Through the Banks of the Red Cedar: My Father and the Team That Changed the Game

by Maya Washington

Jack either broke his collarbone or severely injured his shoulder during the second play in the game but wouldn’t take himself out. He persisted in grueling game play until the end of the third quarter when he went for a “roll block,” throwing himself onto an opposing player to make a tackle that landed him on his back. Once he was on the ground, three of Minnesota’s players stomped him mercilessly as the crowd at Northrop Field watched on. Later as he was carried off in a stretcher, the Gopher fans gave up “We’re sorry, Ames!” chants. Jack was taken to a local hospital and released hours later. He boarded the train back to Iowa with his team. He was in excruciating pain and was steadily bleeding internally. That train ride must have felt like an eternity to Jack Trice. He made it back to Ames, but died two days later.