Something for fun

[rurallib]

Tonight I was listening to the Canadian show on IPR. They were discussing Winnipeg's chances in the Grey Cup. Hearing them talk about the Winnepeg Blue Bombers made me think of an Iowa kid who made good. Kenny Ploen, formerly of Clinton, all American QB at Iowa and probably the most storied player in Canadian football history.
So I googled Kenny Ploen (pronounced plain if you are unfamiliar with him). Well naturally I ended up at a Hawkeye football history site. For a boy from Iowa City it was (and will be) quite a trip down memory lane.
As a kid I thought everybody lived in cities with big universities and football teams that were playing for the mythical national title. Saturday always included getting some friends together and eventually getting over to the stadium @ game time. Sometimes they'd have student tickets. When they didn't we waited til halftime when the gates were thrown open.
Games always started at 1PM sharp. Daylight time (when we finally got it) was over on Labor Day weekend so toward the end of the season we'd be getting to twilight at the end of the season. The season didn't start til the last week of September and they played 9 games. Games only lasted about 2.5 hours or less back then without TV and the commercials.
We'd hang around after the game and scavenge for treasure. Since drinking was prevelant in the stands back then we frequently found money and watches etc. Eventually we'd wander home about dark. Sometimes we'd even go down on the field and pretend we were Iowa players.

Here is a link to the Hawkeye football history link:
http://www.iowalum.org/magazine/football%5Fhistory/
I would bet the 'Clones have such a page also. Man do I remember Dave Hoppman and the 'dirty thirty'.