Broghamer Swaps Uniforms

Dec. 31, 2015

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By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com

PASADENA, Calif. — Several University of Iowa football alumni stopped by practice during the week to wish the Hawkeyes well in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.

Another alumnus was in uniform Thursday when the Hawkeyes arrived at Rose Bowl Stadium for a team photograph and quick walk on the sacred turf.

Rose Bowl White

Bill Broghamer lettered for the UI football team in 1983 and was a third-string wide receiver when the Hawkeyes played Washington in the 1982 Rose Bowl Game. He has since traded his football uniform for one representing the Pasadena Police Department, where he has worked for 23 years.

Jeff Brown led Iowa with six receptions for 52 yards during a 28-0 loss to the Huskies in the 1982 Granddaddy of The All. Broghamer did not see action.

“I ran across the field,” he said with a laugh.

The memory of that special time in Hawkeye football lore is still fresh in Broghamer’s mind. It was his first trip to the state of California when Iowa came out two weeks before kickoff. The Hawkeyes practiced at Citrus College in Glendora, California.

“It was quite the experience,” Broghamer said. “We got to go to several different locations in the Los Angeles, Orange County area. The events were great — Disneyland and everything — then we had to buckle down and get ready for the game.”

Broghamer caught one pass for five yards during the 1982 season; in 1983 he caught 15 passes for 204 yards.

“Being that the Rose Bowl’s notoriety is world-wide, it is quite an accomplishment to be able to play in this type of event.”
Bill Broghamer
UI football alumnus

Broghamer was one of the first in a long and rich pipeline of Hawkeyes from Decorah, Iowa. Others are Lon and Jason Olejniczak, Brett Van Sloten, and now of course, sophomore linebacker Josey Jewell.

“It is a great thing. We have my Josey Jewell coming back here so we’re all happy campers — another Decorah boy gets to play in the Rose Bowl,” Broghamer said.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in business, Broghamer moved to California and lived with former teammate Ron Hawley, a defensive back who will always be remembered for knocking down a wooden goal post during a 24-18 win by Iowa at Michigan State in 1982. Broghamer began working in the federal system before moving on to become a corporal in the Pasadena Police Department.

As is the case in many small Iowa towns, Broghamer and Jewell are far from strangers.

“We have some family that are all inter-tied with the Courtneys, Jewells, and Broghamers,” Broghamer said. “Josey’s dad — Bobby Jewell, Robert Jewell — we have been best friends since childhood.”

Jewell was named Academic All-Big Ten and second team All-Big Ten this season after leading No. 5 Iowa in tackles with 119. He also has 7 ½ tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and three interceptions.

Iowa (12-1 overall) takes on No. 6 Stanford (11-2) on Friday in the 102nd Rose Bowl Game.

“Being that the Rose Bowl’s notoriety is world-wide, it is quite an accomplishment to be able to play in this type of event,” Broghamer said.

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