The Iowa Hawkeyes is the team name used for
all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the University
of Iowa. Sports that are offered at Iowa include: baseball, basketball,
field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, rowing, soccer, softball,
swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. The school
is a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Iowa's football team plays its home games at historic Kinnick Stadium,
named after former Iowa football player Nile Kinnick who won the Heisman
Trophy in 1939. Kinnick Stadium hosts 70,585 fans. The stadium will
unveil a new look in 2006 with the completion of a 90 million dollar
renovation. The renovation included new stands in the south endzone and
a new press box. In the past few years, the football team has enjoyed
much success, making five national bowl appearances since 2001 including
Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2004.
Iowa battles Iowa State University annually for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, a
traveling award. It also has a Big Ten rivalry with Minnesota. The two
schools' football teams meet yearly to battle for Floyd of Rosedale, a
traveling trophy in the shape of a bronzed pig. In 2004, Iowa and
Wisconsin unveiled the Heartland Trophy, a bronze bull, to be played for
in their annual rivalry. The Hawkeye football team has won eleven Big
Ten football titles.
The school is also famous for its collegiate wrestling program. Through
2005, the Hawkeyes grapplers have won an amazing 20 national titles and
31 Big Ten titles. Coach Dan Gable's Gang won nine straight NCAA team
championships (1978 to 1986) and twice won three in a row (1991 to 1993
and 1995 to 1997). Iowa's 47 NCAA Champions have won a total of 73 NCAA
individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions.
Furthermore, Iowa's 127 all-Americans have earned all-America status 258
times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 29 two-time honorees.
Sports Illustrated named the Iowa program one of the top sports
dynasties of the 20th century. The program again made the news on March
29, 2006 when it was announced that wrestling coach Jim Zalesky's
contract will not be renewed. About a month later Iowa hired former 4
time All-American and Olympic champion Tom Brands as the new head coach
of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
