Iowa's Nile Kinnick (1944)

A short documentary from 1944 about Nile Kinnick, All-American halfback for the University of Iowa's legendary 'Ironmen' football team of 1939 and winner of the Heisman, Maxwell and Walter Camp trophies that same year.
Kinnick died in 1943 during a training flight while serving as a U.S Navy aviator in World War II. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, and the University of Iowa renamed its football stadium "Kinnick Stadium" in his honor in 1972.
biography article on Nile Kinnick:
iowa.scout.com/2/247034.html
player bio at Hawkeyesports.com:
www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m...

[@ItchMyFoot]

My dad played for Iowa, and knew Nile. Like Nile, my dad was Navy pilot. He said Nile was the best player he ever saw, and deeply regretted his loss in the war.

[@beatlejim64]

Great player...humble guy...one of the great "what if's" of all time...what a waste...

[@devinvansloten3005]

Thank you for your service Nile!

[@hkobb7]

Excellent, thank you for posting! I especially like the Heisman acceptance speech...so eloquent, it's really very pleasant to listen to.

[@naturetrails8357]

What a man of vision n live a heroic self sacrificing life. Used his talents to the fullest. What a great legacy

[@gatorhunter1]

4:38 I want that old school Iowa letterman's jacket that Nile has!

[@mlrainesjr]

My father knew Nile Kinnick at Benson High School in Omaha Nebraska and both graduated in 1935. My father indicated that Nile was "one heck of a nice guy" who never developed a swollen head about his fame even in high school. My father did not attend the University of Iowa but went to rival Iowa State instead.

[@BCboy65]

Hero = Ensign Nile Ninnick, Jr., US Navy; a true scholar/athlete, gentleman, and 1939 Heisman Trophy winner. Naval aviator, F4-F Wildcat fighter off the USS Lexington. Emergency landing in the Gulf of Paria (between Venezuela and Trinidad) on 3 June 1943 in approximately 100 feet of water. Neither pilot nor aircraft were recovered.

[@Rightwingman09]

Pretty unbelieveable that every coin toss of a big ten game has his face on the heads side of the coin.

[@stevenrussell8369]

my dad was 17 in 1939. followed the exploits of Nile kinnic was a young man's hero of heros

[@MadirdTiger91]

I don't care if your an Iowa OR Iowa State fan, you better have some damn respect for this man who died for our country

[@dogmattic5916]

Great, inspiring video. Nile, it turns out, was my Dad's 2nd cousin. Both served on the USS Lexington, CV-16 ... although a generation apart. I learned this, while watching a video of The Pacific, WWII, while researching when my ship, the USS Iowa BB-61, sailed with my Grandfathers ship the USS Preston. There was this part when they mentioned Nile Kinnick's death. I thought: Kinnick - he might be related. Sure enough! My Dad only learned of this coincidence in these last years - due to DNA.

[@adanhawki]

Ditto to what rcbrammer wrote. America lost a true leader and his death shows that war can take our best.