The 1983 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 1983 Big Ten football season. In their fifth season under head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled a 9–3 record (7–2 in conference games), finished in third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 374 to 175. They concluded the season with a loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl and were ranked No. 14 in the final AP nd UPI polls.
The offense broke 35 school records, including most yards of total offense in a season (5,647) and in a game (713), and most passing yards in a season (3,239) and in a game (420). The team was led on offense by quarterback Chuck Long. Defensive standouts included linebacker Larry Station and defensive back Mike Stoops.
The team played its home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries at Iowa State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
This was the first of 15 straight wins in the series for the Hawkeyes.
Owen Gill 16 Rush, 136 Yds, 4 TD
at Penn State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
No. 3 Ohio State
Sources: Box score and Game story, Box score
The Hawkeyes earned their first win over the Buckeyes since 1962.
at Illinois
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
The Hawkeyes – ranked #3 in the Coaches poll and #4 in the AP poll – could not break through on this day in Champaign. Illinois would go on to win the outright Big Ten title by finishing 9-0 in conference play.
Northwestern
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
The Hawkeyes set a Big Ten record with 713 yards of total offense. Chuck Long: 23-33, 420 yards, 4 TD (1 rushing)
Purdue
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
at No. 10 Michigan
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Indiana
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Dave Moritz – 11 receptions, 192 receiving yards, 2 TD
at Wisconsin
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Chuck Long – 4 TD passes Eddie Phillips – 162 Rush yards, TD
at Michigan State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Minnesota
Sources: Box score
The Hawkeyes rolled up a school-record 517 yards rushing against the Gophers. Three Iowa backs went over 100 yards, led by Eddie Phillips with 172 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ronnie Harmon had 75 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 4 carries, and also caught a touchdown pass.
vs. No. 11 Florida (Gator Bowl)
Personnel Roster
Coaching staff Hayden FryHead coach5thBaylor (1951)Bill Brashier Defensive coordinator5thNorth Texas State (1952)Bill SnyderOffensive coordinator/Quarterbacks5thWilliam Jewell (1963)Dan McCarneyDefensive Line7thIowa (1975)Barry AlvarezLinebackers5thNebraska (1969)Don Patterson Tight Ends5thArmy (1973)Carl JacksonRunning Backs5thPrairie View A&M (1963)Kirk FerentzOffensive Line3rdConnecticut (1978)Del MillerOffensive assistant6thCentral (IA) (1972)Bernie WyattDefensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator10thIowa (1962)Bill DervrichStrength and Conditioning4thWest Chester State (1975)Bob StoopsGraduate Assistant1stIowa (1983)
Five of the staff would go on to become the winningest head coaches at five different programs: Snyder (Kansas State), Alvarez (Wisconsin), Stoops (Oklahoma), McCarney (Iowa State) and Ferentz (Iowa)
Statistical achievements The offense broke 35 school records,2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 151, 160. including: 5,647 yards of total offense and 470.6 per game 3,239 passing yards2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 277. 713 yards of total offense in a game vs Northwestern (10/8/83). 517 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in a game vs Minnesota (11/19/83)2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 276. 575 passing yards against Northwestern (10/8/83).
The team's individual statistical leaders included: Quarterback Chuck Long completed 157 of 265 passes (59.2%) for 2,601 yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 278. He also set a single-game Iowa passing record (broken by Long the following year) with 420 passing yards against Northwestern on October 8, 1983.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 268.
Running back Owen Gill led the team with 798 rushing yards.
Wide receiver Dave Moritz led the team with 50 receptions for 912 yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 279. Dave Chappel set a single-game Iowa receiving record (since broken) with 11 receptions for 192 yards against Indiana on October 29, 1983.
Kicker Tom Nichol led the team with 86 points scored on 14 field goals and 44 extra points.
Defensive back Mike Stoops led the team with six interceptions for 154 yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 280.
Linebacker Larry Station led the team with 138 total tackles.
Awards and honors Six Iowa players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: quarterback Chuck Long (AP-1, UPI-1); (AP-1, UPI-1); offensive tackle John Alt (AP-1); defensive tackle Paul Hufford (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Larry Station (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Mike Stoops (AP-2, UPI-1); and wide receiver Dave Moritz (AP-1).
The team had three most valuable players: fullback Norm Granger; quarterback Chuck Long; and wide receiver Dave Moritz.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. The team also had three captains: fullback Norm Granger; offensive guard Jon Roehlk; and defensive end Dave Stroebel.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
1984 NFL draft
John Alt Tackle 1 21 Kansas City Chiefs Joel Hilgenberg Center 4 97 New Orleans Saints Norm Granger Running Back 5 137 Dallas Cowboys Joe Levelis Guard 6 166 Dallas Cowboys Dave Moritz Wide Receiver 10 275 San Francisco 49ers
References