Tag: Forest Evashevski

USC Big Ten Tour with Hawkeyes Wire: remembering Forest Evashevski

.@HawkeyesWire remembers the only #Iowa coach to win the #RoseBowl. 1959 Iowa-Cal is the last time Cal played in the Granddaddy.

Hayden Fry is a legend at the University of Iowa. Kirk Ferentz has achieved a lot in the 24 years he has been on the job in Iowa City with the Hawkeyes. Howard Jones, who built USC football in the late 1920s and is the most important figure in USC football history, coached at Iowa and did really well there. Yet, none of those men won the Rose Bowl Game at Iowa.

Only one man did: Forest Evashevski.

As we continue our USC Big Ten Tour summer podcast series with Hawkeyes Wire, let’s reflect on the career of Forest Evashevski. He led Iowa to Rose Bowl wins in the 1956 and 1958 college football seasons. The 1959 Rose Bowl between Iowa and Cal is the last time Cal has played in the Granddaddy.

For a few brilliant years in the late 1950s, Iowa was a legitimate national power in college football. The program fell on hard times in the 1960s and 1970s before Hayden Fry resurrected the program in the early 1980s, but Evashevski showed that Iowa football could win in Pasadena on January 1.

Kirk Ferentz coached in the 2016 Rose Bowl and lost to Stanford. It would be hugely special and transformative if Iowa could ever win another Rose Bowl.

Here’s our show on Forest Evashevski with Hawkeyes Wire editor Josh Helmer:  

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Full list of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ inductees into the College Football Hall of Fames

How many Iowa Hawkeyes have made the College Football Hall of Fames? Here’s a look at Iowa’s comprehensive list of inductees.

A pair of former Iowa Hawkeyes recently found their names included on the 2023 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. Former Iowa tight end Dallas Clark and Hawkeye offensive tackle Robert Gallery were listed on the National Football Foundation’s ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Of course, Clark finished his career in 17th place on Iowa’s career receiving list with 1,281 yards on 81 receptions in his two seasons in Iowa City playing tight end. The Twin River Valley High School product from Bode, Iowa, helped the Hawkeyes to a share of the 2002 Big Ten title and the program’s first-ever 11-win season.

He also holds the record for the longest pass reception in school history, hauling in a 95-yard touchdown grab against Purdue during the 2002 season. In 2002, Clark was a consensus All-American and the recipient of the John Mackey Award, which is presented to the country’s top tight end annually.

Clark was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 24th pick of the first round in the 2003 NFL draft. In his 11 seasons as a professional, Clark reeled in 505 passes for 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, in 2003, Gallery was a consensus All-American and awarded the Outland Trophy, which is bestowed annually to the nation’s top interior lineman. He was a two-time first team All-Big Ten selection and helped anchor Iowa’s offensive line during its undefeated trek through Big Ten play in 2002. Gallery also helped lead Iowa to another 10-win season in 2003.

After being drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NFL draft, Gallery played eight seasons in the NFL and started in 103 of the 104 games he appeared in.

That duo will hopefully see their names called into the College Football Hall of Fame soon and join an illustrious list of former Hawkeyes that already have their seat at the table.

How many former Iowa Hawkeyes have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fames? Here’s a look at the complete list below of National Football Foundation and Helms Athletic Foundation College Football Hall of Fame inductees.