1984 Freedom Bowl

The 1984 Freedom Bowl was an American college football bowl game played on December 26, 1984, at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, CA. The inaugural edition of the Freedom Bowl matched the #19 Texas Longhorns of the Southwest Conference and the Big Ten's Iowa Hawkeyes. After leading 24–17 at halftime, the Hawkeyes blew the game open with 31 unanswered points in the third quarter to win 55–17.

1984 Freedom Bowl
Inaugural Freedom Bowl Game
Texas Longhorns Iowa Hawkeyes
(7–3–1) (7–4–1)
17 55
Head coach: 
Fred Akers		 Head coach: 
Hayden Fry
APCoaches
1920
1234 Total
Texas 01700 17
Iowa 1410310 55
DateDecember 26, 1984
Season1984
StadiumAnaheim Stadium
LocationAnaheim, CA
MVPChuck Long (Iowa QB)[1]
William Harris (Texas TE)[1]
RefereeJack Gatto (PCAA)
Mike Pereira (Line Judge)
Attendance24,093
United States TV coverage
NetworkTCS/Metrosports
AnnouncersSam Nover and Jack Snow

Background

The Longhorns started the season ranked #4 in the polls, and they beat #11 Auburn and #4 Penn State to rise to #1 in the polls. After a win over Rice, they tied #3 Oklahoma to fall to #3. Wins over Arkansas, #14 SMU, and Texas Tech soon followed. However, they lost to Houston at home, making them fall to #10. A win over #12 TCU was their last of the season, as they fell to Baylor and Texas A&M to close out the year, while finishing tied for second in the Southwest Conference with TCU and Arkansas, while SMU and Houston shared the crown. This was their 8th straight bowl appearance. Iowa began the year ranked #10 in the polls, and they won their opening game versus rival Iowa State to rise to #5. Losses to #12 Penn State and #5 Ohio State made them fall out of the polls. Five straight wins (including a win over #14 Purdue) made them rise back up to #17. They tied with Wisconsin 10-10, but a loss to Michigan State the following week made them fall out of the polls permanently. A loss to Minnesota was followed by a win over Hawaii to close out the regular season. They finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference, behind Ohio State, and tied 2nd placers Illinois & Purdue. This was Iowa's fourth straight bowl appearance.

Game summary

Iowa’s Chuck Long threw for 461 yards and a bowl-record[2] six touchdowns.[3] [4] [5]

Team statistics
Statistics Texas Iowa
First downs1528
Plays–yards69-30081-560
Rushes–yards15-11541-91
Passing yards185469
Passing: comp–att–int17-34-230-40-0
Time of possession

Individual leaders
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas PassingTodd Dodge16-32, 180 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingOrr
Johnson		12 carries, 67 yds;
8 carries, 56 yds
ReceivingBryant
Duhon		3 catches, 50 yds, 1 TD;
1 catch, 47 yds
Iowa PassingChuck Long29-39, 461 yds, 6 TD
RushingOwen Gill17 carries, 61 yds
ReceivingRobert Smith
Bill Happel		4 catches, 115 yds, 1 TD;
8 catches, 104 yds, 1 TD

[6]

Aftermath

The Longhorns made just two more bowl games in the decade, while Iowa made four more in the decade.

References
  1. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls" (PDF). 2012 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 94. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  2. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Individual Record Lists" (PDF). 2012 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 42. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  3. "Long Sets Records As Iowa Triumphs". The New York Times. December 27, 1984. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  4. "FREEDOM BOWL : Charting Freedom's Trail : 1984". Los Angeles Times. December 29, 1992. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. "Long nearly perfect, Iowa rips Texas". Chicago Tribune. December 27, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  6. Box score
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