1979 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1979 Iowa Hawkeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 4–4 Hayden Fry 1st Bill Snyder 1st Bill Brashier 1st Dennis Mosley Jim Molini Mario Pace Sam Palladino Cedric Shaw Jim Swift Kinnick Stadium 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 216.1979 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 20, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1979-schedule.html2022 Iowa Football Media Guide 242 University of Iowa https://storage.googleapis.com/hawkeyesports-prod/2022/07/b99ff33b-2022_ia_fb_media-guide-online-version.pdf May 20, 2025 Fry was hired as the head coach in December 1978 after spending the previous six years at North Texas State.The Daily Iowan 1 Hayden Fry named head coach http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-12-11.pdf December 11, 1978 August 18, 2019 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 1979 AP September 8 l Indiana Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 26–30 59,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-indiana-rally-turns-back-hawke/157929915/ The Times Indiana rally turns back Hawkeyes, 30–26 September 9, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 15 l y y Oklahoma 3 Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 6–21 72,531 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-oklahoma-su/157930040/ Springfield Leader and Press Oklahoma survives scare from Iowa September 16, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 22 l y Nebraska 7 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 21–24 60,055 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-winning-edge-helps-n/157930125/ The Idaho Statesman Winning edge helps Nebraska tip Iowa 24–21 September 23, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 w y Iowa State Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 30–14 60,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-iowa-swamps-iowa-st/157930191/ Lincoln Journal Star Iowa swamps Iowa State September 30, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 6 w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 13–7 51,044 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-hawkeyes-halt-illini/157927285/ Journal and Courier Hawkeyes halt Illini October 7, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 13 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 58–6 27,224 Wildcats break long losing streak The Dispatch September 16, 1979 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115981099/wildcatss-break-long-losing-streak/ Newspapers.com October 20 l Minnesota Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA Floyd of Rosedale 7–24 60,050 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-gophers-pass-iowa-te/157929469/ Journal and Courier Gophers pass Iowa test October 21, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 24–13 79,026 https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-mistakes-ruin-ba/157928436/ Green Bay Press-Gazette Mistakes ruin Badgers October 28, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 l Purdue Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 14–20 59,940 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-herrmann-leads-boilermaker/157930272/ The Lima News Herrmann leads Boilermakers, 20–14 November 4, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 l y Ohio State 3 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 7–34 87,835 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-buckeyes-rout-i/157930332/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Buckeyes rout Iowa 34–7 November 11, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 17 w Michigan State Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 33–23 58,320 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-mosley-earns-rushing-titl/157929091/ The Pantagraph Mosley earns rushing title as Iowa triumphs November 18, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com1979 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 27, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1979-schedule.html Game summaries Indiana Indiana at Iowa Hoosiers 0 3 7 20 Hawkeyes 13 13 0 0 September 8 Kinnick Stadium 59,780 Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes