History of Iowa Hawkeyes football in Timeline

The Iowa Hawkeyes football program represents the University of Iowa, competing in the Big Ten Conference since 1900. As an NCAA Division I FBS member, they play home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Kirk Ferentz is the head coach, currently in his 27th season, making him the longest-tenured FBS coach. The Hawkeyes have secured 13 conference championships and have been ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Poll 15 times.

1929: Opening of Iowa Stadium

In 1929, Iowa Stadium, the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa, opened. Prior to this, Iowa played its home games at Iowa Field.

1936: Inception of AP Poll

Since the poll's inception in 1936, the 1940s and 1970s are the only decades that the Iowa Hawkeyes have not had a team finish in the AP Poll Top 10.

1939: Kinnick wins Heisman Trophy

In 1939, Kinnick won the University of Iowa's only Heisman Trophy. Kinnick Stadium is named for him.

1948: Creation of Herky the Hawk cartoon

In 1948, Herky the Hawk was created as a cartoon.

1953: Controversial Game Against Notre Dame

On Nov. 21, 1953, an undefeated No. 1 ranked Notre Dame team faced the Hawkeyes. The game was marred by controversial injuries and play calling that allowed Notre Dame to tie the game and stay unbeaten, leading to the "The Fainting Irish of Notre Dame" label. The Hawkeyes jumped to No. 9 ranking after the game. Because of this game, the NCAA changed the rules making players sit out at least one down before returning to the game.

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1959: First appearance of Herky the Hawk at a sporting event

In 1959, Herky the Hawk first appeared at a sporting event.

1959: Rose Bowl Victory and Grantland Rice Trophy

In 1959, the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes won the Rose Bowl and were awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in recognition of the national champion.

1961: First Winning Season Since 1961

In 1961, Iowa used its upset win as a launching pad to defeat such teams as UCLA, Michigan and Purdue and post its first winning season since 1961.

1972: Iowa Stadium Renamed Nile Kinnick Stadium

In 1972, Iowa Stadium was renamed Nile Kinnick Stadium in honor of Nile Kinnick, the 1939 Heisman Trophy winner.

1973: Huskers Held Scoreless Through Three Quarters

In 1973, during a game against the Huskers, Iowa held them scoreless through three quarters for the first time since 1973.

1978: Start of NFL Draft Streak

Since 1978, Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL draft.

1979: Creation of the Tiger Hawk logo and uniform overhaul

In 1979, Hayden Fry created the Tiger Hawk logo for Iowa's football helmets. He also gained permission from the Pittsburgh Steelers to overhaul Iowa's uniforms, mirroring the Steelers' image, believing that dressing like winners would help the team act like winners. Reproduction copies of the Steelers' home and away uniforms, belonging to quarterback Terry Bradshaw, were sent to Fry, making Iowa one of the few schools to adopt an NFL team's uniform scheme.

1982: Ron Stewart Volunteers

In 1982 Ron Stewart started volunteering his time providing security for the Iowa Football team at home and road games.

October 19, 1985: Iowa's win over Michigan during day of upsets

On October 19, 1985, Iowa's 12-10 win over Michigan was part of a day where No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 ranked teams all fell, marking only the second time this had happened in regular-season history.

1985: ANF Sticker Appears

In 1985, a gold disk appeared on the helmets, with the black letters "ANF", which stands for America Needs Farmers. This sticker had remained in place until 1992 when the NCAA required teams to remove 'excessive' decals.

1986: Hawkeyes Accept Rose Bowl Invitation

In 1986, after a late-game victory at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes accepted an invitation to the 1986 Rose Bowl.

November 2, 1991: Removal of Tiger Hawk logo after campus shooting

On November 2, 1991, the Hawkeyes removed the Tiger Hawk helmet logo and the single yellow gold stripe from their game helmets in recognition of the six victims of a fatal campus shooting.

1992: ANF Sticker Removed

In 1992, the ANF sticker was removed due to NCAA regulations.

December 29, 1996: Removal of Tiger Hawk logo for Alamo Bowl

On December 29, 1996, the Tiger Hawk helmet logo was removed for an appearance in the Alamo Bowl, commemorating the family of linebacker Mark Mitchell, who were involved in a fatal vehicle accident while en route to the game.

