jcollingsworth
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Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Sunday morning breeze was brisk. A settling of coldness had dropped anchor on the region – hovering just a degree or two above the freezing mark. Quietness had descended in the early morning hours, only a distant rumbling of nature, a whisking wind, or a car not so near, managed to eke any semblance of noise.
Chic Harley stepped from The Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor and onto the porch. Half of the Buckeyes Football team was staying here, while the other half was on the other side of town at the Paul C. Freer House on Hill Street. It was a head game approach that the University of Michigan liked playing with their opponents when they came into town to play. “Split ‘em up!” The Wolverines Head Coach Fielding Yost would bark to the papers whenever the question arose as to why they did this to the teams that came to play. “Confuses ‘em!”
Chic smiled – almost laughing. He held a steaming hot cup of coffee as he looked out at the perfectly manicured lawn and hedges – wondering if the frost would kill them. “Michigan’s problem!” he whispered to himself as he put the cup of coffee to his lips.
The day before over at Ferry Field a full house, 26,000 or so, were treated to the unexpected. The previous meetings between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines were anything other than ‘glamorous’ for OSU. The Wolverines had dominated the Buckeyes over the past. They commanded a 15-0-2 advantage. The Buckeyes had never won against the Maze and Blue.
Just then Quarterback Gaylord Stinchcomb stepped out onto the porch with a steaming cup of coffee as well. He and Chic looked at one another, nodding. Nothing else was said. It was just passing six in the morning, both early raisers, couldn’t sleep in, just so unnecessary – especially after their historic game the day before.
The game began in the late morning, right before noon. Time was given for the fans to get there and seated, as it had been scheduled to start at eleven. The matchup was pretty equal. Michigan was always tough, lining up some of the best in the nation. Quarterback Cliff Sparks was a ‘fancy’ passer and he had ran his mouth prior to this matchup of how he’d make Chic and the Buckeyes regret they travelled to Ann Arbor. It made all the papers. There was also Archie Weston, William Cruse, and the brute Frank Culver. But that was all right – the Buckeyes had weapons too.
It started slow, no scoring. Bruises were being created. The aim to injure was a clear goal on both sides. But everyone, even those slow to get up, took a deep breath and did precisely that – got up. The Buckeyes began to gel in the second quarter.
“Your run around the left in the second was really nice.” Gaylord looked over at Chic before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Thanks.” Chic nodded as he too sipped at his coffee.
Gaylord spoke of the lone touchdown of the game. Chic took a pitch out from Gaylord and ran to the left. The Buckeyes were on their own forty-four. Culver of Michigan sprang forward, arms outstretched, ready for a clinic on demolition. But Chic was way too fast for him. He turned the corner leaving a stumbling Frank Culver to fall face first without having any pleasure of touching any Buckeye, even a blocker. And off Chic went – scampering fifty-six yards untouched. The nearest Wolverine to him when he dropped the ball in the end zone was just passing the twenty.
Chic would drop kick the extra point, making it seven to nothing. That would be the score at the half. In the third Chic would continue running at will, but just could not get the ball back into the end zone. The Wolverines were completely focused on him. He would nail two field goals though – one in the third from fifteen yards out and one in the fourth from twenty-seven yards out. This would account for all of the points the Buckeyes would score that day. Michigan would manage a field goal in the fourth. The final 13-3.
What made it all the much better for Chic was the way he silenced Cliff Sparks and his overconfident mouth. On the defensive side, Chic – a safety – would intercept Sparks four times. Each time was on nice drives that clearly looked as if a score was destined. It had to be morally devastating for the entire Wolverine team – on each occasion.
“I can’t believe Yost there at the end.” Gaylord looked again towards Chic as he took another sip from his coffee mug.
“He only spoke the truth!” Chic solemnly responded, yet evidence of sarcasm shined. He winked at Gaylord.
They both laughed.
At the end of the game, with the Buckeyes winning for the first time ever against the Wolverines, now making their record against them 1-15-2 – Michigan’s Head Coach Fielding Yost spoke from a bull horn to the stadium, uncharacteristically congratulating OSU on their win. “You deserve your victory, you fought brilliantly,” Yost began. “You boys gave a grand exhibition of football strategy and while I am sorry, dreadfully sorry, that we lost, I want to congratulate you. And you, Mr. Harley, I believe, are one of the finest little machines I have ever seen.”
“Little machine?” Gaylord laughed.
“Probably meant oiled machine!” Chic offered.
“Let’s get more coffee before the others wake.” Gaylord headed back into the Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor.
Chic Harley looked out at the magnificently manicured lawn and hedges and smiled before turning and following Gaylord Stinchcomb into the large brick house serving as their quarters for only a few hours longer before they headed south to Columbus.
