1920

Iowa’s “Yell Leaders,” three young men selected after tryouts before the Athletic Board, were given special uniforms and their orders: make the crowd respect the visiting team and make them yell.

In the spring of 1920, the yell leaders organized the “Howling 300,” to help lead the cheers. By the time football season began in the fall, they were conducting “mass meetings” and “guiding” the ‘Iowa Fight’ spirit in the proper channels.”

On October 9, 1920, the Howling 300 made its first appearance on Iowa Field. Wearing old gold and black skull-caps and carrying canes, the men sat on the 50-yard line, “courtesy of the Athletic Board,” and “demonstrated what organized rooting could do."

November 6
On a rainy afternoon in Iowa City and on a muddy field, Iowa beat Northwestern by a score of 20-0 to begin a 20-game winning steak.

Iowa vs Northwestern, November 6, 1920

November 12
John Philip Sousa and his band performed a concert in the University Armory, “making a special stop-over date for the Iowa Homecoming.” The program was just one of many planned for the “Homecomers.”

Copyright © 2005, University of Iowa Alumni Association Team names, logos, and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. No logos, photographs, videos, or graphics on this site may be reproduced without written permission.