1981, a game with more of a great Iowa defense

[rchawk]

It wasn't televised, so it must have been from one of the films the TV stations showed late Saturday night.

Some of you older folks may have been there. The youngsters, maybe Mom and Dad were there.

Link:

 

[Titanhawk2]

Nobody would produce something like this if it were just for highlights. It was on somewhere

 

[Hawk24]

I know Hayden is known for bringing a more wide-open offense to the BT, but that '81 team was built on fantastic defense and special teams. Roby was a helluva weapon.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

It was only Hayden's third season. And the fact is Iowa's offense was vastly improved and wide open from the very first snap of Hayden's very first season in 1979. Iowa threw the ball effectively, and Hayden introduced various trick plays, including the statue of liberty and the flea-flicker.

But yes: Hayden understood that defense wins championships, and he always coached that way. But he also understood that it's important to complement a great defense with the best offense possible.

BTW: I was there for that 1981 upset of Nebraska, and it was awesome, especially so since I was also in Lincoln the year before to see Iowa fall 57-0. To come back one year later and beat another top ten Nebraska team 10-7 was one of the greatest wins in Iowa history, IMHO.

And when Iowa fans started chanted "Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl!" in the waning moments, it was with a smile of wistful hope. Few, if any, realized they were making a prophecy, for that 1981 Iowa team actually did go on to share the Big Ten title and make the Hawkeyes' first Rose Bowl appearance since 1959. . . in only Hayden's THIRD year on campus. So yes, I believe in miracles.

 

[SB_SB]

I was there but with all the drinking, I’m having a little problem remembering.

 

[4th & 9 inches]

We've had a lot of great D ends over the past 40 yrs, but I still think Andre Tippett was the best. It was a thing of beauty when he came around the corner and destroyed QBs.

 

[4th & 9 inches]

Bill Brashier could coach some D