The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa in the Big Ten Conference during the 1981 Big Ten football season. In their third season under head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes compiled an 8–4 record (6–2 in conference games), tied with Ohio State for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 260 to 129. Iowa received the Big Ten's spot in the 1982 Rose Bowl, losing to Washington. It was Iowa's first winning season since 1961 and its first Rose Bowl since the 1958 season. They were ranked No. 15 in the final UPI poll and No. 18 in the final AP poll.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 196.
The team limited opponents to only 79.7 rushing yards per game and 2.4 yards per carry, both of which remain Iowa single-season records.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 267. Two Iowa players were consensus All-Americans in 1981: defensive end Andre Tippett and punter Reggie Roby. Seven Iowa players received first-team honors on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Tippett (AP-1, UPI-1); Roby (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive lineman Pat Dean (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Mark Bortz (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Mel Cole (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Ron Hallstrom (AP-2, UPI-1); and defensive back Lou King (AP-1). King led the Big Ten with eight interceptions.
Kirk Ferentz joined the Iowa coaching staff as the offensive line coach in 1981.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 8.
Schedule
In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent. The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State. Iowa did not play Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their bowl game, the 1981 Liberty Bowl over Navy, and finished at 9-3. Iowa was awarded the Rose Bowl berth because it had not been to Pasadena since the 1958 season, while Ohio State went two years earlier.
Rankings
Game summaries
No. 7 Nebraska
Sources: Box Score
At Iowa State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
No. 6 UCLA
Sources: Box Score
at Northwestern
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Indiana
Sources: Box Score
At No. 5 Michigan
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.
Minnesota
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
At Illinois
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Purdue
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
The 33-7 win was Iowa's first over the Boilermakers since 1960, and secured the Hawkeyes' first winning season since 1961.
At Wisconsin
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Michigan State
Sources: Box Score and Game Story
Iowa earns first Rose Bowl since 1958 with Michigan's loss to Ohio State, which was announced with 6:14 left in the first quarter.Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
Statistics Phil Blatcher 27 Rush, 247 YdsIowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
vs. No. 12 Washington (Rose Bowl)
Sources:
Roster
Statistical achievements Iowa tallied 2,153 rushing yards and 1,422 passing yards in 1981. On defense, they held opponents to 953 rushing yards and 1,834 passing yards.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 160. The team limited opponents to only 79.7 rushing yards per game and 2.4 yards per carry, both of which remain Iowa single-season records.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 267.
The team's individual statistical leaders included: Gordy Bohannon completed 72 of 142 passes (50.7%) for 999 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 113.9 passer rating. Freshman Chuck Long completed one pass for 15 yards. Phil Blatcher led the team with 737 rushing yards on 145 carries for an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He was selected as the UPI Midwest Offensive Player of the Week after tallying 247 rushing yards against Michigan State. Blatcher ranked second on the team in soring with 48 points. The team's leading receivers were Dave Moitz (17 receptions for 390 yards) and Jeff Brown (20 receptions for 301 yards). Kicker Tom Nichol led the team in scoring with 59 points on 11 field goals and 26 extra points.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 279. Linebacker Mel Cole led the team with 94 total tackles.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 280. Defensive back Lou King led the team with eight interceptions. His eight interceptions remains tied for the Iowa single-season record.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 265.
Total attendance at home games was 360,381, an average of 60,063 per game. It was the first team Iowa drew an average of at least 60,000 spectators per game.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
Awards and honors Two Iowa players were selected as consensus first-team All-Americans. Defensive end Andre Tippett, a team captain, set Iowa's all-time record in 1980 with 20 tackles for losses totaling 153 yards and received the consensus All-America recogniation in 1981. Punter Reggie Roby broke the NCAA record with an average of 49.8 yards per punt and also received consensus All-America recognition.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 204. Roby averaged 55.8 yards per punt against Nebraska on September 12, 1981.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 265.
Linebacker Mel Cole, the team's leading tackler, was selected as the team's most valuable player.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
Hayden Fry was selected by the media for the Big Ten Coach of the Year award. He was the first Iowa coach to receive the honor.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 202.
Seven Iowa players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Tippett (AP-1, UPI-1); Roby (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive linemen Pat Dean (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Mel Coe (AP-1, UPI-1) guard Mark Bortz (AP-1, UPI-2); guard Ron Hallstrom (AP-2, UPI-1); and defensive back Lou King (AP-1).
The team had five co-captains: defensive back Tracy Crocker; quarterback Pete Gales; offensive tackle Bruce Kittle; defensive end Andre Tippett; and defensive end Brad Webb.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
1982 NFL draft
Ron HallstromGuard 1 22 Green Bay Packers Andre Tippett Linebacker 2 41 New England Patriots
References