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In 1972, the UI President proposed re-naming Iowa Stadium to Kinnick-Slater Stadium. Is it time NOW?

Franisdaman

HR King
Nov 3, 2012
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That proposal did not go over so well. So a compromise was made and they named the stadium after Kinnick and a residence hall after Slater.

As you can see below, tributes to Duke in the residence hall are absent. No permanent plaque is affixed to the building and no photograph of Slater can be found on the walls. No biography of Slater is displayed in the lobby, letting residents know why the building is named after him, who he was or why it is important that he be remembered.




 
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Wow people are realllllly stretching to find dirt now
If you see the thread President Boyd said they chose not to include Slater to the stadium for fear of backlash from fans and administrators in attaching a black man's name to the stadium. The compromise was to attach Slater's name to a residence hall, which seems even more 'meh' considering what Slater Hall is today. And for what it's worth, Iowa State chose to name their stadium after Jack Trice in the 70's.

Kinnick-Slater Stadium sounds pretty cool. It doesn't take anything away from Nile Kinnick. As Iowa fans we should be proud to promote Duke Slater's legacy. Only until recently has he really been recognized on a larger scale.
 
There’s a huge relief in the north end zone dedicated to the incredible human being named Duke Slater. They can put his name anywhere and I wouldn’t complain. That guy has an amazing story that came to a tragic end.
I think you are thinking of Cal Jones. The only other player whose number is retired at Iowa.

Slater actually went on to have a very successful legal career in Chicago, even going on to become just the second black judge in the city's history.
 
Regardless what the stadium is named, every Iowan should know the story of Duke Slater and his life. A true pioneer and amazing Iowan and Hawkeye.
I have often said more needs to be done to recognize Slater and the 1920s teams. Iowa finally started doing that throughout the 2010s, including eventually recognizing the 1921 team as national champions, as they rightfully should.

The only other thing I'll pose for the entertainment of this thread is that fans had been clamoring for years to name the stadium after Kinnick, and his family was reluctant to give their permission. That's why it took until 1972 for that to happen.

Meanwhile, I don't think Duke would've felt any differently than Nile about having the stadium named after him. Truly humbled and honored, but he wouldn't want Iowa to go out of their way to change the stadium name simply because fans started crying for change to recognize black athletes.

But like I said, I still do think Iowa should find a way to better recognize him, because he is a very important figure, and one of my favorite players, in the annals of Iowa football history.
 
i see your point.

i also find it an interesting history lesson. i had no idea that Iowa Stadium was almost Kinnick-Slater Stadium until it became Kinnick Stadium.

It goes beyond the name of the stadium. I just don’t understand how little Duke Slater known or taught around here. As a life long Quad Citian, who has spent a significant amount of time in Clinton growing up, I am amazed how many do not know about him. Just a remarkable man.

https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/thre...igh-school-edition.313537/page-3#post-7642245
 
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Slater can be honored in other ways. The stadium name should be reserved for Nile, the greatest Hawkeye in history. The only Heisman winner and KIA in WW2.

They just put a sculpture of Slater on the stadium.
 
Cole Grolmus is a guest columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Is Cole right?

His opinion that appears in the Gazette today:

It's time to rename Kinnick Stadium

Fri., June 12, 2020

Kinnick Stadium is one of Iowa’s greatest treasures. It is also one of the greatest tragedies in our journey toward racial equality and social justice in the state.

When it was first proposed, Kinnick Stadium was supposed to be named Kinnick-Slater Stadium.

Kinnick is in honor of Nile Kinnick, a Hawkeye football player and 1939 Heisman winner. Duke Slater was a two time All-American at the University of Iowa, a seven time NFL All-Pro, and inaugural member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September 16, 2020. Duke Slater was a black man. Nile Kinnick was white.

In his book “Duke Slater,” Neal Rozendaal tells the story about renaming the stadium in 1972. Willard “Sandy” Boyd, the president of the University, proposed “Kinnick-Slater Stadium” as the new name for Iowa Stadium to honor two of our greats.