Q1 IOWA Mosley 23-yard run (kick failed) IOWA 6–0 Q1 IOWA Mosley 5-yard run (Schilling kick) IOWA 13–0 Q2 Indiana Straub 29-yard field goal IOWA 13–3 Q2 IOWA Mosley 5-yard pass from Suess (Schilling kick) IOWA 20–3 Q2 3:06 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (pass failed) IOWA 26–3 Q3 Indiana Johnson 51-yard pass from Clifford (Straub kick) IOWA 26–10 Q4 Indiana Johnson 1-yard run (pass failed) IOWA 26–16 Q4 Indiana Clifford 1-yard run (Straub kick) IOWA 26–23 Q4 0:58 Indiana Johnson 66-yard pass from Clifford (Straub kick) Indiana 30–26 yes 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. The Daily Iowan 12 Indiana comeback sinks Hawks http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-09-10.pdf September 10, 1979 September 10, 2017 Game statisticsINDIANAIOWAFirst downs2522Total yards479389Passing yards316227Rushing yards143162Penalties6–538–87Turnovers33 At No. 3 Oklahoma Iowa at #3 Oklahoma Hawkeyes 6 0 0 0 No. 3 Sooners 0 7 0 14 September 15 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma 71,187 Source: Box Score and Game Story yes 1 3:30 IOWA Dennis Mosley 10-yard pass from Phil Seuss (kick failed) IOWA 6-0 2 4:00 OU Billy Sims 1-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 7-6 4 13:08 OU Billy Sims 3-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 14-6 4 3:36 OU J.C. Watts 1-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 21-6 yes 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team The Daily Iowan 12 Upset-minded Hawks fall short, 21-6 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-09-17.pdf September 17, 1979 September 14, 2018 Game statisticsOKLAHOMAIOWAFirst downs2312Total yards452202Passing yards183139Rushing yards26963Penalties4–405–36Turnovers52 No. 7 Nebraska #7 Nebraska at Iowa No. 7 Cornhuskers Hawkeyes 0 7 7 10 7 0 14 0 September 22 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 1:05 p.m. CDT 2:35 60,055 Richard McVay Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes 1 11:51 IOWA McKillip 2-yard run (Reggie Roby kick) IOWA 7-0 2 2:12 NEB Quinn 1-yard run (Sukup kick) Tied 7-7 3 6:53 IOWA McKillip 2-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 14-7 3 5:21 IOWA Chappelle 29-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick) IOWA 21-7 3 2:02 NEB Hager 4-yard run (Sukup kick) IOWA 21-14 4 11:02 NEB Johnson 5-yard run (Sukup kick) Tied 21-21 4 5:52 NEB Sukup 30-yard field goal NEB 24-21 yes 1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team 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.The Daily Iowan 7 Hawkeye upset spoiled, 24-21 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-09-24.pdf September 24, 1979 October 9, 2016 Iowa State Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy Cyclones Hawkeyes 7 0 7 0 7 7 7 9 September 29 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 1:05 p.m. CDT 2:55 60,100 Gene Calhoun Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes 1 9:38 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (Reggie Roby kick) IOWA 7-0 1 0:07 ISU Mack 1-yard run (Giffords kick) Tied 7-7 2 4:38 IOWA Mosley 9-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick) IOWA 14-7 3 11:12 IOWA Mosley 18-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 21-7 3 8:48 ISU Less 26-yard interception return (Giffords kick) IOWA 21-14 4 6:46 IOWA McKillip 27-yard run (kick failed) IOWA 27-14 4 4:33 IOWA Roby 44-yard field goal IOWA 30-14 yes 1979 Iowa State Cyclones football team Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry This game marked Hayden Fry's first win as head coach of the Hawkeyes.The Daily Iowan 12 Awesome Iowa rushing attack devastates Cyclones' defense http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-10-01.pdf October 1, 1979 October 9, 2016 Game statisticsISUIOWAFirst downs1430Total yards162429Passing yards5651Rushing yards106378Penalties4–357–63Turnovers33 At Illinois Iowa at Illinois Hawkeyes 0 6 7 0 Fighting Illini 0 7 0 0 October 6 Memorial Stadium 51,044 yes Q2 IOWA Roby 25 yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q2 IOWA Roby 33 yard field goal IOWA 6–0 Q2 ILL Strader 4 yard pass from McCullough (Bostrom kick) ILL 7–6 Q3 IOWA McKillip 1 yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 13–7 yes 1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team