Happy 134th Birthday, Michigan Football
Today, 134 years ago at White Stockings Park in Chicago, IL, Michigan played their first football game. Or "foot ball game" against Racine, winning 1-0 on a touch-down and goal kick.
Irving Kane Pond (first in middle row) scored the first touch-down for Michigan.
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Where can I get one of those hats?
circa 19th century.
I think I finally get why the Wolverine (my avatar) has that hat on. Perhaps it is a nod to the 1879 team.
is a nod to one of these:
Show this to DB... it might give him an idea for an alternate uniform and helmet.
Can you picture a modern helmet, in the color and stripes of those original hats? (Oregon can!)
...Diary of mine from 2010 for more on the game including the fantastic story of the first touchdown scored in Michigan history.
like the Navy Seal training last year.
...they are headed to Senior Leadership Training in California. I don't know the details or if SEAL training is included this year. Surely a trip to the Rose Bowl is on tap.
I didn't follow recruiting back then, does anyone happen to know how many 5* recruits were on this team? I feel like they all had to be since there were only 13 players!
edit: make that 12 players and 1 coach?
Nope, Michigan did not have a coach from 1879-1890.
Only 13 players is still mighty impressive. I know the game was completely different back then, but we expect a team to suffer when filling a 2-deep with walk-ons.
The more things change...
The first spring game too...
I. Kane Pond sounds like the name of one of today's 5 star recruits.
He has quite a wiki too...:
"To Avoid being tackled I was forced to mount the bleachers and run eastward along them until I was opposite the goal when I stopped suddenly and — fearing that a touchdown in the bleachers would not count– jumped over the heads of my pursuers to the ground.” - Pond's account of the touchdown
Regardless of the call on DeTarr's kick, it is hard to overlook that this referee had a very creative interpretation of what constituted "inbouds", at least in comparison to modern officiating. In any case, the legacy of Irving Pond exists in Michigan football lore and in the form of the Union and the Student Publications building, both designed by his Chicago firm, I believe.
Happy Birthday, Michigan football!
Talk about a bad home schedule - we didn't play a single game in Ann Arbor that year.
1947 Team: The Final Crisler Team. Dad was on that team and Im Looking for someone who can give me an idea of what his1948 nat'l champs autographed game ball, team portrait, gold football trophy charm, programs, and varsity sweater numbers are worth. Its quite a collection and has been in the family since Dad was on the team but no one knows what its worth. Can any one give me an idea or know of good sports memorabelia appraisers??