1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Sun Bowl, L 7–17 vs. Arizona State
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1997 record	7–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Hayden Fry (19th year)
Offensive coordinator	Don Patterson (6th year)
Defensive coordinator	Bob Elliott (2nd year)
Home stadium	Kinnick Stadium (Capacity: 70,397)
Seasons ← 1996 1998 →

1997 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
#1 Michigan $		8	–	0					12	–	0
#12 Ohio State		6	–	2					10	–	3
#16 Penn State		6	–	2					9	–	3
#15 Purdue		6	–	2					9	–	3
Wisconsin		5	–	3					8	–	5
Iowa		4	–	4					7	–	5
Michigan State		4	–	4					7	–	5
Northwestern		3	–	5					5	–	7
Minnesota		1	–	7					3	–	9
Indiana		1	–	7					2	–	9
Illinois		0	–	8					0	–	11
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Northern Iowa at #19 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 0 0 0 0 0 • Hawkeyes 10 28 7 21 66 Date: September 6 Location: Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 66,325 Sources: Box score and Game recap

Scoring summary 1 14:40 Iowa Tavian Banks 63-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 7–0 1 7:53 Iowa Zach Bromert 40-yard field goal Iowa 10–0 2 14:53 Iowa Tavian Banks 40-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 17–0 2 14:29 Iowa Tim Dwight 27-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 24–0 2 10:56 Iowa Tavian Banks 6-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 31–0 2 2:25 Iowa Damon Gibson 65-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 38–0 3 6:14 Iowa Rob Thein 6-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 45–0 4 14:55 Iowa Richard Willcock 26-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Greg McLaughlin kick) Iowa 52–0 4 7:02 Iowa R. Carter 27-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 59–0 4 1:47 Iowa Henry Pollio 1-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 66–0

Scoring summary
1	14:40	Iowa	Tavian Banks 63-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 7–0
1	7:53	Iowa	Zach Bromert 40-yard field goal	Iowa 10–0
2	14:53	Iowa	Tavian Banks 40-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 17–0
2	14:29	Iowa	Tim Dwight 27-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 24–0
2	10:56	Iowa	Tavian Banks 6-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 31–0
2	2:25	Iowa	Damon Gibson 65-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 38–0
3	6:14	Iowa	Rob Thein 6-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 45–0
4	14:55	Iowa	Richard Willcock 26-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Greg McLaughlin kick)	Iowa 52–0
4	7:02	Iowa	R. Carter 27-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 59–0
4	1:47	Iowa	Henry Pollio 1-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 66–0

Tulsa at #17 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Golden Hurricane 0 10 6 0 16 • Hawkeyes 23 7 7 17 54 Date: September 13 Location: Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 64,893 Sources: Box score and Game recap

Scoring summary 1 9:55 Iowa Tavian Banks 71-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 7–0 1 4:45 Iowa Zach Bromert 27-yard field goal Iowa 10–0 1 4:29 Iowa Tavian Banks 14-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 17–0 2 0:37 Iowa Tavian Banks 14-yard run (PAT failed) Iowa 23–0 2 7:55 Tulsa Charlie Higgins 13-yard pass from John Fitzgerald (James Anderson kick) Iowa 23–7 2 3:20 Iowa James Anderson 32-yard field goal Iowa 23–10 2 0:00 Iowa Tim Dwight 35-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 30–10 3 9:05 Tulsa Charlie Higgins 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed) Iowa 30–16 3 4:28 Iowa Tavian Banks 23-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 37–16 4 14:24 Iowa Rob Thein 9-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 44–16 4 9:31 Iowa Zach Bromert 34-yard field goal Iowa 47–16 4 9:11 Iowa Richard Willcock 27-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 54–16

Scoring summary
1	9:55	Iowa	Tavian Banks 71-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 7–0
1	4:45	Iowa	Zach Bromert 27-yard field goal	Iowa 10–0
1	4:29	Iowa	Tavian Banks 14-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 17–0
2	0:37	Iowa	Tavian Banks 14-yard run (PAT failed)	Iowa 23–0
2	7:55	Tulsa	Charlie Higgins 13-yard pass from John Fitzgerald (James Anderson kick)	Iowa 23–7
2	3:20	Iowa	James Anderson 32-yard field goal	Iowa 23–10
2	0:00	Iowa	Tim Dwight 35-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 30–10
3	9:05	Tulsa	Charlie Higgins 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed)	Iowa 30–16
3	4:28	Iowa	Tavian Banks 23-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 37–16
4	14:24	Iowa	Rob Thein 9-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 44–16
4	9:31	Iowa	Zach Bromert 34-yard field goal	Iowa 47–16
4	9:11	Iowa	Richard Willcock 27-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 54–16

#13 Iowa at Iowa State
Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total • Hawkeyes 14 21 21 7 63 Cyclones 0 6 7 7 20 Date: September 20 Location: Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA Game attendance: 50,066 Sources: Box score and Game recap

