University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

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15 1915

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of tlji HARACTERIZED by athletic experts throughout the Middle West as the greatest and most successful football team that has ever represented Iowa, not even excepting the memorable eleven of 1900, the Iowa team of 1913 will surely live long in the memories and hearts of the future generations of students. Closing the season with the undisputed record of having scored more points against opponents than did any other team of col- lege rank in the United States, it must be admitted that the work of the team was of superfine quality. During the season Hawley ' s men totaled three hundred and four points against fifty-two scored by opponents. This record requires no comment. The Hawkeyes first put their scoring machine into operation on October fourth, when the team from the State Teachers College was taken into camp by a count of 40 to 3. This result gave evidence of the latent power of the Hawkeyes. On October eleventh, the Cornell College eleven was the next victim to fall into the irresistible rush of the Hawkeye ' s high-geared cogs, and was ground up to the tune of 76 to 0. This overwhelming victory over a team which had always given Iowa a close battle presaged greater things to come. The following week the Hawkeyes received a temporary setback when Chicago, later undisputed champions of the Western Conference, forced the sons of Old Gold to take the small end of a 23 to 6 count. This game brought all the knowl- edge and football strategy of Coach Stagg into play to avert the defeat of his Maroon proteges. The score by no means illustrates the closeness of the strug- gle. Nothing daunted or dismayed by this crimp in their prospects, the lowans journeyed to Evanston the following Saturday, when the Northwestern Uni- versity team was humiliated, crushed and routed by the top-heavy score of 78 to 6. The proportions of this score and the ease with which it was chalked up caused open-mouthed wonder among critics all over the Middle West. The next game of the Iowa schedule brought Indiana, bent upon annexing a victory, to Iowa field. But the fond hopes of the Iloosier crowd were sadly shat- tered when the Hawkeyes, still going at top speed, ran rampant and turned the game Into a Marathon scoring exhibition. An inventory of points made in this game gave Iowa 60, Indiana 0. The result of this game caused another huge gasp from the critics. Home-coming day brought Ames, an ancient rival of repute to Iowa field, to fall a victim to the Iowa steam roller. The count Gross making end run 14 1915

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was 45 to 7 and will go down in history as the worst defeat suffered by either of the two schools in the history of their athletic relations. This game was the most fiercely fought of all the previous clashes of the season, but the battling Ilawkeyes were not to be denied, and gained their victory before the largest crowd that ever witnessed a football game at Iowa. Then came Nebraska, with results already well known. The Cornhuskers went into the fray with the record of having a clean slate for the season and also the prestige which goes with a team that had defeated Minnesota. Nevertheless Iowa was hardly pre- pared for defeat, but such was to be. The Hawkeyes tuned to concert pitch all season, suffered a slight slump, but enough to allow the Scarlet and Cream to snatch a hard-earned victory by a score of 12 to 0. Hawley ' s men had vic- tory within their grasp at least three times but an unfortunate combination of circumstances deprived the Iowa warriors of success. However, this upset of the dope will furnish a stimulus for the team of next year and something to look forward to in preparation for the time that Nebraska comes to Iowa field. At the close of the season, Iowa was given a higher rating in the con- ference standing than had been attained since 1900. Some authorities gave the team second place while others ranked it a tie for third. Prospects for maintaining this enviable record next year are good. The line from end to end remains intact. The famous back-field quartet has but two survivors, but there are capable substitutes from the 1913 team to fill the vacancy. In addi- tion to the veterans, the ranks will be reinforced by several Freshman stars developed last fall. The wonderful record made by the Iowa team was largely due, in addition to the native ability of the men, to the efficient coaching methods employed by head coach Jesse B. Hawley, and his capable assistants Morey L. Eby and E. A. Adams. These three men brought a spirit of aggressiveness and knowl- edge of football to bear, that produced a winner of the most pronounced type at Iowa and made the name of Ilawkeye one with which to conjure. The work of Jack Watson. s;it ' c and sane trainer, in conditioning the men for the hard struggles of the .schedule, must not be overlooked in the final summing up. The superb condition of the Iowa men in all their conflicts was a matter of favorable comment upon all sides. The followers of athletics at Iowa swear by Jack Watson, and pronounce him to be one of the most valuable acquisitions secured to assist in the movement for a greater Iowa. 16 1915