The proposal didn’t go over well. Rozendaal describes a stalemate between University President William Boyd and Gazette sports editor and columnist Gus Schrader. Boyd was for the dual name, Schrader against. Ivor W. Stanley, an Iowa House Republican, suggested a compromise — name a residence hall after Slater and the stadium after Kinnick.

The rest is history. An iconic college football stadium is named after Nile Kinnick. A college dormitory is named after Duke Slater. Most of us don’t even know why.

Iowans decided to honor the life of a Heisman trophy winner and war hero. We decided not to equally honor the life of a great Black athlete, scholar, professional, and alumnus. One who deserved to share the name of the stadium with Nile Kinnick.

When Iowa State named the field at Cyclone Stadium after Jack Trice in 1975, they became the first Division 1-A university to name a football stadium after an African-American in 1997. Iowa State chose to honor their first African-American hero, why are we so shy to do the same?

Nile Kinnick himself was deeply concerned about civil rights in our country. Kinnick wrote in his journal:

“We supposedly are fighting this war to obliterate the malignant idea of racial supremacy and master-slave relationships. When this war is over, the problem is apt to be more difficult than ever. May wisdom, justice, brotherly love guide our steps to the right direction.”

Honoring Duke Slater is honoring the very dream Nile Kinnick fought and died for.

Hayden Fry embraced social justice and reform when it was widely unacceptable to do so. A man who passed at age 90, universally revered and respected, had his life threatened in the 1960s to defend this cause.

All of us are left to carry Kinnick and Fry’s torch of social justice reform. As a University, we have rallied behind so many others who deserve dignity and support. We’ve honored farmers, troops, troops and children? How can we show the same level of support for current and former Black student-athletes, coaches, faculty, fans and members of the community?

What would it take to get Duke Slater added to the name of the stadium before the start of the season?

Dr. Boyd is 93. What would it take to allow him to see the change he so courageously asked for?

What would it take to start the process of healing 50 years of injustice?

Six letters. S-L-A-T-E-R.

Changing the stadium’s name can’t change the past. However, it can make a statement about our identity as a university, community and fans going forward.

We’ve talked about making change as individuals and as a team. This is what change looks like. We have another chance to do the right thing now. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

We need to do this before the start of the season. We have less than 90 days. Let’s get it done.
.......................................................................
Cole Grolmus (Tippie BBA07) is the co-founder of Soulwork, a technology startup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Correction: The Gus Schrader was previously misidentified as the racecar driver. While there was a Gus Schrader who was a racecar driver and beloved sports figure in Iowa, this is not him.

LINK to Story: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/...t/its-time-to-rename-kinnick-stadium-20200612
 
More crap from a Millenial
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Cole Grolmus is a guest columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Is Cole right?

His opinion that appears in the Gazette today:

It's time to rename Kinnick Stadium

Fri., June 12, 2020

Kinnick Stadium is one of Iowa’s greatest treasures. It is also one of the greatest tragedies in our journey toward racial equality and social justice in the state.

When it was first proposed, Kinnick Stadium was supposed to be named Kinnick-Slater Stadium.

Kinnick is in honor of Nile Kinnick, a Hawkeye football player and 1939 Heisman winner. Duke Slater was a two time All-American at the University of Iowa, a seven time NFL All-Pro, and inaugural member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September 16, 2020. Duke Slater was a black man. Nile Kinnick was white.

In his book “Duke Slater,” Neal Rozendaal tells the story about renaming the stadium in 1972. Willard “Sandy” Boyd, the president of the University, proposed “Kinnick-Slater Stadium” as the new name for Iowa Stadium to honor two of our greats.

The proposal didn’t go over well. Rozendaal describes a stalemate between University President William Boyd and Gazette sports editor and columnist Gus Schrader. Boyd was for the dual name, Schrader against. Ivor W. Stanley, an Iowa House Republican, suggested a compromise — name a residence hall after Slater and the stadium after Kinnick.

