1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1984 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawkeyes, led by head coach Hayden Fry, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium.

1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Freedom Bowl champion
Freedom Bowl, W 55–17 vs. Texas
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 16
Record8–4–1 (5–3–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Snyder (6th season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Brashier (6th season)
MVPRonnie Harmon
CaptainOwen Gill
Jonathan Hayes
Paul Hufford
Keith Hunter
Kevin Spitzig
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
Seasons
← 1983
1985 →
1984 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 13 Ohio State $ 7 2 0 9 3 0
Illinois 6 3 0 7 4 0
Purdue 6 3 0 7 5 0
No. 16 Iowa 5 3 1 8 4 1
Wisconsin 5 3 1 7 4 1
Michigan State 5 4 0 6 6 0
Michigan 5 4 0 6 6 0
Minnesota 3 6 0 4 7 0
Northwestern 2 7 0 2 9 0
Indiana 0 9 0 0 11 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 8Iowa State*No. 10IPTVW 59–2166,150
September 15No. 12 Penn State*No. 5
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, Iowa
L 17–2066,145
September 22at No. 5 Ohio StateNo. 14SVL 26–4589,733
September 29Illinois 
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, Iowa
CBSW 21–1666,322
October 6at NorthwesternW 31–336,598
October 13at No. 14 PurdueW 40–366,359
October 20MichiganNo. 18
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, Iowa
CBSW 26–066,025
October 27at IndianaNo. 17W 24–2037,747
November 3WisconsinNo. 17
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, Iowa
CBST 10–1066,255
November 10Michigan StateNo. 18
  • Kinnick Stadium
  • Iowa City, Iowa
L 16–1765,887
November 17at MinnesotaL 17–2363,479
December 1at Hawaii*W 17–650,000
December 26vs. No. 19 Texas*MizlouW 55–1724,093
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Roster

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1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OL 55 Dave Alexander So
OL 75 Kevin Angel Jr
RB 13 Rick Bayless Fr
OL 69 Mike Bennett Jr
FB 35 Fred Bush Jr
OL 78 Malcolm Christie Fr
OT 61 Dave Croston So
OL 58 Greg Divis Fr
WR 1 Quinn Early Fr
TE 86 Mike Flagg Fr
OL 74 Chris Gambol So
RB 33 Owen Gill (C) Sr
OT 79 Mike Haight Jr
WR 40 Bill Happel Jr
RB 7 Kevin Harmon Fr
RB 31 Ronnie Harmon Jr
TE 34 Jonathan Hayes (C) Jr
WR 87 Scott Helverson Jr
G 65 Tom Humphrey Jr
QB 16 Chuck Long Jr
RB 26 Eddie Polite
OL 56 Mark Sindlinger So
WR 2 Robert Smith So
OL 53 Mark Spranger So
QB 12 Mark Vlasic So
OL 73 Herb Wester Fr
WR 83 Jim McMachan Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DE 90 Doug Burrell So
CB 29 Nate Creer Jr
DB 18 Kyle Crowe Jr
LB 37 George Davis So
DL 76 Jeff Drost So
DL 64 Paul Hufford (C) Sr
DB 14 Keith Hunter (C) Sr
DT 77 George Little Sr
DE 98 George Millett Jr
DB 21 Devon Mitchell Jr
DB 45 Jay Norvell Jr
DB 46 Jim Yost Sr
DL 50 Hap Peterson Jr
DE 99 Richard Pryor So
LB 38 Kevin Spitzig (C) Sr
LB 36 Larry Station Jr
DB 41 Mike Stoops Sr
DE Dave Strobel Sr
DL 51 Bill Weires Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P/K 3 Tom Nichol Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bill SnyderOffensive Coordinator/quarterbacks
  • Bill Brashier – Defensive Coordinator
  • Kirk FerentzOffensive line
  • Carl Jackson – Running backs
  • Del MillerOffensive assistant
  • Dan McCarneyDefensive line
  • Barry AlvarezLinebackers
  • Don Patterson – Defensive Backs
  • Bernie Wyatt – Defensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Bill Dervich – Strength and Conditioning
  • Bob StoopsGraduate Assistant

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP12 (1)10 (1)5 (2)141817171816
Coaches14145152020191717131715

[2]

Game summaries

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Iowa State

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Iowa State at #10 Iowa
1 234Total
Cyclones 0 7014 21
Hawkeyes 14 28107 59
  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game start: 12:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:30
  • Game attendance: 66,150
  • Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), Showers possible, Wind SW 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h)
  • Referee: Tom Quinn
  • Television network: IPTV

[3][4]

No. 12 Penn State

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#12 Penn State at #5 Iowa
1 234Total
No. 12 Nittany Lions 0 1307 20
No. 5 Hawkeyes 3 707 17

[5]

at No. 5 Ohio State

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#14 Iowa at #5 Ohio State
1 234Total
No. 14 Hawkeyes 3 1760 26
No. 5 Buckeyes 10 2177 45
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game attendance: 89,733
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), Clear and sunny, Wind S 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
  • Referee: Jim Kemerling
  • Television network: SV

The Hawkeyes outgained the Buckeyes 458–335, but four turnovers (one returned for a touchdown) were too much to overcome on this trip to Columbus. Keith Byars ran, caught, and threw touchdowns for Ohio State. [6]

Illinois

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Illinois at Iowa
1 234Total
Fighting Illini 3 0013 16
Hawkeyes 7 077 21

The Hawkeyes exacted some revenge for the whipping laid on them in Champaign the previous season. The win over the defending Big Ten champions snapped the Illini's 12-game conference winning streak. Ronnie Harmon had 3 touchdown runs for Iowa. [7]

