DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick and Nile Kinnick Sr. letters to William C. Stuart, 1941-1983

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Nile Kinnick and Nile Kinnick Sr. letters to William C. Stuart, 1941-1983

1989: Page 03

We didn't see much of Nile the rest of that semester.  He lived in the fraternity annex and  was busy with football and
school work.  As he was still a pledge, he had to put up with a some of "the pledge training" that the fall pledges were enduring. One night at dinner, Nile  was required to stand on a
chair and sing a fraternity song.  His performance disclosed an unknown weakness.  He was practically a monotone.  That performance endedhis chances fo a musical career.
The less said about the 1938 season, the better.  (1-6-1} Nile was troubled by ankle injuries.  As a Christian Scientist,
he relied on his faith and his own self discipline to deal with his physical problems. After Nile was initiated, he became secretary-treasurer of
the  fraternity,  For these services, he received his room, board and fraternity dues.  He moved into the house and roomed with the president, Dick Hoak.  They had the largest and best room in the house and I, as a pledge, was assigned to that room and assumed the duty of keeping it reasonably presentable.
That winter Earl Tubbs resigned and Dr. Eddie Anderson was hired.  He and his coaching staff came on to the campus to prepare for spring practice.  Nile  was very favorably impressed
with Dr. Anderson and his enthusiam grew.  He was really looking
forward to the next season.  Almost every evening he would spend
an hour or more standing on his toes exercising his ankles and
practicing the punting steps Frank Carrideo had taught him. He
worked with Nile after regular practice teaching him  how to
punt for distance,  how to make the ball bounce right or left
and how to drop kick.  Nile felt that the entire squad had a
much better attitude and expected the next season to be much
better .
I did not see Nile that summer.  In the fall he moved back
into the annex which was only a block away.  It was much quieter
and conducive to study.  We were taking the same constitutional
law class.  Nile asked if he could use my notes for the classes
that he would miss during the season and I , of course, was
pleased that he asked.  The 1939 season made history.  The
student body went wild.  Classes were suspended  after at least
3 victories.  The fifteen or sixteen players who saw action each
Saturday, particularly the group who played the whole game
without substitution, caught the imagination of the press.
After the South Dakota game which was not close, Nile played
every minute of every game until he received a shoulder
separation in the last game against Northwestern.  Then the
honors began to arrive.
Nile missed severl classes in the spring of 1940.  He
continued to use my constitutional law notes.  One day he asked
me if I was planning on going into law school instead of taking
my last year in liberal arts.  I said that I was thinking about

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We didn't see much of Nile the rest of that semester. He lived in the fraternity annex and was busy with football and school work. As he was still a pledge, he had to put up with a some of "the pledge training" that the fall pledges were enduring. One night at dinner, Nile was required to stand on a chair and sing a fraternity song. His performance disclosed an unknown weakness. He was practically a monotone. That performance endedhis chances fo a musical career. The less said about the 1938 season, the better. (1-6-1} Nile was troubled by ankle injuries. As a Christian Scientist, he relied on his faith and his own self discipline to deal with his physical problems. After Nile was initiated, he became secretary-treasurer of the fraternity, For these services, he received his room, board and fraternity dues. He moved into the house and roomed with the president, Dick Hoak. They had the largest and best room in the house and I, as a pledge, was assigned to that room and assumed the duty of keeping it reasonably presentable. That winter Earl Tubbs resigned and Dr. Eddie Anderson was hired. He and his coaching staff came on to the campus to prepare for spring practice. Nile was very favorably impressed with Dr. Anderson and his enthusiam grew. He was really looking forward to the next season. Almost every evening he would spend an hour or more standing on his toes exercising his ankles and practicing the punting steps Frank Carrideo had taught him. He worked with Nile after regular practice teaching him how to punt for distance, how to make the ball bounce right or left and how to drop kick. Nile felt that the entire squad had a much better attitude and expected the next season to be much better . I did not see Nile that summer. In the fall he moved back into the annex which was only a block away. It was much quieter and conducive to study. We were taking the same constitutional law class. Nile asked if he could use my notes for the classes that he would miss during the season and I , of course, was pleased that he asked. The 1939 season made history. The student body went wild. Classes were suspended after at least 3 victories. The fifteen or sixteen players who saw action each Saturday, particularly the group who played the whole game without substitution, caught the imagination of the press. After the South Dakota game which was not close, Nile played every minute of every game until he received a shoulder separation in the last game against Northwestern. Then the honors began to arrive. Nile missed severl classes in the spring of 1940. He continued to use my constitutional law notes. One day he asked me if I was planning on going into law school instead of taking my last year in liberal arts. I said that I was thinking about