9/9/2005 football Edit

A trip down memory lane

Kevin Gertsen

Staff Writer

Iowa vs. Iowa State September 13, 1986

The first game in the post Chuck Long era took place in Iowa City on a warm September afternoon. The opponent was an Iowa State Cyclone team out to avenge a 57-3 pasting by the Hawkeyes in Ames the previous year.

Missing from that 1985 team were names like Long, Harmon, and Station. Would the Hawkeyes continue to succeed without Chuck Long at the helm? The first answers would be found that afternoon.

Iowa wasn't without weapons. Senior Mark Vlasic had carried Long's clipboard for five years. Included in that was a stint as a starter when Long went down with an injury.

Iowa also returned speedy wide outs in Robert Smith and Quinn Early. Mike Flagg was back at TE where he was backed up by Craig Clark and Marv Cook. Burly fullback David Hudson returned as did tackle Dave Croston.

Defensively Iowa returned tackle Jeff Drost and d-backs, Kerry Burt and Ken Sims. Clutch place kicker Rob Houghtlin also returned.

The Hawks entered the game unranked, so obviously the pollsters didn't believe Iowa would continue its success. As the band took the field, led by guest drum major, David Lee Roth, hopes were high.

Two early Iowa drives petered out, but Houghtlin made sure the Hawks didn't come up empty when he hit from 32 and 46.

Behind a punishing run game the Hawks marched down field. Hudson and Kevin Harmon taking turns tearing off chunks of yardage. Then, Vlasic caught ISU sleeping as he hit former walk-on Jim Mauro for a 43 yard score.

The Hawks next drive was a punishing one as they bulled their way downfield. The drive culminated when Hudson plowed through from the one.

Sometime before half, Kevin Harmon went down with a pulled hamstring and the man whose running style JHF described as like a "drunken sailor" entered the game. Rick Bayless was a walk-on from Hugo, Minnesota.

As time wore down in the half with Iowa leading 19-0, Hayden called for an exotic. It was second and seven near the ISU 20 and Hayden called for a pitch to Bayless. However, Bayless pitched to Robert Smith on the REVERSE! But then Smith pulled up and fired the ball into the end zone where Jim Mauro waited all by himself.

Houghtlin's PAT gave Iowa the 26-0 lead at halftime.

The second half opened with another Houghtlin FG, this from 37 yards.

Minutes later Vlasic threw his second TD pass of the game, a 47 yarder to Mauro giving Mauro three on the day.

Midway through the quarter, Hayden started subbing, as two more QB's, Chuck Hartlieb and Dan McGwire got significant minutes.

Rick Bayless burst free for a 32 TD run for the last score and Iowa gave up a late TD pass for a 43-7 win.

The Iowa defense, led by Drost and Bruce Davis limited the Cyclones to -11 yards rushing and 125 yards total. The Hawks sacked ISU QB, Alex Espinoza six times with Drost getting two and reserve nose guard Steve Thomas getting a pair.

Bruce Davis led Iowa with eleven tackles.

Iowa would go on to finish 9-3 (5-3) ending the season with a great last minute (39-38) Holiday Bowl win over San Diego State.

Iowa Offensive two deeps

SE - Early 6-0, 175, Mauro 6-1, 182

LT - D. Croston 6-5, 280, J. Croston 6-4, 250

LG - Spranger 6-3, 250 or Gambol 6-7, 285

C - Sindlinger 6-2, 255, Anderson 6-3, 240

RG - Kratch 6-4, 270, Divis 6-3, 250

RT - Wester 6-8, 285, Alexander 6-3, 265

TE - Flagg 6-6, 244, Clark 6-3, 228 or Cook 6-4, 232

QB - Vlasic 6-3, 206, Hartlieb 6-3, 205 or McGwire 6-8, 218

WB - Smith 5-11, 172, Watkins 6-1, 180