1916 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Encyclopedia
The 1916 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska in the 1916 college football season
. The team was coached by E. J. Stewart
and played their home games at Nebraska Field
in Lincoln, Nebraska
.
, stepped down after winning the most games by percentage for any head coach in the history of the program. With an established program, returning experienced players, and a reputation to uphold, it was time to see what would happen to the Cornhuskers under new leadership.
Nebraska tuned up on conference foe Drake again, pummeling the Bulldogs in coach Stewart's opener. Drake was now winless for five straight games and 1-5 against Nebraska all time.
The Aggies from Kansas State found only more frustration as their quest to get their first win against Nebraska again fell short after six tries. However, their 0-14 loss to the Cornhuskers was the closest margin of loss so far in the series.
Nebraska traveled by train up through Washington State via Seattle and Spokane
, making frequent publicity stops along the way, in a major road trip to face new coach Stewart's previous team in Portland. The University's annual yearbook of the time predicted that this game would be the last time the Nebraska team traveled so far from home. Those hoping to see a strong Cornhusker team were not disappointed at the first meeting of these teams, as Nebraska returned home with its first west coast victory.
Perhaps emboldened by the high-profile win against Oregon Agricultural last week, Nebraska came out relatively flat against a Nebraska Wesleyan team that should have been more thoroughly outclassed in every way, even with Cornhusker backups on the field. The shutout win was secured and moved the Cornhuskers to 6-0 against NWU all time, but the relatively low-scoring game caused concern.
Worries aroused the previous week when the Cornhuskers failed to blow out Nebraska Wesleyan seemed to not be misplaced, as Nebraska uncharacteristically struggled to put away Iowa State in Lincoln. Unable to secure even a single touchdown against a foe normally put away with ease, the Cornhuskers were forced to rely on a single field goal to advance their edge over the Cyclones to 12-3-1.
Nebraska's doldrums had not been shaken off, and Kansas came to Lincoln smelling blood for the first time in years. The Cornhuskers learned that reputation and record alone cannot win games, as the Jayhawks held Nebraska to just a 2nd quarter field goal before shutting them down completely, while Kansas made a series of big plays in the 3rd quarter to get a single touchdown, good enough for the win. The defeat of the Cornhuskers snapped their 34-game unbeaten streak, and was the first time in 39 home games at Lincoln across six years that Nebraska had fallen. It was the first Nebraska Field loss that any players on the team had ever experienced. The previous Nebraska home field defeat from 1909 was also delivered by the Jayhawks before they entered the losing streak to Nebraska that was finally broken on this day. And so it was that Kansas was the only team to have ever defeated the Cornhuskers at Nebraska Field, and had done so twice. With the win, Kansas edged closer to Nebraska in the series, but still lagged 9-14.
Nebraska was now thoroughly awakened to its vulnerability and practiced with renewed intensity in preparation for the match in Ames. Iowa was well aware of the weakened state of the Cornhuskers and confidently started the game with the first touchdown. The Hawkeyes would continue to score, but the Cornhuskers were now on fire with something to prove, and secured the win to stay ahead in the series 11-4-3.
Notre Dame was smarting for payback after being defeated the first time these teams met, and Nebraska had stumbled somewhat from its formidable former confidence. Nothing the Cornhuskers tried was successful in keeping Notre Dame from gashing the defense for big gains and scoring several times, while Nebraska itself was helpess to score points of its own. Notre Dame closed out Nebraska's season by handing over a shutout defeat, the first Cornhuskers shutout loss since Minnesota blanked them in 1912, and squared up the series at 1-1. Notre Dame head coach and future College Football Hall of Fame
inductee Jesse Harper
was not in attendance due to an annual coach's meeting in Chicago. In his place: Assistant Coach and legendary fellow future College Hall of Famer Knute Rockne
.
1916 college football season
The 1916 college football season had a very clear cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Army and Pittsburgh as national champions. Only Pittsburgh claims a national championship for the 1916 season....
. The team was coached by E. J. Stewart
E. J. Stewart
Edward James "Doc" Stewart was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator...
and played their home games at Nebraska Field
Nebraska Field
Nebraska Field hosted the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team beginning in 1909 until it was replaced with the new Memorial Stadium, which was built in the same location and opened for the 1923 Nebraska football season...
in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
.
