The 1896 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the State University of Iowa ("S.U.I."), now commonly known as the University of Iowa, as a member of the Western Interstate University Football Association (WIUFA) during the 1896 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach Alfred E. Bull, the Hawkeyes compiled a 7–1–1 record (3–0–1 in conference games), won the WIUFA championship, shut out seven of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 132 to 12. It was the first Iowa football team to win a conference championship. The Hawkeyes defeated Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; their sole loss was to Chicago.
Frank Kinney Holbrook, who played end on the 1895 and 1896 teams, was Iowa's first African-American football player. He was later inducted into the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 211.
Iver Iverson, who played center, was the team captain.2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220. The team played its home games at Iowa Field in Iowa City, Iowa.
Schedule
Players Ralph Blackmore, guard Paul Coldren, quarterback Charles Edmonds Richard Gaines John Gardner Festus Griffin, quarterback Samuel Hobbs, fullback Carleton Holbrook, halfback Iver Iverson, center and captain Kalita Leighton, guard/tackle Harry McNeil Joseph Meyers, halfback James Stanton, tackle Charles Thomas, end James C. Walker, tackle/guard 2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.
References