On the Rail with the Coyotes and Griz...to Aberdeen?
Sadly, the days are gone when trains motored down the rails with people hanging out windows, waving their goodbyes, blowing kisses and cheering wildly as the locomotive engine and whistles blared away. Those images are only captured now in movies or TV shows, except maybe in Europe or tourists traps.
Still, it is easy to romanticize about the era many decades ago when the train was the primary mode of transportation. In reflection, I believe many of us get a rush while imagining about a bygone era and what we perceive was a more innocent, less stressful time. One such era - the early 1900s - wasn't a simpler time, just different. It was a world without the Internet, cable TV, smart phones, SUVs, and airplanes, all of which has made life faster, seemingly more stressful, but clearly different. People didn't have to check their phones for a text, email or information update as they shopped for groceries or just roamed the street.
As a connoisseur of knowledge and information, I often flip through scrapbooks, newspapers and journals, history books and, of course, log-on to the ultimate search engine of the 21st century - Google - to piece together moments in time or just take value in history and how it shaped the world. In libraries, old issues of college newspapers also help me understand that vintage time, especially through the reporting/writing that was often laced with personal, home-town perspective.
Recently, I have thought about trains and riding the rail. They were the interstate of the late 19th and nearly to mid-20th century.
In full disclosure, I have never been on a train. I have only observed them while traveling in an car or watching a movie. Reading books has allowed me to visualize the train cars and what it was like to sit in the box. Someday, I hope to take a train ride.
Football teams of that vintage traveled by train to reach their destination. When contests were away from USD's Dakota Field (until Inman Field was officially opened in 1924 and the DakotaDome in 1979) in Vermillion, the Coyotes jumped on the "special" for games in Sioux Falls or Brookings, even Yankton and Mitchell. Or they traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, South Bend, Ind., New York City, Lincoln, Neb., or East Lansing, Mich., among other out-of-state destination. When they arrived, the teams were often met by a welcoming committee to be followed by a parade of varying sorts.
As I researched the Coyote adventures to Aberdeen, I visualized an image of that train ride. A passenger car filled with the enthusiastic student-athletes, coaches and supporters, including the school band. The clickity-clack of the train over the rail meshed with the sounds of excited partisans and players traveling together and talking a bit louder than normal, similar to what happens at the bar scene of today. Gentlemen were attired in three-piece suits, including sack coats or blazers with sleeveless waistcoats and derby hats. Students wore mix-colored sweaters with jeans while women wore tunics over long under dresses with high waistlines and dresses to the ankle while adorned in large, flowered covered hats and moderate heels or leather walking boots.
Inside the box, short, solid-colored curtains blocked a little of the sun but did not restrict viewing from padded seats in the theatre style box. The view showed farms and ranches scattered across the Plains and its diverse sets of grasses, wildflowers, meandering streams and the "Mighty Mo" (Missouri River). Prairie dogs appeared out of holes in the Earth as deer gracefully loped across the countryside and pheasants popped up from bushed areas on the Plains, mostly unfettered by man. Cattle were scattered across farms and ranches as a few wild horses galloped freely. In the distance, pigs squealed from muddy pens with chickens clucking as they scooted across a farmyard. Ranchers on saddle horses and families in a drawn carriage mixed into this scene as did a few motorized cars puttering along makeshift roads as an interstate highway system was many decades away.
As for football, the sport was still in its developing stages in 1915. It was a popular game but many decades away from the maddening passion we feel for it today. Just three years separated football's transition into a modern era, when in 1912, several rules changes altered the game significantly. In 1912, exactly 100 years ago, the scoring system was adjusted so that TDs counted six points, transitioning from two points in 1883 to four in 1893-97 to five from 1898-1911. For the first time, teams were given four downs to make a first down; the field was reduced from 110 yards to 100 yards with a 10-yard end zone; and kickoffs took place from the 40-yard line and not midfield. The true "Modern Era" of football had begun.
USD, which owns a long and storied history dating to 1889, is new to the FCS, just finishing a transition period away from DII into what was formerly DIAA. The Coyotes are beginning a new era in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Coyotes previously were part of the Great West Conference from 2008-11 after being part of the DII North Central Conference from 1922 to 2007.
