1959 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1959 Iowa Hawkeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–4 3–3 Forest Evashevski 8th Don Norton Don Norton Ray Jauch Iowa Stadium The 1959 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 1959 Big Ten football season. In their eighth season under head coach Forest Evashevski, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–4 record (3–3 in conference games), finished sixth in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 233 to 100.1959 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football May 17, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa/1959-schedule.html2022 Iowa Football Media Guide 241 University of Iowa https://storage.googleapis.com/hawkeyesports-prod/2022/07/b99ff33b-2022_ia_fb_media-guide-online-version.pdf May 17, 2025 They were ranked in the AP poll for most of the season (peaking at No. 5), dominating against defending PCC champion California (42–12), Michigan State (37–8), Kansas State (53–0), and Minnesota (33–0), defeating Ohio State (16–7), but losing close games to No. 2 Northwestern (10–14), No. 14 Purdue (7–14), and Notre Dame (19–20). They were dropped from the final AP poll. The victory over Minnesota was Iowa's 43rd under Evashevski, surpassing Howard Jones to become the winningest coach in Iowa history.Evy Is Now Winningest Coach in Iowa History Iowa City Press-Citizen November 9, 1959 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-evy-is-now-winni/172637173/ Newspapers.com The 1959 Hawkeyes gained 2,151 rushing yards and 1,248 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,037 rushing yards and 1,098 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161. Iowa's average of 239 rushing yards per game ranks fourth in school history. The scoring defense also ranks fourth in Iowa history, having allowed an average of only 11.1 points per game. They also rank fifth in school history for total defense, having given up only 237.2 yards per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guid, p. 277. The team's statistical leaders included halfback Bob Jeter (609 rushing yards), quarterback Olen Treadway (86-of-147 passing for 1,014 yards), end Don Norton (30 receptions for 428 yards), and fullback Don Horn (42 points on seven touchdowns).2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-279. Norton was selected by the Football Writers Association of America for Look magazine as a first-team All-American.Norton Iowa's 7th All-American in 7 Years Iowa City Press-Citizen December 3, 1959 17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-norton-iowas-7t/172636252/ Newspapers.com Norton and Jeter received first-team All-Big Ten honors from both the AP and UPI.Norton, Jeter Land All-Big Ten Berths The Daily Times (Davenport, Bettendorf) November 24, 1959 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-all-big-ten/172627984/4 Northwestern gridders make UPI all-Big 10 team; Norton, Jeter place Ed Sainsbury Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa November 27, 1959 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/725343/?terms=look%2Bjeter%2Bhouston%2Bcoaches Norton and halfback Ray Jauch were the team captains.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. Norton was also selected as the team's most valuable player.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222. The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 279,400 an average of 55,880 per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260. Schedule 1959 AP September 26 w y y 13 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 42–12 45,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-barbara-news-press-iowa-smothers-c/189575372/ Santa Barbara News-Press Iowa smothers California 42–12 September 27, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 3 l 5 Northwestern 2 Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 10–14 25,132 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-northwestern-w/200807135/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Northwestern, without regular quarterback, trips Hawkeyes, 14–10 October 4, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 10 Michigan State Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA NBC 37–8 59,300 Iowa 37, Michigan State 8! Treadway Hits Norton on 2 Scoring Passes to Build 23-0 Lead at Half Des Moines Sunday Register Maury White October 11, 1959 1, 10 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-iowa-37-michiga/172639030/ Newspapers.com October 17 l y 9 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 16–25 64,256 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-wisconsin-dims-iowa-hopes/200804574/ The Daily Pantagraph Wisconsin dims Iowa hopes with 25–16 Big Ten triumph October 18, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 24 l y 15 Purdue 14 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ABC 7–14 47,112 Iowa Tries to Run, Purdue Wins 14-7: Hawk Passes Avert Shutout Waterloo Sunday Courier Al Ney October 25, 1959 41, 43 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-iowa-tries-to-run-purdue-wi/172640915/ Newspapers.com October 31 w y Kansas State Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 53–0 45,000 Hawks Toy With K-State, 53-0: Race Away to 45-0 Lead at Halftime and Use 49 Players --- They Pile Up 615 Yards to Wildcats' 81 The Des Moines Tribune Brad Wilson November 1, 1959 1, 9 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hawks-toy-with-k/172638321/ Newspapers.com November 7 w Minnesota Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA rivalry 33–0 57,000 Iowa Wrecks Minnesota, 33-0: Jeter Stars as Hawks Zip for 431 Yds. Des Moines Sunday Register Bert McGrane November 8, 1959 1, 10 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-iowa-wrecks-minn/172637602/ Newspapers.com November 14 w y 16 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 16–7 82,126 Iowa Rally Beats Ohio, 16-7: Moore's Kick and Mauren Runs Win It; After Four Fumbles Hamper Attack Des Moines Sunday Register Bill Bryson November 15, 1959 1, 9 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-iowa-rally-beats/172639689/ Newspapers.com November 21 l y 16 Notre Dame Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 19–20 58,500 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2NWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-PEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2081%2C2172701 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Irish upset Iowa, 20-19 on George Izo's passing November 22, 1959 3, sports Schedule/Results (1959 Iowa) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/214234 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics July 2, 2026 Personnel Players The following players received varsity letters for their performance on the 1959 Iowa football team: 35em John Brown, halfback, No. 43, Kansas City, MO Richard Clark, guard, Maquoketa, IA Dick Clauson, end Roger Ewen, halfback, 175 pounds, Milford, IA Larry Ferguson, fullback, Madison, IL Bob Hain, tackle, Davenport, IA George Harrell, tackle, Beloit, WI Don Horn, fullback, 189 pounds Al Hinton, tackle, Saginaw, MI Wilburn Hollis, quarterback, sophomore Don Horn, fullback, No. 30, 189 pounds, Detroit Lloyd Humphreys, center, Chicago Ray Jauch, halback, senior, No. 46, 5-11, 166 pounds, Mendota, IL Bob Jeter, halback, senior, No. 11, 183 pounds, Weirton, WV Jeff Langston, end, Iowa City, IA Bill Lapham, center, No. 52, 230 pounds, Des Moines, IA Charles Lee, tackle, 221 pounds, Fair Oaks, CA Paul Lees, Pana, IL Mark Manders, guard, junior, 200 pounds, Des Moines, IA (son of Pug Manders) Jerry Mauren, halfback, Wyandotte, MI Curt Merz, end, senior, No. 82, 214 pounds, Springfield, NJ Ernie Mielke, tackle, Chicago Al Miller, end Tom Moore, quarterback, junior Eugene Mosley, fullback Don Norton, end, senior, No. 89, 174 pounds, Anamosa, IA Gerald Novack, guard, 198 pounds, Lorain, OH John Sawin, tackle, 204 pounds, Chicago Don Shipanick, guard, 180 pounds, Chicago Sherwyn Thorson, guard, sophomore, 6-0, 195 pounds, Fort Dodge, IAThorson Puts More Into Work Des Moines Tribune October 13, 1959 26 https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-thorson/172651885/ Newspapers.com Olen Treadway, quarterback, junior, No. 22, 159 pounds, Muskogee, OK Bill Whisler, end, sopomore, 6-2, 215 pounds, Yankton, SD Virgil Williams, back, sophomore, 180 pounds, Omaha, NE Bernie Wyatt, back, junior, No. 45 2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.Jerry Mauren Is 1960 Iowa Football Captain The Daily Times (Davenport, Bettendorf) Jerry Jurgens November 24, 1959 18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-jerry-mauren-is-1960-iow/172628335/ Newspapers.com Coaches and administrators Head coach - Forest Evashevski Assistant coaches - Jerry Burns, Bob Commings, Bob Flora Student manager - John Grier References Iowa Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons Iowa Hawkeyes football