A trip down memory lane
Indiana at Iowa
October 11, 1947
In 1946, after an absence of three years, Dr. Eddie Anderson returned as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeye gridders. Anderson and backfield coach Frank Carideo resigned effective November 18, 1942 to enlist in the military with the understanding that their jobs would be waiting for them upon their discharge from the service.
The 1946 season saw the Hawkeyes go 5-4, which gave Iowa one more win than in the three seasons Anderson was in the Army, so hopes were high in Hawkeye hearts.
Iowa opened the 1947 season with a lopsided 59-0 win over the Bison of North Dakota State. Iowa then traveled to Los Angeles where close to 100,000 fans saw the Hawks drop a game to UCLA 22-7. Iowa returned to Iowa Stadium where the Fighting Illini awaited. The results were no better as Illinois spanked Iowa 35-12. (UCLA and Illinois had played in the Rose Bowl in January 1947.)
So Indiana came to town for Iowa's homecoming a 14 point favorite. The Hoosiers featured multiple attacks and the returning all Big Nine left halfback in George Taliaferro.
Iowa was facing a shortage of players at right halfback, where the top three players were out with injuries. Pressed into service for this game was backup fullback, Bob Smith.
51,500 fans filed into Iowa Stadium as the Hawkeyes hosted a reunion for the unbeaten 1922 conference co-champions.
The game started slowly as both teams traded punts. Iowa eventually ground their way to the Indiana eight, but they couldn't score as they were halted on fourth and goal at the Hoosier two yard line.
The Iowa defense would force Indiana into a three and out and Taliaferro would punt to the Iowa 41 yard line.
Anderson brought in backup quarterback Al DiMarco and he led the Hawkeyes down to the Hoosier 24 yard line. There he hooked up with left halfback Emlen Tunnell at the Indiana five and Tunnell broke a tackle at the two before barreling into the end zone for a 24 yard score.
The Hoosiers didn't wait for the Hawkeye faithful to finish cheering as Taliaferro burst through the left side, then cut back across the grain for a 66 yard touchdown.
Early in the second quarter the DiMarco to Tunnell connection struck again. Under tremendous pressure, a scrambling DiMarco found Tunnell as he slipped past the Indiana safety for a 55 yard score and Iowa now held a 14-7 lead.
Keeping with the theme of the day, Iowa struck for a late second quarter score. DiMarco rolled out on a bootleg and when the Hoosier corner jumped his coverage to come up on DiMarco the Iowa QB lofted a soft pass to Tunnell who went the final 33 yards with his third touchdown of the day.
Indiana got the scoring started in the second half with a time consuming 64 yard drive cutting Iowa's lead to 21-14.
Neither team could mount a serious attack and it became a game of punting and field position until late in the game. With less than three minutes to play, Indiana was faced with a fourth and 15 at their own 28. The Hoosiers almost pulled out the first down but ended up three yards short.
With the ball on the Indiana 40 and time winding down, the Hoosiers expected a conservative attack. What they got was DiMarco to Tunnell for 23 yards. Then Bob Smith broke off of left tackle for 13 yards and the next play Smith plunged off guard through a deflated Indiana defense for the final score in the 27-14 win.
Tunnell would finish the game with 11 carries and 44 yards, but more importantly 6 catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns. DiMarco would finish the day 11-15, 3 TDs and 198 yards passing.
Included in the picture section is a baseball card of Hawkeye end, Jack Dittmer of Elkader, and a football card of back, Emlen Tunnell, the first African-American to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Iowa Lineup
LE - Hal Shoener 6-3, 190
LT - James Shoaf 6-4, 220
LG - Joe Grothus 6-0, 191
C - Dick Woodard 6-2, 210
RG - Ray Carlson 5-10, 180
RT - William Kay 6-5, 215
RE - Hern Shoener 6-3, 190 (Twin of Hal)
QB - Lou King 6-1, 175
LHB - Emlen Tunnell 6-1, 180
RHB - Bob Smith 6-1, 181
FB - Ron Headington 6-1, 200
Photo Feature
