Football Player
The Resume
(July 9, 1918-June 2, 1943)
Football Player/War Hero
1939 Heisman Trophy Winner, University of Iowa
Charter member, National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame (1951)
Hawkeye jersey #24 retired
Died attempting an emergency fighter plane landing off the Venezuelan coast
Why he might be annoying
Although he is idolized as an Iowan, he graduated from an Omaha, Nebraska high school, and first tried out for the University of Minnesota football team.
He was turned down by Minnesota, so he attended Iowa instead.
After his death, his father refused to allow the university to honor his son by renaming their football field Kinnick Stadium (only after his father died were they able to do so, in 1972).
Overtly enthusiastic Iowa fans, upon hearing that Kinnick's 'death plane' had been found, wanted the plane displayed at the stadium. Only when someone mentioned that Kinnink's body was likely still IN the plane was the plan dropped.
When Topps made a football card of him for a college hall of fame series, they spelled his name wrong.
Why he might not be annoying
He died for his country.
His family had to move to Nebraska due to financial troubles his senior year.
He was small and slow, even for 1930's standards, but accomplished much through effort and determination.
He led Iowa to their best record in years, and brought great notoriety to the team.
As an American Legion player, he once caught for Bob Feller.
His Heisman acceptance speech is considered to be the greatest ever given (granted, not a great stretch there).
After hearing his acceptance speech, where he noted the growing war in Europe, Bill Cunningham of the Boston Globe wrote, 'The country is OK as long as it produces Nile Kinnicks. The football part is incidental.'
He refused a $10,000 offer from the NFL to study law, but eventually enlisted before the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.
There are three football stadiums named after Kinnick in Iowa, Nebraska, and Japan, where a high school was also named after him.
His brother was also a fighter pilot, and also died in the war, meaning his mother was a double Gold Star mother.
He was Phi Beta Kappa, and was student body president at Iowa.
His likeness is on the face of the coin tossed at the start of every Big 10 football game.
Credit: Gregg Moeller
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Year In Review:
For 2019, as of last week, Out of 105 Votes: 50.48% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 27.27% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 63 Votes: 49.21% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 68.00% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 33 Votes: 39.39% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 39 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 92 Votes: 46.74% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 294 Votes: 42.52% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 293 Votes: 43.00% Annoying
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