1897 Michigan Wolverines football team
Encyclopedia
The 1897 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan
in the 1897 college football season
. The team, with former Michigan halfback, Gustave Ferbert
, as head coach, compiled a record of 6–1–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 168 to 31. The team suffered its first setback with a scoreless tie against Ohio Wesleyan in the second game of the season. The season also featured the first game between Michigan and Ohio State, with Michigan winning the game by a score of 34 to 0. Michigan won its first two Western Conference games against Purdue (34–4) Minnesota (14–0), but lost the final game of the season to Amos Alonzo Stagg
's Chicago Maroons
by a score of 21 to 12
's Clarence Herschberger
, the Michigan football team began practice early in 1897, gathering in late August. The team announced that, as a direct result of the 1896 loss to Chicago, a "radical change" was being made in the method of play. Michigan promised to produce an improved kicking game, with more hard work being dedicated to kicking than any other part the game.
The expectations for the 1897 team were low. Michigan had lost most of the players from the 1895 championship team. One eastern newspaper described the talent level in Ann Arbor as follows:
Adding to the difficulties, Michigan's team captain, J.B. Wombacher, contracted typhoid fever and was unable to report to the university in September. Wombacher had played every game at center for Michigan in 1896. Shortly before his illness, The World of New York had published a football preview feature in which Wombacher had been touted as the key to Michigan's success:
Another key Michigan player was injured before the season began. In late September 1897, Michigan end, Clayton Teetzel, fell during a practice session and "bit off half of his tongue," and was compelled "to live on milk for a week."
) from Ypsilanti. The game was played at Regents Field in Ann Arbor, and the Wolverines won by a score of 24 to 0.
to a scoreless tie on October 9, 1897 at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. A newspaper account of the game stated: "Neither side scored today in the game between the Michigan and Ohio Wesleyan universities. The Michigan team was composed mostly of substitutes and the visitors had big line men. The only hard work was done in the last four minutes, when the Michigans nearly secured a touchdown."
. The two teams met for the first time in Ann Arbor on October 16, 1897. Michigan won the game by a score of 34 to 0. A newspaper account of the game reported that Michigan's scoring was made in the first twenty minutes, "after which the play assumed the form of a practice game," as players were substituted and kicking and defense were the feature for the rest of the game. According to the report, the "Ohio players made no impression on the university of Michigan line," as Michigan's varsity "showed up in fine form during the first half, the play being fast and the work steady."
on October 23, 1897, at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Oberlin scored a touchdown in the first two minutes of play after the Wolverines fumbled the kickoff. Michigan responded with 16 points to win the game by a score of 16 to 6. One newspaper account credited the win to the famous "Michigan brace": "[T]he famous 'Mlchigan brace' took place a series of brilliant runs being made in the last fifteen minutes of play netting 16 points."
. Michigan won the game by a score of 34 to 4.
's field in Detroit. The game was played in good weather in front of an "immense crowd" that included approximately 1,500 students who traveled from Ann Arbor for the game. Although some of Michigan's "best men" were unavailable to play, Michigan won the game by a score of 14 to 0. Minnesota's fullback and punter, Loomis, suffered a broken ankle early in the first half. The game was largely a kicking contest, with each team punting the ball back and forth. One newspaper account reported that, due to the frequency of the punts, the ball was "in the air nearly half the time." Michigan scored its first touchdown on a drive that started on Minnesota's 45-yard line and consisted of a series of "hard line plays and end skirts." Michigan's right halfback, James Hogg, missed on the kick for goal after touchdown. The Wolverines added another touchdown in the first half on two end runs by Clayton Teetzell and John Bennett. In the second half, Minnesota threatened to score twice, but the Michigan defense "braced up and held it." Michigan added a third touchdown in the second half with Hogg kicking the goal after touchdown. After the game, the Mlnnesota players opined that Michigan was "not in the same class" with Wisconsin, which had defeated Minnesota the previous week by a score of 39 to 0.
. The game was played in front of a crowd of 12,000 spectators at the Chicago Coliseum
. Chicago scored first on a 35-yard run by Gardner. Chicago's fullback, Clarence Herschberger
, kicked the goal after touchdown to give the Maroons a 6 to 0 lead. Herschberger next added a drop kick field goal from the 17-yard line to increase Chicago's lead to 11 to 0 at the end of the first half. In the second half, Clayton Teetzel, playing at left end, scored a touchdown for Michigan on a 15-yard run through Chicago's left tackle and end. Teetzel added the goal after touchdown to make the score 11 to 6. Herschberger added two more field goals to increase Chicago's lead to 22 to 6. Michigan's scored a second touchdown when Michigan's fullback, Frederick Hannan, kicked the ball for Michigan from its own 25-yard line. The ball touched a Chicago player, and Michigan tackle, William F. Baker, grabbed the ball and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Teetzel kicked the goal from touchdown resulting in a final score of 21 to 12. Although Michigan scored two touchdowns to Chicago's one touchdown, field goals were worth five points in 1897, and Herschberger's three field goals were worth 15 points.
