The 1971 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 1971 Big Ten football season. In their first year under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Hawkeyes compiled a 1–10 record (1–8 in conference game), finished in last place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 379 to 121.[1][2]
The 1971 Hawkeyes gained 897 rushing yards and 1,495 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 3,572 rushing yards and 1,400 passing yards.[3] They gave up 324.7 rushing yards per game.
The team's statistical leaders included Frank Sunderman (109-of-235 passing, 1,297 yards), Levi Mitchell (623 rushing yards), Dave Triplett (28 receptions for 426 yards), Harry Kokolus (25 points scored), and Dave Simms (139 total tackles).[4] Cornerback Craig Clemons was a first-team All-American. Clemons and Geoff Michelosen were the team captains.[5] Clemons was also selected as the team's most valuable player.[6]
The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance totaled 233,150, an average of 46,630 per game.[7]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 11 | at No. 11 Ohio State | | | L 21–52 | 75,596 | [8][9] |
| September 18 | at Oregon State* | | | L 19–33 | 24,092 | [10] |
| September 25 | No. 12 Penn State* | | ABC | L 14–44 | 44,303 | [11] |
| October 2 | at Purdue | | | L 13–45 | 63,485 | [12] |
| October 9 | Northwestern | - Iowa Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| | L 3–28 | 53,102 | [13] |
| October 16 | Minnesota | - Iowa Stadium
- Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
| | L 14–19 | 51,488 | [14] |
| October 23 | at Michigan State | | | L 3–34 | 60,383 | [15] |
| October 30 | Wisconsin | - Iowa Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| | W 20–16 | 43,155 | [16] |
| November 6 | at No. 3 Michigan | | | L 7–63 | 72,467 | [17] |
| November 13 | Indiana | - Iowa Stadium
- Iowa City, IA
| | L 7–14 | 42,102 | [18] |
| November 20 | at Illinois | | | L 0–31 | 40,703 | [19] |
- *Non-conference game
Homecoming- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
[20]
Roster
| 1971 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster |
| Players |
Coaches |
Offense
| Pos. | # | Name | Class |
| RB |
10 |
Levi Mitchell |
Sr |
| QB |
11 |
Kyle Skogman |
Jr |
| FL |
12 |
Dave Harris |
Jr |
| QB |
13 |
Frank Sunderman |
Jr |
| QB |
14 |
Ron Hayes |
So |
| QB |
15 |
Rob Fick |
So |
| RB |
17 |
Kim Hardt |
So |
| FL |
21 |
Jerry Reardon |
Jr |
| FL |
27 |
Tony Major |
Sr |
| RB |
29 |
Steve Penney |
Sr |
| FB |
31 |
Frank Holmes |
Sr |
| FB |
33 |
Bob Sims |
Jr |
| TE |
36 |
Tom Cabalka |
Jr |
| G |
38 |
Paul Jurca |
Jr |
| G |
39 |
Karl Hoinkes |
Jr |
| RB |
44 |
Harold Johnson |
So |
| WR |
47 |
Dave Triplett |
Sr |
| C |
50 |
Clark Malmer |
Sr |
| G |
51 |
Mark Nelson |
So |
| C |
55 |
Pat Long |
So |
| C |
58 |
Joe Ritchie |
Jr |
| G |
60 |
Geoff Mickelson |
Sr |
| G |
61 |
Rich Lutz |
Jr |
| G |
64 |
John Farrell |
Jr |
| OT |
67 |
Don Presson |
Jr |
| G |
69 |
Lorin Lynch |
Sr |
| OT |
71 |
Jim Kaiser |
Sr |
| OT |
72 |
Craig Darling |
Jr |
| OT |
74 |
Jim Begale |
Jr |
| OT |
76 |
Wendell Bell |
Sr |
| G |
79 |
Kelly Disser |
Sr |
| OT |
81 |
Todd Watson |
Jr |
| WR |
83 |
Brian Rollins |
So |
| TE |
85 |
Ed Morrissey |
So |
| TE |
89 |
Don Osby |
Sr |
|
Defense
| Pos. | # | Name | Class |
| DB |
16 |
Craig Johnson |
Jr |
| DB |
18 |
Alan Schaefer |
Sr |
| DB |
19 |
Bill Schoonover |
Jr |
| DB |
20 |
Wayne Holloway |
Jr |
| DB |
23 |
Charles Cross |
Jr |
| DE |
25 |
Ike White |
Jr |
| DB |
26 |
Al Matthews |
Jr |
| DB |
30 |
Mike Wendling |
Jr |
| DB |
32 |
Bruce Stromberg |
Jr |
| LB |
34 |
Rich Byard |
Jr |
| LB |
35 |
Dave Simms |
Jr |
| DB |
40 |
Rick Brooks |
So |
| DB |
43 |
Craig Clemons (C) |
Sr |
| DB |
41 |
Tom Halleckson |
So |
| DB |
45 |
Rich Solomon |
Sr |
| DB |
46 |
Jerry Johnson |
Sr |
| LB |
49 |
Roger Jerrick |
So |
| LB |
53 |
Harry Young |
So |
| DT |
63 |
Marvin Glasgow |
Jr |
| DE |
65 |
Dean Drenzek |
Jr |
| LB |
66 |
Murphy Anderson |
So |
| DT |
70 |
Charles Podolak |
Sr |
| DT |
75 |
Jim Waschek |
So |
| DT |
77 |
Ron Conatser |
So |
| DT |
78 |
Ernie Roberson |
So |
| DE |
84 |
Kent Rinaberger |
So |
| DE |
87 |
Dan Dickel |
So |
| DE |
88 |
Mike Dillner |
Jr |
| DE |
90 |
Larry Horton |
Sr |
|
Special teams
| Pos. | # | Name | Class |
| PK |
22 |
Harry Kokolus |
So |
| PK |
28 |
Mike Cooper |
Jr |
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
|
References
- ↑ "1971 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ↑ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 242. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ↑ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 161.
- ↑ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, pp. 278-280.
- ↑ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
- ↑ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 222.
- ↑ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 260.
- ↑ Paul Ritter (September 12, 1971). "Buckeyes Look Strong In Splattering Iowa". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Summary of Football Game Statistics (Iowa vs. Ohio State)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Beavers slap Hawkeyes, 33–19". The Cedar Rapids Gazette. September 19, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Harris scores four as Lions crush Iowa". Wisconsin State Journal. September 26, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Purdue raps inept Iowa". The South Bend Tribune. October 3, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Wildcat passes whip Iowa". Omaha World-Herald. October 10, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Gophers rally over Iowa". Grand Forks Herald. October 17, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Michigan State record for Allen in victory". Dayton Daily News. October 24, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Badgers give Iowa win". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 31, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Curt Sylvester (November 7, 1971). "U-M Sniffs Roses . . . Blasts Iowa, 63–7". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1D, 6D – via Newspapers.com.

- ↑ "Hoosiers whip Iowa". The Terre Haute Tribune. November 14, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Improved Illini slam Hawks". The Sioux City Journal. November 21, 1971. Retrieved October 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Schedule/Results (1971 Iowa)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
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National championship seasons in bold |