A trip down memory lane
Purdue at Iowa
October 7, 1972
Sometimes a loss is memorable.
Not a close loss, but a bell ringing, butt kicking loss.
The October 7, 1972 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers was just such a loss.
Iowa fans thought a corner had been turned. After a season opening 21-0 whitewashing by the Buckeyes at Columbus, the Hawkeyes eked out a 19-11 win over Oregon State in Iowa Stadium. The next week the Hawks traveled to Happy Valley where they fought valiantly before succumbing to Joe Paterno's troops, 14-10.
Into Iowa Stadium came 0-3 Purdue, fresh off of a 21 point loss to Notre Dame.
Having lost the first two games by five points total, Gary DeMoss was on the proverbial hot seat. His wishbone attack featured a pair of seniors that would soon be playing in the NFL in quarterback Gary Danielson and running back Otis Armstrong. Most experts were picking the Boilers to win.
Egad! Even Major Amos B. Hoople picked the visitors to win by five. Kaff-kaff.
A nice crowd was expected at Iowa Stadium that day. Officials thought 55,000+ would show up to almost fill the 60,000 seat stadium.
The attraction that made the Iowa crowd optimistic? The rededication of Iowa Stadium as Kinnick Stadium with Nile Kinnick, Sr. in attendance.
Unfortunately, that ceremony was the only bright spot for Iowa fans.
Defense was the word early on as both teams struggled to move the ball. With five minutes to go in the first quarter, Danielson lofted a pass deep towards the end zone where Purdue's Rick Sayers and Bob Herrick converged with Iowa safeties Charlie Cross and Rick Penney close behind. All four men went up for the ball, but when the Astroturf dust settled it was Herrick clutching the ball for a 7-0 Purdue lead.
On the Iowa side of the ball, Kyle Skogman had sprained his ankle on a keeper during the Hawkeyes' second series of the day, so Coach Frank Lautebur called on freshman Butch Caldwell. But the athletic QB from Dayton had no success and a heavily taped Skogman returned. However, the Purdue pass rush was too fierce for the immobile Skogman who left for Caldwell again. Caldwell would have the longest play for a Hawkeye that day with a 35-yard run.
In the second half Purdue put together a nice drive, which ended with Danielson sneaking over from the one-yard line.
Jack Spellman added a four-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and Bob Bobrowski's 43 yard field goal ended the scoring for the day.
Iowa was held to four first downs on the day and less than 100 yards of total offense. In fact, Iowa only crossed midfield on their last drive of the day. That drive would end on Purdue's 47-yard line. Iowa's passers struggled at 6/23 with an interception and Brian Rollins led Iowa receivers with four catches for six yards.
Here's the kind of day it was. Backup quarterback Frank Sunderman was also the punter. On a low snap which he bobbled he suffered a helmet to helmet hit by a Purdue rusher. Sunderman got the punt off, with his left foot for 34 yards. The hit left him with a concussion, but he stayed in to punt twelve balls.
After the game it was obvious Purdue had no respect for the Hawkeyes' offense. Defensive tackle Dave Butz had this to say.
"Their offense is not varied and easy to play against. They don't create too many problems for a defense."
I've scanned and included two good Kinnick stories from the game program and I think you'll agree the cover is one of the best Iowa covers ever.
Iowa's Lineup:
SE - 83 Brian Rollins 6-2 178
OT - 75 Jim Waschek 6-3 239
OG - 68 Ernie Roberson 6-1 246
C - 54 Roger Jerrick 6-2 202
SG - 72 Craig Darling 6-5 246
ST - 73 Jack Muller 6-3 265
TE - 89 Ike White 6-3 213
QB - 11 Kyle Skogman 6-0 190
TB - 12 Dave Thomas 5-9 175
SB - 33 Bob Sims 6-0 227
FB - 31 Frank Holmes 5-11 228
LE - 86 Lynn Heil 6-5 216
LT - 65 Bill Windauer 6-3 250
MG - 74 Jerry Nelson 6-0 231
RT - 78 Tyrone Dye 6-5 233
RE - 88 Dan Dickel 6-4 205
LLB - 35 Dave Simms 6-3 220
RLB - 20 Andre Jackson 6-2 206
LC - 43 Earl Douthitt 6-2 176
RC - 18 Bob Elliott 5-10 173
SS - 23 Charlie Cross 6-0 173
FS - 29 Rick Penney 5-10 174