1899 VMI Keydets football team
Encyclopedia
The 1899 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute
in their ninth season of organized football. Samuel Boyle, Jr. coached his second season for the Keydets, which featured only one game—a 39–0 win over .
Although the team only played one game in mid-October, the squad was assembled for practice in early September.
The 1899 football season at VMI was cut short by an outbreak of typhoid fever on the campus. As reported by one account: "VMI had time to crush only Washington and Lee 39–0 before the 1899 season was abruptly ended by an outbreak of typhoid fever which closed the Institute for six weeks." On October 16, 1899, all 250 cadets were sent to their homes on account of the outbreak. At least one cadet died in the outbreak, and the school was not re-opened until November 28, 1899 -- after the football season had ended.
VMI's sole opponent for the year, Washington & Lee, finished the season with a record of 0 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. The "Keydets" of VMI handed their one opponent the biggest defeat (by score) of the season.
In the lone game of the season, W. B. "Bruce" Montgomery, Jr., the captain and quarterback for VMI, scored a touchdown
on an 80-yard carry. Montgomery would go on to the next season to be team captain and assist with coaching duties.
One of the individuals who played for the VMI football team in 1899 and 1900 was George C. Marshall, who went on to be Chief of Staff of the Army
, Secretary of State
, and Secretary of Defense
.
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in their ninth season of organized football. Samuel Boyle, Jr. coached his second season for the Keydets, which featured only one game—a 39–0 win over .
Although the team only played one game in mid-October, the squad was assembled for practice in early September.
The 1899 football season at VMI was cut short by an outbreak of typhoid fever on the campus. As reported by one account: "VMI had time to crush only Washington and Lee 39–0 before the 1899 season was abruptly ended by an outbreak of typhoid fever which closed the Institute for six weeks." On October 16, 1899, all 250 cadets were sent to their homes on account of the outbreak. At least one cadet died in the outbreak, and the school was not re-opened until November 28, 1899 -- after the football season had ended.
VMI's sole opponent for the year, Washington & Lee, finished the season with a record of 0 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. The "Keydets" of VMI handed their one opponent the biggest defeat (by score) of the season.
In the lone game of the season, W. B. "Bruce" Montgomery, Jr., the captain and quarterback for VMI, scored a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
on an 80-yard carry. Montgomery would go on to the next season to be team captain and assist with coaching duties.
One of the individuals who played for the VMI football team in 1899 and 1900 was George C. Marshall, who went on to be Chief of Staff of the Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
, Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, and Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
.