My dad – George Boller – was a Hawkeye Football Nut. Born in Wayland, Iowa in 1921, his dad took him to his first Iowa football game when he was just 5 years old (1926). The Hawks played in old Iowa Field back then – located on the banks of the Iowa River – just down the hill from Old Capitol.
In truth, my dad didn’t miss too many home Iowa football game for most of his 73 years – except those three years he served his country during WWII. So in the 1950’s, when he had two little boys of his own, he made sure the tradition continued, taking my older brother to games in Iowa Stadium, and when I turned age 5 (1956), he took me as well.
So, here we are at the start of yet another Hawkeye football season, and sure nuff, we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of my dad’s first Hawkeye game, and my 70th anniversary of the same.
Recently, my kids asked me to answer this question…
What makes you happy, Dad?
I thought I’d give you my response to that question here…
Oh my! There are so many little things in life that make me happy!
A warm, sunny day. A bright, cheery hello from a friend. A big hug and kiss from Sandy. A “love ya, daddio” from my kids. A juicy rib-eye steak hot off the grill served with a baked potato. Listening to a Herb Alpert or Burt Bacharach classic tune. Watching Caitlin Clark pop in yet another three-pointer. Knowing my life belongs to Jesus of Nazareth and that He’s got me covered if and whenever I feel life is too hard. Yup, the list is long.
But, now that I think about it. There’s a special kind of happy I feel inside whenever my Iowa Hawkeyes pull off a magnificent, un-expected win on the football field. The reason I call it a “special kind of happy” is because it’s an intriguing kind of emotion that can only be described as an “I’m so happy, I can cry” moment.
My Dad – George Boller – taught me this special kind of happy and it was first displayed for me when I was five years old. My brother, Eric, and I would, on occasion, attend Iowa football games with Dad. We lived in Wayland, Iowa at the time – located about 50 miles south of Iowa City. And in 1956, Iowa football was just ready to turn the corner. It had been 17 years (1939) since Nile Kinnick and the Ironmen brought Iowa into national prominence, and now, after four re-building years under head coach Forest Evashevski, the Hawkeyes were only one win away from re-capturing the Big Ten championship. The game was held in Iowa Stadium on November 17, 1956 and it featured #7 Iowa vs #6 Ohio State.
Quarterback Ken Ploen threw a third-quarter 17-yard touchdown pass to Jim Gibbons for the game’s only score, and the Hawkeyes won 6-0, snapping Woody Hayes’ 17-game winning streak against Big Ten conference opponents. The historic victory clinched the Big Ten championship for Iowa and earned the program its first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl, where the Hawks went on to defeat Oregon State 35–19.
So now, back to my first lesson in “I’m so happy, I could cry”. In a 1976 article about my dad that appeared in the Iowa City Press-Citizen Sports Section, this little paragraph explains what my brother, Eric, and I saw that day…
Yup, I learned something from my Dad on November 17, 1956. In this lifetime, there will be moments when the underdog completely surprises the big dog and does something nobody ever expected. And if you follow Iowa football for long, you’ll know that we Hawkeyes have had a lot of tough moments where the big boys have run over our brave warriors.
But then, wait for it!
There are days when the unexpected happens. The impossible becomes possible and suddenly, the Hawkeyes pull off an upset that nobody saw coming. Yup, it’s on those days, I have one of my “I’m so happy, I can cry” moments.
Fortunately, I’ve had my own experiences since my first one in 1956.
There was “The Drought-Ender” – November 21, 1981, when Coach Hayden Fry and the Hawkeyes ended a 18-year losing record streak, beating Michigan State, winning the Big Ten championship, and heading off to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1959.
Then, there was “The Kick” – October 19, 1985, when #1 Iowa beat #2 Michigan on a last-second, 29-yard field goal by Rob Houghtlin.
Then, there was “The Catch” – that famous last-second touchdown pass that gave the Hawks a stunning 30-25 victory over LSU in the January 1, 2005, Capital One Bowl.
Yup, all of these memories come to mind, when I think of one of those “I’m so happy, I could cry” moments. Ahh, for more of those special “Hawkeye-happys” in the days and years ahead!
On Iowa! Go Hawks!