1979 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1979 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Snyder (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Brashier (1st season)
MVPDennis Mosley
Captains
  • Jim Molini
  • Mario Pace
  • Sam Palladino
  • Cedric Shaw
  • Jim Swift
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
1979 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Ohio State $ 8 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 10 Purdue 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 18 Michigan 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
No. 19 Indiana 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Minnesota 3 – 5 – 1 4 – 6 – 1
Michigan State 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Illinois 1 – 6 – 1 2 – 8 – 1
Northwestern 0 – 9 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 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 1979 Big Ten football season. In their first year under head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 239 to 216.[1][2] Fry was hired as the head coach in December 1978 after spending the previous six years at North Texas State.[3] Fry in 1979 hired Bill Snyder as his offensive coordinator and Barry Alvarez as his linebackers coach and recruited 18-year-old Bob Stoops to play defensive back at Iowa; all four are now in the College Football Hall of Fame and rank among the greatest coaches in modern college football history.

Tailback Dennis Mosley won the Big Ten rushing title and set Iowa single-season records with 1,267 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 96 points scored. He was selected as the team's most valuable player and received second-team All-America honors. Mosley, linebacker Leven Weiss and center Jay Hilgenberg also received first-team All-Big Ten honors. The team had a strong recruiting class that included linebacker Andre Tippett, defensive tackle Mark Bortz, punter Reggie Roby, and Bob Stoops.

The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8Indiana
L 26–3059,700[4][5]
September 15at No. 3 Oklahoma*
L 6–2172,531[6][7]
September 22No. 7 Nebraska*
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 21–2460,055[8][9]
September 29Iowa State*
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
W 30–1460,100[10][11]
October 6at Illinois
W 13–751,044[12][13]
October 13at Northwestern
W 58–627,224[14][15]
October 20Minnesota
L 7–2460,050[16]
October 27at Wisconsin
W 24–1379,026[17]
November 3Purdue
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 14–2059,940[18]
November 10at No. 3 Ohio State
L 7–3487,835[19]
November 17Michigan State
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 33–2358,320[20]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[21]

Game summaries

Indiana

Indiana at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Hoosiers 0 3720 30
Hawkeyes 13 1300 26
Scoring summary
Q1IOWAMosley 23-yard run (kick failed)IOWA 6–0
Q1IOWAMosley 5-yard run (Schilling kick)IOWA 13–0
Q2IndianaStraub 29-yard field goalIOWA 13–3
Q2IOWAMosley 5-yard pass from Suess (Schilling kick)IOWA 20–3
Q23:06IOWAMosley 1-yard run (pass failed)IOWA 26–3
Q3IndianaJohnson 51-yard pass from Clifford (Straub kick)IOWA 26–10
Q4IndianaJohnson 1-yard run (pass failed)IOWA 26–16
Q4IndianaClifford 1-yard run (Straub kick)IOWA 26–23
Q40:58IndianaJohnson 66-yard pass from Clifford (Straub kick)Indiana 30–26
See also: 1979 Indiana Hoosiers football team

On October 22, 2016, former Indiana University coach and current ESPN College Football analyst Lee Corso described the game on College Gameday. He said at halftime he told the Hoosiers (who were losing the game 26-3) to not bother coming out for the 2nd half unless they were prepared to win the game. Indiana would then go on to win the game, 30-26, spoiling the debut of head coach Hayden Fry. [4]

Game statistics[4] INDIANA IOWA
First downs 25 22
Total yards 479 389
Passing yards 316 227
Rushing yards 143 162
Penalties 6–53 8–87
Turnovers 3 3

At No. 3 Oklahoma

Iowa at #3 Oklahoma
Team 1 234Total
Hawkeyes 6 000 6
• No. 3 Sooners 0 7014 21
Scoring summary
13:30IOWADennis Mosley 10-yard pass from Phil Seuss (kick failed)IOWA 6-0
24:00OUBilly Sims 1-yard run (John Hoge kick)OU 7-6
413:08OUBilly Sims 3-yard run (John Hoge kick)OU 14-6
43:36OUJ.C. Watts 1-yard run (John Hoge kick)OU 21-6
See also: 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team

[6]

