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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-December 1941

1941-11-05: Front

Wednesday Nov 5, 1941 11-5-41
Dear Folks:
Things are much pleasanter around here now that Iowa is back in the win
column again.    The boys looked like a real football team the  second half,  I
understand, a direct reversal of their first half form.     Bus Mertes,  in particular,
put on a beautiful exhibition of ball carrying.    If they play that way this
week they should beat Illinois alright.
I had quite a pleasant trip down to Champaign last weekend.    George
Metze,  the boy whom you met at grandma's,  father, went with me, making it a
great deal less monotonous.    He is a graduate of Illinois,  hence, was able to
show me agound the campus in some detail.     They have a marvelous physical layout
down there.  Their stadium is the best I have ever seen, I believe.    It is a horseshoe affair with double decker stands between the goal lines.     They are supposed to be able to seat more people between the goal lines than any other
school in the country.    You may recall that Red Grange set his immortal record
of 4 touchdowns in 12 minutes against a previously undefeated Michigan team
when they dedicated this stadium before 67,000 in 1924.    It seems to me that
that performance must be tops in thrills experienced by individual college
stars anywhere at any time.    What color and crowd pleasing actions he must have
had.    His number, 77, is still never worn by any college back--at least I have
never seen it in the Big Ten. Illinois just completed their new Union last year
at a cost of a million and a half.    It is the most beautiful college building
I have ever seen.It makes the Iowa Union look like a roadside shack.     But those
who know say that the new Minnesota Union makes the Illinois one look like a soda
fountain.    If so, it must be some structure.    I do know that they spent 3 million
on theirs.    We left Iowa City about 10:30 Friday morning and drove as far as
Galesburg for lunch.    While eating a bellhop came through paging Mr. Kinnick.
I acknowledged to that name, whereupon, the boy asked if I were J.R.  Kinnick.
To that    I made denial and sat down somewhat abashed wondering if there weren't
something a little screwy there.    Soon thereafter the manager of the hotel
approached me from behind and laying his hand on my shoulder confidently stated
that I must be Nile Kinnick, adding that he had recognized me when I came in.
[George is sure the mgr. used bellhop's paging just as a checkup. Rather think so myself.] He sat down and talked with us while we were finishing our meal.    Realizing an
opportunity I told him that I anticipated having trouble getting ahotel room
in Champaign since it was there Homecoming, and then asked if he had any suggestions.     He immediately replied that he had a good connection at the Inman
Hotel and would wire for a reservation if I wanted him to, which I hastened to
say that I did.    After a few more pleasantries he  said that he was planning to
go over to the Iowa-Minn.  game and wondered if I could locate him some decent
tickets.     (The cat and rat game was on for sure now.)    I told him that I dildn't
cut as much ice around the ticket office as I did when I was playing but that
I would see what I could do.    Well, that was tit for tat and ok with both of us.
It turned out that he did wire to the Inman Hotel and that I would not have gotten
a room had he not done so.    However,  on the way back we  stopped at Galesburg
again to eat,   (at the Custer Hotel) and the manager informed me that a salesman
acquaintance of his had come through and promisedto    get him some tickets out of
his company's bloc.    It may be that I will hear from the hotel manager yet.
This week I will be going with the ball club to Champaign. We will stay
all night in Chicago affording me an apportunity to see another play on Fri.
night.    This  weekend is the student trip, also,   so it will be a
riotous time for Iowa people both Friday and Saturday nights in the Windy City.
I have already gotten tickets for "Louisiana Purchase" and shall plan to take
E. Charlton if she decides to go on the student trip.    If not, I  shall look
up Elsie Louise.     Ben writes that he is in Chicago this week,   so it may be that
I can get in touch with him, too. It sure is nice to have the money to do this
sort of thing when the opportunity presents itself.    I sent Ben ten bucks
in care of the Congress Hotel to enable him to  see a play and do whatever else
out of the ordinary he cares to.

Saving...

Wednesday Nov 5, 1941 11-5-41 Dear Folks: Things are much pleasanter around here now that Iowa is back in the win column again. The boys looked like a real football team the second half, I understand, a direct reversal of their first half form. Bus Mertes, in particular, put on a beautiful exhibition of ball carrying. If they play that way this week they should beat Illinois alright. I had quite a pleasant trip down to Champaign last weekend. George Metze, the boy whom you met at grandma's, father, went with me, making it a great deal less monotonous. He is a graduate of Illinois, hence, was able to show me agound the campus in some detail. They have a marvelous physical layout down there. Their stadium is the best I have ever seen, I believe. It is a horseshoe affair with double decker stands between the goal lines. They are supposed to be able to seat more people between the goal lines than any other school in the country. You may recall that Red Grange set his immortal record of 4 touchdowns in 12 minutes against a previously undefeated Michigan team when they dedicated this stadium before 67,000 in 1924. It seems to me that that performance must be tops in thrills experienced by individual college stars anywhere at any time. What color and crowd pleasing actions he must have had. His number, 77, is still never worn by any college back--at least I have never seen it in the Big Ten. Illinois just completed their new Union last year at a cost of a million and a half. It is the most beautiful college building I have ever seen.It makes the Iowa Union look like a roadside shack. But those who know say that the new Minnesota Union makes the Illinois one look like a soda fountain. If so, it must be some structure. I do know that they spent 3 million on theirs. We left Iowa City about 10:30 Friday morning and drove as far as Galesburg for lunch. While eating a bellhop came through paging Mr. Kinnick. I acknowledged to that name, whereupon, the boy asked if I were J.R. Kinnick. To that I made denial and sat down somewhat abashed wondering if there weren't something a little screwy there. Soon thereafter the manager of the hotel approached me from behind and laying his hand on my shoulder confidently stated that I must be Nile Kinnick, adding that he had recognized me when I came in. [George is sure the mgr. used bellhop's paging just as a checkup. Rather think so myself.] He sat down and talked with us while we were finishing our meal. Realizing an opportunity I told him that I anticipated having trouble getting ahotel room in Champaign since it was there Homecoming, and then asked if he had any suggestions. He immediately replied that he had a good connection at the Inman Hotel and would wire for a reservation if I wanted him to, which I hastened to say that I did. After a few more pleasantries he said that he was planning to go over to the Iowa-Minn. game and wondered if I could locate him some decent tickets. (The cat and rat game was on for sure now.) I told him that I dildn't cut as much ice around the ticket office as I did when I was playing but that I would see what I could do. Well, that was tit for tat and ok with both of us. It turned out that he did wire to the Inman Hotel and that I would not have gotten a room had he not done so. However, on the way back we stopped at Galesburg again to eat, (at the Custer Hotel) and the manager informed me that a salesman acquaintance of his had come through and promisedto get him some tickets out of his company's bloc. It may be that I will hear from the hotel manager yet. This week I will be going with the ball club to Champaign. We will stay all night in Chicago affording me an apportunity to see another play on Fri. night. This weekend is the student trip, also, so it will be a riotous time for Iowa people both Friday and Saturday nights in the Windy City. I have already gotten tickets for "Louisiana Purchase" and shall plan to take E. Charlton if she decides to go on the student trip. If not, I shall look up Elsie Louise. Ben writes that he is in Chicago this week, so it may be that I can get in touch with him, too. It sure is nice to have the money to do this sort of thing when the opportunity presents itself. I sent Ben ten bucks in care of the Congress Hotel to enable him to see a play and do whatever else out of the ordinary he cares to.