The 1943 Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football team represented the United States Navy pre-flight school at the University of Iowa as an independent during the 1943 college football season. In the second season of intercollegiate football at the pre-flight school, the team compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 277 to 98, and was ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll.
In July 1943, Don Faurot—previously the head football coach at Missouri and recently enlisted in the Navy with a rank of lieutenant—was assigned to take over from Bernie Bierman as the team's head coach. Upon arriving in Iowa City in August, 100 candidates tried out at Faurot's first football practice session. Faurot said he would use a T formation and promised at the time that "we will have a fighting squad and a fighting team."
Four Iowa Pre-Flight players were named to the Associated Press' 1943 AP Service All-America team. Center Vince Banonis and back Dick Todd were named to the first team. End Perry Schwartz and guard Nick Kerasiotis were named to the second team.
In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Iowa Pre-Flight ranked fifth among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 113.5.
Schedule
Rankings
Roster Players who started at least half of the games are shown in bold.Statistics for games started based on box scores from each game, as reflected in game coverage cited above. Player Position Previous team Games started Vince Banonis Center Chicago Cardinals (1942) 5 games: OSU, FR, Marquette, CG, NDBurk End 1 game: MNBob Carlson Tackle 9 games: Illinois, OSU, Iowa, Missouri, FR, Marquette, CG, ND, MNRay Carlson Guard 3 games: Illinois, OSU, ISUChesbro End 3 games: Marquette, ND, MNClaffey Tackle 1 games: ISUClements End 9 games: Illinois, OSU, ISU, Iowa, Missouri, FR, Marquette, CG, NDConnor End 2 games: FR, CGDusenbury End 5 games: Illinois, OSU, ISU, Iowa, Missouri Art Guepe Back Marquette (1934-1936) 2 games: ND, MNAngelo Guerriero Center 3 games: ISU, Iowa, MissouriHeinz Halfback 5 games: Illinois, OSU, ISU, Marquette, CGHiggins Halfback 2 games: ND, MNHook Guard 2 games: Marquette, CGJebb Center 1 game: Illinois Nick Kerasiotis Guard Ambrose 9 games: OSU, ISU, Iowa, Missouri, FR, Marquette, CG, ND, MN Dick Kieppe Halfback Michigan State 2 games: Iowa, MissouriKramer Tackle 4 games: Marquette, CG, ND, MNLarge Tackle 3 games: Iowa, Missouri, FRMagel Tackle 3 games: Illinois, OSU, ISU Frank Maznicki Halfback Chicago Bears (1942) 7 games: OSU, ISU, Iowa, Missouri, FR, Marquette, CG Bus Mertes Fullback Iowa (1941) 10 games: Illinois, OSU, ISU, Iowa, Missouri, FR, Marquette, CG, ND, MNOlson Center 1 game: MN Perry Schwartz End Brooklyn Dodgers (1938–1942) No starts Jimmy Smith HB, QB Illinois 7 games: Illinois (HB), OSU (QB), ISU (QB), Iowa (QB), CG (QB), ND (QB), MN (QB) Bob Timmons Back Pittsburgh No startsTobin Guard 5 games: Iowa, Missouri, FR, ND, MN Dick Todd Halfback Washington Redskins (1939–1942) 1 game: FRWilliams QB 4 games: Illinois, Missouri, FR, MarquetteZiebarth Guard 1 game: Illinois
References