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University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1897 college football season
1897 college football season
The 1897 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Penn and Yale as national champions.-Conference standings:The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:...
. The team, with former Michigan halfback, Gustave Ferbert
Gustave Ferbert
-Gold prospecting in Alaska:After his coaching career at Michigan, Ferbert went to Alaska to search for gold. In May 1900, amid the Klondike Gold Rush, newspapers reported that Ferbert had left Ann Arbor for Seattle, where he planned to join "High" Allen and "Count" Villa, described as "two other...
, as head coach, compiled a record of 6–1–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 168 to 31. The team suffered its first setback with a scoreless tie against Ohio Wesleyan in the second game of the season. The season also featured the first game between Michigan and Ohio State, with Michigan winning the game by a score of 34 to 0. Michigan won its first two Western Conference games against Purdue (34–4) Minnesota (14–0), but lost the final game of the season to Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
's Chicago Maroons
Chicago Maroons
The Maroons are the intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Chicago. They are named after the color maroon, one of the school's colors. They compete in the NCAA's Division III. They are primarily members of the University Athletic Association and were co-founders of the Big Ten...
by a score of 21 to 12
Schedule
Low expectations
After losing the final game of the 1896 season due to the kicking of the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
's Clarence Herschberger
Clarence Herschberger
Clarence B. "Herschie" Herschberger was an American football fullback, punter and placekicker. He played for the University of Chicago from 1896–1898 and became the first western player to be selected as a first-team All-American in 1898...
, the Michigan football team began practice early in 1897, gathering in late August. The team announced that, as a direct result of the 1896 loss to Chicago, a "radical change" was being made in the method of play. Michigan promised to produce an improved kicking game, with more hard work being dedicated to kicking than any other part the game.
The expectations for the 1897 team were low. Michigan had lost most of the players from the 1895 championship team. One eastern newspaper described the talent level in Ann Arbor as follows:
"The University of Michigan football team of '97, as compared with Michigan teams of tho past few years, is decidedly weak and uncertain. It is not as good by any means as the eleven of last fall. It is not in the same class with the champion eleven of '95. What it lacks is first, weight, second, experience, and third, 'ginger.' There are other lacks as well, but those three are most noticeable."
Adding to the difficulties, Michigan's team captain, J.B. Wombacher, contracted typhoid fever and was unable to report to the university in September. Wombacher had played every game at center for Michigan in 1896. Shortly before his illness, The World of New York had published a football preview feature in which Wombacher had been touted as the key to Michigan's success:
"The man who will captain the Unlversity of Michigan eleven is a big, strapping fellow, who was forced into the game by his classmates because of his size and ability to get over the ground. His name is John B. Wombacher, and he hails from Peoria, IllWombacher was unable to play in 1897, remaining at his parents' home in Peoria to recuperate from the illness. Halfback, James R. Hogg, was elected to replace Wombacher as the 1897 team captain.Peoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. He plays centre rush and is something terrific."
Another key Michigan player was injured before the season began. In late September 1897, Michigan end, Clayton Teetzel, fell during a practice session and "bit off half of his tongue," and was compelled "to live on milk for a week."
Michigan 24, Michigan State Normal 0
Michigan opened its 1897 season with a game against Michigan State Normal School (now known as Eastern Michigan UniversityEastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
) from Ypsilanti. The game was played at Regents Field in Ann Arbor, and the Wolverines won by a score of 24 to 0.
Michigan 0, Ohio Wesleyan 0
Michigan played Ohio WesleyanOhio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
to a scoreless tie on October 9, 1897 at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. A newspaper account of the game stated: "Neither side scored today in the game between the Michigan and Ohio Wesleyan universities. The Michigan team was composed mostly of substitutes and the visitors had big line men. The only hard work was done in the last four minutes, when the Michigans nearly secured a touchdown."
Michigan 34, Ohio State 0
The 1897 marked the first game in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalryMichigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, also known as The Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Wolverines of the University of Michigan and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University...
