The Sickos Synopsis - Our Weekly early 1900s style Old-Timey Recap for Week Two - LATE EDITION - Featuring Illinois/Kansas, Iowa/Iowa State and Norfolk State/Hampton

Here at the Sickos Committee, we really love the Old-Timey newspaper headlines from college football games from the 1920s and earlier. We wanted to do a weekly recap of some randomly decided games in this Old-Timey style of writing for the fun of it. Just try to imagine an old school news reporter reading this aloud to you on an old transistor radio. 

This edition is free since it is a Late Edition.

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Sept. 7th - Lawrence, KS

One of the most delightful stories of the 2022 season was the Kansas Jayhawks football team. After a woe-be-gone decade of misery the Kansas Jayhawk football team showed vigor, life, excitement, and flair in an amazing season. One of the other delights was the Illinois Fighting Illini that showed grit, toughness, stoutness, and ground their way to an amazing season. Pitting these two teams of contrasting play gives rise to the idiom “Styles make fights.” The game started with the Illini taking the opening kickoff and ended that drive with a punt. Immediately after that the Jayhawks take the ball the length of the field and score a touchdown on a spectacular throw by Jaydon Daniels, the do-it-all QB for Kansas. After another Illinois possession, we get another Illinois punt, right back to the eager hands of the Men from Lawrence. They take the ball back to the up the field and cross the goal line, putting another touchdown on the board and taking a 14-point lead. The next three possessions end in punts for each team, but the high-flyin’ Jayhawks, efficiently, exceptionally, and excellently march back down the field and score their third touchdown of the contest, taking a 21-0 score over the Illini. But the Fightin’ Illini, committed to continuing their contest and correcting the current count, scored their first points of the game before the end of the half with short touchdown run from Tip Reiman. However, the Jayhawks ran, raced, and roared back into the endzone to take a 28-7 lead with five seconds left in the half. Starting the second half, the Jayhawks get a field goal. Then after a collection of punts by both teams, the Kansas Faithful are treated with one final field goal to end their point total at 34. But the Illini put two touchdowns and matching two-point conversions, but it was too little too late. The Jayhawks ended the night with the win for their hometown fans.

Kansas 34 - Illinois 23

Sept. 9th - Ames, IA

Starting in 1894 two small teams met in Iowa City to determine who was the preeminent football program in the state of Iowa. After a contentious 2022 contest where the visiting Cyclones went home with the Cy-Hawk Trophy, this season the teams met in Ames, which the ‘Clones say has the “World’s Cleanest Water”. What ensued was one of the most methodical, menacing, and meandering games in the series’ history. Getting the events started the Cyclones took the opening drive the length of the field into Hawkeye territory, only for that kick to be blocked ending the threat and setting of a chain of defensive bombs that permeated the game. The ensuing drive form the Hawkeyes led to three points, showing the home team how to complete the act. After an Iowa State punt, the Black & Gold clad men from Iowa City, march down the field and ran it into the endzone taking a 10-point lead. Following several consecutive series of punts, the ‘Clones get an interception on Iowa QB Cade McNamara. But two plays later the Hawkeye defense, determined, daring, and detrimental to the hosts returned a pick-six for a touchdown, taking a 17-0 lead. Finishing out the half Iowa State gets on the board with a field goal. Starting the second half the visiting team gets another field goal, pushing their led to 20-3, and ending their scoring for the night. However, the Cyclones, defending their stadium to fullest score another field-goal, and after a stop by their defense, march the length of the field and put a touchdown on the board on 4th down to show their fight. But the Iowa Hawkeyes would not allow another point from the ‘Clones, shutting the door in their face on a 4th and short, getting the ball back and kneeling the game out.

IOWA 20 - IOWA STATE 13

Sept 9th - Hampton, VA

85 years ago, Norfolk State played their first season of football. Their second opponent in that season was Hampton Institute who scored 13 points and shut out the fledgling Spartans in what would become the “Battle of the Bay Classic”. These teams have spent the better part of the last century of play trading wins and losses, competing for players and coaches, and having some of the best band performances this side of the Mississippi. Since the Pirates departure from the MEAC the two teams have played a home-and-home series that started back up in 2021. There have been several exciting encounters and this year’s affair was no different. In an all-out offensive show of fire power both teams went into this contest swinging and searching for the knockout punch. The Spartans got the scoring started by sending a single wide receiver straight into the endzone on a slip screen that gave them the lead. This was followed by a Hampton touchdown and missed extra point. The scoring continued after a dazzling, dizzying, and decadent long touchdown pass from the Spartan QB Otto Kuhns. But the Pirates would not be stopped as they tacked on a field goal before the end of the half, bringing the count to 14-9 at the break. At halftime both bands took the field and gave phenomenal performances, punctuated by The Spartan “Legion” Marching band of Norfolk State University, who’s official motto “We See the Future in You” was interspersed by the announcer before the better known “Behold The Green And Gold!” was shouted by the Spartan Faithful. Following the Legion, the Hampton University Marching Force gave a magical, melodious, and musical show that got all those in the stands to their feet. As the second half kicked off the teams went back to the football fisticuffs as the teams traded blows and scores. The Hampton combination of running and passing (dubbed “Loot and Plunder” by Pirates fans) seemingly could not be stopped by the Spartan Phalanx. However, through sheer grit and determination, the Spartans caused four turnovers from their longtime rivals, two fumbles and two interceptions, both of the latter coming in the redzone, ending any threats that the Seasiders from Hampton could muster. Taking the ball, any chance of comeback, and the victory, back across the Hampton Bridge-Tunnel down by Virginia’s Golden Shore.

NORFOLK STATE 31 - HAMPTON 23