Jack Trice
From Rofflehaus
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When I saw him I said, 'Hello Darling.' He looked at me, but never spoke.
I remember hearing the Campanile chime 3 o'clock.
That was October 8, 1923, and he was gone.
--Cora Mae Trice Greene (wife)
Jack Trice (1902 – October 8, 1923) was the first black athlete of ISU (then ISC). He was the first and only Iowa State athlete to on the field. Jack Trice Stadium is named after him. Jack Trice Plaza was built in his memory.
A Hiram, Ohio, native, Trice studied animal husbandry at Iowa State, working part time to pay his tuition.
Was married to Cora Mae Trice Greene (maiden name: Starland).
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[edit] His short-lived but inspirational career
His first and only away game was October 6, 1923 against the University of Minnesota. It was ISU's third game that season; St. Louis and Nebraska refused to play against a black player. On the night of the game, Trice had to stay at a different hotel from his teammates.
He broke his collarbone in the scecond play of the game but still stayed in. In the third quarter, Minnesota ran a play off left tackle. Trice, not being able to reach the ball carrier, threw himself in front of the Gopher interference with a roll block. He was thrown on his back and trampled by three Minnesota players. He was carried off the field against his wishes. Though a Minneapolis doctor cleared him to travel to Ames on a Pullman coach, two days later, Trice died of internal injuries: a stomach rupture and collapsed lung
Some speculated Trice's trampling was an act of racism. At that time, Minnesota had a black player and at the turn of the century, had a star black runningback.
Louis Gross, the Gopher who lined up against Trice, said decades later: "It was an accident, of course. It could have been three players who ran over him or a half-dozen."
[edit] Letter
The following letter, written the night before the game, was found in his pocket during the funeral.
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THE CURTIS MOTEL To Whom it may concern: My thoughts just before the first real college game of my life. The honor of my race, family, & self is at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! My whole body & soul are to be thrown recklessly about on the field tomorrow. Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part. On all defensive plays I must break thru the opponent's line and stop the play in their territory. Beware of mass interference – fight low with your eyes open and toward the play. Roll-block the interference. Watch out for cross-bucks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good. 7:45 |
[edit] News articles
- The article, Jack Trice dies from injuries; hurt Saturday, in the 10/28, 1996 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 10/28/1996) from the Looking back series
- The article, Trice captured the hearts of yesterday's students, in the 02/03, 1997 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 02/03/1997)
- The article, Trice's legacy lives on through cousin, in the 09/15, 1998 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 09/15/1998) George Trice
- The article, Trice's impact, in the 04/21, 1999 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 04/21/1999)
- The article, Jack Trice subject of children's biography, in the 09/30, 1999 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 09/30/1999)
- The article, Iowa State gains university status, mourns Jack Trice, in the 12/01, 1999 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 12/01/1999), part of A Cyclone Century series
- The article, Trice's immortal influence, in the 10/08, 2003 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 10/08/2003)
- The article, Play honors Trice's life, contributions to ISU, in the 11/21, 2003 edition of the Iowa State Daily is still unavailable due to a change in the Daily's website and general laziness of Rofflehaus contributors. If you'd like to help fix a broken link like this, check out Template talk:ISUD to find out how. Thank you for your patience. (D: 11/21/2003)
