Records for the Fry-Ferentz Era at Iowa

[ChosenChildren]

Another season has come and gone. I was there every season starting in 1961, and then as a young man I saw an intense coach in 1979 at the age of 47 take over the Iowa program. His name was Hayden Fry, and no one knew much about him, except for a wise old owl named Bump Elliott. Iowa was the worst team in the Big Ten at that time, and it wasn't even close. A coaching graveyard!

Hayden built a winner and hired wonderful young coaches, including Bill Snyder, Dan McCarney, Barry Alvaraz, and the great Kirk Ferentz. Here is a summary:

1.Winning percentage at Iowa from 1961 through 1978: 34%. Zero bowls, zero winning seasons, zero championships.
2. Record from 1979 through 2025 inclusive (47 seasons): 355-215-6 (62% winning percentage).
3. Record in the Big Ten: 230-152-6 (60% winning percentage).
4. Record against Minnesota: 32-15
5. Record against Iowa State: 30-16
6. Record against Wisconsin: 28-14-1
7. Record against Nebraska: 11-8
8. Combined record against our 4 rivals: 101-53-1 (65% winning percentage)! Iowa had lopsided deficits against Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska before 1979
9. Big Ten titles: 5
10. Big Ten West titles: 3
11. Rose Bowls: 4
12. Orange Bowls: 2
13. Overall bowl record: 16-18-1

I hope it continues.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Great stats

 

[ssckelley]

Back in the day Fry was all about getting Iowa to bowl games. Now the question becomes how often will Iowa be a playoff team? I think that's going to be the new bar going forward.