Before the Coyotes, which own 514 victories since the program's first win over now defunct Yankton College in 1889 (11-0), joined the now defunct North Central Conference, they were recruited by Michigan State to be part of a different league in 1921 - one that Notre Dame was also recruited to join. USD decided to go with the NCC and Michigan State later ended up in the Big 10 after ending its independent status in 1949. Notre Dame never joined a league and built a legendary program.
In those early days of the 20th Century, the Coyotes were the most dominant football team in the state and a respected Midwest football program. From 1901-1915, USD won 69 games, lost 31 and tied seven. During that period the Coyotes never lost to any South Dakota colleges (USD was the only University then) or neighboring Morningside, compiling a record of 41 wins and three ties.
The 1915 team finished with a 4-2-2 mark, losing only to Minnesota, 19-0, and Notre Dame, 6-0. On two road trips to play those national powers, South Dakota rode the rail. They took the New York Central to South Bend, arriving about midnight on the Friday night before the Saturday encounter.
Concerning that game with Notre Dame, South Dakota wasn't expected to give the Irish much of a fight but they did. The two teams played a scoreless first half as USD's Vidal missed a field goal. Notre Dame, which went onto to a 7-1 season (losing only 20-19 to Nebraska), finally broke through in late in the third quarter on a TD run by Arthur "Dutch" Bergmann. Notre Dame then held off South Dakota, which made several ventures deep into Irish territory but were unable to score.
That Irish team included two future College Football Hall of Fame inductees and four future All-Americans, including Stan Cofall, who became a first-team All-American in 1916 and later was head coach at Wake Forest after playing with the professional Massillion Tigers. Freeman Fitzgerald, who later played pro football, was team captain. At QB, the Irish started Jim Phelan, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was head coach at Missouri ,Washington, Purdue and St. Mary's, accumulating a record of 137-87-14. Offensive lineman Frank Rydzewski an All American in 1917 and played pro football for six years. Another offensive lineman Charlie Bachman was an All-American in 1916 and later was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978. He was head coach of Northwestern (1919), Kansas State (1920-27), Florida (1928-32) and Michigan State (1933-42, 1944-46).
As for Minnesota, the Coyotes faced a team coached by one of the school's legends. Henry Williams (Williams Arena named in his honor), led the 1915 Gophers finished the season 6-0-1 and were the co-champions of the Big Ten with a 3-0-1 mark. The only blemish by the Gophers was a 6-6 tie with Illinois. The Gophers squad included AP All Americans Bert Bason (end), Bernie Bierman (fullback), Merton Dunningan (OL) and Arnold "Pudge" Wyman, who was named All-American in 1916.
Bason was also named All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and Look Magazine and all three Gophers were selected to the All-Big 10 first team.
Bierman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 after a coaching career included an overall record of 146-62-12. Called the "Silver Fox of the Northland," Bierman coached at Montana, Mississippi State, Tulane and Minnesota. With the Gophers he had a 93-35-6 mark over 16 seasons, including six Big Ten titles. He coached 14 All-Americans.
Baston, the first two-time All-American in Gophers history, was also inducted into the College Hall of Fame. He was a standout receiver who helped Minnesota go 12-1-1 during 1915 and 1916. Interestingly, in 1916, the Gophers defeated South Dakota State (41-7), North Dakota (47-7) and South Dakota (81-0), utilizing a vaunted passing attack. It is the only time in history, that those three schools all played Minnesota in one season.
As for other opponents in 1915, the Coyotes defeated rival South Dakota State, 7-0, to extend their series advantage to 11-0-2, with 230-25 scoring margin in those 13 games. It wasn't until a 13-6 win by SDSU in 1919 (in Sioux Falls) that the Jacks broke through with a win against USD.
The Second Meeting - Goes to Montana
Still, it is easy to romanticize about the era many decades ago when the train was the primary mode of transportation. In reflection, I believe many of us get a rush while imagining about a bygone era and what we perceive was a more innocent, less stressful time. One such era - the early 1900s - wasn't a simpler time, just different. It was a world without the Internet, cable TV, smart phones, SUVs, and airplanes, all of which has made life faster, seemingly more stressful, but clearly different. People didn't have to check their phones for a text, email or information update as they shopped for groceries or just roamed the street.
