Wilburn Hollis
Wilburn Hollis (November 12, 1940 – February 1, 2024) was an American college football player for the University of Iowa from 1959–1961 and one of the first African Americans to earn All-American honors at quarterback. He led the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten championship as a junior in 1960 and was named a second team All-American that season.
Background
[edit]Wilburn Hollis was born in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, but moved to Boys Town, Nebraska, at age 10. At Boys Town, Hollis played football, basketball, baseball, and track.[1] He was recruited to Iowa by Coach Forest Evashevski and arrived in Iowa City in 1958.
Hollis died on February 1, 2024, at the age of 83.[2]
Playing career
[edit]After sitting behind Olen Treadway as a sophomore in 1959, Hollis ascended to the starting quarterback position as a junior and helped lead Iowa to one of its most successful seasons.[3] Against Wisconsin in 1960, Hollis threw the winning touchdown pass to Sammie Harris with only 52 seconds remaining in a 28–21 victory.[4] That performance earned him National Back of the Week honors from the Associated Press, and Iowa was elevated to the No. 1 ranking in the nation after the win. Iowa spent three weeks at No. 1 and won a share of the Big Ten title with an 8–1 record.[5]
Wilburn Hollis scored 68 points in 1960, the most points scored at Iowa by a single player since 1922. He was an all-Big Ten selection and a second team All-American as a junior.[6]
Iowa began Hollis' senior season in 1961 as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation in preseason. Hollis led Iowa to a win in the opening game, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns in a 28–7 victory.[7] However, Hollis fractured his right wrist in the second game of the season, and his Iowa career came to a premature end.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Boys Town story
- ^ "Former Hawkeye Wilburn Hollis Passes Away". Si. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Hawkeye Greats, By the Numbers, by Lyle Hammes and Neal Rozendaal, Page 101 (ISBN 1-426-94303-2)
- ^ Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore, by Mike Finn & Chad Leistikow, Page 113 (ISBN 1-57167-178-1)
- ^ Hawkeye Greats, By the Numbers, by Lyle Hammes and Neal Rozendaal, Page 101 (ISBN 1-426-94303-2)
- ^ 75 Years With The Fighting Hawkeyes, by Bert McCrane & Dick Lamb, Page 245 (ASIN: B0007E01F8)
- ^ Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore, by Mike Finn & Chad Leistikow, Page 114 (ISBN 1-57167-178-1)
- ^ Hawkeye Greats, By the Numbers, by Lyle Hammes and Neal Rozendaal, Page 101 (ISBN 1-426-94303-2)