1894

November 19

Hear Ron Gonder tell you the story "With One Eye On the Crowd"

“WITH ONE EYE ON THE CROWD”
Iowa traveled to Missouri for a memorable game and a brawl. According to W.H. Bremner, 1895LLB, “the Iowa team ran into difficulties in the game with Missouri University at Columbia. In that game, play had progressed into the second half when the Missouri center and the Iowa quarter mixed things over what the Iowa quarter thought was rough treatment on the part of the Missouri man, and the result was that the entire male audience swarmed on to the field and proceeded to give the Iowa team the biggest scare of its existence; a number of the players being struck with canes and fists and for a little while it looked as though a free-for-all fight would be the result.

“One of the strange things in connection with this instance was that the officers of the law seemed to think that the entire fault rested with the Iowa team and several members of the team were placed under arrest by an officious constable. Order was finally restored, however, and those who had been arrested were released and permitted to finish the game. One of the members of the Iowa team . . . expressed the feeling of the team after this row very nicely when he said that during the balance of the game ‘he played with one eye on the crowd and the other on the ball.’ Under such circumstances good football could hardly be expected.”

Apparently Bremner did not care to extend his reminiscing to include the outcome of the game. Missouri conquered the Hawkeyes 32-6.

1894
Games were shortened from 90 minutes to 70, with two 35-minute periods.

This was the first year players didn’t have to buy their own uniforms. The Athletic Association at Iowa provided the team with old gold sweaters, stockings, and jerseys.

By the end of the season, Iowa fans had learned this first generally accepted cheer:

Come right this way
I O W A
Football we play
Rush lines we break
Touchdowns we make
We take the cake
Rah! Rah! Rah!

And fans were requested to do more than cheer. The Hawkeye yearbook reported that the athletic grounds were expanded to nine acres in 1894, adding this admonition: “Students, alumni, and friends of the University will please note that these athletic grounds are not yet paid for, and contributions of any and all sizes will be thankfully received at any time.”

Though the athletic facilities were enlarged, little money was spent coaching. The S.U.I. Quill, “Published each Saturday of the College Year,” editorialized: “We believe that the coach could very well be done away with. Professional football coaches are not desired, at least not at the State University of Iowa.”