How Iowa's Football Stadium Got Its Name

Editor’s Note: The following was written by George Wine. It appears in the book, Black & Gold Memories," published by the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2003.

Do you like the name of Iowa’s home football field? Does “Kinnick Stadium” have a nice ring to it?

If your answers are yes, you owe a debt of gratitude to Gus Schrader, the long-time sports editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette who died suddenly July 27 at age 79.

As every good Hawkeye fan knows, our football stadium is named in honor of Nile Kinnick, the only Iowa player to win the Heisman Trophy. In addition to earning college football’s top honor in 1939, he was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar and a campus leader. As a Navy pilot in World War II, he lost his life serving his country.

As every good Hawkeye fan knows, our football stadium is named in honor of Nile Kinnick, the only Iowa player to win the Heisman Trophy. In addition to earning college football’s top honor in 1939, he was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar and a campus leader. As a Navy pilot in World War II, he lost his life serving his country.

When the war ended there was considerable sentiment to rename Iowa Stadium in honor of UI’s fallen hero, but Kinnick’s father wasn’t comfortable with that idea. He said many UI students had lost their lives in the war, and putting one person’s name on the stadium was not appropriate.

Without Mr. Kinnick’s support, the momentum for a name change faded, and for the next 25 years the Hawkeyes continued to play in Iowa Stadium. Then Gus Schrader went into action.

Iowa football was in the doldrums in the early 1970s, having gone through three head coaches since the glory days of Forest Evashevski. The Hawkeyes hadn’t had a winning season in 10 years and morale was not good.

Schrader, who by then was well-known as the Gazette sports editor, thought that naming the stadium in honor of Nile Kinnick would not only be appropriate, it would also provide a needed shot in the arm for Iowa’s ailing football program.

He lobbied hard for a name change, using his widely read column, “Red Peppers,” and his frequent public speaking appearances. It didn’t take him long to mobilize the support of Hawkeye boosters and contributors. Just as important, Kinnick’s father softened his position and indicated he would not stand in the way of putting his son’s name on the stadium.

UI officials did not fall in line so quickly, however. Perhaps they felt pressured. Perhaps they didn’t want to risk offending other great Hawkeye players. Racial unrest was then prevalent on college campuses across America, and someone suggested the stadium be named to honor Iowa’s first black all-American, Duke Slater.

(Gus Schrader) lobbied hard for a name change, using his widely read column, “Red Peppers,” and his frequent public speaking appearances. It didn’t take him long to mobilize the support of Hawkeye boosters and contributors. Just as important, Kinnick’s father softened his position and indicated he would not stand in the way of putting his son’s name on the stadium.

Probably at the risk of sounding racist, Schrader refuted that idea by pointing out that Slater never won the Heisman Trophy and did not lose his life in the war. (The UI later put Slater’s name on a campus dormitory.)

As Schrader’s lobbying efforts gained the support of more and more Iowa fans, the resistance of UI officials began to break down. In the spring of 1972 the UI athletic board voted to rename the stadium in honor of the school’s only Heisman Trophy winner.

The Hawkeyes’ first home game that year was with Oregon State, and a pre-game ceremony on September 23 made it official: Iowa Stadium became known as Kinnick Stadium. Nile’s father took part in the ceremony and seemed genuinely pleased.

Gus Schrader viewed the proceedings from the press box. He must have been proud, with a sense of fulfillment, but I don’t recall anyone slapping him on the back. That may have been because, as usual, he was in a radio booth doing color commentary. After the game, he would rush to the locker rooms to interview players and coaches, then write a column and a game story. His busy game-day schedule would leave today’s young journalists breathless.

“That’s probably the most satisfying project I ever undertook,” he once said of getting Kinnick’s name on the stadium. “It started in 1945 when I was sports editor of the Daily Iowan and it took a long time to complete.”

I recently asked UI President Mary Sue Coleman if she could envision the day when a corporate sponsor might buy the stadium’s name. “No,” she answered emphatically, without hesitation. I wish I’d told Gus that before he died. He would have been happy to hear her answer.

For additional information about the renovation of historic Kinnick Stadium, contact the appropriate staff member.
The Renovation Project Jane Meyer Senior Associate Director of Athletics Jane-Meyer@uiowa.edu (319) 335-8874 Season and Single-Game Tickets/ Seat Assignments David Sandstrum Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations David-Sandstrum@hawkeyesports.com (319) 335-9309 Other Rick Klatt Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Rick-Klatt@uiowa.edu (319) 335-9431	Private Suites, Indoor Club Seats, Outdoor Club Seats, Private Gifts and Capital Campaign Mark Jennings Associate Athletics Director Mark-Jennings@hawkeyesports.com (319) 335-8903 Andy Piro Senior Director of Development Andy-Piro@uiowa.edu (319) 335-3305