The Iowa football program has had a plethora of historic teams and seasons in its past.
From national championship teams in the 1950s to undefeated regular seasons in the 2010s, Hawkeye fans have had the opportunity to watch some great football during their lifetimes. But, out of all of those historic teams, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team as beloved and fondly remembered as the 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes.
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The 1985 Iowa football team was the pinnacle of everything legendary head coach Hayden Fry had been building in his first six years. Fry took over the Iowa football program in 1979. At the time, the program was a disaster. Iowa hadn’t won more than five games in a season since 1960, a year that it claimed a national championship.
After nine combined wins in his first two years, Fry’s Hawkeyes won eight or nine games each season from 1981 to 1984. Expectations were high entering 1985, and that team delivered.
The 1985 team will be honored at Kinnick Stadium this Saturday when Iowa welcomes No. 12 Indiana to town for the annual Homecoming game. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz spoke more about the 1985 team at his Tuesday media availability.
“Yeah, it was just unreal. I talked to Dan McCarney the other day about it on Saturday during our off day. A lot of great memories from a coaching standpoint, from the players. It was kind of a storybook year, if you will. We had a couple tough ones that year. I think Indiana was one that year, as a matter of fact.
You have those highs and lows in a season, but the team just kept working. Great group of guys. Again, not a lot of guys were high recruits but just guys that were really good players. It was such a cohesive group. Coach Fry kind of set the vision for everything, and it was just an unbelievable season.” – Kirk Ferentz
Ferentz was an offensive line coach for Iowa during that 1985 season. He was part of a legendary coaching staff assembled by Fry, which included Bill Snyder, Barry Alvarez, and Bob Stoops. It wasn’t just the coaching staff that was legendary. The 1985 team had one of the most stacked rosters in the history of the program.
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There were five players drafted in the 1986 NFL draft from this team, including three first-round picks. Quarterback Chuck Long was drafted with the 12th overall pick by the Detroit Lions. Running back Ronnie Harmon was drafted with the 16th pick by the Buffalo Bills. And offensive tackle Mike Haight was drafted with the 22nd overall pick by the New York Jets. Defensive back Devon Mitchell and linebacker Larry Station were also drafted.
Ferentz spoke more about those legendary players on Tuesday.
“You talk about players like Chuck Long, Ronnie Harmon, we had a pretty salty lineup there, good tight ends, enough at every position. Bill Happel was a great receiver. Enough at every position, and our defense was pretty darned tough and good on special teams. Those are those three things kind of consistent to winning teams. If you can get all that working together, you’ve got a shot.” – Kirk Ferentz
The 1985 Hawkeyes went 10-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming at the hands of eighth-ranked Ohio State. They would make the Rose Bowl that season, losing to 13th-ranked UCLA, 45-28. While the season didn’t end on a super high note, the 1985 team played in one of the most memorable and thrilling games in the history of the Iowa football program.
On Oct. 19, 1985, top-ranked Iowa against No. 2 Michigan. This was the game of the season for the Hawkeyes, as a matchup between the top two teams in the country unfolded at Kinnick Stadium. It was a frustrating game for the Hawkeyes, as they outgained the Wolverines 422-182 in the game, but couldn’t find the end zone.
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It turns out, they didn’t need to. Iowa got the ball back late, trailing 10-9, and drove down the field. Kicker Rob Houghtlin booted a 29-yard field goal through the uprights for the win as time expired, giving Iowa a 12-10 victory in the game of the season.
That Michigan game is the one everyone remembers and talks about from the 1985 season, and Ferentz talked more about it on Tuesday.
“The Michigan game was an electric environment, maybe as good as I’ve ever been in at any level at any time.
“It was kind of a long road, then for a guy like Dan McCarney, who played here, grew up here and played here, I think the appreciation is even deeper because he knew what it was like for those, whatever, 19 years prior to. Yeah, pretty cool. It’s great to have those guys back. They’re going to have a hell of a time. I’m sure I won’t. I won’t even see them. But they’re going to have a hell of a time. I’d encourage them, but they don’t need encouragement knowing those guys. Good for them. That’s how it’s supposed to be. That’s how it’s supposed to be.” – Kirk Ferentz
It’s great to see Iowa find a way to honor the historic 1985 team on its 40th anniversary for Homecoming. The Hawkeyes could really make it a memorable day if they find a way to take down the red-hot Hoosiers. The 1985 team is a great reminder of the magic of Kinnick Stadium, and that could lead the way to victory on Saturday for the Hawkeyes.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football welcoming back historic team to Kinnick for Homecoming
