1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1958 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the college football season of 1958. The team was coached by Forest Evashevski and captained by fullback John Nocera. The Football Writers Association of America awarded the team the Grantland Rice Award, which is presented annually to the college football team adjudged by the FWAA to be national champion.

Preseason

Prior to 1958, coach Forest Evashevski had compiled a 31-21-3 record in six seasons with the Hawkeyes. His most successful years were the previous two, 1956 and 1957, in which Iowa went 16-2-1. The 1956 team became the first to win the Big Ten Conference championship in thirty-four years, and their Rose Bowl victory over Oregon State was the first postseason trip and win in school history. Both teams finished in the top ten in the final Associated Press Poll.

Expectations for the 1958 season were high, despite the graduation of two star players. Tackle Alex Karras, who won the 1957 Outland Trophy and was twice selected as an All-American, and end Jim Gibbons, an All-American in 1957, were both drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1958 NFL Draft. Senior quarterback Randy Duncan, who also started in 1957, would be relied on heavily to replace the lost talent.

chedule

* Rose Bowl record

Awards

Iowa finished 8-1-1 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten Conference in 1958. The Hawkeyes won the 1958 Big Ten football championship and the 1959 Rose Bowl Game. The Football Writers Association of America named Iowa the 1958 college football national champion by awarding the team the 1958 Grantland Rice Award. It is the only consensus national championship in Iowa football history. The Hawkeyes finished No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls, which were released before the bowl games, behind LSU. The final AP Poll ranking is the highest in school history. Iowa also finished No. 2 in the final UPI Poll in 1960. The Hawkeyes led the nation in total offense (405.9 yards per game), were ranked second in passing offense (170.0 yards per game), ninth in rushing offense (235.9 yards per game) and ninth in scoring offense (26.0 points per game).

Quarterback Randy Duncan was named the 1958 Big Ten Most Valuable Player and was selected to the 1958 All-Big Ten first team and the 1958 All-America first team. He finished second in the 1958 Heisman Trophy voting behind Pete Dawkins of Army. In 1997 Duncan was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. End Curt Merz was selected to the 1958 All-America first team. Halfback Willie Fleming was selected to the 1958 All-Big Ten first team. Thirty-four Iowa Hawkeyes, including Duncan, Merz and Fleming, won letters in 1958.

References

[http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/football_history/1958.html 100+ Years of Iowa Football]

[http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/iowa-m-footbl-archive.html Hawkeye Archives]

MacCambridge, M. (2005) "ESPN College Football Encyclopedia". New York: ESPN Books. ISBN 1-4013-3703-1

Maly, R. (2003) "Tales from the Iowa Sidelines". Sports Publishing L.L.C. ISBN 1-58261-574-8

"The Gazette" (2006) "Greatest Moments in Iowa Hawkeyes Football History". Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-57243-901-6