As today is the anniversary of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (if you don’t know the meaning of that, read a book, folks!), I did a deep dive a week ago into what I would consider the closest thing to a parallel season/year of the one we are going through now. 1918
September 1918 was the final push of World War 1 with the Western Front battles that were the most brutal of all. College campuses did not have their best athletes as they were needed overseas. Prohibition was just around the corner. And there were headlines of schools, theaters, and particularly army camps being shut down due to Spanish Flu (and to the grippe). On the Monday before Iowa’s first scheduled FB game, multiple Big10 games were cancelled, including much of Minnesota’s schedule. Iowa’s opener was in jeopardy.
That Thursday, the Big 10 “suspended” control of football to the War Department. The War Dept set guidelines including no overnight trips until November 1st, when two would be allowed. Also the conference allowed freshman eligibility.
Iowa found out on Wednesday that they would play Great Lakes Naval Station that Saturday. They had 3 days to practice. With a good returning crew, and players like frosh Lester Belding and Duke Slater now eligible, they lost to a veteran Sailor team 10-0.
Iowa went on to a good season in 1918. Among the most interesting of game was a surprise game played in October vs Coe. Iowa was to play Northwestern but the War Dept wouldn’t allow NW to tracel. Coe was scheduled. That was the War part of the game. The pandemic portion was the flu situation forced the game to be played in quarantine conditions. Only SATC personnel was allowed (Old time ROTC). They had 1500 or so there, all wearing SATC uniforms—no women. Iowa won 27-0 with Lester Belding scoring his first Iowa TD.
Anyhoo, Iowa finished with a scoreless tie to Camp Dodge (played in DM) for a 6-2-1 record,, with their other loss being outmanned at Illinois (with future Iowa coach Bert Ingwersen at tackle for the Illini)
What the hell does this have to do with anything, Ancient? Rambling with another sh&tty pointless post, right? Well, later that fall (actually 102 years ago Monday), Iowa finally beat Minnesota for the first time on the FB field. Big deal? Yup. Last two Minnesota games ended 57-13 and 67-donut.
AH
September 1918 was the final push of World War 1 with the Western Front battles that were the most brutal of all. College campuses did not have their best athletes as they were needed overseas. Prohibition was just around the corner. And there were headlines of schools, theaters, and particularly army camps being shut down due to Spanish Flu (and to the grippe). On the Monday before Iowa’s first scheduled FB game, multiple Big10 games were cancelled, including much of Minnesota’s schedule. Iowa’s opener was in jeopardy.
That Thursday, the Big 10 “suspended” control of football to the War Department. The War Dept set guidelines including no overnight trips until November 1st, when two would be allowed. Also the conference allowed freshman eligibility.
Iowa found out on Wednesday that they would play Great Lakes Naval Station that Saturday. They had 3 days to practice. With a good returning crew, and players like frosh Lester Belding and Duke Slater now eligible, they lost to a veteran Sailor team 10-0.
Iowa went on to a good season in 1918. Among the most interesting of game was a surprise game played in October vs Coe. Iowa was to play Northwestern but the War Dept wouldn’t allow NW to tracel. Coe was scheduled. That was the War part of the game. The pandemic portion was the flu situation forced the game to be played in quarantine conditions. Only SATC personnel was allowed (Old time ROTC). They had 1500 or so there, all wearing SATC uniforms—no women. Iowa won 27-0 with Lester Belding scoring his first Iowa TD.
Anyhoo, Iowa finished with a scoreless tie to Camp Dodge (played in DM) for a 6-2-1 record,, with their other loss being outmanned at Illinois (with future Iowa coach Bert Ingwersen at tackle for the Illini)
What the hell does this have to do with anything, Ancient? Rambling with another sh&tty pointless post, right? Well, later that fall (actually 102 years ago Monday), Iowa finally beat Minnesota for the first time on the FB field. Big deal? Yup. Last two Minnesota games ended 57-13 and 67-donut.
AH
