DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Correspondence to and from Nile Kinnick, friends and family regarding his championship football season, August-December 1939

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Correspondence to and from Nile Kinnick, friends and family regarding his championship football season, August-December 1939

1939-10-17: Front

Omaha, Nebr.  October 17,  1939
Dear SB:
Well, Tom Harmon had his day last Saturday, and a real good one too. It
was a disappointment in a way, that Iowa was outpointed by such a margin,
but taking into consideration the detailed strength of the two teams, it
wasn't to be unexpected. The summary showed that Iowa did much better,
and the Detroit papers admitted as much. I immediately said that that
will be the worst beating you will take this year. Earlier estimates had
placed Michigan as high as third in the nation, and Grant Rice, with others,
had classified Michigan's backfield as the best in the country. It is not
hard to find excuses for a defeat like that one, but I was sorry to see
critical errors made by  Iowa. Michigan has the power to make any error
a critical one, however, and too much power to permit much offensive except hurried kicking, ditto passing and desperate line bucking.
Unfortunately, I missed the first twenty minutes of the game as I had to
help audit the reading room books that day. Therefore I missed the thrill
of the 55 yard pass and touchdown. Quite a heave, my boy. There is a
lot of dynamite in Iowa's attack yet, as each succeeding team will discover, With, two weeks to preparefor Wisconsin I fancy that all hands
will be on deck, and that you will atone for the Wisconsin games of the
two previous years. I should like to be a witness to that contest.
Will you please save your three tickets for each of the other home games.
I will come down for Notre Dame and hope to make plans for mother to see
either the Minnesota game or the Northwestern game. As I told you, those
arrangements will have be a part of my vacation, as mother does not want
to take a Sunday off just for a game trip. When convenient you might send
the tickets to us. George asked for another copy of the Indiana program,
as he gave the ether to Mal Kountz. If you don't have time to look it
up, maybe Jim can do it for us. Put it in your laundry, as well as any
telegrams, letters or other mementos that you want addedto the collection.
The interest and confidence of the Iowa men out here is refreshing, and
all seem confident that Iowa's football is on the up. Too bad that it
couldn't have started a couple of years ago. However, you have much to
look back on, and the experience has been worth considerable. One loves
to win, and you will have plenty of it yet I believe. As you recognize,
all victories are not won by the scoreboard. Again,  I say that I liked
McGrane'e summary; gentleman, scholar, athlete and great competitor. It
takes perhaps a better man to be outstanding in defeat than in victory. And
I hope that you will remember that the football episode is only a part
of the whole scheme. The rest must be carried along at the same time.
I think that one reason why I like the above summary is because, to me,
a well rounded man is much to be preferred to a specialist. I take
even more pride in your mental alertness, your eagerness for knowledge
of the type that will later make you useful as a citizen, your inherent
sympathy for others and your capacity for friendliness. So even in these
swirling, tumultuous times don't lose your balance in any degree. Keep
your class room work going. I believe that it will also yield you handsome
dividends before you have finished. Our blessings attend you, always.
Love    Pop

Saving...

Omaha, Nebr. October 17, 1939 Dear SB: Well, Tom Harmon had his day last Saturday, and a real good one too. It was a disappointment in a way, that Iowa was outpointed by such a margin, but taking into consideration the detailed strength of the two teams, it wasn't to be unexpected. The summary showed that Iowa did much better, and the Detroit papers admitted as much. I immediately said that that will be the worst beating you will take this year. Earlier estimates had placed Michigan as high as third in the nation, and Grant Rice, with others, had classified Michigan's backfield as the best in the country. It is not hard to find excuses for a defeat like that one, but I was sorry to see critical errors made by Iowa. Michigan has the power to make any error a critical one, however, and too much power to permit much offensive except hurried kicking, ditto passing and desperate line bucking. Unfortunately, I missed the first twenty minutes of the game as I had to help audit the reading room books that day. Therefore I missed the thrill of the 55 yard pass and touchdown. Quite a heave, my boy. There is a lot of dynamite in Iowa's attack yet, as each succeeding team will discover, With, two weeks to preparefor Wisconsin I fancy that all hands will be on deck, and that you will atone for the Wisconsin games of the two previous years. I should like to be a witness to that contest. Will you please save your three tickets for each of the other home games. I will come down for Notre Dame and hope to make plans for mother to see either the Minnesota game or the Northwestern game. As I told you, those arrangements will have be a part of my vacation, as mother does not want to take a Sunday off just for a game trip. When convenient you might send the tickets to us. George asked for another copy of the Indiana program, as he gave the ether to Mal Kountz. If you don't have time to look it up, maybe Jim can do it for us. Put it in your laundry, as well as any telegrams, letters or other mementos that you want addedto the collection. The interest and confidence of the Iowa men out here is refreshing, and all seem confident that Iowa's football is on the up. Too bad that it couldn't have started a couple of years ago. However, you have much to look back on, and the experience has been worth considerable. One loves to win, and you will have plenty of it yet I believe. As you recognize, all victories are not won by the scoreboard. Again, I say that I liked McGrane'e summary; gentleman, scholar, athlete and great competitor. It takes perhaps a better man to be outstanding in defeat than in victory. And I hope that you will remember that the football episode is only a part of the whole scheme. The rest must be carried along at the same time. I think that one reason why I like the above summary is because, to me, a well rounded man is much to be preferred to a specialist. I take even more pride in your mental alertness, your eagerness for knowledge of the type that will later make you useful as a citizen, your inherent sympathy for others and your capacity for friendliness. So even in these swirling, tumultuous times don't lose your balance in any degree. Keep your class room work going. I believe that it will also yield you handsome dividends before you have finished. Our blessings attend you, always. Love Pop