Own a Piece of Iowa State History — Help Carry Forward Jack Trice's Legacy

Every helmet in this auction is more than memorabilia — it's a signed piece of Cyclone football history, autographed by former Iowa State players who carried the tradition Jack Trice began.

In 1923, Jack Trice became Iowa State's first Black varsity athlete. Just two days into his college career, he was fatally injured in a game against Minnesota. The night before that game, he wrote a letter to himself, found in his coat pocket after his death, closing with the words: "I will!" Those two words have come to define not just Jack's character, but the standard Iowa State football has carried ever since. Today, Jack Trice Stadium stands as the first major college football stadium in the nation named for a Black athlete.

The Trice Legacy Foundation exists to make sure that story — and the values behind it — keep reaching new generations. Every bid you place on these helmets goes directly toward that mission: preserving Jack Trice's story through education and public history, supporting scholarships for student-athletes, and funding community programs that carry forward his example of courage and character.

When you take home one of these signed helmets, you're not just adding to your collection — you're helping make sure "I Will!" keeps being answered, one generation at a time.

Bid to own a piece of history. Bid to help write the next chapter.

100% of proceeds support the Trice Legacy Foundation's mission to preserve Jack Trice's story and continue his legacy for generations to come.

Helmets of Legends