All this did not immediately translate into wins. Iowa had losing seasons in 1979 and 1980, and some began to wonder if Fry would suffer the same fate as the four coaches before him. But that all changed in 1981, a magical season for Hawkeye fans. Iowa began the season by upsetting Nebraska, a team that had defeated Iowa 57–0 the previous season. Iowa had a record of 8–3 in the regular season in 1981, their first winning record in 21 years. The Hawks also garnered a share of the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth.