Nov. 10, 2011
- 2011 Game Day Central
- 2011 Fall Camp Central
- America Needs Farmers
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- gohawks.com
- Iowa Football Wallpaper
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable has been named honorary captain for Saturday’s game against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes face the Spartans in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 with kickoff set for 11:01 a.m., in Kinnick Stadium. The game is sold out, which means Iowa has sold out 56 of its last 58 home games.
Gable is Iowa’s all-time winningest wrestling coach, having served as head coach from 1977 to 1997. He compiled a career record of 355-21-5. He coached 152 All-Americans, 45 national champions, 106 Big Ten champions and 10 Olympians, including four gold, one silver and three bronze medalists.
The Hawkeyes won 25 consecutive Big Ten championships, 21 under Gable as head coach and four while he was an assistant coach and administrator. He had a winning percentage of .932 and captured nine consecutive (1978-86) NCAA Championships. On only five occasions did a Gable-coached team lose more than one dual meet in a season. During his tenure, the Hawkeyes averaged over 17 wins and just one loss per season and posted an amazing 95-1 record inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
In 1972, he won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics without surrendering a point to any of his opponents. Gable was named to the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985, and the University of Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame as a coach in 2003.
Gable served as football’s honorary captain at last year’s home finale against Ohio State.
Gable will accompany the Iowa captains to the center of the field for the pre-game coin flip. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game and on the sidelines during the contest.