5E.
  17. ^ "IU 'kicks' Iowa, 24–21". Anderson Herald. November 6, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Hawkeyes snap 19-year Madison jinx 24–8". The Courier. November 13, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Winds lift Spartans over Hawkeyes, 22–16". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 20, 1977. Retrieved April 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "It's no dream! Hawks win 24-0" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 12, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  21. ^ "Hawkeye defense silences Cyclones" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 19, 1977. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  22. ^ Bingham, Walter (September 26, 1977). "AN END TO THE BICKERING". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "UCLA stymies Iowa" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 3, 1977. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  24. ^ "Pac-10 Declares Five Members Ineligible". The Washington Post. August 12, 1980. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "Hawks cash in on Badger mistakes" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 14, 1977. p. 10. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  26. ^ "Hawks come up short in exciting finale" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 21, 1977. p. 8. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "1978 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007.


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