As a connoisseur of knowledge and information, I often flip through scrapbooks, newspapers and journals, history books and, of course, log-on to the ultimate search engine of the 21st century - Google - to piece together moments in time or just take value in history and how it shaped the world. In libraries, old issues of college newspapers also help me understand that vintage time, especially through the reporting/writing that was often laced with personal, home-town perspective.
Recently, I have thought about trains and riding the rail. They were the interstate of the late 19th and nearly to mid-20th century.
In full disclosure, I have never been on a train. I have only observed them while traveling in an car or watching a movie. Reading books has allowed me to visualize the train cars and what it was like to sit in the box. Someday, I hope to take a train ride.
In this reflection on trains, I have thought about sports team travel, specifically the football teams in the early 1900s. In that period, the train enabled competition with area teams and even with schools both in the East and West.
So, as the University of South Dakota football team boarded a plane to Missoula, Mont., for a game with the #10 FCS ranked Montana Grizzlies this week, much was different in transportation and attending games, as well as nearly everything else from coaching, advances in facilities and technology, football equipment and how games are promoted and subsequently watched.
When kickoff comes at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, the game will be the 16th meeting in a series between the Coyotes and Grizzlies that began in 1915 with Montana owning a 9-6 overall edge. It is the initial two games of the series that have caught my eye.
When the two schools met for the first time in 1915, the railroad provided the means for the teams to meet in a location that would serve as a "central" locale. Those games some 97 years ago weren't held in Missoula or Vermillion. No, the destination for both teams was Aberdeen's Johnson Field, which later became Swisher Field.
So, as the University of South Dakota football team boarded a plane to Missoula, Mont., for a game with the #10 FCS ranked Montana Grizzlies this week, much was different in transportation and attending games, as well as nearly everything else from coaching, advances in facilities and technology, football equipment and how games are promoted and subsequently watched.
When kickoff comes at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, the game will be the 16th meeting in a series between the Coyotes and Grizzlies that began in 1915 with Montana owning a 9-6 overall edge. It is the initial two games of the series that have caught my eye.
When the two schools met for the first time in 1915, the railroad provided the means for the teams to meet in a location that would serve as a "central" locale. Those games some 97 years ago weren't held in Missoula or Vermillion. No, the destination for both teams was Aberdeen's Johnson Field, which later became Swisher Field.
Football teams of that vintage traveled by train to reach their destination. When contests were away from USD's Dakota Field (until Inman Field was officially opened in 1924 and the DakotaDome in 1979) in Vermillion, the Coyotes jumped on the "special" for games in Sioux Falls or Brookings, even Yankton and Mitchell. Or they traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, South Bend, Ind., New York City, Lincoln, Neb., or East Lansing, Mich., among other out-of-state destination. When they arrived, the teams were often met by a welcoming committee to be followed by a parade of varying sorts.
As I researched the Coyote adventures to Aberdeen, I visualized an image of that train ride. A passenger car filled with the enthusiastic student-athletes, coaches and supporters, including the school band. The clickity-clack of the train over the rail meshed with the sounds of excited partisans and players traveling together and talking a bit louder than normal, similar to what happens at the bar scene of today. Gentlemen were attired in three-piece suits, including sack coats or blazers with sleeveless waistcoats and derby hats. Students wore mix-colored sweaters with jeans while women wore tunics over long under dresses with high waistlines and dresses to the ankle while adorned in large, flowered covered hats and moderate heels or leather walking boots.
Inside the box, short, solid-colored curtains blocked a little of the sun but did not restrict viewing from padded seats in the theatre style box. The view showed farms and ranches scattered across the Plains and its diverse sets of grasses, wildflowers, meandering streams and the "Mighty Mo" (Missouri River). Prairie dogs appeared out of holes in the Earth as deer gracefully loped across the countryside and pheasants popped up from bushed areas on the Plains, mostly unfettered by man. Cattle were scattered across farms and ranches as a few wild horses galloped freely. In the distance, pigs squealed from muddy pens with chickens clucking as they scooted across a farmyard. Ranchers on saddle horses and families in a drawn carriage mixed into this scene as did a few motorized cars puttering along makeshift roads as an interstate highway system was many decades away.
