1989

With only five senior starters on board, the Hawks suffered from youth and inexperience. Quarterback Matt Rodgers and leading rusher Nick Bell were both sophomores.

September 16
In the opening minutes of the season opener with Oregon, the Ducks slammed Bell so hard that fans in the south end zone could hear the crack of his helmet. When play was over and with the scoreboard reading 44-6 in favor of Oregon, Iowa team spiritual leader Merton Hanks admitted, “They simply confused us out there.”

November 25
Iowa’s up-and-down year ended at home, where the Minnesota Gophers dished out a 43-7 drumming that left the Hawks dispirited and disappointed in their 5-6 season.

Nonetheless, the Hawkeyes won 77 games during the 1980s and finished in the Big Ten’s first division nine times. Iowa was one of only seven schools nationwide to play in eight consecutive bowl games. The others were BYU, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and UCLA.

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