1899 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1899 Iowa Hawkeyes football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–0–1
Head coach
CaptainMoray Eby
Home stadiumIowa Field
1899 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Kansas     10 0 0
North Dakota     6 0 0
Detroit College     5 0 0
Lincoln (MO)     1 0 0
Ohio State     9 0 1
    8 0 1
Washington University     5 1 0
Missouri     9 2 0
Chicago P&S     4 1 0
Mount Union     5 1 1
Indiana     6 2 0
South Dakota Agricultural     3 1 0
Wabash     1 0 1
Cincinnati     5 2 0
Drake     5 2 0
Heidelberg     5 2 0
Buchtel     2 1 0
Doane     2 1 0
Northern Illinois State     1 0 2
Notre Dame     6 3 1
Central Michigan     3 2 0
Fairmount     2 1 2
Carthage     3 2 1
Western Reserve     5 4 0
Wittenberg     5 4 0
Iowa State     5 4 1
College of Emporia     1 1 1
Ohio     2 2 0
Rush Medical     3 3 1
Ohio Wesleyan     5 5 0
Haskell     4 5 0
Lake Forest     4 6 2
Kansas State     2 3 0
Iowa State Normal     1 3 2
Washburn     2 5 2
Butler     1 3 0
Miami (OH)     1 5 0
Nebraska     1 7 1
North Dakota Agricultural     0 1 0
Baldwin–Wallace     0 4 0

The 1899 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 an independent during the 1899 college football season. In their second year under head coach Alden Knipe, the Hawkeyes compiled an 8–0–1 record, shut out eight of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 221 to 5.[1][2] The Hawkeyes concluded their season with a 58–0 victory over Illinois, the worst defeat suffered by an Illinois football team up to that time.[3] Other highlights included a 5–5 tie with Chicago and a 30–0 victory over Nebraska.[1] The 1899 defense still holds Iowa single-season records for fewest points allowed (five), fewest touchdowns allowed (one), and fewest points allowed per game (0.6).[4]

Against Illinois, fullback John G. Griffith returned a punt 85 yards as Iowa won, 58–0, to cap its undefeated season. After the game, referee R. T. Hoagland of Princeton said, "The dodging run of Griffith down the field for a touchdown was the best piece of individual playing that I ever saw. The men (of the 1899 Hawkeyes) are all stars; they make the best team I ever saw."[5]

Quarterback Clyde Williams was later inducted into the Iowa Letterwinners Club Hall of Fame.[6] Tackle Moray Eby was the team captain.[7]

The team played its home games at Iowa Field in Iowa City, Iowa.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 23Iowa State NormalW 22–0
October 7at ChicagoT 5–5[8]
October 14Penn (IA)
  • Iowa Field
  • Iowa City, IA
W 35–0[9]
October 21Rush Medical
  • Iowa Field
  • Iowa City, IA
W 17–0
October 28Iowa State
W 5–0
November 43:00 p.m.vs. Nebraska
W 30–0[10]
November 11Grinnell
  • Iowa Field
  • Iowa City, IA
W 16–0[11]
November 18Knox (IL)
  • Iowa Field
  • Iowa City, IA
W 33–0
November 30vs. Illinois
W 58–04,000–10,000[3][12]

[13]

Players

[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "1899 Iowa Hawkeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  2. ^ "2022 Iowa Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 238.
  3. ^ a b "Iowa Scores an Easy Victory: Administers the Worst Defeat the University of Illinois Ever Received". The Chicago Tribune. December 1, 1899. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 267.
  5. ^ 75 Years With The Fighting Hawkeyes, by Bert McCrane & Dick Lamb, Page 18 (ASIN: B0007E01F8)
  6. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 211.
  7. ^ 2022 Iowa Football Media Guide, p. 220.
  8. ^ "Results in a Tie: Maroons Unable to Defeat University of Iowa". The Chicago Inter Ocean. October 8, 1899. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Doesn't Let Penn Score". The Daily Nonpareil. October 15, 1899. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Victory for the Old Gold: Iowa Football Team Triumphs Over the Bearers of the Scarlet and Cream". Sunday World-Herald. November 5, 1899. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Iowa Defeats Grinnell: The Latter Plays a Snappy Game, but Is Outclassed". The Sioux City Journal. November 12, 1899. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "All One Way". Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. December 1, 1899. p. 5. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
  13. ^ "Iowa Football 2013 Media Guide" (PDF). CBS Sports. CBS Interactive. 2013. Archived from the original (pdf) on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  14. ^ 2022 Media Guide, pp. 250-258.