Frank Kinney Holbrook - The 1896 Season

The 1896 Season

Frank Holbrook returned for his second season in 1896 and was soon seen as Iowa's best ball carrier. Holbrook was a champion sprinter and Iowa’s best defensive man. He was described as "one of the best halfbacks in the west. He was generally given the ball when a good gain was needed on the last down. His line bucking was excellent. In falling on the ball after a fumble, he has his superior yet to meet. His ability lay in great part in his strength and sprinting qualities." He was also Iowa’s first black football player and, as a result, a target for opposing teams.

Iowa started the 1896 season with a 32-0 win over Drake, with Holbrook rushing for four touchdowns. Though Iowa would suffer a 6-0 loss at Chicago, the Chicago Times-Herald was complimentary, especially of Holbrook. "Iowa’s star work was done by Holbrook. It was brilliant. He made one run of forty yards through a forest of Chicago tackles, and a couple of sprints of thirty yards. Iowa always worked him when it was necessary to make a gain to keep the ball."

Four years earlier, Iowa had joined its first football conference. The conference, titled the Western Interstate University Football Association, had four members: Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. The four schools played each other every year, with the winner of the round-robin series each year declared the conference champion. Iowa went 0-3 against their conference foes in 1895, being outscored by a combined score of 92-0.

In 1896, Iowa snapped a five game conference losing streak by beating Kansas 6-0. With eight minutes remaining in a scoreless game, Iowa had the ball at the Kansas 45 yard line. Iowa lined up quickly and snapped the ball without a signal. The ball was pitched to Frank Holbrook who sprinted 45 yards for the lone touchdown. After the extra points (touchdowns were then worth four points, and the extra points try was worth two points), Iowa held a 6-0 lead, which they maintained for the win.