As for football, the sport was still in its developing stages in 1915. It was a popular game but many decades away from the maddening passion we feel for it today. Just three years separated football's transition into a modern era, when in 1912, several rules changes altered the game significantly. In 1912, exactly 100 years ago, the scoring system was adjusted so that TDs counted six points, transitioning from two points in 1883 to four in 1893-97 to five from 1898-1911. For the first time, teams were given four downs to make a first down; the field was reduced from 110 yards to 100 yards with a 10-yard end zone; and kickoffs took place from the 40-yard line and not midfield. The true "Modern Era" of football had begun.
By 1915 , helmets, originally resembling an aviator's hat, transitioned to a more spherical and padded top with straps and
earpieces. By 1917, a rubber covered wire mask was added to the helmet
with the added protection reducing facial injuries. The moleskin
uniforms remained but padding was still limited. The football, once nothing more than a rugby ball, evolved into an oval shape leather ball, although the bullet-shaped
balls did not come until the late 1920s.
The fields were grass, many doubling as venues for track as well as baseball, and without underground watering systems or advanced ground-keeping techniques that softened the blow to the ground. No, the ground was hard and the game rough.
In those early days, TV coverage wasn't even a dream with radio play by play still in a pioneering phase. Many schools held gatherings in locations where phones or telegrams brought updates on games.
In those early days, TV coverage wasn't even a dream with radio play by play still in a pioneering phase. Many schools held gatherings in locations where phones or telegrams brought updates on games.
I doubt that anyone on the Coyote plane ride to Missoula reflected back to that first meeting. Why should they? This week Missoula city fathers and Chamber of Commerce sorts did not gather at the airport to serve as a welcoming committee. Oh I believe the Coyotes were welcomed by some parents or Yotes alumni in the area. Today, the pomp and circumstance at Washington-Grizzly Stadium will all be for the Griz and the tailgating environment will be full of enthusiasm as the Coyote faithful mix with the Montana supporters.
In 1915, pomp and circumstance was evident in Aberdeen, even if the fans and teams costume and design was different that what we may be accustomed today.
Change is also stark with the two programs. Montana of the Big Sky is shaken from the firing of its head coach and athletic director as a result of sexual assault accusations that hang over the school and the Missoula community. As the program sorts through those difficulties, an excitement surrounds the coming of a new season. It is a proud football program which last fall earned a trip to the NCAA FCS semifinals. The Grizzlies own the FCS record for 17 straight playoff appearances from 1983-2009, and have appeared in the FCS championship in seven of the past 17 years. With 25 straight winning seasons, 18 playoff appearances in the last 19 years (33 playoff wins), Montana is one of the top programs in the FCS.
In 1915, pomp and circumstance was evident in Aberdeen, even if the fans and teams costume and design was different that what we may be accustomed today.
Change is also stark with the two programs. Montana of the Big Sky is shaken from the firing of its head coach and athletic director as a result of sexual assault accusations that hang over the school and the Missoula community. As the program sorts through those difficulties, an excitement surrounds the coming of a new season. It is a proud football program which last fall earned a trip to the NCAA FCS semifinals. The Grizzlies own the FCS record for 17 straight playoff appearances from 1983-2009, and have appeared in the FCS championship in seven of the past 17 years. With 25 straight winning seasons, 18 playoff appearances in the last 19 years (33 playoff wins), Montana is one of the top programs in the FCS.
USD, which owns a long and storied history dating to 1889, is new to the FCS, just finishing a transition period away from DII into what was formerly DIAA. The Coyotes are beginning a new era in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Coyotes previously were part of the Great West Conference from 2008-11 after being part of the DII North Central Conference from 1922 to 2007.
Before the Coyotes, which own 514 victories since the program's first win over now defunct Yankton College in 1889 (11-0), joined the now defunct North Central Conference, they were recruited by Michigan State to be part of a different league in 1921 - one that Notre Dame was also recruited to join. USD decided to go with the NCC and Michigan State later ended up in the Big 10 after ending its independent status in 1949. Notre Dame never joined a league and built a legendary program.
In those early days of the 20th Century, the Coyotes were the most dominant football team in the state and a respected Midwest football program. From 1901-1915, USD won 69 games, lost 31 and tied seven. During that period the Coyotes never lost to any South Dakota colleges (USD was the only University then) or neighboring Morningside, compiling a record of 41 wins and three ties.