Game statistics[6] OKLAHOMA IOWA
First downs 23 12
Total yards 452 202
Passing yards 183 139
Rushing yards 269 63
Penalties 4–40 5–36
Turnovers 5 2

No. 7 Nebraska

#7 Nebraska at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• No. 7 Cornhuskers 0 7710 24
Hawkeyes 7 0140 21
Scoring summary
111:51IOWAMcKillip 2-yard run (Reggie Roby kick)IOWA 7-0
22:12NEBQuinn 1-yard run (Sukup kick)Tied 7-7
36:53IOWAMcKillip 2-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 14-7
35:21IOWAChappelle 29-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick)IOWA 21-7
32:02NEBHager 4-yard run (Sukup kick)IOWA 21-14
411:02NEBJohnson 5-yard run (Sukup kick)Tied 21-21
45:52NEBSukup 30-yard field goalNEB 24-21
See also: 1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and Iowa–Nebraska football rivalry

For the second week in a row, the Hawkeyes faced a Big 8 opponent ranked in the top 10. Iowa led, 21-14, at the end of the third quarter, but Nebraska tied the game then recovered a fumble before kicking the winning field goal late.[8]

Iowa State

Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy
Team 1 234Total
Cyclones 7 070 14
• Hawkeyes 7 779 30
Scoring summary
19:38IOWAMosley 1-yard run (Reggie Roby kick)IOWA 7-0
10:07ISUMack 1-yard run (Giffords kick)Tied 7-7
24:38IOWAMosley 9-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick)IOWA 14-7
311:12IOWAMosley 18-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 21-7
38:48ISULess 26-yard interception return (Giffords kick)IOWA 21-14
46:46IOWAMcKillip 27-yard run (kick failed)IOWA 27-14
44:33IOWARoby 44-yard field goalIOWA 30-14
See also: 1979 Iowa State Cyclones football team and Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry

This game marked Hayden Fry's first win as head coach of the Hawkeyes.[10]

Game statistics[10] ISU IOWA
First downs 14 30
Total yards 162 429
Passing yards 56 51
Rushing yards 106 378
Penalties 4–35 7–63
Turnovers 3 3

At Illinois

Iowa at Illinois
Team 1 234Total
• Hawkeyes 0 670 13
Fighting Illini 0 700 7
Scoring summary
Q2IOWARoby 25 yard field goalIOWA 3–0
Q2IOWARoby 33 yard field goalIOWA 6–0
Q2ILLStrader 4 yard pass from McCullough (Bostrom kick)ILL 7–6
Q3IOWAMcKillip 1 yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 13–7
See also: 1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

[12]

At Northwestern

Iowa at Northwestern
Team 1 234Total
• Hawkeyes 7 28023 58
Wildcats 0 006 6
Scoring summary
Q1IOWAMosley 1-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 7–0
Q2IOWABohannon 5-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 14–0
Q2IOWAChappelle 44-yard pass from Bohannon (Roby kick)IOWA 21–0
Q2IOWABurke 12-yard pass from Bohannon (Roby kick)IOWA 28–0
Q2IOWABohannon 6-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 35–0
Q4IOWAMcKillip 7-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick)IOWA 42–0
Q4IOWAMosley 1-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 49–0
Q4NWBogan 69-yard pass from Kerrigan (pass failed)IOWA 49–6
Q4IOWARoby 27-yard field goalIOWA 52–6
Q4IOWADunham 2-yard pass from Gales (kick failed)IOWA 58–6
See also: 1979 Northwestern Wildcats football team
  • Gordy Bohannan, a junior college transfer, made his first career start

[14]

Game statistics[14] IOWA NW
First downs 25 16
Total yards 509 320
Passing yards 145 202
Rushing yards 364 118
Penalties 3–35 4–52
Turnovers 0 8

Minnesota

Minnesota at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Golden Gophers 10 0140 24
Hawkeyes 0 700 7
See also: 1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry

[22]