At Northwestern

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Iowa at Northwestern
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 14 1007 31
Wildcats 0 300 3

The Hawkeyes held Northwestern to only 49 yards of total offense, a mark that still stands as a single-game school record. Ronnie Harmon recorded 3 touchdown runs for the second straight game.[8]

at No. 14 Purdue

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Iowa at #14 Purdue
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 6 13210 40
No. 14 Boilermakers 3 000 3
  • Date: October 13
  • Location: Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Game attendance: 66,359
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), Cloudy with scattered showers, Wind SSW 12 mph (19 km/h)
  • Referee: Jim Kemerling

[9]

Chuck Long went 17-21 for 369 yards and 4 TD as Iowa won in West Lafayette for the first time since 1956, snapping a 12-game losing skid at Ross–Ade Stadium.[10]

Michigan

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Michigan at #18 Iowa
1 234Total
Wolverines 0 000 0
No. 18 Hawkeyes 6 3314 26

The Hawkeyes' 26–0 shutout of the Wolverines would end up being Bo Schembechler's worst loss in 21 years as head coach at Michigan. [11] [12]

At Indiana

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#17 Iowa at Indiana
1 234Total
No. 17 Hawkeyes 7 7100 24
Hoosiers 7 706 20

Chuck Long set an NCAA record by completing 22 consecutive passes[13] (record stood until 1998[14]) and tossed two touchdowns, and Ronnie Harmon ran for 160 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Indiana. Iowa sat atop the Big Ten standings after beating the Hoosiers, but would not win another conference game in 1984.

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin at #17 Iowa
1 234Total
Badgers 10 000 10
No. 17 Hawkeyes 0 037 10
  • Date: November 3
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game start: 11:10 a.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 66,255
  • Game weather: ~55 °F (13 °C), Clear and sunny, Wind SSW 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h)
  • Referee: Jim Kemerling

[15]

Michigan State

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Michigan State at #18 Iowa
1 234Total
Spartans 7 730 17
No. 18 Hawkeyes 3 0013 16
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game start: 1:10 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 65,887
  • Game weather: ~42 °F (6 °C), Cloudy, possible rain and snow, Wind N 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h)
  • Referee: Otho Kortz

[16]

At Minnesota

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Iowa at Minnesota
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 773 17
Golden Gophers 0 7313 23

[17]

At Hawaii

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Iowa at Hawaii
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 3 0014 17
Rainbow Warriors 0 600 6

[18]

vs. No. 19 Texas (Freedom Bowl)

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#19 Texas vs. Iowa
1 234Total
No. 19 Longhorns 0 1700 17
Hawkeyes 14 10310 55
         

Chuck Long 29–39, 461 yards, 6 TD [19]

[20]

Texas Iowa
First Downs 15 28
Rushing Yards 35-115 41-91
Passing 17-34-2 30-40-0
Passing Yards 185 469
Total Offense 300 560
Fumbles Lost 3-3 5-2
Punts-Average 5-43.0 4-42.0
Penalties 6-50 4-27
Team Category Player Statistics
Texas Passing Todd Dodge 16/32, 180 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Orr 12 carries, 67 yards
Receiving Bryant 3 receptions, 50 yards, TD
Iowa Passing Chuck Long 29/39, 461 yards, 6 TD
Rushing Owen Gill 17 carries, 61 yards
Receiving Robert Smith
Bill Happel
4 receptions, 115 yards, TD
8 receptions, 104 yards, TD

Postseason awards

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Team players in the 1985 NFL Draft

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Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Jonathan Hayes Tight end 2 41 Kansas City Chiefs
Owen Gill Running back 2 53 Seattle Seahawks
George Little Defensive tackle 3 65 Miami Dolphins
Dave Strobel Linebacker 8 211 Cincinnati Bengals

[21]

References

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  1. ^ "1984 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". sports-reference.com. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  2. ^ "Iowa 1984 AP Football Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  3. ^ McCallum, Jack (September 8, 1984). "6. Iowa". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Long bombards Iowa State". The Pantagraph. September 9, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "Penn State takes air out of Iowa". Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1984. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "IOWA IS DEFEATED BY OHIO STATE, 45-26". The New York Times. September 23, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Iowa halts Illini's Big Ten streak". The Pantagraph. September 30, 1984. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Iowa crushes Northwestern". The Pantagraph. October 7, 1984. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "AT IOWA, HARMON MAKES OFFENSE GO". The New York Times. October 10, 1984. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. ^ "Iowa, Long destroy Purdue jinx". Chicago Tribune. October 14, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "IOWA DEALS SCHEMBECHLER WORST DEFEAT". The New York Times. October 20, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "No. 18 Iowa Gives Michigan Worst Loss in 16 Years, 26-0". Washington Post. October 20, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  13. ^ "Long powers Iowa". Chicago Tribune. October 28, 1984. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "Martin Turns Tennessee Rout Into Tee Party". Los Angeles Times. November 1, 1998. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  15. ^ "HARMON INJURED AS IOWA TIES". The New York Times. November 4, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  16. ^ "OHIO ST. GRABS BIG TEN LEAD". The New York Times. November 11, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  17. ^ "Minnesota Shocks Iowa". Chicago Tribune. November 18, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  18. ^ "Long, Iowa rally to down Hawaii". The Pantagraph. December 2, 1984. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Iowa Hawkeyes Official Athletic Site
  20. ^ "Long Sets Records As Iowa Triumphs". The New York Times. December 27, 1984. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  21. ^ "1985 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2018.