1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1984 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Freedom Bowl Champions
Freedom Bowl, W 55-17 vs. Texas
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#15
AP	#16
1984 record	8–4–1 (5–3–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Hayden Fry (6th year)
Offensive coordinator	Bill Snyder (6th year)
Defensive coordinator	Bill Brashier (6th year)
MVP	Ronnie Harmon
Home stadium	Kinnick Stadium

1984 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#13 Ohio State $	7	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Illinois	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Purdue	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
#16 Iowa	5	–	3	–	1			8	–	4	–	1
Wisconsin	5	–	3	–	1			7	–	4	–	1
Michigan	5	–	4	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	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

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

Season

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 8	Iowa State*	#10	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA (Cy-Hawk Trophy)		W 59-21	66,150
September 15	#12 Penn State*	#5	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA		L 17-20	66,145
September 22	at #5 Ohio State	#14	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	SV	L 26-45	89,733
September 29	Illinois		Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA	CBS	W 21-16	66,322
October 6	at Northwestern		Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL		W 31-3	36,598
October 13	at #14 Purdue		Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN		W 40-3	66,359
October 20	Michigan	#18	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA	CBS	W 26-0	66,025
October 27	at Indiana	#17	Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN		W 24-20	37,747
November 3	Wisconsin	#17	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA	CBS	T 10-10	66,255
November 10	Michigan State	#18	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA		L 16-17	65,887
November 17	at Minnesota		Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale)		L 17-23	63,479
December 1	at Hawaii*		Aloha Stadium • Honolulu, HI		W 17-6	50,000
December 26	vs. #19 Texas*		Anaheim Stadium • Anaheim, CA (Freedom Bowl)	Mizlou	W 55-17	24,093
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Rankings

Further information: 1984 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	12 (1)	10 (1)	5 (2)	14	NR	NR	NR	18	17	17	18	NR	NR	NR	NR	16
Coaches'																15

Game notes

Iowa State

Iowa State at #10 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Cyclones 0 7 0 14 21 • Hawkeyes 14 28 10 7 59 Date: September 8 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,150 Source: Box Score and Game Recap, Box Score and Game Recap

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Strobel 38-yard interception return (Nichol kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 IOWA Happel 15-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 14–0 Q2 IOWA Smith 63-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 21–0 Q2 IOWA Hayes 3-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 28–0 Q2 IOWA O. Gill 3-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 35–0 Q2 ISU Davis 1-yard pass from Espinoza (Bochrodt kick) IOWA 35–7 Q2 IOWA R. Harmon 86-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 42–7 Q3 IOWA R. Harmon 68-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 49–7 Q3 IOWA T. Nichol 37-yard field goal IOWA 52–7 Q4 ISU Henderson 45-yard pass from Espinoza (Bochrodt kick) IOWA 52–14 Q4 6:55 IOWA Cotton 18-yard pass from K. Hatinon (Nichol kick) IOWA 59–14 Q4 ISU Hanson 12-yard pass from Espinoza (Bochrodt kick) IOWA 59–21

See also: Iowa State Cyclones football and Iowa–Iowa State football rivalry

Penn State

#12 Penn State at #5 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total • Nittany Lions 0 13 0 7 20 Hawkeyes 3 7 0 7 17 Date: September 15 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,145 Source: Box score and Game story, Box Score and Game Recap

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Nichol 24-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q2 PSU Gancitano 21-yard field goal Tied 3–3 Q2 PSU Gancitano 35-yard field goal PSU 6–3 Q2 PSU Bellamy 24-yard pass from Strang (Gancitano kick) PSU 13–3 Q2 IOWA R. Harmon 15-yard run (Nichol kick) PSU 13–10 Q4 PSU Strang 1-yard run (Gancitano kick) PSU 20–10 Q4 IOWA Long 1-yard run (Nichol kick) PSU 20–17

See also: 1984 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Ohio State

#14 Iowa at #5 Ohio State

1 2 3 4 Total #14 Hawkeyes 3 17 6 0 26 • #5 Buckeyes 10 21 7 7 45 Date: September 22 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 89,733 Game weather: 85°F, Clear and sunny, Wind S 10-15 Referee: Jim Kemerling Television network: SV Source: Box score and Game story, Box Score

