Jack Trice

                                                                                            Jack Trice Stadium

                                                                                                  Jack Trice

Most people have heard of the Jack Trice stadium at Iowa State University, but do not know the story behind it. It was erected in 1975 in honor of Johnny “Jack” Trice.

            Jack Trice was a football player at ISU. He was born in 1902 in Hiram, Ohio. He was the first African-American athlete at ISU. He played tackle for ISU. He studied animal husbandry.

            On the 5^th of October 1923, he wrote a letter; 

            “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 and soul are to be thrown recklessly about 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 through the opponents' line and stop the play in their territory. Beware of mass interference. Fight low, with your eyes open and toward the play. Watch out for crossbacks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good. Jack.”

            On October 6, the scheduled game against University of Minnesota took place. Trice broke his collarbone in the second play of the game.  He insisted that he was still fit to play so he went back out to the field. Later on, in the third quarter, he went to make a tackle. He was on the ground and trampled by three Minnesota players and sent to the hospital. After doctors declared him able to travel he came back to Ames with the team.

            October 8, 1923, he died from internal bleeding and hemorrhaged lungs.  4000 people attended his funeral held on October 16, 1923. The funeral was held on ISU campus.

Minnesota and ISU would not play again until 1989.

            In 1973 his legacy resurfaced and a promotion began to name the stadium after him. The student government body voted unanimously to support this effort. However, in 1984 they named the stadium “Cyclone Stadium” and the field was named “Jack Trice Field”.  In honor of Trice the student body deiced to raise money to erect a statue of him in 1987. Finally in 1997 after years of persistence on the student governments part and in part by public figures such as Paul Newman and Hubert Humphrey the stadium was renamed “Jack Trice Stadium”.

Jack Trice Stadium holds approximately 55,000 people. On September 7, 2007, the attendance record was set at 56,795. They played Northern Iowa.

In 1997 a three-story press box was added to the west side of the stadium.

In addition to the football team playing there, they have also had some concerts (including: The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Pink Floyd, and Genesis).

This stadium has a lot of history and is something special for the people who grew up in Ames. A Saturday afternoon in Ames is a special occasion. The town comes to life supporting the ISU football team. Businesses make more money because of the flood of people both ISU fans and away team fans. The Jack Trice Stadium is a valuable part of the community.