The Daily Iowan 11 Hawkeyes hold the line, 13-7 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-10-08.pdf October 8, 1979 October 9, 2016 At Northwestern Iowa at Northwestern Hawkeyes 7 28 0 23 Wildcats 0 0 0 6 October 13 Dyche Stadium 27,224 Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes Q1 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 7–0 Q2 IOWA Bohannon 5-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 14–0 Q2 IOWA Chappelle 44-yard pass from Bohannon (Roby kick) IOWA 21–0 Q2 IOWA Burke 12-yard pass from Bohannon (Roby kick) IOWA 28–0 Q2 IOWA Bohannon 6-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 35–0 Q4 IOWA McKillip 7-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick) IOWA 42–0 Q4 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 49–0 Q4 NW Bogan 69-yard pass from Kerrigan (pass failed) IOWA 49–6 Q4 IOWA Roby 27-yard field goal IOWA 52–6 Q4 IOWA Dunham 2-yard pass from Gales (kick failed) IOWA 58–6 yes 1979 Northwestern Wildcats football team Gordy Bohannan, a junior college transfer, made his first career start The Daily Iowan 12 Hawks run wild, 58-6 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-10-15.pdf October 15, 1979 October 9, 2016 Game statisticsIOWANWFirst downs2516Total yards509320Passing yards145202Rushing yards364118Penalties3–354–52Turnovers08 Minnesota Minnesota at Iowa Golden Gophers 10 0 14 0 Hawkeyes 0 7 0 0 October 20 Kinnick Stadium 60,050 Sources: Box Score and Game Story 1979 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry The Daily Iowan 12 Nothing went right for Hawks; Floyd goes back to Minnesota http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-10-22.pdf October 22, 1979 September 14, 2018 At Wisconsin Hawkeyes 0 14 0 10 Badgers 0 10 0 3 October 27 Camp Randall Stadium 79,026 Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes Q2 12:13 WIS Veith 27-yard field goal WIS 3–0 Q2 WIS Mohapp 15-yard run (Veith kick) WIS 10–0 Q2 IOWA Swift 6-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick) WIS 10–7 Q2 IOWA Brady 27-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick) IOWA 14–10 Q4 14:14 IOWA Roby 22-yard field goal IOWA 17–10 Q4 WIS Veith 37-yard field goal IOWA 17–13 Q4 IOWA Mosley 75-yard pass from Suess (Roby kick) IOWA 24–13 yes 1979 Wisconsin Badgers football team 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.The Daily Iowan 8 Suess, Mosley lead Hawkeyes' victory http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-10-29.pdf October 29, 1979 September 14, 2018 Purdue Purdue at Iowa Boilermakers 7 7 6 0 Hawkeyes 6 8 0 0 November 3 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa CDT 59,940 yes 1 Purdue D. Young 3-yard pass from Herrmann (Seibel kick) Purdue 7-0 1 Iowa Mosley 1-yard run (kick failed) Purdue 7-6 2 Iowa McKillip 16-yard run (Reid pass from Mosley) Iowa 14-7 2 Purdue McCall 17-yard pass from Herrmann (Seibel kick) Tie 14-14 3 Purdue McCall 6-yard run (kick failed) Purdue 20-14 yes 1979 Purdue Boilermakers football team The Daily Iowan 10 No. 16 Purdue outduels Hawks in wild aerial showdown, 20-14 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-11-05.pdf November 5, 1979 September 14, 2018 At No. 3 Ohio State Iowa at Ohio State Hawkeyes 0 0 0 7 No. 3 Buckeyes 13 14 0 7 November 10 Ohio Stadium 1:30 p.m. EST 2:51 87,835 Cloudy; 41 F; wind 10 – 20 mph on NW 1 5:55 OHST Schlichter 1-yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–0 yes 1 3:18 OHST Janakievski 35-yard field goal OHST 10–0 1 1:38 OHST Janakievski 29-yard field goal OHST 13–0 2 8:56 OHST Volley 1-yard run (Jankievski kick) OHST 20–0 2 6:40 OHST Donley 33-yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 27–0 4 12:16 OHST Spencer 1-yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 34–0 4 4:07 IOWA Chappelle 40-yard pass from Gales (Roby kick) OHST 34–7 yes 1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team The Daily Iowan 12 Buckeyes drop fumbling Hawks, 34-7 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-11-12.pdf November 12, 1979 September 14, 2018 Michigan State Michigan State at Iowa Spartans 6 10 0 7 Hawkeyes 7 6 14 6 November 17 Kinnick Stadium 58,320 Sources: Box Score and Game Story yes Q1 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 MSU Morten Andersen 54-yard field