. The two teams met for the first time in Ann Arbor on October 16, 1897. Michigan won the game by a score of 34 to 0. A newspaper account of the game reported that Michigan's scoring was made in the first twenty minutes, "after which the play assumed the form of a practice game," as players were substituted and kicking and defense were the feature for the rest of the game. According to the report, the "Ohio players made no impression on the university of Michigan line," as Michigan's varsity "showed up in fine form during the first half, the play being fast and the work steady."
Michigan 16, Oberlin 6
Michigan played the football team from Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
on October 23, 1897, at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Oberlin scored a touchdown in the first two minutes of play after the Wolverines fumbled the kickoff. Michigan responded with 16 points to win the game by a score of 16 to 6. One newspaper account credited the win to the famous "Michigan brace": "[T]he famous 'Mlchigan brace' took place a series of brilliant runs being made in the last fifteen minutes of play netting 16 points."
Michigan 34, Purdue 4
Michigan opened its Western Conference schedule in Ann Arbor on November 7, 1897 with a game against the Purdue BoilermakersPurdue Boilermakers
Boilermakers is the official nickname for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
. Michigan won the game by a score of 34 to 4.
Michigan 14, Minnesota 0
Michigan played Minnesota on November 13, 1897, at the Detroit Athletic ClubDetroit Athletic Club
The Detroit Athletic Club , is a private social club and athletic club located in the heart of Detroit's theater, sports, and entertainment district. The clubhouse was designed by Albert Kahn and inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese. It maintains reciprocal agreements for their members at other...
's field in Detroit. The game was played in good weather in front of an "immense crowd" that included approximately 1,500 students who traveled from Ann Arbor for the game. Although some of Michigan's "best men" were unavailable to play, Michigan won the game by a score of 14 to 0. Minnesota's fullback and punter, Loomis, suffered a broken ankle early in the first half. The game was largely a kicking contest, with each team punting the ball back and forth. One newspaper account reported that, due to the frequency of the punts, the ball was "in the air nearly half the time." Michigan scored its first touchdown on a drive that started on Minnesota's 45-yard line and consisted of a series of "hard line plays and end skirts." Michigan's right halfback, James Hogg, missed on the kick for goal after touchdown. The Wolverines added another touchdown in the first half on two end runs by Clayton Teetzell and John Bennett. In the second half, Minnesota threatened to score twice, but the Michigan defense "braced up and held it." Michigan added a third touchdown in the second half with Hogg kicking the goal after touchdown. After the game, the Mlnnesota players opined that Michigan was "not in the same class" with Wisconsin, which had defeated Minnesota the previous week by a score of 39 to 0.
Michigan 32, Wittenberg 0
Michigan returned to its home field in Ann Arbor to play the football team from Wittenberg College on November 20, 1897. Michigan won by a score of 32 to 0. One newspaper account described the game as follows: "The game was characterized by lack of team work on both sides and fumbling. Hodgman for Michigan kicked two goals from the field. Captain Hogg and Stuart, halfback, did not play for Michigan. Wittenberg was weaker than expected."Chicago 21, Michigan 12
Michigan closed the 1897 season with its traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Chicago against the Chicago MaroonsChicago Maroons
The Maroons are the intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Chicago. They are named after the color maroon, one of the school's colors. They compete in the NCAA's Division III. They are primarily members of the University Athletic Association and were co-founders of the Big Ten...
. The game was played in front of a crowd of 12,000 spectators at the Chicago Coliseum
Chicago Coliseum
The Chicago Coliseum was the name of a succession of three large indoor arenas in Chicago, Illinois from the 1860s to 1982 that each served as a sports venue, convention center, and exhibition hall over the course of their respective histories. The first Coliseum briefly made an appearance in the...
. Chicago scored first on a 35-yard run by Gardner. Chicago's fullback, Clarence Herschberger
Clarence Herschberger
Clarence B. "Herschie" Herschberger was an American football fullback, punter and placekicker. He played for the University of Chicago from 1896–1898 and became the first western player to be selected as a first-team All-American in 1898...
, kicked the goal after touchdown to give the Maroons a 6 to 0 lead. Herschberger next added a drop kick field goal from the 17-yard line to increase Chicago's lead to 11 to 0 at the end of the first half. In the second half, Clayton Teetzel, playing at left end, scored a touchdown for Michigan on a 15-yard run through Chicago's left tackle and end. Teetzel added the goal after touchdown to make the score 11 to 6. Herschberger added two more field goals to increase Chicago's lead to 22 to 6. Michigan's scored a second touchdown when Michigan's fullback, Frederick Hannan, kicked the ball for Michigan from its own 25-yard line. The ball touched a Chicago player, and Michigan tackle, William F. Baker, grabbed the ball and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Teetzel kicked the goal from touchdown resulting in a final score of 21 to 12. Although Michigan scored two touchdowns to Chicago's one touchdown, field goals were worth five points in 1897, and Herschberger's three field goals were worth 15 points.
