Heavily favored and ranked No. 3 by the Associated Press at the time, the Fighting Irish lost to the Hawkeyes in the upset of the day, 7–6. Iowa finished the season at 6–1–1, a remarkable turnaround from a combined 2–13–1 record the previous two seasons. It was the first season for coach Dr. Eddie Anderson, a Mason City native who, ironically, had played and coached under Knute Rockne at Notre Dame during the 1920s.

Nile Kinnick, wearing No. 24, kicked 16 punts for 731 yards in the game, both Iowa school records that still stand today. The team’s nickname was the Ironmen, owing to the versatility of the players on both offense and defense.

The film, part of the University Archives’ collection, was recently digitally reformatted and added to the Iowa Digital Library and the university’s YouTube channel.

The Papers of Nile Kinnick, incidentally, are housed in the University Libraries’ Department of Special Collections and University Archives, and are featured as part of the Iowa Digital Library. The collection includes family photographs, correspondence, diaries, and scrapbooks.

You never know what you’ll find in the archives. Thanks to Kara and all—volunteers and staff alike—who have helped Old Gold uncover these treasures.