A look at the Citizen Heroes set to be honored during Friday’s Iowa-Nebraska rivalry date
One of the neat traditions of the annual Iowa-Nebraska rivalry and the battle for the Heroes Trophy has been the creation of the citizen hero for each of the respective programs.
The Heroes Game between Iowa and Nebraska was created to honor the rich traditions of the Hawkeyes and Huskers, but also to recognize and honor community heroes in both states. In the 13th annual Heroes Game, Josh Hicks has been selected as Nebraska’s Hero and Eric Kumm has been selected as Iowa’s Hero.
Hicks and Kumm will attend the game as special guests of the teams, receive on-field recognition at halftime, and have their names inscribed on the game trophy.
Hicks is a native of Lincoln, Neb., and is an HVAC technician. This past July, Hicks assisted in rescuing and pulling a man from a van that had tumbled off a highway into a lake near Wichita, Kan.
“I had no idea who was in that van. Don’t care. Don’t know if they’re hurt, we’re just gonna go down there and check it out, make sure if anybody needs our help, we’re there. There was no, ‘I’m gonna go out and be a hero and save some lives today,'” Hicks told the Lincoln Journal Star when asked if he felt he did something heroic.
Meanwhile, Kumm has been a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor since 1997 and currently works in the South O’Brien school district in Paullina, Iowa.
“I think it’s said best in the Ag Teacher’s Creed that ‘I am an agricultural educator by choice and not by chance.’ I’ve been very fortunate to have had the privilege of being able to serve as an ag teacher and FFA advisor over 35 years at West Sioux, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, and South O’Brien. For me, it has been rewarding to try and help my students learn skills that they can use in any career they pursue, and hopefully have some fun memorable experiences in the process.
“I have to give credit for an honor like this to people who have supported me in this profession—my wife, parents, friends, fellow educators, administrators, school boards, and, for the past 29 years, the communities that make up the South O’Brien School District,” Kumm said.
Nebraska’s press release credited Kumm for helping many kids find a passion in agricultural industries.
There are many kids in rural Iowa who found their love and passion for agriculture under his tutelage. Without his guidance, many small towns in Northwest Iowa would be without veterinarians, agronomists, welders, ag teachers, farmers and many other ag related jobs that students found their passion for under Eric. – Heroes Trophy Release.
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz recognized Kumm this week and his commitment to the state of Iowa in his opening remarks at his Tuesday press conference to preview the Nebraska game.
“It’s the Heroes Game. It’s a great concept to recognize two citizens from both states, a citizen from each state. I think the whole part of that is good. As it turns out, we have another 25-year teacher up in northwest Iowa. Everything I’ve heard, just made a tremendous impact. I think two of the most underrated professions probably law enforcement and teachers. I’m happy to hear about that recognition,” Ferentz said.
Iowa (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) kicks off against Nebraska (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., with the game broadcast on CBS. The Hawkeyes would collect their seventh 10-win regular season in program history if they top the Huskers on Friday.
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