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The Idealist: Jack Trice and the Battle for A Forgotten Football Legacy
An essential story of understated courage, the lasting power of a name, and the battle to honor a pioneering legacy.
On the eve of his second varsity football game for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jack Trice wrote in a letter, "The honor of my race, family and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will!"
The introspective 21-year-old was ever aware of his status in 1923 as the college's first Black football player. Trice would die tragically days later after sustaining injuries on the field during that game. Today, Iowa State football games are played at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Idealist is a complete portrait of Trice, the son of a former Buffalo Soldier who became a high school football standout in Ohio and embarked on his college career hoping to emulate fellow Iowa State alum George Washington Carver. It is also the story of those who fought for his legacy across generations.
What defines a hero? Who has been overlooked because the color of their skin? In the 1970s, the students of Iowa State asked the same questions. The discovery of the story behind a small, dusty plaque honoring Trice spawned a decades long campus movement to honor a forgotten football hero who helped break racial boundaries and may have died because of them.
As more light is shed on racial inequality in the United States, the story of how Jack Trice's memory led to a namesake stadium—the first and only major football stadium named for an African-American individual—should serve an inspiration for all.
On the eve of his second varsity football game for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jack Trice wrote in a letter, "The honor of my race, family and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will!"
The introspective 21-year-old was ever aware of his status in 1923 as the college's first Black football player. Trice would die tragically days later after sustaining injuries on the field during that game. Today, Iowa State football games are played at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Idealist is a complete portrait of Trice, the son of a former Buffalo Soldier who became a high school football standout in Ohio and embarked on his college career hoping to emulate fellow Iowa State alum George Washington Carver. It is also the story of those who fought for his legacy across generations.
What defines a hero? Who has been overlooked because the color of their skin? In the 1970s, the students of Iowa State asked the same questions. The discovery of the story behind a small, dusty plaque honoring Trice spawned a decades long campus movement to honor a forgotten football hero who helped break racial boundaries and may have died because of them.
As more light is shed on racial inequality in the United States, the story of how Jack Trice's memory led to a namesake stadium—the first and only major football stadium named for an African-American individual—should serve an inspiration for all.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 27, 2022
5 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Gelber
3 books2 followersJonathan Gelber, M.D., M.S., received his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a Masters degree in biomedical engineering from Columbia University. He was trained in orthopedic surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. A lifelong interest in combative sports has led him to a black belt in Shito-Ryu Karate, a blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and to become the founder of both FightMedicine.net and the Mixed Martial Arts Research Society. He has written numerous articles for MMA websites and magazines. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 8, 2022
I picked up this book knowing only the absolute minimum about Jack Trice’s story, and now, having read it, I feel ashamed for not knowing it sooner. This book does an amazing job of not only telling Jack’s story, but highlighting the impact he and other Black leaders made at Iowa State that is still felt to this day!
Gelber’s writing is great at evoking emotion. The recaps of East Tech’s games in Chapter 2 had me on the edge of my seat. I was heartbroken when reading Jack’s death. I felt anxious reading the chapters of debate regarding naming the stadium after Jack, despite ultimately knowing the end result. To add to all that, I learned a lot about Iowa State’s history in general that I wasn’t previously privy to, which was an added highlight.
And, as a former DJ there, I really appreciated the mention of KURE FM, Iowa State’s College Radio Station!
This book is a must read. Not just for Iowa State fans or college football fans or even those looking to learn more about the legacies of Black leaders. This is a must read for EVERYONE. You will take so many positive things away from this book, and you will close the book feeling glad, yet motivated to help bring about change in a world that obviously still needs so much of it. 5 Stars, easy!
Gelber’s writing is great at evoking emotion. The recaps of East Tech’s games in Chapter 2 had me on the edge of my seat. I was heartbroken when reading Jack’s death. I felt anxious reading the chapters of debate regarding naming the stadium after Jack, despite ultimately knowing the end result. To add to all that, I learned a lot about Iowa State’s history in general that I wasn’t previously privy to, which was an added highlight.
And, as a former DJ there, I really appreciated the mention of KURE FM, Iowa State’s College Radio Station!
