A History of Northern Iowa University Football

The Northern Iowa Panthers football program has a long and storied history, representing the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. As a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), the program has been a consistent competitor, boasting a tradition that dates back to its inception in 1895.

Early Years and the Formation of a Program (1895-1940)

The genesis of UNI football can be traced to 1895. In its inaugural year, the team consisted of eleven men led by team captain J.C. Sanders. To support the team, a benefit was held to raise money for uniforms. The team played its first football game on October 19, 1895, in Cedar Rapids, defeating Coe College 12-10. Conway, who made the last UNI touchdown, threw the ball over his head after crossing the goal line. That season, UNI went 1-2, losing games to Lenox College and Upper Iowa University. The student newspaper explained their loss by stating that two of their men had never played in a match game before, and they hired no coach or trainer.

In 1896, the football team, then known as the Normals, achieved a 4-3 record, with victories over Waterloo High School, Cedar Valley Seminary, Reinbeck High School, and Cedar Falls High School. This early success laid the foundation for the program's growth.

The UNI football program faced a brief hiatus in 1906 and 1907 when the sport was deemed "too severe" by the Normal Athletic Board. This decision led some male students to transfer to other schools to continue playing football.

In 1897, Fred Wolff was hired as the coach, leading the team to a 5-1 record. The 1898 football team went 4-0-1 that season, defeating Waterloo YMCA, Cornell, Coe College, Upper Iowa, and the State University of Iowa. The University of Iowa football team first played UNI in 1898. UNI sent the Hawkeyes home that day with a 11-5 loss, the only time in history they defeated this university. The 1900 football team had a record of 3-4-1 for the season, defeating Waterloo High School, Upper Iowa, and Iowa State University. The 1902 football team had a losing season. They defeated only one team, Cornell College, and tied with William Penn. They lost the other six games that season, including a devastating loss to Iowa State 0-52. The 1903 football team had a winning season. The 1924 football team went 2-5 that season, defeating Iowa Wesleyan 54-6 and Dubuque 19-6. In the remaining five games, the team failed to score any points.

Read also: Northern Kentucky Basketball

Coaching and Facilities

UNI has had 24 coaches in 103 years of football. The early teams lacked teamwork due to the absence of a coach, which was addressed in 1897 with the hiring of Fred Wolff.

O.R. Latham Field, named for former UNI President O.R. Latham, served as the home field for football games until 1975. In 1976, the UNI-Dome was completed, providing a controlled environment for games and other events. At football games, where cold temperatures are frequently an issue for fans, the UNI-Dome announcers will announce "conditions at game time" prior to each game. The announcers will announce the weather in the town where the visiting team is from, the current weather conditions outside the Dome, and then say "Inside - 72 degrees, no wind, welcome to the Dome!" to emphasize the fact that a domed stadium is not affected by the weather.

Rivalries and Notable Games

Throughout its history, UNI has maintained rivalries with various Iowa universities, including the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

UNI vs. University of Iowa

The series between UNI and the University of Iowa spans 17 games, with UNI winning only once. Their first encounter in 1898 resulted in an 11-5 victory for UNI, marking their sole win against the Hawkeyes. The largest point spread occurred in 1914, with UNI losing 95-0.

UNI vs. Iowa State University

UNI and Iowa State University have faced each other 31 times, with UNI securing six victories and three ties. Their first game was in 1899, and UNI first managed to win in 1900 with a score of 5-0. Ninety-two years later, the Panthers defeated the Cyclones again, 27-10. In 1994, UNI won 28-14.

Key Moments and Achievements

The first televised Panther football game was in September 1978 against Youngstown State, which the Panthers lost 14-31. Jeff Stovall holds the record for the most touchdowns in a single season with 17 in 1993, and he also leads in career touchdowns with 44.

Several players have scored four touchdowns in a single game, including Art Landau (1953), Dick Beetsch (1954), Randy Schultz (1965), Terry Allen (1976 and 1978), Kelly Ellis (1977), and Dedric Ward (1995).

UNI played its first night football game on October 2, 1948, against Drake University, following the installation of lights at Latham Field.

Bowl Games and Playoff Appearances

UNI has participated in two bowl games, losing to Hillsdale College 6-17 in the Mineral Water Bowl in 1960 and defeating Lamar Tech 19-17 in the Pecan Bowl in 1964.

Any playoff appearance prior to 1978 was in the NCAA Division II playoffs. All subsequent appearances were in Division I-AA, now known as Football Championship Subdivision. When Division I-AA was formed for football in 1978, the playoffs included just four teams, doubling to eight teams in its fourth season of 1981. In 1982 the I-AA playoffs were expanded to 12 teams, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals. In its ninth season of 1986, the I-AA playoffs were expanded again, to the present 16-team format, requiring four post-season victories to win the title.

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The Modern Era (1978-Present)

When Division I-AA was formed for football in 1978, the playoffs included just four teams, doubling to eight teams in its fourth season of 1981. In 1982 the I-AA playoffs were expanded to 12 teams, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals. In its ninth season of 1986, the I-AA playoffs were expanded again, to the present 16-team format, requiring four post-season victories to win the title.

UNI has won thirty-three conference titles, the most out of the four Iowa Division I institutions.

Looking Ahead

The Northern Iowa Panthers football program continues to build on its rich history, striving for excellence in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and beyond. With a dedicated coaching staff, talented players, and a passionate fan base, the Panthers are poised to make a significant impact on the FCS landscape for years to come.

1990 Season Preview

1989 Review

The 1989 season saw the Panthers achieve an 8-3 record, with a 4-2 standing in their conference.

Key Personnel

Head Coach: Terry Allen
Assistant Coaches: A dedicated staff supporting Coach Allen.

Offensive Outlook

The Panthers' offense in 1990 was expected to be led by:

Quarterback: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)
Running Backs: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)
Wide Receivers: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)
Offensive Line: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)

An offensive depth chart was likely prepared to outline the team's options at each position.

Defensive Outlook

The defensive unit was anchored by:

Defensive Line: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)
Linebackers: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)
Secondary: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)

A defensive depth chart would have been used to organize the defensive personnel.

Special Teams

Kickers and Punters: (Information on specific players would be inserted here if available)

Recruiting

The 1990 recruiting class was noted for its speed.

Schedule and Opponents

The 1990 schedule included games against: Southern Illinois, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Idaho State, Illinois State, Western Illinois, Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State, Clarion University, and Northern Arizona. Scouting reports were prepared for each opponent.

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