Iowa Hawkeyes ©	Michigan Wolverines
Played October 17, 1981 at Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, Michigan

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Iowa ©	1	3	2	0	.600	2	1	0	.667	1	1	0	.500
Michigan	2	10	5	0	.667	5	1	0	.833	4	2	0	.667	1	2	0	.333

 

 

As the 1981 season opened, it appeared this game would be a Belt match-up but with preseason No. 1 Michigan as defending champion.  An opening day loss to Wisconsin changed that.  Now 5^th ranked at 4-1, the Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler hosted the 12^th ranked, 4-1 Iowa Hawkeyes of coach Hayden Fry who were defending The Belt.  The Hawkeyes used 3 field goals from freshman PK Tom Nichol to claim a 9-7 win over the powerful Wolverines & retain The Belt.  Nichol connected on field goals of 20 & 36 yards in the 1^st quarter as the Hawkeyes took a 6-0 lead.  Midway through the 2^nd quarter, the Wolverines faced a 3^rd & 15 situation from the Iowa 17-yard line when QB Steve Smith found All-American WR Anthony Carter open in the corner of the end zone on a touchdown pass giving Michigan a 7-6 lead they held through halftime.  Iowa tried to establish momentum on their first drive of the 3^rd quarter as they attempted to converted a 4^th & 2 play from the Michigan 45-yard line but Iowa's RB Phil Blatcher was hit by Michigan's LB Ben Needham & a fumble followed.  Neither team recovered the ball before it rolled out of bounds at the Iowa 40-yard line but Michigan took over possession on downs.  Two plays later, Smith hit Carter for a 29-yard gain to the Iowa 10-yard line.  Three plays after that, Smith tried to connect with TE Dave Betts but Betts was hit trying to make the catch & the ball deflected into the hands of Iowa's LB Mel Cole for the interception.  The Hawkeyes took the turnover & drove to field goal position before Nichol converted the 30-yard attempt giving Iowa a 9-7 lead.  Michigan got into Iowa territory once more in the game but that drive was stopped when Hawkeyes' All-American DE Andre Tippett & All-Big Ten DT Mark Bortz tackled Carter short of the marker on a 4^th down reverse.  Iowa's QB Gordy Bohannon threw for 127 yards while the Wolverines' Smith threw for 108 yards with a touchdown but also an interception.  Michigan's RB Butch Woolfolk, who entered the game as the nation’s 4^th leading rusher, was held to just 56 yards rushing as the Hawkeyes defeated the Wolverines for the first time since 1962.  Iowa finished the season 8-4; Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 18^th nationally while the Wolverines finished 9-3 & ranked 12^th nationally.  Michigan would play for The Belt again in 2 weeks.