1949

May 20
Michigan State College joined the conference, making it once again the Big Ten.

October 22
The Northwestern Wildcats, cocky after their 1949 Rose Bowl victory over California, came into Iowa City to play football, but they were not impressed. Gene Shumate, former sports director at Des Moines radio station KSO, remembered that, “They taped, talked and dressed and came down the tunnel and onto the field to loosen up. As they trotted around the goal posts and in front of the permanent stands, one of the players turned to another and asked, ‘I wonder where they keep their cows on Saturday?”

The Wildcats weren’t so disparaging after they lost the game, 28-21.

October 29
“IOWA SPLURGE DUNKS DUCKS”
After nearly three quarters of lackluster play from the Hawkeyes, the score was 24-6, in favor of the Oregon Ducks. Suddenly, a Dad’s Day crowd of about 38,000 came alive watching co-captain Bob Langley race 94 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the third period. It was the first of four touchdowns Iowa was to rack up within the next ten minutes.

Bill Reichardt accounted for 16 points on two touchdowns and four conversions. At the time, Iowa’s two kick returns were a school record. Within 9 minutes and 47 seconds, the Hawkeyes scored four touchdowns to win one of the biggest comeback games in Iowa history. Final score: 34-31.

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