In that initial USD/Montana matchup, USD
defeated Montana, 10-7, led by a TD run by Minneapolis native Arthur Tyra and a field goal from Madison (S.D.) native Gene
Vidal. A member of USD's Sports Hall of Fame and one of the school's all-time
greats, Vidal, a senior captain, would later be an All-American football player at Army, play in the NFL for one season and compete in the Olympic Games at Antwerp, Belgium. The father of noted author Gore Vidal, he would be a pioneer in the transportation industry.
The USD student newspaper captured the imagery in Aberdeen on that Saturday.
"They (people in Aberdeen and Coyote supporters) were manifestly loyal to South Dakota. The University colors were much in evidence. A run had been made on the department stores of Aberdeen for hundreds of yards of red ribbon," reported the Volante in its Oct. 12, 1915 edition, noting that more than 2,500 attended the game.
The USD student newspaper captured the imagery in Aberdeen on that Saturday.
"They (people in Aberdeen and Coyote supporters) were manifestly loyal to South Dakota. The University colors were much in evidence. A run had been made on the department stores of Aberdeen for hundreds of yards of red ribbon," reported the Volante in its Oct. 12, 1915 edition, noting that more than 2,500 attended the game.
On a sunny, windless day, the Coyotes took control early and
then held off Montana on a muddy gridiron on Johnson Field.
A Little Perspective on the 1915 Coyotes
The 1915 South Dakota team was coached by Ion Cortright, who left USD after the season with a two-year mark of 9-4-3 (.656). Originally of Eaton, Mich., Cortright played at Michigan State from 1907-10. He was team captain for the 1910 Spartans football team and captain for MSU's 1911 baseball team. He came to USD after serving as an assistant coach for the Spartans football and as track coach.
A Little Perspective on the 1915 Coyotes
The 1915 South Dakota team was coached by Ion Cortright, who left USD after the season with a two-year mark of 9-4-3 (.656). Originally of Eaton, Mich., Cortright played at Michigan State from 1907-10. He was team captain for the 1910 Spartans football team and captain for MSU's 1911 baseball team. He came to USD after serving as an assistant coach for the Spartans football and as track coach.
The 1915 team finished with a 4-2-2 mark, losing only to Minnesota, 19-0, and Notre Dame, 6-0. On two road trips to play those national powers, South Dakota rode the rail. They took the New York Central to South Bend, arriving about midnight on the Friday night before the Saturday encounter.
Concerning that game with Notre Dame, South Dakota wasn't expected to give the Irish much of a fight but they did. The two teams played a scoreless first half as USD's Vidal missed a field goal. Notre Dame, which went onto to a 7-1 season (losing only 20-19 to Nebraska), finally broke through in late in the third quarter on a TD run by Arthur "Dutch" Bergmann. Notre Dame then held off South Dakota, which made several ventures deep into Irish territory but were unable to score.
That Irish team included two future College Football Hall of Fame inductees and four future All-Americans, including Stan Cofall, who became a first-team All-American in 1916 and later was head coach at Wake Forest after playing with the professional Massillion Tigers. Freeman Fitzgerald, who later played pro football, was team captain. At QB, the Irish started Jim Phelan, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was head coach at Missouri ,Washington, Purdue and St. Mary's, accumulating a record of 137-87-14. Offensive lineman Frank Rydzewski an All American in 1917 and played pro football for six years. Another offensive lineman Charlie Bachman was an All-American in 1916 and later was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978. He was head coach of Northwestern (1919), Kansas State (1920-27), Florida (1928-32) and Michigan State (1933-42, 1944-46).
As for Minnesota, the Coyotes faced a team coached by one of the school's legends. Henry Williams (Williams Arena named in his honor), led the 1915 Gophers finished the season 6-0-1 and were the co-champions of the Big Ten with a 3-0-1 mark. The only blemish by the Gophers was a 6-6 tie with Illinois. The Gophers squad included AP All Americans Bert Bason (end), Bernie Bierman (fullback), Merton Dunningan (OL) and Arnold "Pudge" Wyman, who was named All-American in 1916.
