Heroes Game History

• 11th Annual Heroes Game
• Friday, Nov. 26, 2021
• Memorial Stadium
• Lincoln, Neb.

ABOUT THE HEROES GAME

Established prior to the school's first meeting as Big Ten Conference opponents in 2011, the Heroes Game was created to honor the rich football traditions of the University of Iowa and University of Nebraska football programs while also annually honoring community heroes in both states.

The “Heroes Game,” pits conference powerhouses Iowa and Nebraska in a nationally-televised battle for bragging rights in the nation’s heartland. The winner of each year's game will take home The Heroes Game trophy, which was designed  by Rickabuagh Graphics. The trophy, which stands 30 inches tall also features a dark gray acrylic etched with a corn stalk pattern on all four sides and the logos of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The trophy has four sides:

• the front prominently displays the Heroes Game logo in brushed aluminum
• the back is labeled at its top "TRADITION" and includes brushed aluminum art that prominently displays images of Memorial Stadium and Kinnick Stadium
• the left side is labeled at its top "VALOR" and carries the badges that will be dated and carry the names of the two "Citizen Heroes"
• the right side is labeled at its top "VICTORY" and carries the badges that will be dated and carry the final score of each Heroes Game

HEROES GAME RESULTS

MATCHUP	LOCALE	RESULT	SERIES
Nov. 25, 2011	Lincoln	#21 Nebraska 20, Iowa 7	NU leads, 1-0
Nov. 23, 2012	Iowa City	#17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7	NU leads, 2-0
Nov. 29, 2013	Lincoln	Iowa 38, Nebraska 17	NU leads, 2-1
Nov. 28, 2014	Iowa City	Nebraska 37, Iowa 34 (OT)	NU leads, 3-1
Nov. 27, 2015	Lincoln	#3 Iowa 28, Nebraska 20	NU leads, 3-2
Nov. 25, 2016	Iowa City	#17 Iowa 40, Nebraska 10	Tied, 3-3
Nov. 24, 2017	Lincoln	Iowa 56, Nebraska 14	Iowa leads, 4-3
Nov. 24, 2018	Iowa City	Iowa 31, Nebraska 28	Iowa leads, 5-3
Nov. 27, 2019	Lincoln	Iowa 27, Nebraska, 24	Iowa leads, 6-3
Nov 14, 2020	Iowa City	Iowa 26, Nebraska 20	Iowa leads, 7-3

Nebraska Man Who Lost His Life While Rescuing Others From Floodwaters To Be Honored at Heroes Game

James Wilke, a farmer from Columbus, Nebraska, who lost his life while trying to rescue a stranded motorist during the Nebraska floods last spring, will be honored for his heroic efforts at this week’s Nebraska-Iowa football game. Wilke will be recognized as Nebraska’s 2019 “citizen hero” at the Heroes Game on Friday, Nov. 29, when the Cornhuskers take on the Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“This year’s Heroes Game honorees exemplify what it means to be a hero,” said Jill Orton, Regional Executive of the Red Cross of Kansas, Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. “Their lifesaving actions define why the American Red Cross, the University of Nebraska and the University of Iowa partner together each year to showcase extraordinary citizens in both states.”

Wilke’s family and Katie Gudenkauf, who has been selected as Iowa’s 2019 “citizen hero,” will be guests of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa Hawkeyes at Friday’s game and will participate in a variety of special pregame activities. During halftime of the Heroes Game, university representatives will make a special on-field presentation to the citizen heroes. The names of Wilke and Gudenkauf will also be inscribed on the Heroes Game trophy.

Earlier this year, individuals were invited to nominate residents of Iowa and Nebraska who performed extraordinary acts of heroism and service in their communities for the “citizen hero” award. Staff and volunteers from the American Red Cross selected the winners.
 
BACKGROUND:
James Wilke – In March 2019, Nebraska faced historic flooding that created dangerous conditions. Structures were damaged, roads were swept away and lives were lost. As floodwaters rose, James Wilke, a farmer from Columbus, Nebraska, was asked by local authorities to help a stranded motorist. James did not hesitate to climb into his tractor like he had done many times before and proceeded to assist this stranger. As James crossed a flooded bridge in his tractor, the bridge gave out. James and his tractor were swept away by the floodwaters. James gave his life while attempting to save the life of a stranger.


 
Katie Gudenkauf– On a cold day in March, a tragic turn of events caused Katie Gudenkauf and Jake Tebbe’s paths to cross on Clarke University’s campus in Dubuque, Iowa. At the time, Jake and Katie did not know one another. Both were in attendance at an indoor soccer tournament taking place in Clarke’s Kehl Center. While Jake was playing in the soccer game, his heart stopped beating and he blacked out. Katie and her friends, also nurses, happened to be nearby. Katie stepped in and began first aid,, eventually saving his life. Katie is a 2018 graduate of Clarke’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program and currently works as a family practice nurse practitioner at Grand Regional Health Center.