July 6, 2006
- Read about Iowa’s 2006 recruiting class
- Follow the renovation of Kinnick Stadium
- The Schedule: 2006 and beyond
What do a football helmet, an iPod, a variety of old and new newspapers, and the books Cathedrals of College football and Black and Gold Memories have in common?
Each were tucked safely away inside a time capsule Thursday which was secured in the concrete block that will serve as the base for the statue of Nile Kinnick that will be on public display beginning in September inside the Krause Family Plaza immediately outside the south entrance to historic Kinnick Stadium.
The intention of the University of Iowa is to have the time capsule opened in the year 2081 – 75 years in recognition of the fact that the current renovation of the facility begin at the conclusion of the 75th season played inside the original east and west grandstands of the structure. The contents will not doubt spark curiosity among those who open the container.
Most of the items included are intended to provide a glimpse at what life was like in Iowa City in July 2006. The UI has also provided items that will provide a historical perspective on the institution, the intercollegiate athletics program at the UI, and Kinnick Stadium. And, finally, items were included that were intended to provide a sense of what was “in” and “popular” today.
“I have little doubt that those who open the time capsule will find much of the content entertaining. I also suspect that they will find some of it rather peculiar and they’ll quickly identify other items as relics of a day and age long ago,” said UI Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby.
UI officials said their research indicated that the best time capsules contained an eclectic selection. “I have no doubt that what we’ve sealed away for the next 75 years met that criteria,” said Rick Klatt, the UI’s associate athletics director for external affairs.
In addition to the aforementioned items, a cellular telephone, books and CDs that rank No. 1 on national best seller lists, items provided by the UI Alumni Association and the UI Athletics Hall of Fame, copies of the 2005-06 University of Iowa and 2005-06 Iowa City/Coralville telephone books, a copy of the 2006 visitors guide produced by the Iowa City and Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the most recent editions of Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, and People magazines were included in the time capsule.
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“We are proud of Kinnick Stadium and what it represents: An institution that is committed to the ideals of higher education and service to its many constituencies, and an intercollegiate athletics program that provides talented male and female student-athletes the opportunity to pursue their athletic goals while also reaching beyond their grasp academically.”
UI Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby in a letter sealed inside the time capsule placed inside the base that will hold the statue of Nile Kinnick.
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Klatt said one of the more unique items stored away for future reference is a collection of brief essays from students at Kate Wickham Elementary School.
“I’m a sixth grader at Kate Wickham Elementary. I-pods, Play Station 2/PSP, laptops, and hybrids are popular right now,” wrote Sarah Trunnel, a sixth grader from Coralville.
“Global warming, the war in Iraq, and gas prices continue to rise, now at $3.00. My hobbies are playing guitar, swimming, softball, basketball, listening to music, and enjoying comedy movies. I love the UI Hawkeyes!! “
“The idea to include thoughts from young people was an outstanding one and the end results was a wonderful collection of essays about life in Iowa City and Coralville in the spring of 2006. Lora Daily and the staff at Wickham are very deserving of a big round of applause for acting within a very short turnaround time,” Klatt said.
In addition to the memorabilia and other contemporary items, a note from Bowlsby was included.
“We are proud of Kinnick Stadium and what it represents: An institution that is committed to the ideals of higher education and service to its many constituencies, and an intercollegiate athletics program that provides talented male and female student-athletes the opportunity to pursue their athletic goals while also reaching beyond their grasp academically,” wrote Bowlsby, the person who spearheaded the ongoing two-year, multi-million renovation of the UI’s prized varsity football facility.
“I know I speak on behalf of many when I write today that I hope Kinnick Stadium is still the special place it was 75 years ago.”
Kinnick Stadium Time Capsule
Editors Note: The UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics invited the students at Kate Wickham Elementary School in Coralville to send a message to Iowans, friends of the University of Iowa and fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes that would be read 75 years into the future. Here is a sampling of the collection of more than 400 responses.
75 years from now, people in Iowa will read this time capsule message. What do you want them to know about life in 2006?
This is what it is like in 2006. Well, most people think gas is really expensive. Gas is $2.85 a gallon. Also most cars run on gas. Right now we have cordless phone (if there were not cordless phones we couldn’t take phones very far). We also have email so we can email friends. That means you don’t have to go to your friends or whoever you’re talking about, you just go on the computer and it’s just like writing a letter. That makes life easy.
Noah Federici
Age: Almost 9
Mrs. Otting’s Class
I’m a sixth grader at Kate Wickham Elementary. I-pods, Play Station 2/PSP, laptops, and hybrids are popular right now. Global warming, the war in Iraq, and gas prices continue to rise, now at $3.00. My hobbies are playing guitar, swimming, softball, basketball, listen to music, and enjoy comedy movies. I love the UI Hawkeyes!! My favorite commercial is when they put up a basketball pole, and then the grown-up boy cuts a piece of the net and looks at his dad. The commercial was for Lowe’s, “Let’s Build Something Together.” By the way, what’s happening (aliens, hover cars, UFO’s)? I’ll probably be living in Iowa and may be traveling. I love the state of Iowa!!
Sarah Trunnel
Age 12
Mrs. Ewer-Hays and Mrs. Moore’s Class
In 2006, we like to plays ports such as soccer, basketball, softball, baseball volleyball, ice-skating, and dancing. In my free time I like to play outside with my friends, read, write, and play sports. Last summer, Hurricane Katrina hit the southeast part of the country destroying everything and almost completely destroying New Orleans, Louisiana. Girls everyday usually wear jeans, shorts, capris, tank tops, flip-flops, t-shirts, plain print shirts, etc. Boys wear shorts, jerseys, sweatpants, tennis shoes, t-shirts, etc. We go to schools 5 days a week and during that time we do math, science, social studies, reading, writing, physical education., and music. A popular Disney Channel T.V. show for kids is High School Musical. I’m sure glad that I live now.
Molly Kuehn
Age 9
Mr. Shoppa’s Class