Notes on Iowa

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 7, 1989, Cyclone cornerback Marcus Robertson forced a fumble for a touchback to secure ISU's win over Kansas. Robertson’s head-up defensive play helped carry the Cyclones to a 24-20 victory over the Jayhawks.

Coach Jim Walden’s Cyclones arrived in Lawrence with a 2-2 record. Iowa State stumbled out of the gate, falling 14-0 before bursting out for three touchdowns in the second quarter. The game featured 72 passes, and Iowa State’s Bret Oberg set a career-high for passing yardage. As the Cyclones held a narrow 24-14 lead late in the third quarter, Kansas marched down the field.

Kansas quarterback Kelly Donohoe threw a 71-yard pass to Jim New. Robertson chased New and punched the ball out at the 1-yard line. The pigskin skittered through the endzone, avoiding the touchdown and giving the Cyclones possession at the 1-yard line. Running back Blaise Bryant helped the Cyclones ice the victory, racking up 126 yards on 25 carries.

“He’d (New) been waving the ball around the whole game,” Robertson said when asked about his key play. “When he got past me, I ran him down and purposely tried to knock the ball loose. Luckily, it worked.”

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 7, 1939, Nile Kinnick threw three touchdown passes to Erv Prasse as the Hawkeye Ironmen came from behind to beat Indiana. One of the most memorable early-season victories in program history, Iowa stunned observers with an offensive outburst that cemented Kinnick’s place in the national conversation and set a school record that would echo through decades of football lore.

The matchup, played in Bloomington, featured two future Hawkeye legends: Nile Kinnick and his favorite target, end Erwin Prasse. Kinnick, known for his intelligence, mobility, and pinpoint passing accuracy, connected with Erwin Prasse for three touchdown passes. At a time when the forward pass was still evolving as a strategic tool in college football, such a performance was eye-catching. The trio of scores not only propelled Iowa to victory but also set a new milestone for touchdown passes in a single game, underscoring how formidable the Kinnick-Prasse pairing had become.

Coming into the 1939 season, Iowa had endured difficult years under coach Irl Tubbs, yet the arrival of coach Eddie Anderson promised a fresh direction. This game proved the team’s resilience and ability to execute under pressure. Falling behind early, the Hawkeyes relied on grit, determination, and Kinnick's leadership to rally late, showcasing qualities that would define the squad, famously dubbed the "Ironmen" for playing nearly entire games without substitutions.

The Indiana victory provided an early glimpse of how this underdog team could harness leadership, endurance, and innovation to overcome adversity. Today, fans and historians alike look back on the Kinnick-to-Prasse connection in Bloomington as one of the sparks that ignited that remarkable season, a moment when resilience met destiny on the gridiron.

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 7, 1837, Ioway (Báxoje) leaders Na’je Nine (Non-chi-ning-ga) and Ñiyu Mañi (Neo-Man-Ni) presented American officials with a map asserting claims to traditional lands in Iowa. The map showcases the Ioway's incredible knowledge of Iowa’s lands and rivers.

Initially invited to Washington, D.C., by Lewis & Clark through a letter written on the eve of the Corps of Discovery in 1804, the Ioway did not venture eastward until more than 20 years later. Na’je Nine, Mahaska's brother, served as a principal Iowa leader in the 1820s and early 1830s. Na’je Nine advocated adapting to Americanization in the early 19th century.

In 1837, Na’je Nine served on the delegation sent to an inter-tribal congress in Washington, D.C., meant to settle boundary disputes between the Ioway, Dakota, Sauk, and Meskwaki. Na'je Nine presented a detailed map of the lands and implored the Americans: “This is the route of my forefathers. It is the land we have always claimed since old times. We have the history. We have always owned this land. It is what bears our name.”

The government disregarded the Nine's detailed claims and instead set new boundaries for the Ioway, Dakota, Sauk, and Meskwaki. The new boundaries increased tensions between the Indigenous peoples by altering borderlands to create space for American settlement.

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 6, 1913, the White Pole Auto Club (formerly Southwestern Iowa Auto Club) applied to make the “White Pole Road” the first Iowa State Highway Commission-certified autoroute in the state.

Encouraging motorists to take the “Great White Way” along the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad from Des Moines to Council Bluffs, the route eventually extended east to Davenport. The initial application cost $5 to file with the State Highway Commission and was approved in July 1914.

In 1922, the Great White Way Highway combined with the River-to-River Primary No. 7 Highway to form the Whiteway-7 Highway. Another change in 1926 renamed it U.S. Highway 32. In 1931, sections of the highway joined the longest east-west route in the United States (U.S. 6), linking Massachusetts and California.

Over the late 20th century, the highway underwent another designation change. First, the DOT renumbered the route to Iowa 925 before eventually transferring the road to counties. With the shift to county control, the route became White Pole Road again, marking a full circle for the popular and historic Iowa auto trail.