Bason was also named All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and Look Magazine and all three Gophers were selected to the All-Big 10 first team.
Bierman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 after a coaching career included an overall record of 146-62-12. Called the "Silver Fox of the Northland," Bierman coached at Montana, Mississippi State, Tulane and Minnesota. With the Gophers he had a 93-35-6 mark over 16 seasons, including six Big Ten titles. He coached 14 All-Americans.
Baston, the first two-time All-American in Gophers history, was also inducted into the College Hall of Fame. He was a standout receiver who helped Minnesota go 12-1-1 during 1915 and 1916. Interestingly, in 1916, the Gophers defeated South Dakota State (41-7), North Dakota (47-7) and South Dakota (81-0), utilizing a vaunted passing attack. It is the only time in history, that those three schools all played Minnesota in one season.
As for other opponents in 1915, the Coyotes defeated rival South Dakota State, 7-0, to extend their series advantage to 11-0-2, with 230-25 scoring margin in those 13 games. It wasn't until a 13-6 win by SDSU in 1919 (in Sioux Falls) that the Jacks broke through with a win against USD.
The Second Meeting - Goes to Montana
In 1916, South Dakota had a coaching
change with the team directed by Coach Blaine McKusick and assistant T.R.
Johnson, a future Coyote Hall of Fame inductee, as they traveled for its opener
to Johnson Field (Fossum Field location) in Aberdeen, S.D., for a battle with
the Grizzlies. It was a season that would include memorable games with the
University of Minnesota as well as Notre Dame and Michigan State on Dakota Day.
The 1916 game, won by Montana,
11-0, was judged one of the 125 most important moments in Aberdeen history
(2006 special 125th commemorative edition of the Aberdeen American News.).
The Aberdeen American News (then
the Aberdeen Daily News) captured the flavor of the game, pulling from its
archives the front page story. The game became headline news in Aberdeen for
several days, including game day which included a front page story.
The headline read: "Aberdeen
On Her Toes for Big Football Fray." Another headline stated
"Businesses and politics are sent to the sidelines for greatest gridiron
event in this section of the country - Both teams are confident of
victory."
In the special 125th anniversary
paper in 2006, the Aberdeen Daily News devoted one of its two phones at the
newspaper for a special call-in line for game updates. The newspaper advised:
"Call 1172; DO NOT Call 1171."
The newspaper also reported that
the Coyotes arrived by train the Friday morning before the game with its
band and a large group of boosters. USD, which made team headquarters at the
Sherman Hotel, practiced in Aberdeen that same afternoon. On the other hand,
Montana's train arrived at midnight and the team stayed at the Ward, where they
ate prior to the game.
The newspaper also reported that Montana was huge, stating: "16 husky Montana brutes average
170 pounds per man for its starting lineup."
A little different than today where 170 pounds makes you a scatback.
A little different than today where 170 pounds makes you a scatback.
In 1916, Montana exacted a
bit of revenge to even the series 1-1 as they prevailed 11-0. The Grizzlies scored on a field goal
in the second quarter with a safety and TD in the third quarter.
The results of that game with Montana was the beginning of a frustrating season in Vermillion. In 1916, the Coyotes won just once.
A week later, the Coyotes ran past Dakota Wesleyan, 55-0, in a game at Dakota
Field on Oct. 14. It would be the U's only win in a challenging schedule.
On Oct. 21, Minnesota hammered the Coyotes, 81-0, which ranks today as the largest margin of defeat in USD school history. Later North Dakota upended USD, 20-0 in Grand Forks.
On Oct. 21, Minnesota hammered the Coyotes, 81-0, which ranks today as the largest margin of defeat in USD school history. Later North Dakota upended USD, 20-0 in Grand Forks.
The rail was the transportation form when the Coyotes also traveled to Sioux
Falls for a game at Eastside Field with Notre Dame, the fourth of a five-game series between the schools.
USD's college newspaper , the Volante reported that 150 USD students left on the special Saturday morning and the regular Friday afternoon.
USD's college newspaper , the Volante reported that 150 USD students left on the special Saturday morning and the regular Friday afternoon.
On a field thinly covered by snow,
Notre Dame had TDs in the first, second and fourth quarters. Cofall scored all three TDs as well as kicked PATs.
