Evashevski Drive To Be Dedicated Friday

Aug. 31, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Fans of the University of Iowa football program are invited to attend the public celebration of the renaming of the UI’s “Stadium Drive” to “Evashevski Drive” in honor of former UI football Coach Forest Evashevski.

The dedication of Evashevski Drive is scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday (Sept. 3), on the Krause Family Plaza located at the south end of Kinnick Stadium. The event will feature remarks from UI President Sally Mason, UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta, UI Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz, former UI student-athlete Jim Gibbons and John Evashevski, son of Iowa’s Hall of Fame head coach.

“Evy” coached the Hawkeyes from 1952 to 1960, a period that was marked with tremendous success, including Big Ten Conference championships in 1956, 1958 and 1960, and victories in the 1957 and 1959 Rose Bowl games.

Evashevski’s won-lost record as head coach of the Hawkeyes was a brilliant 52-27-4 (.651) and included a 33-21-2 (.607) record in conference games.

Parking is available to the public in Ramp 3, north of Kinnick Stadium.

The dedication of Evashevski Drive is the first in a series of events scheduled during the 2010 UI football season to celebrate the “Evy Era” of football at the UI. Members of Evashevski’s 1960 squad will join members of the 1985 Big Ten championship team coached by Hayden Fry at the City of Coralville’s annual “FRYfest” event Friday at the Iowa River Landing and Coralville Marriott. Team members will be recognized on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium when the UI stages its annual Varsity Club Day against Eastern Illinois. That event will be highlighted by the induction of the UI National Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2010.

On Sept. 25, the UI will stage its second “Throwback Game” against Ball State. On that day, the 2010 Iowa Hawkeyes will wear uniforms that reflect the look and feel of the 1960 Hawkeyes as they salute the student-athletes who played under Evashevski during his nine years as head coach of the Hawkeyes.

The helmets, jerseys and pants worn by the Hawkeyes in the Throwback Game against Ball State will be sold as a set for $550. The purchase will also include a certificate of authenticity. To learn more, visit www.iowathrowback.com.