Players
- Ends
- John W. F. BennettJohn W. F. BennettJohn W.F. Bennett was an American civil engineer and football player. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1896 to 1898...
, Jackson, Michigan - Norwood B. Ayers, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Clayton TeetzelClayton TeetzelClayton Tryon Teetzel was an American athlete and athletic coach. He played American football and competed in track for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899 and later coached football, basketball and track at Michigan State Normal College , Benton Harbor High School, Brigham Young...
, Chicago, Illinois- Tackles
- Allen SteckleAllen SteckleAllen Chubb "A. C." Steckle was an American football player and coach. He played tackle for the University of Michigan from 1897–1899 and later served as the head football coach at the University of Nevada and Oregon State University, then known as Oregon Agricultural College...
, Freeport, Michigan - William P. Baker, Woodville, Ohio
- R.S. Lockwood, Kankakee, Illinois (Shattuck Military Academy)
- Charles Juttner, Powers, Michigan
- Guards
- Muir B. Snow, Detroit, Michigan
- John E. Egan, Excello, Ohio
- William H. Caley, Boulder, Colorado (Univ. of Colorado)
- Herbert E. Lehr, Marine, Illinois
- Center
- William CunninghamWilliam Cunningham (American football)William Ralph Cunningham was an All-American football center for the University of Michigan Wolverines.Cunningham was born at Volant, Pennsylvania in July 1872...
, Grove City, Pennsylvania- Quarterbacks
- Howard Felver, Batavia, Illinois
- J. De Forest RichardsJ. De Forest RichardsJ. De Forest Richards was an American football player and banker. He was the son of the fifth Governor of Wyoming and played college football at the University of Michigan from 1894 to 1897...
- William Wilson TalcottWilliam Wilson TalcottWilliam Wilson Talcott was an American football player, school teacher, newspaper publisher and ice cream manufacturer....
, Chicago, Illinois (reserve)- Fullbacks
- Frederic C. Hannan, Chicago, Illinois
- Leo J. KeenaLeo J. KeenaLeo Japathet Keena was an American football player and diplomat. Keena was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1878, the son of James T. Keena and Henrietta Keena. His father was a lawyer who later became the president of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit...
- Halfbacks
- James R. Hogg, Knoxville, Tennessee (St. Albans Military Academy)
- G.D. Stewart
- Hazen S. Pingree, Jr., Detroit, Michigan
- Clifford A. Barabee, Negaunee, Michigan
Coaching staff
- Coach: Gustave FerbertGustave Ferbert-Gold prospecting in Alaska:After his coaching career at Michigan, Ferbert went to Alaska to search for gold. In May 1900, amid the Klondike Gold Rush, newspapers reported that Ferbert had left Ann Arbor for Seattle, where he planned to join "High" Allen and "Count" Villa, described as "two other...
- Trainer: Tom Cox
- Assistant coaches: James BairdJames Baird (civil engineer)James Baird was an American civil engineer, football player and coach. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1892 to 1895 and was captain of the 1894 team. He was also an assistant football coach at Michigan from 1897 to 1898. He worked for the George A. Fuller Co. for 23 years...
, John R. Duffy, Ignatius M. DuffyIgnatius M. DuffyIgnatius Michael Duffy was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at Alma College in 1895 and as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan in 1897. He played college football for one season at Michigan.-Biography:A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Duffy attended Ann Arbor...
, Thaddeus S. Farnham, Raynor S. Freund, Frederick W. HenningerFrederick W. HenningerFrederick William "Pa" Henninger was an American businessman and football player and coach. He played football for the University of Michigan from 1893 to 1896 and was the captain of the 1895 team that outscored their opponents by a combined score of 266 to 14...
, William C. MalleyWilliam C. MalleyWilliam Charles Malley was an American football player and coach in the United States. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1888 to 1890 and served as the had football coach to Wabash College in 1892....
, Giovanni R. Villa, Archibald Stevenson - Managers: Ward W. Hughes, Henry T. Heald
External links
- 1897 Football Team – Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History
- Michigan Alumnus, 1897-1898 - includes accounts of each game
- The Inlander, 1897-1898
- 1898 Michiganensian - University of Michigan yearbook for the 1897-1898 academic year
- The S.C. A. Bulletin, Volume 19, published by Students' Christian Association (University of Michigan)