At Wisconsin

Team 1 234Total
• Hawkeyes 0 14010 24
Badgers 0 1003 13
Scoring summary
Q212:13WISVeith 27-yard field goalWIS 3–0
Q2WISMohapp 15-yard run (Veith kick)WIS 10–0
Q2IOWASwift 6-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick)WIS 10–7
Q2IOWABrady 27-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick)IOWA 14–10
Q414:14IOWARoby 22-yard field goalIOWA 17–10
Q4WISVeith 37-yard field goalIOWA 17–13
Q4IOWAMosley 75-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick)IOWA 24–13
See also: 1979 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry

Dennis Mosley broke Ed Podolak's Iowa single-season rushing record and caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the win over the Badgers.[23]

Purdue

Purdue at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
• Boilermakers 7 760 20
Hawkeyes 6 800 14
Scoring summary
1PurdueD. Young 3-yard pass from Herrmann (Seibel kick)Purdue 7-0
1IowaMosley 1-yard run (kick failed)Purdue 7-6
2IowaMcKillip 16-yard run (Reid pass from Mosley)Iowa 14-7
2PurdueMcCall 17-yard pass from Herrmann (Seibel kick)Tie 14-14
3PurdueMcCall 6-yard run (kick failed)Purdue 20-14
See also: 1979 Purdue Boilermakers football team

[24]

At No. 3 Ohio State

Iowa at Ohio State
Team 1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 007 7
• No. 3 Buckeyes 13 1407 34
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:51
  • Game attendance: 87,835
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 41 °F (5 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) NW
Scoring summary
15:55OHSTSchlichter 1-yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
13:18OHSTJanakievski 35-yard field goalOHST 10–0
11:38OHSTJanakievski 29-yard field goalOHST 13–0
28:56OHSTVolley 1-yard run (Jankievski kick)OHST 20–0
26:40OHSTDonley 33-yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 27–0
412:16OHSTSpencer 1-yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 34–0
44:07IOWAChappelle 40-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick)OHST 34–7
See also: 1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[25]

Michigan State

Michigan State at Iowa
Team 1 234Total
Spartans 6 1007 23
• Hawkeyes 7 6146 33
Scoring summary
Q1IOWAMosley 1-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 7–0
Q1MSUMorten Andersen 54-yard field goalIOWA 7–3
Q1MSUAndersen 25-yard field goalIOWA 7–6
Q2IOWAMosley 1-yard run (run failed)IOWA 13–6
Q2MSUClark 1-yard run (Andersen kick)Tied 13–13
Q2MSUAndersen 45-yard field goalMSU 16–13
Q3IOWASuess 7-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 20–16
Q3IOWAMcKillip 18-yard run (Roby kick)IOWA 27–16
Q4IOWAMosley 5-yard run (pass failed)IOWA 33–16
Q4MSUHughes 1-yard run (Andersen kick)IOWA 33–23
See also: 1979 Michigan State Spartans football team

[26]

Game statistics[26] MSU IOWA
First downs 17 23
Total yards 395 444
Passing yards 244 204
Rushing yards 151 238
Penalties 3–28 1–20
Turnovers 2 3


Roster

1979 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 28 Phil Blatcher So
QB 11 Gordy Bohannan Jr
WR 88 Mike Brady Sr
WR 19 Keith Chappelle Jr
QB 12 Pete Gales So
G 76 Ron Hallstrom So
C 54 Jay Hilgenberg Jr
FB 35 Dean McKillip
RB   Rod Morton Sr
RB 18 Dennis Mosley Sr
WR 83 Lon Olejniczak Fr
WR 87 Brad Reid Sr
QB 16 Phil Suess Jr
TE   Jim Swift Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL 63 Mark Bortz Fr
    Kent Ellis
DB 10 Jim Frazier So
DB 43 Lou King So
CB Mario Pace
DB 20 Cedric Shaw
DB 41 Bob Stoops Fr
DE 99 Andre Tippett So
LB 42 Leven Weiss
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P   Dave Holsclaw
P/K 7 Reggie Roby Fr
K   Scott Schilling
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bill Snyder – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
  • Bill Brashier – Defensive Coordinator
  • 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
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Statistical achievements

The 1975 Hawkeyes gained 2,130 rushing yards and 1,669 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,881 rushing yards and 1,843 passing yards.[27]

