World Almanac, and other sources. However, the student vote was unofficial and efforts to rename the stadium were never pursued by the university. In 1972 "Nile Kinnick Stadium" was again proposed by Cedar Rapids Gazette sportswriter Gus Schrader, who had previously supported the students' efforts. This time the lobbying campaign was successful, and the stadium was officially renamed later that year. The Hawkeyes' first home game that year was with Oregon State, and a pre-game ceremony on September 23 made it official: Iowa Stadium became known as Nile Kinnick Stadium. Kinnick's father took part in the ceremony and seemed genuinely pleased. Kinnick Stadium is the only college football stadium named for a Heisman Trophy winner. In 2006, Iowa finished renovations on Kinnick Stadium. As part of those renovations, the school dedicated a bronze statue of Kinnick in front of the stadium on September 1, the day before the opening game. Included in the ceremonies was a speech by head coach Kirk Ferentz, as well as a fly-over of a replication of the plane Kinnick flew in World War II. Iowa also placed a bronze relief on the wall of the stadium, depicting Kinnick's 1939 game-winning touchdown run against Notre Dame. See also List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders Nile C. Kinnick High School in Japan Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium in Tokyo, named "Nile Kinnick Stadium" during the occupation of Japan Notes References External links Nile C. Kinnick Scholarship University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame profile The Nile C. Kinnick Papers are housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives. 1918 births 1943 deaths All-American college football players American Christian Scientists American football halfbacks American men's basketball players United States Navy personnel killed in World War II Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents College Football Hall of Fame inductees Heisman Trophy winners Iowa Hawkeyes football coaches Iowa Hawkeyes football players Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball players Maxwell Award winners Military personnel from Iowa People from Adel, Iowa Players of American football from Iowa Players of American football from Nebraska Sportspeople from Omaha, Nebraska United States Navy pilots of World War II University of Iowa College of Law alumni Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1943 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Venezuela United States Navy officers