University Medical College - Scalpel Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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OECHSLI, DIEMER, SMITH, JAMES, Manager. Captain, Coach. Captain, '07-'08. '08-'09

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1,112 2-Xthlvtir Aaauriaiinn DR. SAMUEL JAMES ..... . . P, -03 . F. E. DIENIER CSeniorj . . . it H. C. EMBRY Cjuniorj ........ ,,..,.. 5 eC,,em,,y 0. S. GILLILAND CSophomorej.. .......... T1feasm,6,, F. H. HfXIGLER Cffreshmanj ............................. Corlzszzltifzg llfembei' The athletic association was established in 1905, for the purpose of directing and financing all field and track events, and for the fostering of the athletic spiri in the college. Officers are elected annually, and managers of the various branches of sport are appointed by this body. Their decision on matters of internal contest is final. Zllnnthall F antiquity of origin is to be considered as constituting a claim to honor, the game of football stands pre-eminently among the sports of the English-speaking people. For at least 600 years full-blooded people have loved the action, the rush and the struggle of the manly game. Kings with their edicts, divines with their sermons, wits with their caustic ridicule, phychologists with their weighty theorie, and scholars with their cultured -scorn have lent their talents to its prosecution, yet its defense with no assistance, other than the spontaneous approval of two nations of action-loving men, has so completely triumphed that the game has been handed down to- us intact, still popular and bearing the marks of a brilliant future. All things have had their beginning and from what I have learned of the game of our remote forefathers, the Greeks deserve the credit of the origin of our present national winter sport. They were the first to play a game with a ball, the object of which was to advance it by force beyond the opponent's line or goal. The rules were simple and admitted of great latitude, namely, any means in their power. From Greece the game made its way tsomewhat changedl into England several centuries later, and was there, in spite of its disfavor at court, nursed and developed at R b College until in the winter of 1873-74 it assumed new proportions in the form of ug Y an intercollegiate contest between Oxford and Cambridge. From this date its progress d lo ment was truly meteoric ln an incredably short time American universi- and eve p . ties had embraced it with open arms, and had incorporated it in their curriculum-s. Like all importations it made its thorough course of naturalization, preciating its possibilities, it had practically assumed its present form. first appearance in the East, and there underwent a and before we of the West had an opportunity of ap- detailed metamorphosis during the last fifteen years, by Dr. Heller, appears in another part of our annual, and a true biographical sketch by ' the West and in Dr. Wyatt of the heroes who preserved the dignity of the game in in this issue, and we trust that every lover of his Alma Mater A masterful account of its U. M. C. may also be found will read and familiarize himself with the deeds of her honored Alumni.

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Flhe Jnrepiinn sinh Chrnmih nf Eliunthall in Ihr ment I ' H. L. HELLER, M. D. Lecturer on Anesthetics. RETROSPECTIVE glance at the past fifteen years shows a most wonderful spread in the playing and knowledge of football in the West. At the beginning of that + period no one except he be a student at his state university or a chance vi-sitor to the university town, had ever witnessed a contest. I remember very distinctly how vague an idea was mine of college football. While en route to enter college I was ap- proached by older students and asked if I should try for the team. I replied in the affirmative and, having in mind the football player in high schools, announced myself as sure to make the team. Whether to properly reduce my pride, or because latent possibilities were seen in me, I was escorted to the field' on the first practice day. The captain placed me at guard on the scrubs and said my duty was to always keep in front of my opponent. My attempts to do this were certainly ludicrous. Think, I had abso- lutely not the vaguest idea of football, its rules, nor the name of the positions! My op- ponent, a 200-pounder, would calmly toss me aside, but the novice would bob up serenely, always in front, even though he stooped to tie his shoe or walked to the side lines to speak with a friend. Know, too, you armored knight, the players on that team had to supply their own uniform. Mine on the first day consisted of a flannel shirt, civilian trousers docked at the knee, and low shoes. H-owever, I do not mean this as a personal history and only tell you of my early experience that you may know the dense ignorance prevailing even amon-g athletically inclined youths concerning college football. In those days, 1892, the game wa-s played at the K. U., Washburn and Baker, they forming a triangular league and each team meeting its opponents twice during a season. Missouri University had a team, the Kansas City Y. M. C. A. played in a desultory fashion. The University of Nebraska and Doane College at Crete maintained elevens, the latter only furnishing practice for the State. In Colorado the State School of Mines and the State University had only a rudimentary knowledge of the game. Probably the Denver Athletic Club gave the highest class exhibition of football in the West, as its players were composed of Eastern gridiron warriors. The Universities of Kansas Ne- braska, Missouri and Iowa were easily disposed of by this aggregation. Of the few re- maining teams, Baker was the only one to make the annual trip to Denver and then always amply avenged her sister schools by trouncing the ex-stars. In 1891-2 the formation of plays and position of players was decidedly different' from our modern ideas. Of course, the beefwas put in the line, but the heaviest man was always center. The guards and tackles were required to be men of weight, but speed was not requisite. On the beginning of play the defending team was placed much as it is today. The offense lined up and started with a formation called the gridiron, This placed ten men shoulder t-o shoulder on the line of battle. They charged diagonally down the field with a half-back in the rear carrying the ball and watching for an open- .ing for a quick dash. After the preliminary encounter, the teams lined up opposite eachother, the de- fense with nine men on the line, the quarter backing up, and the full playing safety. The ends played in close, but properly stayed out of plays until the runner was definitely located. The line played a close formati-on, the open line of defense not being adopted for several years after it came in vogue farther East. The offense placed their backs