West Virginia University - Monticola Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

Page 24 text:

FOOTBALL . A HISTORY AND RECORD c 9n V tfg s 9 9 » ' .» v 1919 SQUAD WEST VIRGINIA ' S first football game was played in 1891 when a team of untrained giants organized, and without expert coaching, took on the powerful Washington and Jefferson team. The result was a 7 1 -0 lacing which so discouraged the boys that they did not bring up the matter of football again until 1893 when two games were played. From 1895 until 1900 better days appeared for the infant Mountaineer sporl as better athletes took up the game and a coach was obtained for the first time. An interesting angle of the game at that time was the fact that road trips were taken similar to the modern baseball trips, and series games were held with the same team on three or four successive days. This feat be deemed impossible by modern coaches. The years that followed under coaches Mont Mclntyre, Sol Metzger, Clarence (Doc) Spears, Ira Rodgers, Earl (Greasy) Neale, and now Charles (Trusty) Tallman have not all been successful but the teams have hit certain peaks like the immortal Princeton victory and the successful trip to the West coast that have brought national recognition and prominence. The names of the heroes of the various periods also stand out as a record of achievement and success in the face of difficulties. GOOD BATTLE WILL ALWAYS BE FOUND

Page 23 text:

ATHLETICS I n

Page 25 text:

RECORDS OF FAMOUS TEAMS 1895 Under the first regular coach of West Virginia football history, all of the six games were won this year except that with W. J. Hurry Up Yost, Dad Krebbs, and Bunk Reynolds were among the players and Pitt (W. U. P.) was easy. 1903 The Mountaineers outscored their opponents 146 to 45 losing only to Ohio State in eight games. The Presidents of W. J. were van- quished for the first time (both on the field and in the resulting fight afterwards) and the celebration lasted all night, 1905 Another possible undefeated season was marred as eight games were won and one, to Penn State, was lost. Buck Martin, Tom Lehay, and Mont Mclntyre made history for West Virginia. 1916 With Mclntyre as the new coach, five games were won, avenging sev- eral earlier defeats, and two were tied — Rutgers and Dartmouth. Two heartbreaking losses were sustaned — Navy, 12-7, and Pennsyl- vania, 3-0 — despite the fine work of Rip King and Rat Rodgers. 1919 Led by All-American Rodgers, the Mountaineers made the first big bid for national honors by trimming Princeton 2 5-0. It was Rodgers who opened the eyes of the football world to the possibilities of the forward pass, used with deadly effect in that game. 1922 Only a surprise tie with W. L. stopped an undefeated year, and in a post-season game played in California on New Year ' s Day, Gonzago was defeated 21-13. The team scored 329 points in the 10 games to 34 for the opponents. 1924 Under the leadership of Fred Graham, eight games were won by de- cisive scores including victories over Colgate and W. J. The loss was to Pitt. This year wound up the career of Coach Clarence (Doc) Spears. 1928 After an upset defeat by Davis-Elkins in the opening game, the 1928 Mountaineers turned in a fine season, being the last team to beat Pitt. Games were won from Fordham, Oklahoma, W. J., and others. Clarence Keefer was the captain and Marshall (Sleepy) Glenn the offensive star. WHEREVER A WEST VIRGINIA TEAM IS IN ACTION