Some fans might think the transition from Hayden Fry to Kirk Ferentz (1998-2000) was a dark period in Iowa football history, but long time fans know better. From 1962 through 1980, the Hawks had no winning seasons, and only one season where they didn’t finish with a losing record (3-3-2 in 1963).
On September 15, 1973, Frank X. Lauterbur entertained the Michigan Wolverines of Bo Schembechler in Iowa’s opener. Lauterbur had been hired in 1970 to replace Ray Nagel by new athletic director, Bump Elliot. He had come to Iowa from Toledo where he had been a highly successful coach.
Lauterbur’s Toledo Rockets had won three MAC titles in four years including 23 straight wins. FXL was a three time MAC Coach of the Year selection. He certainly seemed to be a great hire by Bump. However, things never got off the ground for Lauterbur as his first two seasons the Hawks finished 1-10-0 and 3-7-1.
The Wolverines had been especially hard on Lauterbur’s Hawks winning by a combined margin of 94-7. However, hopes were high as 41 lettermen returned for the 1973 season including 30 players with at least one start under their belt. However, those lettermen were outscored 36.5 to 12.7 in their 1972 games.
The 1973 Hawkeyes were led by co-captains Dan Dickel (DE), Brian Rollins (SE) and Roger Jerrick (C). This was the second year the Hawkeyes played in Kinnick Stadium which had been renamed in 1972.
Some of the notable Hawkeyes included future all-Big Ten CB Earl Douhitt, Iowa City legend Tyrone Dye, a pair of future college coaches in DB Bobby Elliott and RG Dan McCarney, the late Brandt Yocum, and a pair of future All-American linemen in Joe Devlin and Rod Walters.
The Hawkeyes would get rolled by the Maize and Blue 31-7 en route to an 0-11 record. Lauterbur would announce his resignation after the season.
There were two articles of note in the program from that September game. One by Sports Information Director, George Wine, explained the red shirting process which was initiated in the Big Ten that year. The league was behind the curve in this as other conferences were already using red shirt years. The cover boy of this program, QB Kyle Skogman of Cedar Rapids Washington, was Iowa’s first red shirt.
The other by former SID, Eric Wilson, was about former All-American QB, Kenny Ploen.
The complete list of uploaded features from the 1973 game program, including the Iowa starters listed at the bottom.
Only the starting lineups were listed in the official game program.
TE - Tom Cabalka 6’4” 221
LT - Jim Waschek 6’3” 240
LG - Joe Devlin 6’5” 252
C - Jock Michelson 6’2” 232
RG - Dan McCarney 6’1” 227
RT - Ernie Roberson 6’1” 251
SE - Brian Rollins 6’1” 186
QB - Butch Caldwell 6’1” 195
FB - Jim Jensen 6’4” 227
TB - Mark Fetter 6’0” 191
HB - Rod Wellington 6’0” 214
LE - Lynn Heil 6’6” 222
LT - Lester Washington 6’3” 227
MG - Dave Bryant 6’1” 216
RT - Tyrone Dye 6’4” 252
RE - Dan Dickel 6’3” 224
LLB - Dan LeFleur 6’1” 217
RLB - Andre Jackson 6’2” 220
LC - Earl Douthitt 6’2” 187
RC - Bob Salter 6’2” 172
SS - Rick Brooks 6’0” 186
FS - Rick Penney 6’0” 185
*With help from University of Iowa Football by Chuck Bright
