1922 Hawkeyes Surprised with Unbeaten Campaign

The Kinnick Stadium Wall of Honor is an elite membership, with simply 10 members.

Three of them – sort out Duke Slater, quarterback Aubrey Devine and fullback Gordon Locke – performed on Iowa’s undefeated 1921 group that was declared the nationwide champion by each the Billingsley Report and Parke Davis.

Iowa took a 10-game profitable streak beneath Coach Howard Jones into the 1922 season, however optimism wasn’t via the roof. Locke returned. So did first-team all-Huge Ten gamers Chester Mead at guard and Max Kadesky at finish. However Slater and Devine have been large losses. So have been all-Huge Ten first-team finish Lester Belding, middle John Heldt and defensive again Glenn Devine.

“A relatively dismal outlook confronted the Iowa soccer group when the 1922 season began on September 15,” mentioned the “Hawkeye,” the College of Iowa’s yearbook.

The lack of so many elite gamers was seen as an insurmountable problem.

“These males had been the spine of the group throughout the previous season, and Iowa supporters have been satisfied that with their passing one other nice group had vanished,” added the “Hawkeye.’ “Iowa was not severely thought-about when the possible outcomes of the convention championship soccer race have been forecasted.”

However a century in the past, Iowa’s 1922 soccer group defied projections by going 7-0 once more, profitable one other Huge Ten title and being named a nationwide champion once more by the Billingsley Report.

Jones had gained nationwide fanfare when he coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-7 victory over Notre Dame, the marquee victory of the 1921 season. It was Notre Dame Coach Kmnute Rockne’s solely loss in a 34-game stretch. Iowa outscored its seven opponents that season, 185-36, and none of its final six foes scored greater than seven factors.

Iowa opened that 1922 season with a 61-0 victory over Knox, a sport that served as a scrimmage of types earlier than a visit to New Haven, Ct., and a sport at nationwide energy Yale. Knox had only one first down and two yards of offense all sport. Iowa racked up 471 yards, and Jones substituted freely within the second half.

The Yale sport was wealthy with storylines. Jones had performed at Yale from 1905 to 1907. The Elis received three nationwide titles with Jones in uniform and had a 28-0-2 report. Jones additionally coached Yale to a nationwide title in 1909. He landed at Iowa in 1916, signing a five-year deal for $4,500 yearly. Including extra intrigue was the truth that Tad Jones, Howard’s brother, was now the coach at Yale. The Elis had already performed three video games, and have been anticipated to maintain enterprise within the Yale Bowl. The sport was labeled as East vs. West in some circles, Corn vs. Tradition in others.

However Iowa had an surprising hero play a monumental function in a 6-0 victory earlier than a crowd of 30,000, smaller than anticipated due to the specter of rain.

Leland Parkin, a sophomore from Waterloo, performed quarterback for the Hawkeyes. He additionally scored the sport’s solely landing, within the second quarter. Iowa was lined as much as kick a area aim. As the gang chanted “block that kick,’ the snap went to Parkin. He dashed round left finish, received key blocks from Locke, V.C. Shuttlesworth and Glenn Miller, and raced into the tip zone. Shuttlesworth’s dropkick additional level hit the crossbar and was no good.

Iowa’s protection and punter Paul Minick saved the Elis out of the tip zone, and Iowa had recorded a nationally vital victory for a second straight season. A lot of the postgame buzz was about Parkin.

“In the present day, Parkin is ripe for all-American corridor of soccer immortals,” the Des Moines Register reported.

Reporting the Yale aspect of issues within the Register, Frank Getty wrote, “Eleven impressed younger Hawkeye warriors got here out of the west right now and trampled soccer custom within the mud as they romped over Yale, defender of the status of the east.”

Added Getty, “The sport raised Iowa soccer status all through the nation and helped the celebrity of the Hawkeye machine via each state.”

Tad Jones shook arms together with his brother and Locke after the sport.

