1947 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1947 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa in the 1947 Big Nine Conference football season. The team compiled a 3–5–1 record (2–3–1 against conference opponents) and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Nine Conference.[1][2] After opening its season with a 59–0 shutout victory over North Dakota State, the team was outscored 179 to 86 in its remaining eight games.[1]

1947 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Record3–5–1 (2–3–1 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPHarold Schoener
Home stadiumIowa Stadium
Seasons
← 1946
1948 →
1947 Big Nine Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Michigan $ 6 0 0 10 0 0
Wisconsin 3 2 1 5 3 1
Minnesota 3 3 0 6 3 0
Illinois 3 3 0 5 3 1
Purdue 3 3 0 5 4 0
Indiana 2 3 1 5 3 1
Iowa 2 3 1 3 5 1
Northwestern 2 4 0 3 6 0
Ohio State 1 4 1 2 6 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Head coach Eddie Anderson was in his sixth season as Iowa's head coach; he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.[3] On the evening before the final game of the 1947 season, Anderson submitted his resignation as head coach (effective in July 1948), citing "considerable loose talk" about the state of the program.[4] The team responded with a 13–7 victory over Minnesota.[5] Fans begged Anderson to reconsider, and the Iowa athletic board denied his resignation, promising him a larger coaching staff and other football improvements. Anderson decided to stay, saying, "I'm glad we got things straightened out."[6]

The team's statistical leaders included Bob Smith with 395 rushing yards and 30 points scored, Al DiMarco with 644 passing yards, and Emlen Tunnell with 262 receiving yards.[7] Tunell later played 14 years in the National Football League and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other players of note included Jack Dittmer, who later played six years in Major League Baseball,[8] and end Harold Schoener, who was selected as the most valuable player on the 1947 Iowa team.[9]

Iowa was ranked at No. 25 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.[10]

The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium. It drew 187,844 spectators at four home games, an average of 46,961 per game.[11]

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20North Dakota Agricultural*W 59–031,050[12]
September 26at UCLA*L 7–2289,800[13]
October 4Illinois
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
L 12–3552,294[14]
October 11Indiana 
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA
W 27–1451,000[15]
October 18at Ohio StateT 13–1372,998[16]
October 25at No. 2 Notre Dame*L 0–2156,000[17]
November 1at No. 16 PurdueL 0–2135,000[18]
November 8at No. 19 WisconsinL 14–4645,000[19]
November 15No. 20 Minnesota
  • Iowa Stadium
  • Iowa City, IA (rivalry)
W 13–750,000[20]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "1947 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "2012 Media Guide Iowa Football" (PDF). University of Iowa. 2012. pp. 167, 172. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "Eddie Anderson Member Biography". National Football Foundation. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  4. ^ "Anderson Resigns at Iowa: Hancher Accepts It; Board to Act Today". The Des Moines Register. November 15, 1947. p. 9.
  5. ^ "Iowa Amazes Minnesota, 13-7: Hawks Are Emphatic 'We Want Eddie'". The Des Moines Register. November 16, 1947. p. 17.
  6. ^ Finn, Mike; Leistikow, Chad (1998). Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 87. ISBN 1-57167-178-1.
  7. ^ 2012 Media Guide, pp. 196-197.
  8. ^ 2012 Media Guide, p. 144.
  9. ^ 2012 Media Guide, p. 152.
  10. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 18, 1947). "Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings". Times. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ 2012 Media Guide, p. 181.
  12. ^ Bert McGrane (September 21, 1947). "Iowa Unveils New Threat, 59-0: Runs Soften Bison, Then Passers Hit". The Des Moines Register. pp. V-1, V-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Frank Finch (September 27, 1947). "89,800 Fans See Bruins Rout Iowa Grids, 22-7: U.C.L.A. Explodes in Second Half". Los Angeles Times. pp. 8–9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Tony Cordaro (October 5, 1947). "Illinois Crushes Iowa, 35-12". The Des Moines Register. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Tony Cordaro (October 12, 1947). "Iowa Passes Dazzle Indiana, 27-14: Dimarco Hits Tunnell on 3 Scoring Plays". The Des Moines Register. pp. V-1, V-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Bucks Score Twice in Last Period To Gain 13-13 Tie With Hawkeyes". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 19, 1947. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Jim Costin (October 26, 1947). "Irish Win: N.D. Performs Brilliantly To Whip Iowa, 21-0". The South Bend Tribune. pp. III-1, III-2.
  18. ^ Corky Lamm (November 2, 1947). "Riveters Subdue Iowa: Purdue Posts Third Big 9 Success, 21-0". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 41–42 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Hank Casserly (November 9, 1947). "Brilliant Badger Team Rocks Iowa, 46-14; Stays In Big Nine Title Chase". The Capital Times. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "50,000 Cheer As Hawks Win The 'Big One'". The Des Moines Register. November 16, 1947. pp. 1L, 2L – via Newspapers.com.