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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-December 1941

1941-11-09: Front

Sunday afternoon,  Nov. 9, 1941
Dear Folks: 11-9-'41
It was quite a relief to me to watch Iowa defeat Illinois so handily,
I find that taking fully responsibility for a scout report stimulates my
interest in the outcome of the game a good deal.    Until Parker scored that
first touchdown I was a bit apprehensive that Zup would come up with something
that 1 hadn't forewarned the coaches about. After it was all over I was quite
pleased with the completeness of my report.    With a little more experience
I think that I could soon feel confident of always doing a good job.
The team, for the most part, looked quite good.    The backs were running
hard and the line was doing a pretty fair job of blocking.    Illinois doesn't
really have much of a ball club,  and I would have been quite disappointed if
Iowa hadn't scored at least three touchdowns.    The field was a bit slippery
which slowed up Green and Mertes no little.    Had it been a dry field,  I
think one of them would have gotten loose for a long run.    It certainly is nice
to win.    Everyone's disposition is so much better,  and the whole trip seems
much pleasanter.    Nonetheless, as we were rejoicing in our dressing room after
the games,  I couldn't help thinking,  and sympathizing, with the Illinois boys
and old Zup. What a dismal and unhappy trail their's has been this fall.
The prospect for the rest of t he season must bulk over them like a huge
storm cloud..... they finish up against Northwestern and Ohio.    Poor Zuppke
is undoubtedly one of the finest coaches in the business, but even he can't
make a go of it with the material he gets.    It is a lamentable  situation.
We will be intensely busy this week trying to get ready for Minnesota.    It is
not beyond the realm of possibility that we could beat them, but they
will probably bounce back with a vengeance after their poor showing against
Nebraska. Whether I shall be here or in Lincoln scouting this weekend I do
not yet know.    Will inform you as soon as I can.
Friday afternoon in Chicago I  spent visiting with Dick Evans and Frank
Balaz, twoformer Iowa players whom you will undoubtedly remember. It was
very enjoyable sitting high over the city in the Morrison Hotel exchanging
views and recollections while the rain and snow fell without.    Dick and Frank
are both playing pro ball with the Chicago Cardinals. E.  Charlton got into
the La Salle  st.  station on the student special about 5 oclock.where I met
her.    We went out to dinner at the Blackhawk and then to see Louisina Pchse
at the Erlinger. It was an highly enjoyable production.    Very humourous
and replet with good music and dancing.    Zorina the famed modern and toe
dancer had one of the leads.    She is the acme of grace and rhythmic movement.
The squad got back into Chicago about 8:45 Sat. night,  and since the train
didn't leave until 1 AM Bill Stauss went out for awhile.    We both had
dates and planned to go to a show or something quitet and inexpensive.    However,
every decent show had a long waiting line so we headed over to the Blackhawk
again. In case you don't know the Blackhawk is a restaurant and cabaret.
Les Brown and his band were playing there.    I gathered from the enthusiasm
of the females that he is  supposed to be plenty good.     The upshot of it
was that we sat around listening to him for about three hours,  dancing now
and then, and I caught a check which looked like a government budget.
The dance floor was about the size of our living room.     I never took such
a beating in my life, nor have I ever felt more strongly that the art of
dancing is for others and not me.     The more I see of that kind of entertainment the more I am glad that I was an athlete.    You most certainly
would have to be tight to think it was enjoyable.     (I must be a little owly
this afternoon. It must be more fun that that.    I'll try again sometime.)

Saving...

Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, 1941 Dear Folks: 11-9-'41 It was quite a relief to me to watch Iowa defeat Illinois so handily, I find that taking fully responsibility for a scout report stimulates my interest in the outcome of the game a good deal. Until Parker scored that first touchdown I was a bit apprehensive that Zup would come up with something that 1 hadn't forewarned the coaches about. After it was all over I was quite pleased with the completeness of my report. With a little more experience I think that I could soon feel confident of always doing a good job. The team, for the most part, looked quite good. The backs were running hard and the line was doing a pretty fair job of blocking. Illinois doesn't really have much of a ball club, and I would have been quite disappointed if Iowa hadn't scored at least three touchdowns. The field was a bit slippery which slowed up Green and Mertes no little. Had it been a dry field, I think one of them would have gotten loose for a long run. It certainly is nice to win. Everyone's disposition is so much better, and the whole trip seems much pleasanter. Nonetheless, as we were rejoicing in our dressing room after the games, I couldn't help thinking, and sympathizing, with the Illinois boys and old Zup. What a dismal and unhappy trail their's has been this fall. The prospect for the rest of t he season must bulk over them like a huge storm cloud..... they finish up against Northwestern and Ohio. Poor Zuppke is undoubtedly one of the finest coaches in the business, but even he can't make a go of it with the material he gets. It is a lamentable situation. We will be intensely busy this week trying to get ready for Minnesota. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that we could beat them, but they will probably bounce back with a vengeance after their poor showing against Nebraska. Whether I shall be here or in Lincoln scouting this weekend I do not yet know. Will inform you as soon as I can. Friday afternoon in Chicago I spent visiting with Dick Evans and Frank Balaz, twoformer Iowa players whom you will undoubtedly remember. It was very enjoyable sitting high over the city in the Morrison Hotel exchanging views and recollections while the rain and snow fell without. Dick and Frank are both playing pro ball with the Chicago Cardinals. E. Charlton got into the La Salle st. station on the student special about 5 oclock.where I met her. We went out to dinner at the Blackhawk and then to see Louisina Pchse at the Erlinger. It was an highly enjoyable production. Very humourous and replet with good music and dancing. Zorina the famed modern and toe dancer had one of the leads. She is the acme of grace and rhythmic movement. The squad got back into Chicago about 8:45 Sat. night, and since the train didn't leave until 1 AM Bill Stauss went out for awhile. We both had dates and planned to go to a show or something quitet and inexpensive. However, every decent show had a long waiting line so we headed over to the Blackhawk again. In case you don't know the Blackhawk is a restaurant and cabaret. Les Brown and his band were playing there. I gathered from the enthusiasm of the females that he is supposed to be plenty good. The upshot of it was that we sat around listening to him for about three hours, dancing now and then, and I caught a check which looked like a government budget. The dance floor was about the size of our living room. I never took such a beating in my life, nor have I ever felt more strongly that the art of dancing is for others and not me. The more I see of that kind of entertainment the more I am glad that I was an athlete. You most certainly would have to be tight to think it was enjoyable. (I must be a little owly this afternoon. It must be more fun that that. I'll try again sometime.)