Tailback Dennis Mosley won the Big Ten rushing title,[28] became Iowa's first 1,000-yard rusher,[29] and set Iowa single-season records with 1,267 rushing yards (including 239 yards against Iowa State), 16 touchdowns, and 96 points scored.[30] He was selected as the team's most valuable player,[31] was selected as a second-team All-American by the UPI,[30] and received first-team honors on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[32]

The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback Phil Suess (88-of-159 passing for 1,165 yards), Brad Reid (25 receptions, 290 yards), and linebacker Leven Weiss (112 total tackles).[33]

Home attendance totaled 358,245, an average of 59,708 per game.[34]

Awards and honors

Tailback Dennis Mosley received second-team honors from the UPI and third-team honors form the AP on the 1979 All-America college football team.[35][36]

Mosley was also selected as the most valuable player of the 1979 team.[37]

The following players received recognition on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Dennis Mosley at running back (AP-1, UPI-1); Jay Hilgenberg at center (AP-1); Leven Weiss at linebacker (AP-1, UPI-2); and Reggie Roby at punter (UPI-2).[32][38]

The following five players were co-captains of the 1979 team: defensive end Jim Molini, defensive back Mario Pace, offensive tackle Sam Palladino, defensive back Cedric Shaw, and tight end Jim Swift.[39]

Two players (Bob Stoops and Andre Tippett) and three coaches (Hayden Fry, Bill Snyder, and Barry Alvarez) from the 1978 team have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Three players (Andre Tippett, Mark Bortz, and Reggie Roby) were included on the all-time Iowa team selected by fans in 1989.[40]

1980 NFL draft

Main article: 1980 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Dennis Mosley RB 9 232 Minnesota Vikings
Jim Swift OT 9 238 Seattle Seahawks

[41]

References

  1. ^ "1979 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. ^ "Hayden Fry named head coach" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. December 11, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Indiana comeback sinks Hawks" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 10, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "Indiana rally turns back Hawkeyes, 30–26". The Times. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "Upset-minded Hawks fall short, 21-6" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 17, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma survives scare from Iowa". Springfield Leader and Press. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Hawkeye upset spoiled, 24-21" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. September 24, 1979. p. 7. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  9. ^ "Winning edge helps Nebraska tip Iowa 24–21". The Idaho Statesman. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c "Awesome Iowa rushing attack devastates Cyclones' defense" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 1, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  11. ^ "Iowa swamps Iowa State". Lincoln Journal Star. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Hawkeyes hold the line, 13-7" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 8, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "Hawkeyes halt Illini". Journal and Courier. October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "Hawks run wild, 58-6" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 15, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "Wildcats break long losing streak". The Dispatch. September 16, 1979. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Gophers pass Iowa test". Journal and Courier. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Mistakes ruin Badgers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Herrmann leads Boilermakers, 20–14". The Lima News. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Buckeyes rout Iowa 34–7". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Mosley earns rushing title as Iowa triumphs". The Pantagraph. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1979 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Nothing went right for Hawks; Floyd goes back to Minnesota" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 22, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  23. ^ "Suess, Mosley lead Hawkeyes' victory" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. October 29, 1979. p. 8. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "No. 16 Purdue outduels Hawks in wild aerial showdown, 20-14" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 5, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "Buckeyes drop fumbling Hawks, 34-7" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 12, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Hawks soar to first-division finish, 33-23" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 19, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  27. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.
  28. ^ "Mosley wins title by slight margin". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. November 21, 1979. p. 3B.
  29. ^ "Iowa MVP Mosley banquet no-show". Waterloo Courier. November 20, 1979. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b "Mosley makes UPI All-America squad". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. December 4, 1979. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
  32. ^ a b "Three Hawkeyes make all Big Ten first team". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 28, 1979. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280.
  34. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
  35. ^ "Southern Cal star White repeats as All-America". The Pantagraph. December 5, 1979. p. B4.
  36. ^ "UPI All-America: Trojans Grab 3 Berths". The Daily News (Huntingdon). December 4, 1979. p. 5.
  37. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
  38. ^ "All_Big Ten". The Telegraph-Herald. November 20, 1979. p. 18.
  39. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
  40. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 214.
  41. ^ "1980 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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