The rest is history. An iconic college football stadium is named after Nile Kinnick. A college dormitory is named after Duke Slater. Most of us don’t even know why.

Iowans decided to honor the life of a Heisman trophy winner and war hero. We decided not to equally honor the life of a great Black athlete, scholar, professional, and alumnus. One who deserved to share the name of the stadium with Nile Kinnick.

When Iowa State named the field at Cyclone Stadium after Jack Trice in 1975, they became the first Division 1-A university to name a football stadium after an African-American in 1997. Iowa State chose to honor their first African-American hero, why are we so shy to do the same?

Nile Kinnick himself was deeply concerned about civil rights in our country. Kinnick wrote in his journal:

“We supposedly are fighting this war to obliterate the malignant idea of racial supremacy and master-slave relationships. When this war is over, the problem is apt to be more difficult than ever. May wisdom, justice, brotherly love guide our steps to the right direction.”

Honoring Duke Slater is honoring the very dream Nile Kinnick fought and died for.

Hayden Fry embraced social justice and reform when it was widely unacceptable to do so. A man who passed at age 90, universally revered and respected, had his life threatened in the 1960s to defend this cause.

All of us are left to carry Kinnick and Fry’s torch of social justice reform. As a University, we have rallied behind so many others who deserve dignity and support. We’ve honored farmers, troops, troops and children? How can we show the same level of support for current and former Black student-athletes, coaches, faculty, fans and members of the community?

What would it take to get Duke Slater added to the name of the stadium before the start of the season?

Dr. Boyd is 93. What would it take to allow him to see the change he so courageously asked for?

What would it take to start the process of healing 50 years of injustice?

Six letters. S-L-A-T-E-R.

Changing the stadium’s name can’t change the past. However, it can make a statement about our identity as a university, community and fans going forward.

We’ve talked about making change as individuals and as a team. This is what change looks like. We have another chance to do the right thing now. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

We need to do this before the start of the season. We have less than 90 days. Let’s get it done.
.......................................................................
Cole Grolmus (Tippie BBA07) is the co-founder of Soulwork, a technology startup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Correction: The Gus Schrader was previously misidentified as the racecar driver. While there was a Gus Schrader who was a racecar driver and beloved sports figure in Iowa, this is not him.

LINK to Story: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/...t/its-time-to-rename-kinnick-stadium-20200612
I think many of us are done being lectured to.
 
Iowa students/supporters had been trying to get the stadium renamed in Kinnick's honor since the end of WWII.

Originally, Kinnick's father did not allow it because he didn't want Nile to be recognized any more than the other men who had given their lives in the war.

It was an off and on discussion from there until 1970 when things really began to pick up again.

So let's not rewrite history here and pretend that all of the sudden in 1972, after all those years, they wanted to rename the stadium to honor both Kinnick and Slater, but due to potential racial tension chose not to.

I would like them to do more to honor Slater too, but let's not just be doing it to show how woke we are...........
 
Iowa students/supporters had been trying to get the stadium renamed in Kinnick's honor since the end of WWII.

Originally, Kinnick's father did not allow it because he didn't want Nile to be recognized any more than the other men who had given their lives in the war.

It was an off and on discussion from there until 1970 when things really began to pick up again.

So let's not rewrite history here and pretend that all of the sudden in 1972, after all those years, they wanted to rename the stadium to honor both Kinnick and Slater, but due to potential racial tension chose not to.

I would like them to do more to honor Slater too, but let's not just be doing it to show how woke we are...........
This. We definitely need to do more to educate people about the accomplishments of a Great Hawk, Duke Slater. But Nile Kinnick , our only Heisman Trophy winner, who died serving our country during WWII, is the perfect namesake for the stadium. Nate Wieting's idea is also a good one.
 
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