He scored the first TD seven minutes into the game on a 10-yard run. He
recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone to build a 13-0 lead in the
second quarter. Cofall added another score later.
After that game, USD tied
Morningside 0-0 at Mizzou Field in Sioux City and lost to Creighton, 20-13 in
Omaha, Neb.
This 1916 Coyote team included the legendary Carl "Rube" Hoy, who would later serve a long tenure as USD
basketball coach and director of athletics. Hoy's nickname came from a coach when he road a horse to a Huron HS football practice. "Look at the Rube," the coach said. Frank
McCormick of Wagner, S.D., who would become the first native son to play in the NFL in 1920, was a team captain.. Later, McCormick became director of athletics at Minnesota and
eventually became commissioner for the PAC 10 conference. He was one of the
founders of American Legion baseball.
Others on the team included captain
Ferdinand Duncan of Humboldt, S.D., Carter Riegal of Sioux City, Iowa; Clark
Elmore of Vermillion, S.D.; Robert Bergh, Manary and McKinnon, all of Sioux
Falls, S.D., Huge Allemon and Leo Heck of Pierre, S.D., McKinnon of Sioux
Falls, S.D.; Loyal Harmon of DeSmet, S.D.; Harold Sprague of Clark, S.D.; Abe
Seeley, of Andover, S.D.; Floyd
Brown of Ellendale, N.D.; W. Frankenfeld of Dallas, S.D.; Ward Ellis of
Mitchell, S.D., and Floyd Klebsch of Redfield, S.D.
On road home games --
In 2012 when USD will take one of
its game to Sioux Falls to battle the defending national champions North Dakota
State, it should be remembered that in 1916, two Coyote "home" games
were played away from Vermillion. Not only did USD play Montana in Aberdeen but
the Coyotes ventured to Sioux Falls for a game with Notre Dame.
Such was the setting then in the
second decade of the 20th century. But, as history reminds us, the movement of
a game away from Vermillion isn't new to the state's flagship campus. The first
football game played in South Dakota featured the University of Dakota (USD)
and Agricultural College (SDSU) in 1889 at Sioux Falls (6-6 tie), albeit under
neutral conditions.
Most recently, the Coyotes played
two home games in Howard Wood Field and one in Yankton in 2001, winning in
Yankton and losing two tight games in Sioux Falls.
Other home games played away from
Vermillion, included the 1912 Coyotes hosting and defeating North Dakota, 44-0,
in a game played at Sioux Falls. In addition, the U played Notre Dame twice in
Sioux Falls at the Eastside Facility (10th street viaduct) in 1914 and 1916 as
part of a five-game series from 1913-17 with the Fighting Irish. Those Irish
teams included the legendary Knute Rockne, George Gipp, All-American quarterback
Gus Dorias, as well as Lead and SD Sports Hall of Fame inductee Fred Gushurst,
among others.
It is believed the Irish hooked up in a series with the Coyotes as Notre Dame and head coach Jess Harper was attempting to build a national reputation and needed games with teams in the west.
It is believed the Irish hooked up in a series with the Coyotes as Notre Dame and head coach Jess Harper was attempting to build a national reputation and needed games with teams in the west.
In 1919 and 1920, the Coyotes faced
the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in Sioux Falls, splitting a pair of the
games, also at the Eastside Facility. SDSU's 13-6 win over USD in 1919 was their first
victory in a series that dated to the first ever football game in South Dakota
in 1889.
Coyotes at Home Pretty Gaudy Totals
Since the beginning of football 123
years ago, USD has had a commanding home field advantage. While Dakota Field isn't
the DakotaDome or for that matter Inman Field, it was a tough place for
opponents to win. At Inman Field, USD was 130-83-8 from
1924 to 1978. The Coyotes are presently 130-58 all-time at the Dome.
From 1894-1916, USD had a 44-1-3
record, accumulating 34 shutouts, at Dakota Field, located in the same location
as Inman Field (between the Beacom Business School and the School of Law). The
Coyotes only loss in the stretch was a 41-0 loss to Kansas in 1900. Notable games
include the win over Nebraska, 6-5, in 1899 and a tie with Michigan State, 3-3,
in 1916. There was also a 73-7 victory over SDSU in 1912.
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