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. Fry was hired as the head coach in December 1978 after spending the previous six years at North Texas State. 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
Game summaries
Indiana
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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.
Game statisticsINDIANAIOWAFirst downs2522Total yards479389Passing yards316227Rushing yards143162Penalties6–538–87Turnovers33
At No. 3 Oklahoma
Source: Box Score and Game Story
Game statisticsOKLAHOMAIOWAFirst downs2312Total yards452202Passing yards183139Rushing yards26963Penalties4–405–36Turnovers52
No. 7 Nebraska
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
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.
Iowa State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
This game marked Hayden Fry's first win as head coach of the Hawkeyes.
Game statisticsISUIOWAFirst downs1430Total yards162429Passing yards5651Rushing yards106378Penalties4–357–63Turnovers33
At Illinois
At Northwestern
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Gordy Bohannan, a junior college transfer, made his first career start
Game statisticsIOWANWFirst downs2516Total yards509320Passing yards145202Rushing yards364118Penalties3–354–52Turnovers08
Minnesota
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
At Wisconsin
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Dennis Mosley broke Ed Podolak's Iowa single-season rushing record and caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the win over the Badgers.
Purdue
At No. 3 Ohio State
Michigan State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Game statisticsMSUIOWAFirst downs1723Total yards395444Passing yards244204Rushing yards151238Penalties3–281–20Turnovers23
Roster
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, became Iowa's first 1,000-yard rusher, and set Iowa single-season records with 1,267 rushing yards (including 239 yards against Iowa State), 16 touchdowns, and 96 points scored. 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.
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.
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).
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
Dennis Mosley RB 9 232 Minnesota Vikings Jim Swift OT 9 238 Seattle Seahawks
References