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Nile Kinnick correspondence, 1935-1938
1938-09-29: Front
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September 29, 1938 Dear SB: Mother wrote you a day or so ago and I had intended to do so before this, but allowed other activities to intervene. We have been expecting word from you also. Your wire was received, and the papers mentioned that you were limping. Trust that you will realize the importance of keeping quiet, or at least avoiding further strain until a healing is effected, I was in Centervllle last Friday and listened to the game, which had a couple of surprises. First, your mildly famous play at the close of the first half; second, the let down of the Iowa team or the astonishing improvement of the UCLA outfit. We hoped for victory, but would have been philosophical over a margin of one or two touchdown loss. However, it is all over and the only gain to be had is to bolster up the weak places and to profit by the mistakes made and demonstrate that Iowa can play just as smart and just as tough football as Wisconsin or any other Big Ten team. Your catch of the pass behind the goal was puzzling, but I knew there must be some explantion as it is not like you to be so far off in your execution. I had a letter from Nick Carter written Saturday morning in whih he guessed the reason, and said, "I could not, tell just what the trouble was on this play but it seemed to me that Nile did not know that he was in the end zone when he intercepted that pass. It seemed to be such a surprise to him to see where he was that he didn't know what to do until it was too late. Five years from now he will laugh when he remembers it." His analysis proved to be correct, except that instead of five years, I suggest that you make it five days, unless you have already decreased that time. It isn't that important. Nick also said, "He played a bang up game the rest of the time. Iowa's running attack was just as good as UCLAs but Iowa seemed weak at the ends on defence. Nile saved two or three touchdowns with his splendid defensive work." Along this line, I have just had a letter from Aunt Mary, and one paragraph says, "Just heard a sport broadcast between Tiny Thornhlll and some sports writer and Tiny said Kinnick was the only outstanding player on Iowa 's team." So don't let your tail droop because of that one play, and I am sure, that your sense of proportion will properly catalog the incident as one from which to take a lesson, and nothing more. I shall be anxious to learn if you saw Butler, Bill and Johnny, or Nick Carter. Mrs. McCord has sent us a couple of notes and enclosed some clippings, saying that Harry, Glendora and Florence had gone up to the game and hoped to see you. You must have had a fine trip, altho I realize that usually the team is too much confined to see much else than the train, hotel, bus to the field, and back again. Your little excursions this time seem to be an exception. All last week I put in fertilizer plots on farms in Southern Iowa, as far east as Davis County; also on grandma's farm in Dallas Co. and on our farm at Turin. Reached home on Sunday evening. After two days in the office, I am taking 3½ days vacation this week, mostly devoted to renovating the lawn, both front and back. Wonderful time - wish you were here. Expect to go back to Adel Friday afternoon to spend Sat and Sun looking after the farms. Very likely will be back in So. Iowa in another week or two, but do not know how far east I shall get. I should see Ben on Sunday. Enclosed are three letters that will be of interest and will you please return them, as I am filing them. George's team beat Washington School 31 to 6 last night, and I took some action pictures, which should be revealing if the light was strong enough for high speed. Love Pop
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September 29, 1938 Dear SB: Mother wrote you a day or so ago and I had intended to do so before this, but allowed other activities to intervene. We have been expecting word from you also. Your wire was received, and the papers mentioned that you were limping. Trust that you will realize the importance of keeping quiet, or at least avoiding further strain until a healing is effected, I was in Centervllle last Friday and listened to the game, which had a couple of surprises. First, your mildly famous play at the close of the first half; second, the let down of the Iowa team or the astonishing improvement of the UCLA outfit. We hoped for victory, but would have been philosophical over a margin of one or two touchdown loss. However, it is all over and the only gain to be had is to bolster up the weak places and to profit by the mistakes made and demonstrate that Iowa can play just as smart and just as tough football as Wisconsin or any other Big Ten team. Your catch of the pass behind the goal was puzzling, but I knew there must be some explantion as it is not like you to be so far off in your execution. I had a letter from Nick Carter written Saturday morning in whih he guessed the reason, and said, "I could not, tell just what the trouble was on this play but it seemed to me that Nile did not know that he was in the end zone when he intercepted that pass. It seemed to be such a surprise to him to see where he was that he didn't know what to do until it was too late. Five years from now he will laugh when he remembers it." His analysis proved to be correct, except that instead of five years, I suggest that you make it five days, unless you have already decreased that time. It isn't that important. Nick also said, "He played a bang up game the rest of the time. Iowa's running attack was just as good as UCLAs but Iowa seemed weak at the ends on defence. Nile saved two or three touchdowns with his splendid defensive work." Along this line, I have just had a letter from Aunt Mary, and one paragraph says, "Just heard a sport broadcast between Tiny Thornhlll and some sports writer and Tiny said Kinnick was the only outstanding player on Iowa 's team." So don't let your tail droop because of that one play, and I am sure, that your sense of proportion will properly catalog the incident as one from which to take a lesson, and nothing more. I shall be anxious to learn if you saw Butler, Bill and Johnny, or Nick Carter. Mrs. McCord has sent us a couple of notes and enclosed some clippings, saying that Harry, Glendora and Florence had gone up to the game and hoped to see you. You must have had a fine trip, altho I realize that usually the team is too much confined to see much else than the train, hotel, bus to the field, and back again. Your little excursions this time seem to be an exception. All last week I put in fertilizer plots on farms in Southern Iowa, as far east as Davis County; also on grandma's farm in Dallas Co. and on our farm at Turin. Reached home on Sunday evening. After two days in the office, I am taking 3½ days vacation this week, mostly devoted to renovating the lawn, both front and back. Wonderful time - wish you were here. Expect to go back to Adel Friday afternoon to spend Sat and Sun looking after the farms. Very likely will be back in So. Iowa in another week or two, but do not know how far east I shall get. I should see Ben on Sunday. Enclosed are three letters that will be of interest and will you please return them, as I am filing them. George's team beat Washington School 31 to 6 last night, and I took some action pictures, which should be revealing if the light was strong enough for high speed. Love Pop
Nile Kinnick Collection
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