1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football Independent 2 (APS) 7–3 Bernie Bierman 1st Iowa Stadium none The 1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team represented the United States Navy pre-flight aviation training school at the University of Iowa as an independent during the 1942 college football season. The team compiled a 7–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 211 to 121.1942 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 22, 2018 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/iowa-pre-flight/1942-schedule.html The 1942 team was known for its difficult schedule, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, and Missouri.1942 Iowa Seahawks College Football Historical Society John B. Scott LA84 Foundation https://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv11/CFHSNv11n1g.pdf The team was ranked No. 2 among the service teams in a poll of 91 sports writers conducted by the Associated Press.Great Lakes Is Leading Service Team Of Nation Ashville Citizen-Times December 6, 1942 D2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17922930/great_lakes_is_leading_service_team_of/ Newspapers.com The Navy's pre-flight aviation training school opened on April 15, 1942, with a 27-minute ceremony during which Iowa Governor George A. Wilson turned over certain facilities at the University of Iowa to be used for the training of naval aviators. At the time, Wilson said, "We are glad it is possible to place the facilities of this university and all the force and power of the state of Iowa in a service that is today most vital to safeguarding our liberties."Navy Takes Over Iowa U. Facilities Des Moines Tribune April 15, 1942 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742594/navy_takes_over_iowa_u_facilities/ Newspapers.com The first group of 600 air cadets was scheduled to arrive on May 28. Bernie Bierman, then holding the rank of major, was placed in charge of the physical conditioning program at the school.Maj. Bierman at Iowa City The Des Moines Register April 15, 1942 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742723/maj_bierman_at_iowa_city/ Newspapers.com Bierman had been the head coach of Minnesota from 1932 to 1941 and served as the head coach of the Iowa Pre-Flight team in 1942. Larry Snyder, previously the track coach at Ohio State, was assigned as Bierman's assistant. Don Heap, Dallas Ward, Babe LeVoir, and Trevor Reese were assigned as assistant coaches for the football team.Former Ohio State Track Coach Made Bierman Assistant The Daily Times May 29, 1942 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17743015/former_ohio_state_track_coach_made/ Newspapers.com In June 1942, Bierman addressed the "misconception" that the Iowa pre-flight school was "merely a place for varsity athletics." He said: "Our purpose here is to turn out the toughest bunch of flyers the world has ever seen and not first class athletes."Athletics Only Incidental at Iowa Pre-Flight School, Says Bierman The Des Moines Register June 12, 1942 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742830/athletics_only_incidental_at_iowa/ Newspapers.com Two Seahawks were named to the 1942 All-Navy All-America football team: George Svendsen at center and Dick Fisher at left halfback. In addition, Bill Kolens (right tackle), Judd Ringer (right end), George Benson (quarterback), and Bill Schatzer (left halfback) were named to the 1942 All-Navy Preflight Cadet All-America team.All-Navy All-America Beatrice Daily Sun Grantland Rice Grantland Rice December 27, 1942 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17985879/all_navy_allamerica/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1942 AP y y September 19 at Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS W 61–0 3,000 Takes A Terrific Beating: KU Suffers Worst Defeat To Cadets 61-0 The Morning Chronicle Associated Press September 20, 1942 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115405722/takes-a-terrific-beating-ku-suffers/ Newspapers.comIowa Preflight Veterans Roll Over Kansas in Opener, 61 to 0 Chicago Tribune September 20, 1942 2-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17735127/iowa_preflight_veterans_roll_over/ Newspapers.com September 26 at Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL W 20–12 20,000 Seahawks Rap Purple, 20 to 12 The Des Moines Register Sec Taylor September 27, 1942 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17735314/seahawks_rap_purple_20_to_12/ October 3 at Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN W 7–6 37,500 Gophers Lose 7-6 Thriller Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal Charles Johnson October 4, 1942 Sports 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17737869/gophers_lose_76_thriller/ Newspapers.com October 10 at Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI W 26–14 34,126 Seahawks Smash U-M in Bruising Battle, 26 to 14 Detroit Free Press Dale Stafford October 11, 1942 Sports 1, 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17737932/seahawks_smash_um_in_bruising_battle/ Newspapers.com October 17 at Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN L 0–28 30,000 Irish Knock Seahawsks Out of Skies, 28 to 0 Chicago Tribune Arch Ward October 18, 1942 II-1, II-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17738037/irish_knock_seahawsks_out_of_skies_28/ Newspapers.com October 31 at Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN W 26–6 8,000 Seahawks Score Four Times in Fourth Period To Down Indiana Gridders, 26 to 6 The Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram (AP story) November 1, 1942 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17738120/seahawks_score_four_times_in_fourth/ Newspapers.com November 7 at Fort Knox DuPont Manual Stadium Louisville, KY W 13–7 2,000 Seahawks Run Into Trouble But Take Fort Knox, 13-7 The Des Moines Register November 8, 1942 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742010/seahawks_run_into_trouble_but_take_fort/ Newspapers.com November 21 Nebraska Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA W 46–0 5,400 Seahawks Bruise Nebraska: Navy Scoring Parade Jolts Foes, 46 to 0 The Des Moines Register November 22, 1942 5-1, 5-5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742147/seahawks_bruise_nebraska_navy_scoring/ Newspapers.com November 28 at No. 3 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH L 12–41 27,259 Ohio State Takes 41-12 Grid Contest: Buckeyes Score in Every Period To Outclass Iowas Seahawks The Baltimore Sun (AP story) November 29, 1942 Sports 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742241/ohio_state_takes_4112_grid_contest/ December 5 at Missouri Ruppert Stadium Kansas City, MO L 0–7 7,600 Steuber and Missouri Down Seahawks, 7-0 St. Louis Post-Dispatch December 6, 1942 1E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17742322/steuber_and_missouri_down_seahawks_70/ Newspapers.com Daye John 2014 Encyclopedia of Armed Forces Football Haworth, New Jersey St. Johann Press 118–119 978-1-937943-21-9 Roster Player Position George Benson Back Matt Bolger End Al Couppee Back Forest Evashevski Back Dick Fisher Back Bob Flora Tackle Fred Gage Bill Kolens Tackle Malcolm Kutner End Jim Langhurst Back Bus Mertes Back George Paskvan Back Billy Schatzer Back George Svenson Kicker Bobby Swisher Back References Iowa Pre-Flight Category:Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football seasons Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football