This book is a must read. Not just for Iowa State fans or college football fans or even those looking to learn more about the legacies of Black leaders. This is a must read for EVERYONE. You will take so many positive things away from this book, and you will close the book feeling glad, yet motivated to help bring about change in a world that obviously still needs so much of it. 5 Stars, easy!
September 15, 2025
Book 52 of 2025 (ebook)
I'll go ahead and throw out a rare "Bravo" and 5 stars on this one. As a writing snob, I was at first worried about the lack of commas and thought this might be a third-rate "This guy was an infallible hero"-type book. Not at all. It seems like most/all of the direct quotes are from other sources, which is a little odd, but the book is still very, very well-researched. I made it through the first half of the book in just two nights, which is very rare for me when actually reading (not listening).
The first half of the book is all about John "Jack" Trice. Some family history, some pretty crazy high school football history, and Jack's life and death at Iowa State University. I thought this part of the book was a real page turner. Gelber had tons of details and most of them were interesting. Again, very well-researched.
The back half of the book is about the political environment on the campus of ISU in the decades after Trice's death. How that environment and a dusty plaque began a decades-long movement to name the stadium after Trice. While the research is there, I was not just as interested in the characters trying to make a difference on the campus. Important, sure, but kind of annoying to read about. Though, undoubtedly, I'm not so unlike them. Trice wrote a letter the night before his death. Call me unsentimental, but I just found it odd that everyone leached onto that letter.
I was looking for more details on Trice's death but, evidently, they simply are not known. No inquest was ever held about his death. There are rumors, sure. But even first-hand witness accounts of the day seem to be lacking, not just in this book, but anywhere else.
Still, pretty nifty ISU named the stadium after Ol' Jack, regardless of how they get there. Even cooler, the new look the Cyclones have adopted over the last few years, partially in tribute to the Trice era. I'm in the heart of...well, the old Big 8 country. Been diggin' some ISU sports from the periphery for several years now.
I'll go ahead and throw out a rare "Bravo" and 5 stars on this one. As a writing snob, I was at first worried about the lack of commas and thought this might be a third-rate "This guy was an infallible hero"-type book. Not at all. It seems like most/all of the direct quotes are from other sources, which is a little odd, but the book is still very, very well-researched. I made it through the first half of the book in just two nights, which is very rare for me when actually reading (not listening).
The first half of the book is all about John "Jack" Trice. Some family history, some pretty crazy high school football history, and Jack's life and death at Iowa State University. I thought this part of the book was a real page turner. Gelber had tons of details and most of them were interesting. Again, very well-researched.
The back half of the book is about the political environment on the campus of ISU in the decades after Trice's death. How that environment and a dusty plaque began a decades-long movement to name the stadium after Trice. While the research is there, I was not just as interested in the characters trying to make a difference on the campus. Important, sure, but kind of annoying to read about. Though, undoubtedly, I'm not so unlike them. Trice wrote a letter the night before his death. Call me unsentimental, but I just found it odd that everyone leached onto that letter.
I was looking for more details on Trice's death but, evidently, they simply are not known. No inquest was ever held about his death. There are rumors, sure. But even first-hand witness accounts of the day seem to be lacking, not just in this book, but anywhere else.
Still, pretty nifty ISU named the stadium after Ol' Jack, regardless of how they get there. Even cooler, the new look the Cyclones have adopted over the last few years, partially in tribute to the Trice era. I'm in the heart of...well, the old Big 8 country. Been diggin' some ISU sports from the periphery for several years now.
December 29, 2022
Until this book was getting publicized, I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't know the story of Jack Trice. I knew that Iowa State's football stadium was named for him and that he played football. I vaguely remember it being a big deal when that decision was made, but as a lifelong Hawkeye, I didn't pay much attention to news from Ames.
All of that's to say, I'm really glad this book exists and I'm really glad Iowa State finally decided to name their stadium after Trice. He sounds like he was a really amazing person and it's a tragedy his life was cut short due to a football injury (especially since it's likely his race played a role in the infliction of said injury).
As for the book, there were many pacing issues, that I think those could have been helped significantly by deciding if this book was about Jack's life with an epilogue about the stadium naming, or a book about the naming of the stadium, with relevant facts about Jack's life interspersed. Instead we get half a book about each and I found myself both wanting more and less in each half depending on what story Gelber really wanted to tell.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists because Jack's story is worth telling, but the book could have benefitted greatly by picking one plot.