Scoring summary 1 14:02 Iowa Tavian Banks 82-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 7–0 1 2:24 Iowa Tavian Banks 8-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 14–0 2 9:53 Iowa Tavian Banks 1-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 21–0 2 6:15 Iowa Tim Dwight 41-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 28–0 2 3:38 Iowa Tim Dwight 29-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 35–0 2 1:18 ISU Andy Stensrud 11-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (PAT failed) Iowa 35–6 3 11:46 Iowa Tim Dwight 33-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 42–6 3 10:41 Iowa Tavian Banks 4-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 49–6 3 6:45 ISU Andy Stensrud 5-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (Jamie Kohl kick) Iowa 49–13 3 4:00 Iowa Kerry Cooks 30-yard interception return (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 56–13 4 6:15 ISU Tyrone Watley 30-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (Jamie Kohl kick) Iowa 56–20 4 4:32 Iowa Damon Gibson 58-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 63–20

Scoring summary
1	14:02	Iowa	Tavian Banks 82-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 7–0
1	2:24	Iowa	Tavian Banks 8-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 14–0
2	9:53	Iowa	Tavian Banks 1-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 21–0
2	6:15	Iowa	Tim Dwight 41-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 28–0
2	3:38	Iowa	Tim Dwight 29-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 35–0
2	1:18	ISU	Andy Stensrud 11-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (PAT failed)	Iowa 35–6
3	11:46	Iowa	Tim Dwight 33-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 42–6
3	10:41	Iowa	Tavian Banks 4-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 49–6
3	6:45	ISU	Andy Stensrud 5-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (Jamie Kohl kick)	Iowa 49–13
3	4:00	Iowa	Kerry Cooks 30-yard interception return (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 56–13
4	6:15	ISU	Tyrone Watley 30-yard pass from Todd Bandhauer (Jamie Kohl kick)	Iowa 56–20
4	4:32	Iowa	Damon Gibson 58-yard pass from Randy Reiners (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 63–20

Illinois at #9 Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total Fighting Illini 0 3 0 7 10 • Hawkeyes 7 17 7 7 38 Date: September 27 Location: Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 70,397 Sources: Box score and Game recap

Scoring summary 1 5:22 Iowa Tavian Banks 2-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 7–0 2 11:52 Illinois Neil Rackers 37-yard field goal Iowa 7–3 2 8:08 Iowa Tony Collins 61-yard punt return (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 14–3 2 1:47 Iowa Zach Bromert 40-yard field goal Iowa 17–3 2 0:05 Iowa Damon Gibson 43-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 24–3 3 7:17 Iowa Tavian Banks 31-yard run (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 31–3 4 8:59 Illinois George McDonald-Ashford 28-yard pass from Tim Lavery (Neil Rackers kick) Iowa 31–10 4 3:25 Iowa Tony Collins 16-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick) Iowa 38–10

Scoring summary
1	5:22	Iowa	Tavian Banks 2-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 7–0
2	11:52	Illinois	Neil Rackers 37-yard field goal	Iowa 7–3
2	8:08	Iowa	Tony Collins 61-yard punt return (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 14–3
2	1:47	Iowa	Zach Bromert 40-yard field goal	Iowa 17–3
2	0:05	Iowa	Damon Gibson 43-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 24–3
3	7:17	Iowa	Tavian Banks 31-yard run (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 31–3
4	8:59	Illinois	George McDonald-Ashford 28-yard pass from Tim Lavery (Neil Rackers kick)	Iowa 31–10
4	3:25	Iowa	Tony Collins 16-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Zach Bromert kick)	Iowa 38–10

The 1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. They participated as members of the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium and were led by legendary coach Hayden Fry.

Avenging an upset loss from the previous season, the Hawkeyes rolled up over 600 yards of total offense for the second time in as many games. Senior running back Tavian Banks rushed for a school record 314 yards and a school record-tying 4 touchdowns.

The Hawkeyes won against the rival Cyclones for the 15th consecutive year.

Playing their second straight game against a Top 10 team on the road, the Hawkeyes put together a very strong first half. On the final play before the break, Michigan punted to All-American Tim Dwight who took it 61 yards to the house for a 21-7 halftime lead. The Wolverines clamped down in the second half, outscoring Iowa 21-3. Michigan would go on to finish 12-0 and claim the AP National Championship.

The Hawkeyes scored 60+ points for the third time of the 1997 season. The win was highlighted by an electrifying 92-yard punt return for a TD by Tim Dwight. Dwight also caught a 29-yard touchdown from Randy Reiners, who was making his first start at QB, and threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Damon Gibson. The defense did plenty as well. In addition to pitching a shutout, Matt Bowen and J.P. Lange each added long interception returns for touchdowns.

The Badgers defeated the Hawkeyes for the first time since the 1976 season.

After consecutive disappointing road losses, the Hawkeyes returned to Kinnick Stadium and closed the regular season with a decisive win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Senior Day. Late in the 3rd Quarter, Tim Dwight returned a punt 44 yards for a touchdown, giving him the Big Ten record for punt return touchdowns in a career (the record stood until 2006). The Iowa defense posted its third shutout in six home games during the 1997 season.

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