Scoring summary Q1 6:10 OSU Spangler 23-yard field goal OSU 3–0 Q1 2:33 IOWA Tom Nichol 30-yard field goal Tied 3–3 Q1 2:13 OSU K. Byars 50-yard run (Spangler kick) OSU 10–3 Q2 13:43 IOWA Jordan 27-yard pass from Chuck Long (Nichol kick) Tied 10–10 Q2 9:07 OSU K. Byars 14-yard pass from M. Tomczak (Spangler kick) OSU 17–10 Q2 8:20 OSU Kolic 25-yard interception return (Spangler kick) OSU 24–10 Q2 7:41 OSU Lanese 35-yard pass from K. Byars (Spangler kick) OSU 31–10 Q2 2:49 IOWA Flagg 30-yard pass from Chuck Long (Nichol kick) OSU 31–17 Q2 0:08 IOWA Tom Nichol 41-yard field goal OSU 31–20 Q3 4:56 IOWA Chuck Long 2-yard run (two-point conversion failed) OSU 31–26 Q3 1:23 OSU K. Byars 7-yard run (Spangler kick) OSU 38–26 Q4 1:39 OSU Lanese 6-yard run (Spangler kick) OSU 45–26

See also: 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

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.

Illinois

Illinois at Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Fighting Illini 3 0 0 13 16 • Hawkeyes 7 0 7 7 21 Date: September 29 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,322 Game weather: 45°F, Sunny, Wind W 10 TV announcers (CBS): Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian Source: Box score and Game story

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA R. Harmon 2-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 ILL C. White 36-yard field goal IOWA 7–3 Q3 IOWA R. Harmon 8-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 14–3 Q4 ILL NAME 8-yard pass from Trudeau (two-point conversion failed) IOWA 14–9 Q4 IOWA R. Harmon 12-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 21–9 Q4 ILL Grant 4-yard pass from Trudeau (White kick) IOWA 21–16

See also: Illinois Fighting Illini football

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.

Northwestern

Iowa at Northwestern

1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 0 3 0 0 3 • Wildcats 14 10 0 7 31 Date: October 6 Location: Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL Game attendance: 36,598 Sources: Box Score and Game story

Scoring summary 1 IOWA R. Harmon 2-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7-0 1 IOWA R. Harmon 9-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 14-0 2 IOWA R. Harmon 17-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 21-0 2 NW J. Duvic 49-yard field goal IOWA 21-3 2 IOWA T. Nichol 28-yard field goal IOWA 24-3 4 IOWA S. Helverson 6-yard pass from Chuck Long (NIchol kick) IOWA 31-3

See also: Northwestern Wildcats football

Purdue

Iowa at #14 Purdue

1 2 3 4 Total • Hawkeyes 6 13 21 0 40 Boilermakers 3 0 0 0 3 Date: October 13 Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN Game attendance: 66,359

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Smith 51 yard pass from Long (kick failed) IOWA 6–0 Q1 PUR Rendina 32 yard field goal IOWA 6–3 Q2 IOWA Nichol 22 yard field goal IOWA 9–3 Q2 IOWA Helverson 56 yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 16–3 Q2 IOWA Nichol 38 yard field goal IOWA 19–3 Q3 IOWA Smith 31 yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 26–3 Q3 IOWA Smith 38 yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 33–3 Q3 IOWA Harmon 3 yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 40–3

See also: 1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Chuck Long went 17-21 for 369 yards and 4 TD as Iowa won in West Lafayette for the first time since 1956.

Michigan

Michigan at #18 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Wolverines 0 0 0 0 0 • Hawkeyes 6 3 3 14 26 Date: October 19 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,025 TV announcers (CBS): Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA R. Harmon 3-yard run (Nichol kick failed) IOWA 6–0 Q2 IOWA Tom Nichol 29-yard field goal IOWA 9–0 Q3 IOWA Tom Nichol 46-yard field goal IOWA 12–0 Q4 IOWA O. Gill 10-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 19–0 Q4 3:47 IOWA Chuck Long 2-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 26–0

See also: 1984 Michigan Wolverines football team

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.

Indiana

#17 Iowa at Indiana

1 2 3 4 Total • Hawkeyes 7 7 10 0 24 Hoosiers 7 7 0 6 20 Date: October 27 Location: Memorial Stadium (Indiana), Bloomington, IN Game attendance: 37,747 Source: Box Score and Game Story

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA R. Harmon 35-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 IND Lilja 2-yard pass from Bradley (Rogers kick) Tied 7–7 Q2 IOWA Hayes 5-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 14–7 Q2 IND Kenebrew 10-yard pass from Bradley (Rogers kick) Tied 14–14 Q3 IOWA Happel 16-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 21–14 Q3 IOWA Nichol 36-yard field goal IOWA 24–14 Q4 IND Cook 7-yard pass from Bradley (pass failed) IOWA 24–20