The post Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Sunday morning breeze was brisk. A settling of coldness had dropped anchor on the region – hovering just a degree or two above the freezing mark. Quietness had descended in the early morning hours, only a distant rumbling of nature, a whisking wind, or a car not so near, managed to eke any semblance of noise.
Chic Harley stepped from The Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor and onto the porch. Half of the Buckeyes Football team was staying here, while the other half was on the other side of town at the Paul C. Freer House on Hill Street. It was a head game approach that the University of Michigan liked playing with their opponents when they came into town to play. “Split ‘em up!” The Wolverines Head Coach Fielding Yost would bark to the papers whenever the question arose as to why they did this to the teams that came to play. “Confuses ‘em!”
Chic smiled – almost laughing. He held a steaming hot cup of coffee as he looked out at the perfectly manicured lawn and hedges – wondering if the frost would kill them. “Michigan’s problem!” he whispered to himself as he put the cup of coffee to his lips.
The day before over at Ferry Field a full house, 26,000 or so, were treated to the unexpected. The previous meetings between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines were anything other than ‘glamorous’ for OSU. The Wolverines had dominated the Buckeyes over the past. They commanded a 15-0-2 advantage. The Buckeyes had never won against the Maze and Blue.
Just then Quarterback Gaylord Stinchcomb stepped out onto the porch with a steaming cup of coffee as well. He and Chic looked at one another, nodding. Nothing else was said. It was just passing six in the morning, both early raisers, couldn’t sleep in, just so unnecessary – especially after their historic game the day before.
The game began in the late morning, right before noon. Time was given for the fans to get there and seated, as it had been scheduled to start at eleven. The matchup was pretty equal. Michigan was always tough, lining up some of the best in the nation. Quarterback Cliff Sparks was a ‘fancy’ passer and he had ran his mouth prior to this matchup of how he’d make Chic and the Buckeyes regret they travelled to Ann Arbor. It made all the papers. There was also Archie Weston, William Cruse, and the brute Frank Culver. But that was all right – the Buckeyes had weapons too.
It started slow, no scoring. Bruises were being created. The aim to injure was a clear goal on both sides. But everyone, even those slow to get up, took a deep breath and did precisely that – got up. The Buckeyes began to gel in the second quarter.
“Your run around the left in the second was really nice.” Gaylord looked over at Chic before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Thanks.” Chic nodded as he too sipped at his coffee.
Gaylord spoke of the lone touchdown of the game. Chic took a pitch out from Gaylord and ran to the left. The Buckeyes were on their own forty-four. Culver of Michigan sprang forward, arms outstretched, ready for a clinic on demolition. But Chic was way too fast for him. He turned the corner leaving a stumbling Frank Culver to fall face first without having any pleasure of touching any Buckeye, even a blocker. And off Chic went – scampering fifty-six yards untouched. The nearest Wolverine to him when he dropped the ball in the end zone was just passing the twenty.
Chic would drop kick the extra point, making it seven to nothing. That would be the score at the half. In the third Chic would continue running at will, but just could not get the ball back into the end zone. The Wolverines were completely focused on him. He would nail two field goals though – one in the third from fifteen yards out and one in the fourth from twenty-seven yards out. This would account for all of the points the Buckeyes would score that day. Michigan would manage a field goal in the fourth. The final 13-3.
What made it all the much better for Chic was the way he silenced Cliff Sparks and his overconfident mouth. On the defensive side, Chic – a safety – would intercept Sparks four times. Each time was on nice drives that clearly looked as if a score was destined. It had to be morally devastating for the entire Wolverine team – on each occasion.
“I can’t believe Yost there at the end.” Gaylord looked again towards Chic as he took another sip from his coffee mug.
“He only spoke the truth!” Chic solemnly responded, yet evidence of sarcasm shined. He winked at Gaylord.
They both laughed.
At the end of the game, with the Buckeyes winning for the first time ever against the Wolverines, now making their record against them 1-15-2 – Michigan’s Head Coach Fielding Yost spoke from a bull horn to the stadium, uncharacteristically congratulating OSU on their win. “You deserve your victory, you fought brilliantly,” Yost began. “You boys gave a grand exhibition of football strategy and while I am sorry, dreadfully sorry, that we lost, I want to congratulate you. And you, Mr. Harley, I believe, are one of the finest little machines I have ever seen.”
“Little machine?” Gaylord laughed.
“Probably meant oiled machine!” Chic offered.
“Let’s get more coffee before the others wake.” Gaylord headed back into the Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor.
Chic Harley looked out at the magnificently manicured lawn and hedges and smiled before turning and following Gaylord Stinchcomb into the large brick house serving as their quarters for only a few hours longer before they headed south to Columbus.
The post Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...