1978 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1978 Iowa Hawkeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2–9 2–6 Bob Commings 5th Larry Coyer 4th Brad Reid Jon Lazar Tom Rusk Tim Gutshall Dave Becker Kinnick Stadium The 1978 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 1978 Big Ten football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Bob Commings, the Hawkeyes compiled a 2–9 record (2–6 in conference games), finished in eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 291 to 125.1978 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 20, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1978-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 The 1978 Hawkeyes gained 1,366 rushing yards and 1,083 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 2,054 rushing yards and 1,947 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff Green (41-of-103 passing for 556 yards), fullback Jon Lazar (423 rushing yards, 18 receptions for 72 yards), Brad Reid (36 points scored), and linebacker Tom Rusk with 106 total tackles.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280. Lazar, Rusk, linebacker Tim Gutshall, and defensive back Dave Becker were the team captains.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. Split end Brad Reid (168 rushing yards, 322 receiving yards) was selected as the team's most valuable player.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. Two days after the final game of the season, the program's 17th consecutive losing season, Commings was fired. He had compiled a 17–38 record in five years as the Hawkeyes' head football coach.The Daily Iowan Steve Nemeth 1 The ax falls for 'fighter' Commings http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-11-28.pdf November 28, 1978 August 18, 2019 Less than two weeks later, Hayden Fry was introduced as the new head coach.The Daily Iowan Steve Nemeth 1 Hayden Fry named head coach http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-12-11.pdf December 11, 1978 August 18, 2019 The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 319,289, an average of 53,214 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260. Schedule 1978 AP September 16 w Northwestern Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 20–3 56,840 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-tricky-hawkeyes-rip-north/157560041/ The Pantagraph Tricky Hawkeyes rip Northwestern September 17, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 l y Iowa State 20 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 0–31 60,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-sub-quarterback-si/157525853/ The Rock Island Argus Sub quarterback sinks Hawkeyes September 24, 1978 October 20, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 l y y Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 3–23 46,851 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-arizona-tramples/157576867/ The Des Moines Register Arizona tramples Hawks October 1, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 l y Utah Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 9–13 51,170 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-lightly-regarded/157424103/ The Sioux City Journal Lightly regarded Ute QB stings Iowa October 8, 1978 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 20–22 51,381 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-gophers-beat-iowa-2220/157576972/ The Pantagraph Gophers beat Iowa, 22–20 October 15, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 l y Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 7–31 87,326 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-hayes-dots-i-bucks/157577134/ Springfield News-Sun Hayes dots I: Bucks club Iowa October 22, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 l Purdue 17 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 7–34 57,640 https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-purdue-shows-iowa-why-it-le/157577216/ Argus-Leader Purdue shows Iowa why it leads Big 10 October 29, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 l Michigan 8 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 0–34 49,120 U-M puts the squeeze on Iowa, 34–0: Rick Leach passes for 191 yards, 2 touchdowns Detroit Free Press Curt Sylvester November 5, 1978 1E, 6E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41886141/um_puts_the_squeeze_on_iowa_340/ Newspapers.com November 11 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 14–34 33,167 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-even-iowas-rushing-defense/157577313/ The Gazette Even Iowa's rushing defense fizzles 34–14 November 12, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w Wisconsin Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 38–24 44,444 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-iowa-stuns-wiscon/157577496/ The Sioux City Journal Iowa stuns Wisconsin November 19, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 l y Michigan State 14 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 7–42 57,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-spartans-offense-de/157577617/ The Daily Nonpareil Spartans' offense destroys Hawkeyes November 26, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com 1978 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1978-schedule.html Sports Reference September 14, 2018 Game summaries Northwestern Northwestern at Iowa Wildcats 7 7 6 0 Hawkeyes 0 3 0 0 September 16 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 56,840 yes 1 IOWA Brad Reid 55-yard pass from Rod Morton (Schilling kick) Iowa 7–0 2 4:44 IOWA Todd Simonsen 4-yard fumble return (Schilling kick) Iowa 14–0 2 NW Nick Mirkopulos Iowa 14–3 3 2:15 IOWA Brad Reid 5-yard run (kick failed) Iowa 20–3 yes 1978 Northwestern Wildcats football team The Daily Iowan 10 Iowa tops Northwestern, 20-3 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-09-18.pdf September 18, 1978 September 14, 2018 Iowa State 1978 Iowa State Cyclones football team Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry The Daily Iowan 10 Cyclones stun Hawkeyes http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-09-25.pdf September 25, 1978 September 14, 2018 At Arizona 1978 Arizona Wildcats football team Utah 1978 Utah Utes football team At Minnesota 1978 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry The Daily Iowan 10 Hawkeyes'second half explosion falls short, 22-20 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-10-16.pdf October 16, 1978 September 14, 2018 At Ohio State 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Purdue Purdue at Iowa No. 17 Boilermakers 10 7 0 17 Hawkeyes 0 0 7 0 October 28 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 57,460 yes 1 PUR Sovereen 39-yard field goal Purdue 3–0 1 PUR Pope 11-yard run (Sovereen kick) Purdue 10–0 2 PUR Young 25-yard pass from Herrmann (Sovereen kick) Purdue 17–0 3 IOWA Reid 57-yard run (Schilling kick) Purdue 17–7 4 PUR Burrell 11-yard pass from Herrmann (Sovereen kick) Purdue 24–7 4 PUR Sovereen 27-yard field goal Purdue 27–7 4 PUR Eubank 3-yard pass from Herrmann (Sovereen kick) Purdue 34–7 yes 1978 Purdue Boilermakers football team Michigan 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team At Indiana 1978 Indiana Hoosiers football team Wisconsin 1978 Wisconsin Badgers football team Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry The Daily Iowan 7 Iowa rolls past Badgers, 38-24 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-11-20.pdf November 20, 1978 September 14, 2018 At Michigan State 1978 Michigan State Spartans football team The Daily Iowan 10 Michigan State explodes against Iowa in finale http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1978/di1978-11-27.pdf November 27, 1978 August 18, 2019 Roster 1978 Iowa Hawkeyes y   So Bobby Commings Jr. QB 12 Fr Pete Gales QB 54 So Jay Hilgenberg C y 44 Sr Jon Lazar FB   Jr Rod Morton RB 18 Jr Dennis Mosley RB y 87 Jr Brad Reid WR 16 So Phil Suess QB   Jr Jim Swift TE   Sr Dave Becker DB 97 Sr Doug Benschoter DL   Sr Tim Gutshall LB 47 Sr Tom Rusk LB 45 Sr Steve Vazquez DE   So Scott Schilling K Bob Commings Del Miller – Offensive assistant Tom Hayes – Defensive backs Dan McCarney – Graduate assistant 1979 NFL draft 1979 NFL draft 2 Iowa Hawkeyes Player Position Round Pick NFL club Tom Rusk LB 9 227 New York Giants1979 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1979/draft.htm Sports Reference September 14, 2018 References Iowa Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Iowa Hawkeyes football