1910

Led by State Board of Education President James Trewin, who did not favor state funds being used for any program of intercollegiate athletics, the Iowa Board passed the “two-sport-rule.” This prohibited athletes from competing in more than two major sports and was meant to prevent too much emphasis on athletics. An unusual rule adopted in 1910 outlawed any forward pass that traveled more than 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Another change divided the 60-minute game into four 15-minute quarters. Writing for The Iowa Alumnus, the Hawkeyes’ new coach, Jesse Hawley, noted that “from the spectators point of view this chopping the game up into such short periods detracts showhat….”

October 1
Prior to a home game against Morningside College, Iowa’s first press box was opened to reporters and three sections of concrete bleachers, to seat another 2,160 fans, were dedicated at Iowa Field.

October 12
The Iowa varsity were humiliated in a mid-week 30-minute practice game against the high school team in Iowa City. Coach Hawley attributed the loss to a “complete lack of fighting spirit” and the fact that only 22 men comprised the team. He said there should be 60 to 70 men out for football.

Archie Alexander

October 15
Missouri would not allow the Hawkeyes’ black tackle Archie Alexander to play. The contest ended 5-0 in “perhaps the most exasperating game of the season. Handicapped by the excessive heat and by the continuous yelling of the Missouri rooters, the Hawkeyes lost a fiercely fought game,” reported the yearbook. Following the loss to the Tigers, Coach Hawley declared he would never again field a team against Missouri.

1910
The Western Athletic Conference required each member to schedule four football games annually with other affiliated schools, thus uniting the conference more than ever before.

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