Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On June 3, 1935, Rose Bowl-winning Iowa Hawkeye Quarterback Ken Ploen was born in Lost Nation. A standout at Clinton High School, Ploen succeeded on the field and on the track at Iowa.
A four-sport athlete at Clinton High School, Ploen showcased unique athletic abilities. An all-state halfback in 1951 and 1952, Ploen also took home a state championship in the 120 high hurdles and helped the River Kings to a third-place finish in the 1953 Iowa High School Boys Basketball Tournament. Ploen put in 24 points in a win, ending a 60-game win streak for Davenport before the River Kings beat Gary “The Roland Rocket” Thompson’s Roland High School team 66-37 in the third-place game.
Planning to participate in football, basketball, and track at Iowa, Ploen found his chosen course of study in engineering too rigorous to pursue all three sports. Finding various roles on the football team, Coach Forest Evashevski played Ploen at various spots on offense and defense over his first three years. As a senior, Ploen’s time at quarterback came.
In 1956, Ploen led the Hawks to the team’s first Big 10 conference title in 35 years. On the way to winning the Rose Bowl, Ploen captured MVP honors by completing 9-10 passes for 107 yards while also scampering for a 49-yard rushing touchdown. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Ploen opted instead to head north of the border and signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, where he went on to a Hall of Fame career. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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