Before the season
Nebraska was riding high on one of the most successful periods in program history: Six straight conference titles, a remarkable 153-47-11 overall record, fear and respect from other teams nationwide, and a satisfying 1915 win against Notre Dame. However, Nebraska's head coach of the previous five years, Ewald O. StiehmEwald O. Stiehm
-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
, stepped down after winning the most games by percentage for any head coach in the history of the program. With an established program, returning experienced players, and a reputation to uphold, it was time to see what would happen to the Cornhuskers under new leadership.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 | Drake Drake Bulldogs football The Drake Bulldogs football program represents Drake University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. Drake began competing in intercollegiate football in 1893.-Historic 1922 season:... |
Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379.... |
W 53-0 | - |
| October 14 | Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska | W 14-0 | - | |
| October 21* | at | Multnomah Field PGE Park Jeld-Wen Field is an outdoor sports stadium located in Portland, Oregon, United States that is used primarily for soccer and American football... • Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States... |
W 17-7 | - |
| October 28* | Nebraska Wesleyan Nebraska Wesleyan University Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education.... |
Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska | W 21-0 | - |
| November 4 | Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska | W 3-0 | - | |
| November 18† | Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska | L 3-7 | - | |
| November 25* | at | Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa... |
W 34-17 | - |
| November 30* | Nebraska Field • Lincoln, Nebraska | L 0-20 | - | |
| *Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming | ||||
Roster
Caley, Loren E Cameron, Robert RT Cook, John QB Corey, Tim T Dale, Ben G Dobson, Paul HB Doyle, Raymond FB Gardiner, Jimmy HB Kositsky, Ed T Moser, Ellsworth C Norris, William T Otopalik, Hugo HB Rhodes, Roscoe E Riddell, Ted E Selzer, Milton HB Shaw, Edson T Wilder, Harold T |
||||||
Coaching staff
| Name | Title | First year in this position |
Years at Nebraska | Alma Mater |
| E. J. Stewart E. J. Stewart Edward James "Doc" Stewart was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator... |
|head Coach | 1916 | 1916–1917 | Mount Union Mount Union College The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of... |
| Jack Best | |Trainer | 1890 | 1890–1922 | |
| Richard Rutherford | |Assistant Coach | 1916 | Nebraska | |
| Vic Halligan | |Assistant Coach | 1916 | Nebraska |
Drake
|
Nebraska tuned up on conference foe Drake again, pummeling the Bulldogs in coach Stewart's opener. Drake was now winless for five straight games and 1-5 against Nebraska all time.
Kansas State
|
The Aggies from Kansas State found only more frustration as their quest to get their first win against Nebraska again fell short after six tries. However, their 0-14 loss to the Cornhuskers was the closest margin of loss so far in the series.
Oregon Agricultural
|
Nebraska traveled by train up through Washington State via Seattle and Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, making frequent publicity stops along the way, in a major road trip to face new coach Stewart's previous team in Portland. The University's annual yearbook of the time predicted that this game would be the last time the Nebraska team traveled so far from home. Those hoping to see a strong Cornhusker team were not disappointed at the first meeting of these teams, as Nebraska returned home with its first west coast victory.
Nebraska Wesleyan
|
Perhaps emboldened by the high-profile win against Oregon Agricultural last week, Nebraska came out relatively flat against a Nebraska Wesleyan team that should have been more thoroughly outclassed in every way, even with Cornhusker backups on the field. The shutout win was secured and moved the Cornhuskers to 6-0 against NWU all time, but the relatively low-scoring game caused concern.
Iowa State
|
Worries aroused the previous week when the Cornhuskers failed to blow out Nebraska Wesleyan seemed to not be misplaced, as Nebraska uncharacteristically struggled to put away Iowa State in Lincoln. Unable to secure even a single touchdown against a foe normally put away with ease, the Cornhuskers were forced to rely on a single field goal to advance their edge over the Cyclones to 12-3-1.
Kansas
|
Nebraska's doldrums had not been shaken off, and Kansas came to Lincoln smelling blood for the first time in years. The Cornhuskers learned that reputation and record alone cannot win games, as the Jayhawks held Nebraska to just a 2nd quarter field goal before shutting them down completely, while Kansas made a series of big plays in the 3rd quarter to get a single touchdown, good enough for the win. The defeat of the Cornhuskers snapped their 34-game unbeaten streak, and was the first time in 39 home games at Lincoln across six years that Nebraska had fallen. It was the first Nebraska Field loss that any players on the team had ever experienced. The previous Nebraska home field defeat from 1909 was also delivered by the Jayhawks before they entered the losing streak to Nebraska that was finally broken on this day. And so it was that Kansas was the only team to have ever defeated the Cornhuskers at Nebraska Field, and had done so twice. With the win, Kansas edged closer to Nebraska in the series, but still lagged 9-14.
Iowa
|
Nebraska was now thoroughly awakened to its vulnerability and practiced with renewed intensity in preparation for the match in Ames. Iowa was well aware of the weakened state of the Cornhuskers and confidently started the game with the first touchdown. The Hawkeyes would continue to score, but the Cornhuskers were now on fire with something to prove, and secured the win to stay ahead in the series 11-4-3.
Notre Dame
|
Notre Dame was smarting for payback after being defeated the first time these teams met, and Nebraska had stumbled somewhat from its formidable former confidence. Nothing the Cornhuskers tried was successful in keeping Notre Dame from gashing the defense for big gains and scoring several times, while Nebraska itself was helpess to score points of its own. Notre Dame closed out Nebraska's season by handing over a shutout defeat, the first Cornhuskers shutout loss since Minnesota blanked them in 1912, and squared up the series at 1-1. Notre Dame head coach and future College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
inductee Jesse Harper
Jesse Harper
-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
was not in attendance due to an annual coach's meeting in Chicago. In his place: Assistant Coach and legendary fellow future College Hall of Famer Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
.