Nearly 24 years after leading then-No. 1 Iowa to a 12-10 win over then-No. 2 Michigan at Kinnick Stadium, former Hawkeye quarterback Chuck Long makes a return to Iowa City.

On Thursday, Long was named Iowa’s honorary team captain for the No. 12 Hawkeyes’ Homecoming contest against the Wolverines.

During that magical 1985 season that saw Iowa win the Big Ten and play in the Rose Bowl, Long won both the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards, in addition to being the Heisman runner-up behind Auburn running back Bo Jackson in the closest vote in the history of the award.

As a Hawkeye, the Wheaton, Ill., native threw for 10,461 career yards and 74 career touchdowns. Long will join the current group of Hawkeye captains on the field for the coin flip and be present on the sidelines and in the locker room.

Former linebacker Larry Station will also be honored at halftime. Station is a member of that 1985 squad. He will be recognized on Saturday for entering the College Football Hall of Fame next year.

— by Brendan Stiles