All of that's to say, I'm really glad this book exists and I'm really glad Iowa State finally decided to name their stadium after Trice. He sounds like he was a really amazing person and it's a tragedy his life was cut short due to a football injury (especially since it's likely his race played a role in the infliction of said injury).
As for the book, there were many pacing issues, that I think those could have been helped significantly by deciding if this book was about Jack's life with an epilogue about the stadium naming, or a book about the naming of the stadium, with relevant facts about Jack's life interspersed. Instead we get half a book about each and I found myself both wanting more and less in each half depending on what story Gelber really wanted to tell.
Like I said, I'm glad this book exists because Jack's story is worth telling, but the book could have benefitted greatly by picking one plot.
January 17, 2025
As I walked past a shelf with books that were tied to Iowa either by content and/or author, I felt drawn to pick this one up at a local bookstore. Being from Iowa, I was compelled to learn more about history behind a sport I enjoy as a spectator.
The content was hard to follow sometimes. I was anticipating learning about Jack Trice and his legacy. However, the book switches gears and has more political content than I ever expected. Because of this, there are so many people named in the book that make it difficult to keep everyone straight, what roles they played, and it feels like Jack's name is dropped to keep him relevant to the topic so the reader doesn't forget the book is about naming the stadium after him.
This book does have areas where I had to stop and read parts to my husband. I needed to have conversations with someone about the content I read. It is mindblowing to see how slow change happens and how the past continues to repeat itself.
Overall, I was left feeling devastated; a life ended too soon, doing what is easy trumped doing what is right for decades, how the world still hasn't evolved enough where we can treat people equally, and even though the recognition was made, it was done to save face elsewhere.
The content was hard to follow sometimes. I was anticipating learning about Jack Trice and his legacy. However, the book switches gears and has more political content than I ever expected. Because of this, there are so many people named in the book that make it difficult to keep everyone straight, what roles they played, and it feels like Jack's name is dropped to keep him relevant to the topic so the reader doesn't forget the book is about naming the stadium after him.
This book does have areas where I had to stop and read parts to my husband. I needed to have conversations with someone about the content I read. It is mindblowing to see how slow change happens and how the past continues to repeat itself.
Overall, I was left feeling devastated; a life ended too soon, doing what is easy trumped doing what is right for decades, how the world still hasn't evolved enough where we can treat people equally, and even though the recognition was made, it was done to save face elsewhere.
August 19, 2025
The story of Jack Trice should be known by all college football fans. It is a damn shame it took 25 years (70s to 90s) to name the stadium after a player who DIED from injuries sustained playing for Iowa State! The book goes into depth around the racial attitudes and the students long road to finally honor Mr. Trice. The book can get heavy on details around the progression and eventual naming of stadium, so only reason for 3 stars.
October 14, 2022
When I picked up this book, I thought I knew the story of Jack Trice and how the stadium got its name; however, this book quickly showed me that I had some gaps in my knowledge. I enjoyed learning about Trice's childhood and pre-college football endeavors and it made me appreciate him even further.
Reading about all of the hard work done by Trice and those who supported and wished to honor him, made me really think about how important his story really is not just to Iowa State supporters, but to everyone. I would highly recommend this book to football and non-football fans alike, because this is a story worth knowing.
Reading about all of the hard work done by Trice and those who supported and wished to honor him, made me really think about how important his story really is not just to Iowa State supporters, but to everyone. I would highly recommend this book to football and non-football fans alike, because this is a story worth knowing.
December 11, 2022
As a college football fan, I felt it important to learn more about the only black namesake of a major college stadium. This would have interested me more if I was an Iowa State fan or alum, but the story of Jack, and the subsequent decades to christen the stadium for him, was interesting and made for a quick read.
August 15, 2023
I really enjoyed reading about Jack Trice and his short life. I wonder what he would have become in this world if he would have lived to graduate. The book is heavily detailed on all the people it took to get the stadium named after him. It was certainly not an idea that was quickly resolved in a short amount of time.
September 26, 2023
Interesting, but sometimes hard to read because there is so much information.
December 28, 2024
The end of the book got a little slow. Otherwise, it was a great read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews