A trip down memory lane
October 30, 1948
It was the day before Halloween, 1948, and 38,400 fans paid $3.50 a ticket to see Iowa and Wisconsin do battle in the 26th game of this heated series. At the time, Wisconsin led the series 17-8 after a rousing 46-14 win in 1947, however, this year both teams were fighting to stay above .500.
Wisconsin came in with a strong ground game while Iowa was a team in search of a rushing attack. In fact, Iowa promoted third string left halfback, Donald Fryauf to first string hours before game time.
Things were bleak for the Hawkeyes in the early going as they failed to mount any attack. Luckily their stout defense held Bucky scoreless in the first quarter, too.
The second quarter saw the Badgers get off of zero as speedy Gene Evans ran over Iowa left tackle, Don Winslow (remember this name) for a 31 yard tally. The extra point was missed and the Badgers held a 6-0 lead.
The Hawkeyes struggled again to gain any ground against Wisconsin's interior defense and Wisconsin started winning the field position game as they crept closer to Iowa territory. Finally, Wisconsin put together a short drive and Jim Embach bowled over from the Iowa 9. The point after touchdown gave Wisconsin the 13-0 lead.
Iowa finally strung together a handful of first downs, but the drive died on downs before halftime.
The outlook was grim as the Hawkeyes left the locker room to start the second half. Being down 13 points was a huge hill to climb for a team that only surpassed 13 twice all season and both of those 14 point games.
Midway through the second half Iowa struck upon a recipe for success and with backups Ralph Doran and Don Fryauf toting the pigskin the Hawks began to grind out a consistent drive.
Starting at their 31 Iowa used only its ground game and moved 69 yards in seven plays before scoring on a Fryauf sweep from 15 yards out. Fryauf was brilliant running for 41 yards in three carries on the drive. Iowa missed the PAT and trailed 13-6, but hope was now alive.
A fired up defense pinned its ears back and held Wisconsin to a three and out on the next series. A short punt gave Iowa its best field position of the day at Wisconsin's 49.
Lightning then struck in the form of Cedar Rapids' Ralph Doran as the senior reserve burst through the line untouched for a 49 yard touchdown. As the Iowa crowd went nuts the extra point sailed wide and Iowa trailed 13-12.
Iowa entered the fourth period trailing by one, but with momentum definitely on its side.
Another quick series and Wisconsin was punting again. Iowa took over at the 50 and mixed some traps and sweeps together and moved the ball down to the Badger 24.
There, Al Dimarco dropped back and looked in the end zone for split end Jack Dittmer who had slipped behind the Badger safety. The pass was slightly under thrown allowing the Badger deep man to get a hand on the ball.
Would a hand be enough? The ball tipped end over end and Dittmer juggled it, and then fell backwards while clutching the ball to his chest. Rolling into a back somersault Dittmer emerged with the ball in his possession!
TOUCHDOWN IOWA!!
This time the extra point was added and Iowa would be kicking off with ten minutes to burn and a 19-13 lead.
Finding itself on its own 14, Wisconsin started a nine minute, 18 play drive. Several times the Badgers converted on third down and once converted a fourth down play.
With less than two minutes to play, Wisconsin found itself on Iowa's 14 with an exhausted Iowa defensive across the line of scrimmage from them.
With a frenzied and fearful crowd urging them on, the Iowa defense tried to tighten. On first down end Robert Hoff brushes his man aside and hit the Badger tailback for a three yard loss.
On second down Wisconsin ran a trap that had the Iowa defenders heading one way and the ball heading the opposite direction. Only one Iowa player, defensive back Bill Greene had stayed at home. With no one between him and the end zone, Green laid a lick on the Badger halfback for no gain.
On third down, the Badgers hooked up for an 11 yard pass down to the Iowa six.
Fourth down and two yards to go.
Ball on the Iowa six.
Only fifty second to play.
Trailing 19-13.
Could the Iowa defense hold one last time?
Wisconsin broke the huddle and faced the Iowa 5-3 defense. As the Badger lineman eyed their black clad targets, the Iowa defensive front pawed the ground like restive stallions. The Iowa crowd screamed its support.
A second before the snap Iowa made a sudden switch bringing up one linebacker to form a six man front.
Wisconsin couldn't adjust and Don Winslow (I told you to watch for him) shot the gap at right tackle and hit the Badger left halfback for a 10 yard loss.
Iowa had held!!!
The Hawks took a knee and ran out the clock as former Notre Dame teammates and coaching rivals, Dr. Eddie Anderson and Harry Stuhldreher shook hands at midfield.
It was a glorious end to another Hawkeye football Saturday.
The Hawks would end the season 4-5, but the 1948 season was notable in Iowa lore.
It was the season that gave us Herky!
According to "University of Iowa Football" by Chuck Bright, journalism instructor Richard Spencer III designed the Hawkeye mascot, but the mascot stayed nameless until alumnus John Franklin of Belle Blaine won a statewide contest with the name "Herky."
Herky the game mascot first appeared in the mid 1950s.
Iowa Starters
LE - Robert McKenzie 6-1, 185
LT - Donald Winslow 5-10, 215 Iowa City
LG - Joe Grothus 6-1, 191 Davenport
C - Dick Woodard 6-2, 215 Fort Dodge
RG - Ray Carlson 5-10 190 Fort Dodge
RT - Bill Kay 6-5, 215 Walnut
RE - Jack Dittmer 6-0 165 Elkader
LHB - James Halliburton 5-11, 165 Des Moines
FB - John Tedore 5-11, 190 Waterloo
RHB - Jerold Faske 5-8, 185
QB - Al DiMarco 5-8, 160 Mason City