He was a reserve lineman for coach Burt Ingwersen who did not see much playing time on the football field, though he did earn a letter with the Iowa basketball team as a sophomore in 1924–25.
Things looked bleak at first, when Red Grange returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.
[1] Raffensperger, a junior, suffered a career-ending knee injury in the game, and his playing career at Iowa was over.
Raffensperger signed a three-year contract to become Iowa's 18th head football coach, beginning with the 1950 season.
Iowa athletic director Paul Brechler only wanted to make a coaching change if he could find a "top man".
Raffensperger accepted the offer, and he worked for the Iowa athletic department for over a decade until he decided to retire.