Hawkeye Forest Evashevski: Iowa Time Machine February 18, 1918

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On February 18, 1918, legendary Iowa Hawkeye football coach Forest Evashevski was born. Evashevski spent nine remarkable seasons rebuilding a program from the ground up and led the Hawks to a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl win.

Evashevski's path to Iowa City wound through Ann Arbor, where he starred as a quarterback for Michigan's 1940 and 1941 teams. His playing days taught him the fundamentals of the single-wing offense and the importance of physical, disciplined football. After serving in World War II, he began his coaching career at various stops before accepting the Iowa position. The Hawkeyes had won just nine games in the previous four seasons when Evashevski arrived, and had only managed three winning seasons in the previous sixteen years.

Arriving in 1952, Evashevski immediately installed his demanding system, recruited aggressively, and preached a brand of tough, mistake-free football that would come to define Iowa's identity. Evashevski's progressive approach to recruiting distinguished him from many contemporaries. Unlike most head coaches of the time, Evashevski recruited multiple Black players during his nine-year tenure, demonstrating a commitment to integration ahead of its time. Evashevski's recruiting prowess brought elite talent to Iowa City, including players who would become legends. The "Steubenville Trio" arrived from Ohio in 1953: guard Calvin Jones, running back Eddie Vincent, and end Frank Gilliam.

Introduced the wing-T offense in 1956. By 1958, Iowa led the entire nation in total offense with 416.7 yards per game. His teams won Big Ten championships in 1956 and 1958, with the 1958 squad finishing the season ranked number two nationally after defeating California in the Rose Bowl. The 1956 team also earned a Rose Bowl berth, establishing Iowa as a consistent national contender. #Iowa #OTD #History #Hawkeyes #CollegeFootball