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Nebraska 1
Denver Athletic Club 0

Nov. 4, 1893

This game, played in Denver, was literally a slugfest. It resulted in a forfeit by the Denver Athletic Club when the team left the field in protest of a penalty with the score tied 4-4 in the second half. Below is the Lincoln Evening News’ creatively crafted account of the game.

 


LINCOLN EVENING NEWS

Monday, Nov. 6, 1893

A SLUGGING MATCH
Lincoln and Denver Show How Foot Ball
Is Played In These Degenerate Days

The foot ball boys of the University of Nebraska have returned from their Denver trip, and it is plain to be seen that the Nebraska boys have been engaged in the pleasant task of hammering out a game. In this instance the word “hammered” is used advisedly. It is with a great deal of pride that the boys say that the Denver fellows show up much the largest aggregation of ensanguined nasal organs and discolored optics. While the Nebraska boys won a victory according to the new Rugby rules, the game Saturday resulted in a score of 4 to 4.

The foot ball players of the Denver Athletic club have the reputation of being sluggers, and when the Nebraska boys went to the city of Consumptionville they went with the avowed intention of doing a little slugging on their own account should the opportunity present itself. Being a foot ball match, opportunity bought a general admission ticket and presented itself all over the field. Flippin, the brunette right halfback of the Nebraska team, was the especial mark of the Denverites, but it was soon learned by the denizens of the incorporated hospital near the foot hills of the Rockies that it took more than one consumptive to successfully tackle him. This is the way the players lined up:

 

Nebraska ...... Position ......... Denver
Johnston .... left end right .... Nublock
Ouray ...... left tackle right .. Filmore
Wilson ..... left guard right .... Trease
Hopewell ... left center right... English
Dern ...... right guard left... Blackburn
Whipple ... right tackle left ..... Adams
Shue ....... right end left ....... Macon
Pace ..... quarter back left ...... Smith
Flippin ..... half back right ..... Mills
J.G. Yont...right half back left...Pfonts
J.E. Yont ...... full back ........ Field
 Weaver, (Nebraska), umpire; Spalding,
(Denver), referee.
 

Nebraska chose the ball and got the east goal and opened the game with the flying wedge. J. G. Yont made a great run and carried the ball within five yards of the Denver goal and a touchdown was claimed. Referee Spaulding said it was no go and Denver put the ball to center with a punt. Then Nebraska’s rush line showed up, and going through the center from one to twelve yards at a go. Flippin made a touchdown. Time, 10 minutes; score, Nebraska 4, Denver 0, Pace failing to kick goal.

Then Denver tried the flying wedge and slugging tactics. Neither eleven could make gains around the ends, but Denver at one time had the ball within half a yard of Nebraska’s goal. But Nebraska got the ball back to center and time was called. In the second half Denver scored a touchdown in ten minutes but failed to kick goal, and the score was tied at 4 to 4. While the ball was out of play Whipple pushed Macon and was promptly knocked down. It too Whipple five minutes to steady himself on his pins and Macon was sent out and Ernst took his place. Before time was called on the second half Denver played the baby act much better than football and left the field because of a decision of the umpire. The game was promptly given to Nebraska. The crowd of 2,500 people sympathized with the Nebraska boys from the start, for the simple reason that the Denver eleven began the slugging tactics. But it will probably be Denver’s last attempt to knock out the Nebraska boys. With it comes to playing foot ball with fists Nebraska can do it if occasion demands.

When the news of the victory reached Lincoln Saturday evening the university boys proceeded to celebrate in royal style. After parading the streets accompanied by tin horns and the university yell in several keys, the students went to the campus and proceeded to make arrangements for a bon fire. Some of the students in the exuberance of their joy, laid wanton hands on the sidewalk in front of C. H. Dill’s residence. Mr. Dill appeared on the scene with a gun and persuaded the boys to let the walk alone. They went away but soon returned with a cannon which they trained on the residence. The female members of the family appeared at this juncture and persuaded the boys not to blow the house to fragments, as it was likely to wake the babies.

Then the students collected again on the campus and marched to the home of Chancellor Canfield. The chancellor accepted an urgent invitation to make a speech, and the students cheered vociferously when the head of the university appeared. Chancellor Canfield made the boys a characteristic speech, which was greeted with cheers.

After returning to the campus the boys yelled some more. When their vocal organs had been entirely used up, and not until then, quiet was restored.

 

 

DAC (2K)

HUSKERMAX NOTES

The Denver Athletic Club was founded in 1884 and still exists today. Its first football game was in 1890 against Colorado, and by 1898 the team was regarded by the Lincoln faculty as “a gang of pros.”

The Lincoln State Journal reported that George Flippin, Nebraska’s African-American halfback, “went through the center like a cannonball, and Denver had a special pick for him. He was kicked, slugged, and jumped on, but never knocked out, and gave as good as he received.”

The forfeit occurred after Nebraska was awarded possession of the ball because of a slugging foul. The Denver team left the field and refused to return.

1893team (11K)