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

1939-10-25: Front

Omaha, Nebraska, October 25,  1939
Dear SB:
Very happy to hear from you , and, figuratively, have you at the
home hearth again. George and I are holding the fort while mother is spending
a few days at Adel.    She left Monday morning and will return Thursday aft.    When
Ben and I were in Iowa City last the country side was at its October lovliest,
and I urged mother to make her visit the following week, but some practice duties
held her here,    The Nebraska colors seem not nearly so brilliant as those in
central Iowa,    What influence there might be other than the drought out here,  I
know not.    Your trip to Madison should be splendid from that standpoint.    I will
always remember the tripsthat Ames used to make to Minnesota for the warm-up(theirs)
late in September.    The northern foliage turns earlier and seemes more brilliant
than ours further south.    It always has been a satisfaction to me that I enjoyed
the beauty of the country scene. Truly a most satisfying and everpresent pleasure.
George's football came yesterday and was he a tickled lad.    He will tell you of
his gratitude in a personal message, no doubt.    Certainly the gift could not have
been finer or more appropriate.
Your letter covered a couple of points on which I want to comment. First, I am
glad to have you say that your ambition for post-season reward has little place
in your mind,    That is just right. Nothing is more ephemeral than public hero
worship, and he who who seeks it and personal aggrandizement is doomed to disappointment. You are playing the game for itself and for the victory that comes
when all play for one and one plays for all.    The old slogan still goes in the
game of football and no success can come without it.    If you work on that plan
the rewards will take care of themselves. Most people get what is coming to
them, and I know that if you think and act for the good of the whole that you
won't have to worry about the recognition.    That sort of reward is splendid and
seems wonderful for the moment, but it is a slippery and treacherous, not to be
trusted or relied upon.    Better forget it entirely until it really appears.
Tho other thing that I noted is your statement that you believe you were careless in the Michigan game.    There is no excuse for carelessness and I hope that
you won't give yourself reason to say that again.    Your fumbles have been abit
unfortunate at times,  and I urge you to hang onto to the good that comes your
way.    That is sound advice on and off the football field.    Fumbles have counted
for a lot of lost games, and I hope that you won't have another this season.
This comment on carelessness also goes for missed assignments on blocking,
covering of passes and punts, and the multitude of little things that make
football what it is.    Think fast, and as far ahead as possible, play hard
and with your natural ability for rapid execution, and the results will be
worth watching.    But don't be careless.
In your other latter you spoke of leadership and seemed to question your
responsibility on that point.    The Captain should be the natural source of
inspiration, but in this instance 1 should think that you and Prasse should
collaborate, and if at any time you can see an opportunity for lifting the
other boys,   step right in and give the boost.    If Prasse is not the leader
that the situation seems to demand, you ought to work with him and even in
his stead.    Certainly the best that the team can give should not be forfeited
for lack of someone to carry the torch.You have considerable gift there
and I hope you will exercise it.        Best of everything.
Love   Pop

Saving...

Omaha, Nebraska, October 25, 1939 Dear SB: Very happy to hear from you , and, figuratively, have you at the home hearth again. George and I are holding the fort while mother is spending a few days at Adel. She left Monday morning and will return Thursday aft. When Ben and I were in Iowa City last the country side was at its October lovliest, and I urged mother to make her visit the following week, but some practice duties held her here, The Nebraska colors seem not nearly so brilliant as those in central Iowa, What influence there might be other than the drought out here, I know not. Your trip to Madison should be splendid from that standpoint. I will always remember the tripsthat Ames used to make to Minnesota for the warm-up(theirs) late in September. The northern foliage turns earlier and seemes more brilliant than ours further south. It always has been a satisfaction to me that I enjoyed the beauty of the country scene. Truly a most satisfying and everpresent pleasure. George's football came yesterday and was he a tickled lad. He will tell you of his gratitude in a personal message, no doubt. Certainly the gift could not have been finer or more appropriate. Your letter covered a couple of points on which I want to comment. First, I am glad to have you say that your ambition for post-season reward has little place in your mind, That is just right. Nothing is more ephemeral than public hero worship, and he who who seeks it and personal aggrandizement is doomed to disappointment. You are playing the game for itself and for the victory that comes when all play for one and one plays for all. The old slogan still goes in the game of football and no success can come without it. If you work on that plan the rewards will take care of themselves. Most people get what is coming to them, and I know that if you think and act for the good of the whole that you won't have to worry about the recognition. That sort of reward is splendid and seems wonderful for the moment, but it is a slippery and treacherous, not to be trusted or relied upon. Better forget it entirely until it really appears. Tho other thing that I noted is your statement that you believe you were careless in the Michigan game. There is no excuse for carelessness and I hope that you won't give yourself reason to say that again. Your fumbles have been abit unfortunate at times, and I urge you to hang onto to the good that comes your way. That is sound advice on and off the football field. Fumbles have counted for a lot of lost games, and I hope that you won't have another this season. This comment on carelessness also goes for missed assignments on blocking, covering of passes and punts, and the multitude of little things that make football what it is. Think fast, and as far ahead as possible, play hard and with your natural ability for rapid execution, and the results will be worth watching. But don't be careless. In your other latter you spoke of leadership and seemed to question your responsibility on that point. The Captain should be the natural source of inspiration, but in this instance 1 should think that you and Prasse should collaborate, and if at any time you can see an opportunity for lifting the other boys, step right in and give the boost. If Prasse is not the leader that the situation seems to demand, you ought to work with him and even in his stead. Certainly the best that the team can give should not be forfeited for lack of someone to carry the torch.You have considerable gift there and I hope you will exercise it. Best of everything. Love Pop