411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1889 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
American college football season
August 2023
January 2026
1889 Iowa Hawkeyes football Independent 0–1 None Martin Sampson Iowa Field none
The 1889 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the State University of Iowa ("S.U.I."), now commonly known as the University of Iowa, during the 1889 college football season. On September 26, 1889, Martin Sampson, who would later score the first touchdown in school history,Lamb, D and McGrane, B, p. 3. led a meeting regarding the organization of an S.U.I. football team. It was this suggestion that earned Sampson the title of coach and captain of the team. In the following days, Iowa sent out a challenge to any team in the state of Iowa for a game of football. The one team to accept Iowa's challenge: Iowa College. The Hawkeyes were no strangers to the Pioneers, as the two schools had met on the baseball diamond in the 20 years before. The game date was set for November 16, and the preparations for the game began.Lamb, D and McGrane, B, p. 1.
Preparations were difficult at Iowa, as proper management and leadership was obviously lacking at team practices. That was hardly the case with practices at Iowa College. With the help of Frank Everest and Lou Van Giesen, two men with playing experience back east, the Hawkeyes were able to field a team.Lamb, D and McGrane, B, p. 2. Iowa was outmatched, and lost the game, 24–0. Although a rematch was scheduled to be played on Thanksgiving, it was canceled due to inclement weather. With that, Iowa College had won the first championship west of the Mississippi River.
Halfback Martin Sampson was the team captain.
Schedule
November 16 l y Iowa College Grinnell Field Grinnell, IA 0–24 November 28 Iowa College Iowa City, IA Canceled
Players
Preston Coast
Arthur Cox
Lloyd Elliott
Andrew Gorrell
Edward Lewis
Frank Pierce
Milton Powers
Martin Sampson, halfback and captain
Allen Sanford
Arthur Smith
References
MacCambridge, M. (2005) ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. New York: ESPN Books. 1-4013-3703-1.
Lamb, D. and McGrane, B. (1964) 75 Years with the Fighting Hawkeyes. WM. C. Brown Company. B0007E01F8
Iowa
Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football seasons
Category:College football winless seasons
Iowa Hawkeyes football