2005: Introduction of "Back in Black" and "Enter Sandman" as team entrance songs

Since 2005, before the game, the team has exited the tunnel together to "Back in Black" by AC/DC before joining hands and running onto the field in unison to "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. This became known as "The Swarm."

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2008: Start of strong home record against top 10 teams

Since 2008, Iowa is 5-1 against AP-top 10 teams at home.

2009: ANF Sticker Brought Back

In 2009, the ANF sticker was brought back by head coach Kirk Ferentz and has remained in place since.

2009: Upset win against Penn State

In 2009, the Hawkeyes upset the undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions with a late field goal, handing Penn State its only regular-season loss and starting a 13-game winning streak for Iowa. Iowa would go on to beat South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

2011: Veterans' Day Red, White, and Blue Tiger Hawk

In 2011, on Veterans' Day, the Hawkeyes used a red, white, and blue Tiger Hawk on one side of the helmet and left the other side blank in honor of fallen heroes against Michigan.

2011: Brett Greenwood Memorial Sticker

In 2011, the Iowa Hawkeyes wore a small green sticker, with the number 30 on it to honor former Hawkeye Safety Brett Greenwood, who had recently fallen into a coma while working out at his old high school.

2013: Introduction of Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor

In 2013, Iowa introduced the Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor. Players inducted into the Kinnick Wall of Honor have their name and number placed on the Kinnick Stadium Press Box.

2014: Ron Stewart Ends Volunteering

In 2014 Ron Stewart stopped volunteering his time providing security for the Iowa Football team at home and road games.

2014: Inception of College Football Playoff Rankings

Since its inception in 2014, the Hawkeyes have been ranked in the final College Football Playoff Rankings five times.

September 8, 2015: Death of Tyler Sash

Tyler Sash, former Iowa Safety and NFL Veteran, died on September 8, 2015.

September 12, 2015: Tiger Hawk replaced with Sash's number

On September 12, 2015, the Iowa Hawkeyes honored Tyler Sash, a former Iowa Safety and NFL Veteran, who had died on September 8, 2015. To honor Sash, one Tiger Hawk was replaced with a large, gold "#9" a tribute to the jersey number Sash wore while he played at Iowa.

2015: Kirk Ferentz wins Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

In 2015, Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz won the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

October 9, 2016: Ron Stewart Memorial Decal

On October 9, 2016, Ron Stewart, a volunteer providing security for the Iowa Football team, died. For the remainder of the season, the Hawkeyes wore a decal on the back of their helmets bearing his initials "RS" within a sheriff's badge in his memory.

September 23, 2017: First night game featuring "The Wave"

On September 23, 2017, during the home night game against Penn State, Iowa Hawkeyes fans participated in "The Wave", waving to patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, with cell phone flashlights turned on, creating a unique tradition.

November 20, 2017: Disney Sports Spirit Award announcement

On November 20, 2017, Disney Sports announced that the Iowa Hawkeyes football program would receive Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, recognizing college football's most inspirational figure annually.

December 7, 2017: Disney Sports Spirit Award presentation

On December 7, 2017, the University of Iowa was presented with Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for "The Wave" on ESPN.

2017: Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award

In 2017, Iowa also won the Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award.

2017: Loss against Penn State

In 2017, Iowa lost at home to Penn State on a touchdown pass as the clock expired.

February 15, 2018: "The Wave" in the Offseason

On February 15, 2018, inspired by nurses at the children's hospital, the Kinnick Stadium's maintenance crew created a waving hand pattern in the snow covering the field, continuing "The Wave" tradition even in the offseason. A patient saw the crew creating the design, and the crew visited the Press Box Café to see their finished artwork.

March 2019: Damon Bullock Memorial Decal

In March 2019, former Iowa Hawkeye football player Damon Bullock died at the age of 25. For the 2019 season opener, the Hawkeyes wore a gold circle with black lettering detailing "DB5" on the back of their helmets, a nod to Bullock's playing number from 2011 to 2014, in addition to a gold graduation cap, honoring the team's recent graduates.

2019: Removal of Tiger Hawk logo for Holiday Bowl

In 2019, the Tiger Hawk was removed for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California, to honor the passing of former Iowa Hawkeye football coach, Hayden Fry.

2020: 2020 NFL Draft

Through the 2020 NFL draft, Iowa has had 294 draft picks: 254 in the NFL, 21 in the AFL, and 7 in the AAFC (the AFC and AAFC both merged with the NFL).