The annual Iowa Hawkeye/Iowa State Cyclone football extravaganza is front and center this Saturday.......and I, the Kornerman, don't like it. Never have.
I love both these teams and all other Iowa teams and never want any of them to lose. When I was a media member I covered both teams, oftentimes from the respective press boxes. At one time, I had ISU basketball season tickets and Iowa University football season tickets.
To me, these in-state contests are not a bit enjoyable. Yes, I'm happy for the winner BUT the poor loser already has a stain on its seasonal record in the first two weeks of the season.
Because of the subjected involved, I decided this would be a good time to salute the Boone influence on both the Cyclone and Hawkeye football histories.
Right off the bat, let's enjoy and boast this bit of local history that may never be duplicated. In the 1940 season, both football programs featured full season captains that were Boone Iowa products. The Cyclone captain was Tom Smith, BHS-37, and the Hawkeye captain was Mike "Iron Mike" Enich, BHS-37. I continue to wonder.......has this ever happened before? I doubt it. Captains from both football teams from the same town in the same year.
Both Iowa and ISU have had Boone All-Americans..........Jim Doran of the Cyclones and Mike Enich of the Hawkeyes. I know, some of you are going to get technical on me and say that Doran was a graduate of Beaver High School, which didn't have a high school football program. However, we've always called Jim "one of our own." He's always had many relatives in Boone and after his high school days, his parents moved to Boone.
At ISU, Doran was a two-time All-Conference end who earned All-American status in 1950, at which time he owned almost all of the Cyclone pass receiving records. He went on to National Football League fame, primarily with the Detroit Lions. He played on three NFL championship teams and was a Pro Bowl selectee in 1960.
Before the Super Bowl was initiated, there was simply an NFL championship game. Later it was called the Super Bowl. In the 1953 championship game, Detroit edged the Cleveland Browns, 17-16, as Doran caught a 33-yard game winning touchdown pass. He played 11 years in the NFL, and was an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a year before his love of farming drove him back to Iowa. He died in 1994. They weren't BHS grads, but two of Jim's sons were also Cyclone letterwinners.....Jim Junior in 1987-90 and Lant from 1989-91.
Mike Enich was a fullback at Boone High School but Dr. Eddie Anderson, his coach at Iowa, made him a tackle on the 1939 "Ironman" team that had such a small roster, most players had to play the entire 60 minute games. Enich, himself, played "all the way" in six of the contests during the 6-1-1 season which was highlighted by a 7-6 win over Notre Dame and a final number nine national ranking. That 1939 team also featured Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick. Due to five years of military service, Enich had no opportunity for a professional football career. However, after his service time, he did come back to the University of Iowa, earned a law degree and became a District Court Judge. He died in 1978.
There have been several other Boone natives who have played football for either the Cyclones or Hawkeyes.
At Iowa, Terry Ferry, BHS-61, played in the 1964-65 seasons and John Hendricks, BHS-64, played in the 1965-67 campaigns.
He never lettered, but George (Bricky) Johnstone, BHS-52, was a member of the Hawkeye squad in the mid-50's AND I'm not sure about this, but I think Nelson Tompkins, a Hawkeye letterman in 1930-31, eventually became a well known Boone resident, although he was not a BHS graduate?
At ISU, Don (Red) Houser, BHS-49, was a Cyclone letterman in 1952-53 and Tim Creasman, BHS-83, lettered in 1986-88.
Houser gave a young Mo Kelley quite a thrill. I and some BHS classmates often traveled, usually hitch-hiked, to Cyclone games. I recall an ISU season opening game at Clyde Williams Field when Houser took an early kickoff and ran it all the way back for a touchdown. It's a moment I've never forgotten......seeing a former Toreador, who was a hero of mine, star in a college game at Iowa State College.
WHO AM I MISSING FROM MY LIST????
SO, IN CONCLUSION,.......The word is "Fight! Fight! Fight! for Iowa, Let every loyal Iowan sign, the word is "Fight! Fight! Fight! for Iowa until the walls and rafters ring."
OR......."Oh, we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State and may her colors ever fly. Oh, we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa State with the will to do or die."
Isn't a tie possible????
K-----K
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