A trip down memory lane

Northwestern at Iowa

October 8, 1983

Back in the day, Northwestern was a doormat. Not just any doormat, but a doormat of the greatest magnitude. Their consecutive year's non-winning streak wasn't as long as Iowa's was, but they got pummeled like no other team.

That changed when Gary Barnett came to Evanston, but this trip down memory lane features Iowa laying the smack down on former Iowa player and assistant coach, Denny Green.

This was Chuck Long's second season as starting quarterback. He led the Hawks to a Peach Bowl win over Willie Gault and Tennessee the previous year and with many starters returning great things were expected from the Hawkeyes,

Iowa didn't disappoint as they opened with a 51-10 road shellacking of Iowa State followed by a huge 42-34 win in Happy Valley. The Hawks returned home to beat Ohio State 20-14 before losing a stunner at Champaign, 33-0 to Illinois.

Luckily the schedule provided the perfect pick me up for Homecoming in Northwestern.

Coach Denny Green's Cats came in 1-3 with the only win a 10-8 nail biter at Indiana. That was also the only game that would see the Wildcats score.

As kickoff approached, the 15th ranked Hawkeyes were short two defensive starters as defensive end Dave Strobel and linebacker Mike Yacullo were both hurt. The sellout crowd (19th straight) of 66,125 wasn't too concerned and the Hawkeyes would go on to dominate the Wildcats 61-21. It was a record breaking (and tying) performance as 14 different records (Big Ten, Iowa or Kinnick Stadium) were broken and three were tied. Included was a Big Ten high 713 yards total offense.

Iowa would get on the board first with a Chuck Long dive on the first drive.

After forcing a three and out, Iowa again drove downfield; this time Long's arm would find Lon Olejniczak for an 18 yard TD strike.

Tom Nichol's 45 yard field goal would cap the first quarter scoring at 17-0.

Northwestern fought back and scored first in the second frame as quarterback Sandy Schwab ran in a 9 yard bootleg.

Iowa then took control back and put the hammer to the overmatched NU defense with two long drives, both culminating with an Eddie Phillips touchdown run (3, 8). Nichol's 32 yard boot sent Iowa in to the half leading 34-7.

Long came out firing in the third quarter and quickly drove Iowa the length of the field before finding Dave Moritz all alone for a 19 yard pass.

The Wildcats answered with a short drive and a 5 yard run by Ricky Edwards made it 41-14.

The next touchdown showed Iowa fans what their future would hold. Facing 3rd and 25 at his own 40, Long dropped back, avoided the rush and found Ronnie Harmon on a crossing pattern at the NU 35. Long then was drowned by the Cat rush so he didn't get to see vintage Ronnie Harmon as Harmon reversed field and zigzagged to the far sideline. Upon making the side Harmon turned up field and sprinted past two Wildcats who had a good angle on the fleet wide out from New York. At about the five yard line, two defensive backs appeared to have Ronnie bottled up, but he juked one out of his supporter and bulled the other one into the end zone for a 60 yard score.

Iowa added two more scores in the fourth as backup QB Tom Grogan (Grogan was the answer to a trivia question at the time. The only player to play in a Rose Bowl and a Final Four) hit speedy freshman Robert Smith for an 86 yard touchdown and third stringer Corny Robertson found Scott Helverson for a 15 yard tally to end the scoring.

Northwestern added one final touchdown for the final score of 61-21.

Iowa did suffer two tough injuries that day as brothers Mike Hufford (TE) and Paul Hufford (DT) both went down.

Long was 23-33 for 420 yards and four TD's. Eddie Phillips led all rushers with 61 yards and two TD's on 18 carries. Harmon and Moritz both hauled in five passes as 13 different Hawkeyes caught a pass.

George Davis and Nate Creer led the team with 12 and 7 tackles respectively.

Iowa's two deeps

Offense

SE - Moritz 6-0, 185 Happel 6-0, 185

LT - Alt 6-7, 275, Croston 6-6, 265

LG - Hanna 6-3, 265, Glass 6-2, 265

C - Hilgenberg 6-3, 250, Sindlinger 6-2, 235

RG - Roehlk 6-2, 265 Carroll 6-2, 250

RT - Levelis 6-5, 280, Haight 6-3, 250

TE - M. Hufford 6-3, 245, Hayes 6-5, 225

QB - Long 6-4, 210, Grogan 6-3, 200

RB - Phillips 6-1, 215 Gill 6-2, 220,

FB - Granger 5-11, 220, Bush 6-1, 235

WB - Harmon 6-0, 195, Broghamer 5-11, 185

PK - Nichol 5-11, 195, Roehlk 6-2, 265 (kickoffs)

Defense

LE - Wancket 6-3, 225, Gear 6-1, 215

LT - P. Hufford 6-3, 260, Schuster 6-5, 255

NG - Peterson 6-2, 250, Alexander 6-4, 280 or Vrieze 6-4, 240

RT - Little 6-4, 250, Drost 6-5, 260

RE - Hooks 6-3, 232, Boddicker 6-5, 230

LB - Spitzig 6-3, 225, Hedgeman 6-4, 235

LB - Station 6-1, 230, Davis 6-2, 225

CB - Sims 5-10, 180, Hunter 6-0, 195,

SS - Stoops 6-2, 185, Chamber 6-3, 205

FS - Mitchell 6-2, 185, Hawley 5-11, 190,

CB - Creer 6-1, 185, Corbin 6-2, 195

P - Nichol 5-11, 195