Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football

The Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks represented the U.S. Navy pre-flight school at the University of Iowa in the college football seasons of 1942, 1943, and 1944.

Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football
First season 1942
Last season 1944
All-time record 26–5 (.839)

History

The U.S. Navy commissioned pre-flight schools at the University of Georgia, the University of Iowa, the University of North Carolina and Saint Mary's College in 1942. Cadets were given three months of rigorous physical training and instruction in basic aerial navigation and communications. Graduates were sent to basic flight schools and advanced flight training before assignment to the Pacific Fleet.

Athletics and training were emphasized at the schools. It was believed that the rigors of college football were ideal preparation for World War II. Numerous collegiate and professional athletes and coaches were recruited as instructors. They often played on or coached the football team of their respective school. Each team usually played established football powers in their respective region and other service academies.

Iowa Pre-Flight was coached by former Minnesota coach Bernie Bierman in 1942 and went 7-3. The Seahawks were coached by former Missouri coach Don Faurot in 1943 and went 9-1. They finished second in the final Associated Press Poll and were named the service academy national champion. Iowa Pre-Flight was coached by former Auburn coach Jack Meagher in 1944 and went 10-1. They finished sixth in the final Associated Press Poll.

Jim Tatum and Bud Wilkinson both served as assistant coaches for the Seahawks under Faurot. Tatum went on to coach at Oklahoma and Maryland. While at Maryland, Tatum recorded a national championship, three conference championships, and a 73–15–4 record without a single losing season. Wilkinson went on to coach at Oklahoma, where he set an NCAA record with 47 consecutive wins.[1]

Seasons

1942

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
September 19 at Kansas* Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS W 61–0  
September 26 at Northwestern* Dyche Stadium • Evanston, IL W 20–12  
October 3 at Minnesota* Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 7–6  
October 10 at Michigan* Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI W 26–14  
October 17 at Notre Dame* Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN L 0–28  
October 31 at Indiana* Memorial Stadium • West Lafayette. IN W 26–6  
November 7 at Fort Knox* Fort Knox, KY W 13–7  
November 21 Nebraska* Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 46–0  
November 28 at #3 Ohio State* Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH L 12–41  
December 5 vs. Missouri* Kansas City, MO L 0–7  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.

1943

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
September 18 at Illinois* Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL W 32–18  
September 25 at Ohio State* Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH W 28–13  
October 2 at Iowa State* Clyde Williams Field • Ames, IA W 33–13  
October 9 vs. Iowa* #8 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 25–0  
October 16 at Missouri* #7 Kansas City, MO W 21–6  
October 30 Fort Riley* #9 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 19–2  
November 7 at Marquette* #8 Marquette Stadium • Milwaukee, WI W 46–19  
November 13 Camp Grant* #5 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 28–13  
November 20 at #1 Notre Dame* #2 Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN L 13–14  
November 27 at Minnesota* #2 Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 32–0  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.

1944

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
September 16 at Michigan* Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI L 7–12  
September 23 at Minnesota* Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN W 19–13  
September 30 Olathe Navy* Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 45–12  
October 7 vs. Second Air Force* Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE W 12–6  
October 14 at #7 Purdue* #11 Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN W 13–6  
October 22 Fort Warren* #5 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 30–0  
October 29 at Marquette* #6 Marquette Stadium • Milwaukee, WI W 26–0  
November 4 at Tulsa* #7 Skelly Field • Tulsa, OK W 47–27  
November 11 Bunker Hill Navy* #7 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 33–7  
November 18 at Missouri* #7 Faurot Field • Columbia, MO W 51–7  
November 25 vs. Iowa* #7 Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA W 30–6  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Gary King, The Forgotten Man of Oklahoma Football: Jim Tatum, Sooner Magazine, University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc., Spring 2008, retrieved 17 December 2008.

External links