Indiana at Iowa
October 12, 1963
After two years, the Jerry Burns football era was in danger of being over almost as soon as it started.
Hired in 1961 to replace Forest Evashevski, Burns had inherited a squad that was considered a potential number one team in 1961. They certainly lived up to that hype early starting the season out with four straight wins. But that start was deceiving as Iowa lost starting quarterback Wilburn Hollis and leading rusher Larry Ferguson in the first couple of games.
The injuries caught up with Iowa in week five as Purdue upset the Hawkeyes. That loss started a four game tail spin that would end with a season ending win over Notre Dame.
A 5-4 record considering the loss of most of the offense would have been considered a good accomplishment in most years, but the fans of this era had high expectations for their boys and 5-4 was a huge letdown.
Things did not improve for Iowa in 1962 as the black and gold clad gridders saw their record fall to 4-5. The pressure was on head coach Jerry Burns that off-season. Evy was the athletic director and some fans thought he should step down and take control of the "floundering" football program.
To make matters worse, Burns lost three of his four starters in the backfield to academic problems. Quarterback Bobby Wallace, halfback Willie Ray Smith, and fullback Vic Davis were expected to tote the leather for a stronger Hawkeye team. Instead Burns went to the bench for backups. He even had to convince a former player to return to the team.
Fred Riddle was a quarterback for Iowa, but Riddle had decided to quit the team to concentrate on basketball and his pre-med studies. Burns was able to convince Riddle to return and the results, at least in this game, were outstanding.
Iowa came into the 1963 contest with an eight game win streak against the Hoosiers. A total of 58,000 Hawkeye fans were in fine voice as the 1-0-1 Hawks took the Iowa Stadium turf on a beautiful 70 degree Homecoming day.
Iowa struck first when guard/linebacker Mike Reilly intercepted a pass and returned it to the Indiana 27-yard line. The Hoosiers dug in and held Iowa to a 25-yard field goal by Jay Roberts.
On Indiana's next drive, the turnover bug bit again as guard/linebacker Wally Hilgenberg picked off a pass at the IU 32 and took it down to the 14-yard line. A few plays later Fred Riddle plunged into the end zone, but the score was called back because of an Iowa penalty.
Undaunted, Riddle found Cloyd Webb in the back of the end zone and after the extra point, Iowa held a 10-0 lead.
The two teams traded punts the next series with Iowa pinning IU within its own 10-yard line. IU fullback Tom Nowatzke then caught the turnover bug fumbling at his own eight-yard line. Bob Sherman ran down to the six and from there Riddle ran a beautiful play action jump pass to Tony Giacobazzi for the score. The PAT was blocked, but Iowa now led 16-0.
IU took a short Iowa kickoff and quickly advanced to midfield where once again they gave the ball to Iowa, as Nowatzke put the ball on the turf where co-captain Paul Krause recovered.
Burns went for razzle-dazzle on the next play handing it to Krause on a double reverse for 26 yards.
Since that play worked so well, why not try it again? That's what it looked like as Riddle handed to Webb on an end around until Webb faked to Krause and kept the ball for a 16 yard run.
The next two plays found Iowa going in reverse and with third and the goal at the 16, Riddle hit Sherman for 11 yards.
Burns decided to gamble and Iowa went for it on fourth and goal from the five-yard line. Riddle faded back and hit Giacobazzi for his second TD catch of the day. The PAT made it 23-0 Iowa!
Indiana would score with less than a minute in the half, as Nowatzke plunged over from the one and Iowa went into the locker room with a 23-7 lead.
Midway through the third quarter Iowa found themselves on their own 24 and on the first play Krause ran a post and caught the ball while avoiding a diving tackle attempt by the Hoosier safety. 76 yards later Krause crosses the goal line making it 30-7 Hawkeyes!
At this point, Burns put in Iowa City sophomore Gary Snook. The protection for Snook was not up to snuff and a Snook pass was picked off and taken in for a 22-yard score. The two point conversion failed and Iowa led 30-13.
Iowa was unable to move the ball again and IU took the ball and drove for a score. It was now 30-19 and Burns quickly reinserted Riddle into the game.
Riddle would drive the Hawkeyes deep, led by a juggling catch for 44 yard by Cloyd Webb. Two plays later Riddle threw his then Big Ten record 5th TD pass, this time to Krause for a 37-19 lead. IU scored late to provide the final 37-26 margin.
Riddle had a great day for a basketball player completing 10 of 16 passes for 155 yards and five scores.
Krause had a great all around game scoring twice on passes from Riddle, recovering a fumble, and picking off two IU passes.
I found an interesting quote in the Gus Schrader "Red Peppers" column following the game.
"That Mike's (Reilly) lucky," laughed Wally (Hilgenberg). "You know he and I had an agreement before the season began that the one who got the first interception wins a free malted milk from the other. So today I intercept two passes, but I still have to buy him a malt because he got the first one."
Iowa would finish the season 3-3-2 with final game cancelled because of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Iowa's starting lineup:
LE - 85 Cloyd Webb 6-5, 208
LT – 78 George Latta 6-1, 215
LG – 67 Wally Hilgenberg 6-2, 223
C – 50 Dave Reicher 6-1, 230
RG – 61 Mike Reilly 6-2, 222
RT - 77 Gus Kasapis 6-3, 226
RE - 80 Tony Giacobazzi 6-0, 213
QB - 25 Fred Riddle, Jr. 6-3, 197
LH - 23 Bob Sherman 6-1, 190
RH - 16 Paul Krause 6-3, 178
FB - 32 Bobby Grier 6-6, 206
This week's photos:
