1950 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 1950 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa as a member of the Big Nine Conference during the 1950 Big Nine football season. In their first season under head coach Leonard Raffensperger, the Hawkeyes compiled a 4–5 record (3–3 in conference games), finished in sixth place in the Big Nine, and were outscored by a total of 201 to 121.^[1][2]

1950 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	3–5–1 (2–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Leonard Raffensperger (1st season)
MVP	Harold Bradley Jr.
Home stadium	Iowa Stadium
Seasons ← 1949 1951 →

1950 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 9 Michigan $	4	–	1	–	1			6	–	3	–	1
No. 14 Ohio State	5	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Wisconsin	5	–	2	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
No. 13 Illinois	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Northwestern	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	3	–	0
Iowa	2	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
Minnesota	1	–	4	–	1			1	–	7	–	1
Indiana	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	5	–	1
Purdue	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1950 Hawkeyes gained 1,650 rushing yards and 994 passing yards. On defense, they gave up 1,242 rushing yards and 1,107 passing yards.^[3]

On October 28, 1950, Ohio State scored 83 points against Iowa. The Buckeyes' 83 points remains the largest point total given up by an Iowa team since 1902 when Michigan's Point-a-Minute team scored 107 points against the Hawkeyes.^[4]

The team's statistical leaders included Glenn Drahn (585 rushing yards, 55-of-168 passing for 835 yards); Bill Reichardt (11 receptions for 95 yards); and Jerry Faske (24 points scored).^[5] Tackle Harold Bradley Jr. was selected as the team's most valuable player.^[6]

The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Home attendance was 222,921, an average of 44,584 per game.^[7]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 29	at No. 12 USC*		Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	W 20–14	45,167
October 7	at Indiana	No. 17	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	L 7–20
October 14	No. 15 Wisconsin		Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA (rivalry)	L 0–14	46,333
October 21	Purdue		Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA	W 33–21	52,261
October 28	at No. 6 Ohio State		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	L 21–83	82,174
November 4	at Minnesota		Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)	W 13–0	60,321
November 11	No. 10 Illinois		Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 7–21	45,104
November 18	Notre Dame*		Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA	T 14–14	52,863
November 24	at No. 14 Miami (FL)*		Burdine Stadium Miami, FL	L 6–14
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1][2]

Players

The following players won varsity letters for their performance on the 1950 Iowa football team:

• Bernie Bennett, halfback, 175 pounds, Mason City, IA
• Don Bjork, end, Albert City, IA
• Robert Bostwick
• Harold Bradley Jr., tackle and MVP, 215 pounds, Chicago
• Duane Brandt, halfback, Waverly, IA
• Joe Bristol
• Burt Britzman, quarterback, Hawarden, IA
• Andy Buntz, tackle, Des Moines, IA
• Arnold Caplan, end, Des Moines, IA
• Don Commack, halfback, 180 pounds, Waterloo, IA
• Chuck Denning, fullback
• David DeProspero, end
• Jack Dittmer
• Glenn Drahn, quarterback, 185 pounds, Monona, IA
• Ron Fairchild, guard, Coralville, IA
• Jerry Faske, halfback, 185 pounds, Brooklyn, NY
• Lou Ginsberg, guard, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Bill Greene, fullback, Iowa City, IA
• Bob Hoff, end, 190 pounds, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Hubert Johnston, tackle, 240 pounds, Wheeling, WV
• Robert Lage, guard, 190 pounds, Long Grove, IA
• Jerry Long, end, 210 pounds, Ottumwa, IA
• Dick Meyer, end, Burlington, IA
• Dudley Noble, tackle, Ft. Madison, IA
• Joe Paulsen, tackle, Davenport, IA
• Ron Petersen, center, Clear Lake, IA
• Bill Reichart, fullback, 205 pounds, Iowa City, IA (All-Big Ten)
• Donald (Mike) Riley, fullback
• Fred Ruck, quarterback, Davenport, IA
• Jim Sangster, quarterback, Iowa City, IA
• Pete Spanjers, tackle, Milbank, SD
• Donald Swartzendruber, end, Wellman, IA
• John Towner, center, 205 pounds, Des Moines, IA
• Austin Turner, guard, 205 pounds, Corning, IA
• Bob Wilson, halfback, 185 pounds, Iowa City, IA
• Donald A. Woodhause (or Woodhouse), tackle, Harlan, IA

^[8][9]