1951

Spring
With the country embroiled in the Korean War, Big Ten officials agreed to make freshmen immediately eligible for intercollegiate competition. They also renewed the conference’s agreement with the Rose Bowl, stipulating that no Big Ten school would be allowed to appear in the Pasadena game more than once in any two-year period.

1951
After two years on the job, Raffensperger’s slate showed a tally of five wins, ten losses, and three ties. Described as big and powerful, determined and sincere, “Raff,” said one of his better players, “was one of…the finest gentlemen I’ve ever known. This was probably his biggest weakness; he was not hard enough on us.”

Despite any softness from his coach, fullback Bill Reichardt emerged from the Hawkeyes’ 1951 season with the Chicago Tribune Sliver Football. Though Iowa did not win a conference game in 1951, the burly Reichardt was judged to be the most valuable player in the Big Ten. During his three-year career, Reichardt totalled 1,691 yards rushing and kicked a record 51 of 63 extra points.

December 8

Coach Forest Evashevski

Paul Brechler, Iowa’s athletic director, met with Michigan’s Fritz Crisler in Chicago to discuss the future of Hawkeye football. Though no decision had been made to change coaches, the athletic board was determined to help Iowa climb out of the Big Ten’s football cellar.

Crisler was sure that one of his former players, quarterback Forest Evashevski, could do the job, but he qualified his endorsement by adding, “He’s a tough stubborn Pollack and you might have to put reins on him.”

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