“I’ve nothing however reward for the Iowa group, however I even have limitless confidence on this Yale group,” Tad Jones mentioned.

Howard Jones, speaking to reporters as he boarded the prepare for the journey dwelling, was requested if he thought he was a greater coach than his brother.

“I’m glad for Iowa’s sake that we received,” Howard Jones mentioned. “It was a take a look at of two groups greater than teaching. Iowa performed a great sport.”

The Hawkeyes’ victory led to loads of emotional battle on the Jones dwelling in Middletown, Ohio. Mrs. T.A. Jones, mom of the 2 head coaches, had hoped for a tie.

The Hawkeyes headed to Champaign, In poor health., per week later, and turned in one in all their poorest efforts of the season. The Yale victory had put a goal on their collective backs. Emotionally spent from the week earlier than, Iowa snuck out of city with an 8-7 victory.

Locke scored the primary landing of the sport, however Shuttlesworth hurried the point-after kick and missed it. The sport’s greatest offensive play was turned in by a sort out. Karl Engeldinger’s blocked kick led to a security. Jones used simply 12 gamers in that sport.

“However for the blocked kick, Illinois would have overwhelmed the conquerors of Yale,” the Related Press reported.

Iowa manhandled Purdue the next week, 56-0. Parkin was sidelined with an damage, and Jones moved Locke to quarterback. Locke scored a pair of touchdowns in opposition to the Boilermakers, and 6 different gamers reached the tip zone. Iowa’s floor sport was unstoppable, and Jones caught with a great factor. The Hawkeyes handed simply 3 times, with one completion.

After a bye week, Iowa set its sights on a rival. Minnesota had defeated Iowa in Jones’ debut season as Hawkeye coach, 67-0, in 1916. However Iowa beat Minnesota for the primary time ever two seasons later, and took a four-game profitable streak over the Gophers into the sport. A report homecoming crowd of 26,000 noticed Iowa race off to a 28-7 lead at halftime and cruise from there. Locke scored three of Iowa’s 4 touchdowns within the 28-14 victory.

Iowa’s first journey ever to Columbus, Ohio, got here the next week. Jones had coached the Buckeyes in 1910, however left after a season due to what he referred to as a scarcity of expertise.

Ohio State took a 6-0 lead within the first quarter, the primary time Iowa had trailed in a sport in two seasons. However Iowa took a 12-9 lead into halftime and that was the ultimate rating.

“Captain Gordon Locke’s title is the speak of Columbus city tonight,” reported the Related Press.

Iowa put the wraps on a second straight undefeated season with a 37-3 overcome Northwestern, and Locke ended his profession in grand model. He scored 4 touchdowns, giving him 12 for the season. His 72 factors have been 40 greater than anybody else within the Huge Ten.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Locke’s 4 scores “introduced the Purple downfall. He by no means performed larger soccer. His runs have been sensible. Time after time he all however eluded your complete invading group. When he left the sector on the finish of the sport, Iowa rooters gave him a beautiful ovation.”

Locke would make the Walter Camp all-American group as a quarterback. The Hawkeyes outscored their seven opponents, 208-33.

Iowa took a 17-game profitable streak into the 1923 season, and stretched it to twenty earlier than a loss to Crimson Grange and Illinois, 9-6. The Hawkeyes completed 5-3 and Jones left for Duke. His eight-season keep at Iowa resulted in a 42-17-1 report.

After a season at Duke he accepted the job at USC, and Jones coached the Trojans to nationwide titles in 1928, 1931, 1932 and 1939. He additionally took the group to 5 Rose Bowls, profitable all of them.

One among his gamers at USC was a local of Winterset named Marion Morrison. An offensive sort out, Morrison performed on the varsity as a freshman in 1925. He misplaced his scholarship after a physique browsing accident, turned to performing and altered his title to John Wayne.

Jones was a member of the inaugural School Soccer Corridor of Fame class in 1951. Slater was additionally a member of that class. Locke was inducted in 1960 and Devine in 1973.