{{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] Coaches No. 15 AP No. 18
The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the 1959 Rose Bowl . It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James 's Washington Huskies , 28–0. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.
Schedule
September 12No. 7 Nebraska *
W 10–7 60,160
September 19at Iowa State *
L 12–23 53,922
September 26No. 6 UCLA *
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 20–7 60,004
October 3at Northwestern No. 18
W 64–0 30,113
October 10Indiana No. 15
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 42–28 60,000
October 17at No. 5 Michigan No. 12
W 9–7 105,915
October 24Minnesota No. 6
ABC L 10–12 60,000
October 31at Illinois No. 16
L 7–24 66,877
November 7Purdue
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 33–7 60,114
November 14at Wisconsin
ESPNW 17–7 78,731
November 21Michigan State No. 19
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa W 36–7 60,103
January 1vs. No. 12 Washington * No. 13
NBC L 0–28 105,611
Template:CFB Schedule End [ 1]
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.
Rankings
Ranking MovementLegend: ██ 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
Final
AP
NR
NR
NR
NR
18
15
12
6
16
NR
NR
19
13
13
18
Coaches'
15
[ 2]
Game notes
Nebraska
#7 Nebraska at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
#7 Cornhuskers
0
0 0 7
7
• Hawkeyes
7
3 0 0
10
Scoring summary 1 9:16 IOWA Eddie Phillips 2-yard run (Olejniczak kick) Iowa 7-0
2 IOWA Olejniczak 35-yard field goal Iowa 10-0
4 11:45 Neb Roger Craig 1-yard run (kick)IOWA 10-7
[ 3]
Iowa State
[ 4]
UCLA
#6 UCLA at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
#6 Bruins
0
7 0 0
7
• Hawkeyes
7
0 3 10
20
Date: September 26Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IowaGame attendance: 60,004
Scoring summary 1 IOWA Gales 16-yard run (Olejniczak kick) IOWA 7-0
2 UCLA Ramsey 1-yard run (Johnson kick) Tied 7-7
3 IOWA Nichol 35-yard field goal IOWA 10-7
4 IOWA Mark Bortz recovered fumble in end zone (Nichol kick)IOWA 17-7
4 IOWA Nichol 43-yard field goal IOWA 20-7
[ 5]
Northwestern
[ 6]
Indiana
[ 7]
Michigan
#12 Iowa at #5 Michigan
1
2 3 4 Total
• #12 Hawkeyes
6
0 3 0
9
#5 Wolverines
0
7 0 0
7
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Tom Nichol 20-yard field goal IOWA 3–0
Q1 Iowa Nichol 36-yard field goal IOWA 6–0
Q2 MICH Anthony Carter 17-yard pass from Steve Smith (Haji-Sheikh kick) MICH 7–6
Q3 IOWA Nichol 30-yard field goal IOWA 9–7
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.
[ 8]
[ 9]
Minnesota
Minnesota at #6 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Golden Gophers
0
9 0 3
12
Hawkeyes
0
0 10 0
10
Scoring summary Q2 Minn Gallery 52-yard field goal Minn 3-0
Q2 Minn Gallery 31-yard field goal Minn 6-0
Q2 Minn Gallery 33-yard field goal Minn 9-0
Q3 IOWA Nichol 34-yard field goal Minn 9-3
Q3 IOWA Blatcher 2-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 10-9
Q4 2:22 Minn Gallery 27-yard field goal 'Minn 12-10
[ 10]
Illinois
[ 11]
Purdue
[ 12]
Wisconsin
Iowa at Wisconsin
1
2 3 4 Total
• Hawkeyes
3
14 0 0
17
Badgers
0
0 0 7
7
Scoring summary Q1 6:48 IOWA Tom Nichol 35-yard field goal IOWA 3–0
Q2 IOWA Phil Blatcher 1-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) IOWA 10–0
Q2 IOWA Phil Blatcher 2-yard run (Tom Nichol kick) IOWA 17–0
Q4 Wisc IOWA 17–7
[ 13]
Michigan State
Michigan State at #19 Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Spartans
0
7 0 0
7
• Hawkeyes
16
0 10 10
36
Date: November 21Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IowaGame attendance: 60,103
Scoring summary 1 Iowa Blatcher 9-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 7-0
1 Iowa Safety, blocked punt through end zone IOWA 9-0
1 Iowa Phillips 1-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 16-0
2 Michigan St Hodo 1-yard pass from Clark (Andersen kick) IOWA 16-7
3 Iowa Nichol 26-yard field goal IOWA 19-7
3 Iowa Blatcher 1-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 26-7
4 Iowa Nichol 23-yard field goal IOWA 29-7
4 Iowa Campbell 9-yard pass from Gales (Nichol kick) IOWA 36-7
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.[ 14]
Statistics
Phil Blatcher 27 Rush, 247 Yds[ 15]
[ 16]
[ 17]
[ 18]
Rose Bowl
[ 19]
[ 20]
Postseason Awards
Team players in 1982 NFL Draft
[ 21]
References
^ "1981 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results" . sports-reference.com .
^ "Iowa 1981 AP Football Rankings" .
^ "IOWA UPSET NEBRASKA, 10-7" . New York Times . September 13, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Iowa State 23, Iowa 12" . New York Times . September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "U.C.L.A. Is Upset By Iowa" . New York Times . September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "64-0!" . Chicago Tribune . October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ " 'Surprise' get Iowa untracked" . Chicago Tribune . October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "3 Iowa Field Goals Stop Michigan, 9-7" . New York Times . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Defeats No. 5 Michigan" . Washington Post . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 8, 2015 .
^ "Minnesota kicks Iowa back down" . Chicago Tribune . October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Illinois turns to defense" . The Pantagraph . November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa 33, Purdue 7" . New York Times . November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Wisconsin's odor is not of roses" . Chicago Tribune . November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1981 Nov 22.
^ Iowa Hawkeyes athletics website.
^ "IOWA WINS TRIP TO ROSE BOWL" . New York Times . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa Goes to Rose Bowl as Michigan Loses" . Washington Post . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Hawkeyes make Iowa sick with Rose Bowl fever" . Chicago Tribune . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Iowa flat embarrassed by Washington romp" . Chicago Tribune . January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0" . Washington Post . January 2, 1981. Retrieved November 18, 2015 .
^ "1982 NFL Draft" . pro-football-reference.com .
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