goal IOWA 7–3 Q1 MSU Andersen 25-yard field goal IOWA 7–6 Q2 IOWA Mosley 1-yard run (run failed) IOWA 13–6 Q2 MSU Clark 1-yard run (Andersen kick) Tied 13–13 Q2 MSU Andersen 45-yard field goal MSU 16–13 Q3 IOWA Suess 7-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 20–16 Q3 IOWA McKillip 18-yard run (Roby kick) IOWA 27–16 Q4 IOWA Mosley 5-yard run (pass failed) IOWA 33–16 Q4 MSU Hughes 1-yard run (Andersen kick) IOWA 33–23 yes 1979 Michigan State Spartans football team The Daily Iowan 10 Hawks soar to first-division finish, 33-23 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1979/di1979-11-19.pdf November 19, 1979 September 10, 2017 Game statisticsMSUIOWAFirst downs1723Total yards395444Passing yards244204Rushing yards151238Penalties3–281–20Turnovers23 Roster 1979 Iowa Hawkeyes f 28 So Phil Blatcher RB 11 Jr Gordy Bohannan QB 88 Sr Mike Brady WR 19 Jr Keith Chappelle WR 12 So Pete Gales QB 76 So Ron Hallstrom G y 54 Jr Jay Hilgenberg C y 35 Dean McKillip FB   Sr Rod Morton RB 18 Sr Dennis Mosley RB y 83 Fr Lon Olejniczak WR 87 Sr Brad Reid WR 16 Jr Phil Suess QB   Sr Jim Swift TE 63 Fr Mark Bortz DL y     Kent Ellis   10 So Jim Frazier DB 43 So Lou King DB Mario Pace CB 20   Cedric Shaw DB 41 Fr Bob Stoops DB y 99 So Andre Tippett DE y 42 Leven Weiss LB     Dave Holsclaw P 7 Fr Reggie Roby P/K y     Scott Schilling K *Hayden Fry 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 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.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161. Tailback Dennis Mosley won the Big Ten rushing title,Mosley wins title by slight margin The Cedar Rapids Gazette November 21, 1979 3B became Iowa's first 1,000-yard rusher,Iowa MVP Mosley banquet no-show Waterloo Courier November 20, 1979 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-iowa-mvp-mosley-banquet-no-s/172821124/ Newspapers.com and set Iowa single-season records with 1,267 rushing yards (including 239 yards against Iowa State), 16 touchdowns, and 96 points scored.Mosley makes UPI All-America squad The Cedar Rapids Gazette December 4, 1979 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-mosley-wins-title-by-slight/172821017/ Newspapers.com He was selected as the team's most valuable player,2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. was selected as a second-team All-American by the UPI, and received first-team honors on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Three Hawkeyes make all Big Ten first team Iowa City Press-Citizen November 28, 1979 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-three-hawkeyes-m/172821281/ Newspapers.com 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).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280. Home attendance totaled 358,245, an average of 59,708 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260. 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.Southern Cal star White repeats as All-America The Pantagraph December 5, 1979 B4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4555992/southern_cal_star_white_repeats_as_all/UPI All-America: Trojans Grab 3 Berths The Daily News (Huntingdon) December 4, 1979 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4556385/upi_all_america/ Mosley was also selected as the most valuable player of the 1979 team.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. 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).All_Big Ten The Telegraph-Herald November 20, 1979 18 https://books.google.com/books?id=oehFAAAAIBAJ&dq=All-Big+Ten+Conference+football+team&pg=PA9&article_id=4492,3127399 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.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. 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 1989.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 214. 1980 NFL draft 1980 NFL draft 2 Iowa Hawkeyes Player Position Round Pick NFL club Dennis Mosley RB 9 232 Minnesota Vikings Jim Swift OT 9 238 Seattle Seahawks pro-football-reference.com 1980 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1980.htm 2018-03-30 2007-12-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20071222092355/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1980.htm dead References Iowa Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Iowa Hawkeyes football