See also: 1984 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Chuck Long set an NCAA record by completing 22-straight passes (record stood until 1998) 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

Wisconsin at #17 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Badgers 10 0 0 0 10 Hawkeyes 0 0 3 7 10 Date: November 3 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,255 Source: Box Score and Game Story

Scoring summary Q1 8:59 WIS Gregoire 25-yard field goal WIS 3–0 Q1 6:41 WIS Harrison 1-yard run (Gregoire kick) WIS 10–0 Q3 8:00 IOWA Nichol 26-yard field goal WIS 10–3 Q4 11:54 IOWA Long 1-yard run (Nichol kick) TIE 10–10

See also: 1984 Wisconsin Badgers football team and Iowa–Wisconsin football rivalry

Michigan State

Michigan State at #18 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total • Spartans 7 7 3 0 17 Hawkeyes 3 0 0 13 16 Date: November 10 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 65,887 Source: Box Score and Game Story

Scoring summary Q1 7:29 IOWA Nichol 24-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q1 MSU L. White 2-yard run (Mojsiejenko kick) MSU 7–3 Q2 MSU Rolle 7-yard pass from Yarema (Mojsiejenko kick) MSU 14–3 Q3 MSU Mojsiejenko 24-yard field goal MSU 17–3 Q4 9:18 IOWA O. Gill 2-yard run (Nichol kick) MSU 17-10 Q4 0:44 IOWA Hayes 3-yard pass from Long (Long run failed) MSU 17–16

See also: 1984 Michigan State Spartans football team

Minnesota

Iowa at Minnesota

1 2 3 4 Total Hawkeyes 0 7 7 3 17 • Golden Gophers 0 7 3 13 23 Date: November 22 Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN Game attendance: 63,479 Source: Box Score and Game Story

Scoring summary Q2 IOWA O. Gill 11-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7–0 Q2 MINN Starks 1-yard pass from Foggie (Lohmiller kick) Tied 7–7 Q3 IOWA Bill Happel 95-yard punt return (Nichol kick) IOWA 14–7 Q3 0:57 MINN Lohmiller 40-yard field goal IOWA 14–10 Q4 MINN Lohmiller 36-yard field goal IOWA 14–13 Q4 IOWA Tom Nichol 25-yard field goal IOWA 17–13 Q4 4:17 MINN Gary Couch 14-yard run (Lohmiller kick) MINN 20–17 Q4 0:56 MINN Lohmiller 34-yard field goal MINN 23–17

See also: 1984 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry

Hawaii

Iowa at Hawaii

1 2 3 4 Total • Hawkeyes 3 0 0 14 17 Rainbow Warriors 0 6 0 0 6 Date: December 1 Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI Game attendance: 50,000 Source: Box Score and Game Story

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Nichol 41-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q2 HAW Spelman 24-yard field goal Tied 3-3 Q2 HAW Spelman 42-yard field goal HAWAII 6-3 Q4 IOWA Hayes 3-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 10–6 Q4 2:31 IOWA Helverson 8-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 17–6

See also: Hawaii Rainbows football

Freedom Bowl

#19 Texas vs. Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total #19 Longhorns 0 17 0 0 17 • Hawkeyes 14 10 31 0 55 Date: December 26 Location: Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA Game attendance: 24,093 Game weather: Rain

Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Hayes 6-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 7–0 Q1 Iowa Flagg 11-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 14–0 Q2 Texas Bryant 11-yard pass from Dodge (Ward kick) IOWA 14–7 Q2 IOWA Bush 1-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 21–7 Q2 Texas Harris 1-yard pass from Dodge (Ward kick) IOWA 21–14 Q2 Texas Ward 46-yard FG IOWA 21–17 Q2 IOWA Nichol 27-yard FG IOWA 24–17 Q3 IOWA Nichol 35-yard FG IOWA 27–17 Q3 IOWA Happel 33-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 34–17 Q3 IOWA Smith 49-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 41–17 Q3 IOWA Helverson 4-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 48–17 Q3 2:19 IOWA Hayes 15-yard pass from Long (Nichol kick) IOWA 55–17

See also: 1984 Texas Longhorns football team and 1984 Freedom Bowl

Chuck Long 29-39, 461 yards, 6 TD

Postseason Awards

• Larry Station, Linebacker - Consensus First-team All-American
• Paul Hufford, Defensive Tackle - Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year

See also: 1984 College Football All-America Team and 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team

Team players in the 1985 NFL Draft

Main article: 1985 NFL Draft

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