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Chapter 2 - Pre-MIAC Years - 1903-1921
College Athletic Association | Athletic Facilities | Sports in the Early Years, 1903-1910 | 1910-1911 | 1911-1912 | Interstate School Conference Founded | 1912-1913 | 1913-1914 | 1914-1915 | 1915-1916 | 1916-1917 | 1917-1918 | 1918-1919 | 1919-1920 | 1920-1921 | Looking Back -- Early Years |
1916-1917
With the opening of the 1916 fall term football started almost immediately.
This year also marks the initial appearance of Concordia College on the gridiron. Much as been said and written about the advisability of playing a game of such a nature as football. Football, as played, is necessarily rough but, the player may clothe himself so that the danger of accident is lowered to a minimum. The list of fatalities from football is however comparatively insignificant. The criterion by which we should judge any form of athletics is the effect it has on the student body. Does it draw the students together? Does it make for a better physical environment? There can be no doubt that the game centers the attention of all the students. The debatable question will be to what extent a desirable physical development is promoted. Anyone who has gone through the grind of football training knows that it develops a strong and sturdy physique. It builds up the body during the hours we have no particular school supervision. The tendency at such times is to seek the nearest store and buy cookies or candy. A healthy interest in football will soon obliterate this tendency entirely, on the part of the players and to quite an extent on the part of the others.
Also in justice to our graduates we must recognize the fact that a coaching
knowledge of football is demanded by a large number of those who take up
teaching. The person who goes into teaching without this knowledge is working
under a handicap.(31)
The Crescent reported on the prospects for the season and the first game played with Valley City Normal. (This was the first football game played with outside competition.)
At a meeting of the football candidates, Rudolph Lavik was elected captain of the eleven, and Ingemann Sattre manager. After this actual hard work took place every afternoon. Most of the boys had never felt of the pig skin before. This is an undisputed fact recorded even by the casual onlooker. Some of the prospective gents appeared for practice in dress suits. Others mistook the pass time for baseball. Hence all the Northern League uniforms visible on the gridiron, while again a few blossomed forth in homespun fancy embroidery.
These factors, however, are insignificant when we look over the prospects in actual beef. The boys have by no means a corner on beef or brains, but they take coaching and are willing to work hard. All the fudge munchers who thought the game a little too strenuous have resigned and can most any time be seen escorted around by huge cigars, or at pink tea conquests. These things and fudge are barred from the gridiron. The weeding out process is a stage of the game which must be passed through every fall.
The backfield constitutes a number of huskies. Although Captain R. Lavik and G. Dahl are the only men behind the line with previous experience, the other candidates for the backfield, Ing Lavik, John Larson and M. Gronningen, are showing a lot of speed and drive. The line consists mostly of the naked truth, which if told would be raw material. Amongst those who are just naturally gifted for their places are The White Hope at tackle, and the Terrible Swede at center. These and others are fighting desperately for places on the eleven. A very promising candidate was lost to the team in the person of trainer Loe. In a scrimmage early in the season, a face was thrust into the palm of his hand, fracturing the wrist. However, since this time he has given his entire day shifts and training abilities over to the assistance of his team. He is a rare and able man, having had much experience plowing corn.
The first scheduled game was played at Valley City with the Valley City Normal. The boys arrived there in the morning, tough as lard, each one carrying an apartment of clothes. During the forenoon the boys loafed around leisurely. At noon they passed through a smattering of food. The same amount could easily be shot into the arm with a hypodermic syringe. In the afternoon (before the game) they stacked up in beds, for a quiet rest. Later on George Brekke went downtown to look over an assortment of tombstones. The game was hard fought and uncertain, also marked by many fumbles and loose playing. The home team winning from Concordia on end runs to the tune of 12-0. George Dahl showed good judgment in carrying the ball and picking his holes. Both Captain R and Ing. Lavik were effective on the smashes. The line held consistently at times, but showed lack of experience. The forward pass was attempted by Concordia on several occasions and proved successful time and again. As a result of this game nine-tenths of the squad are limping about. Some were hurt, others are limping because they were at Valley City.
We are indeed fortunate in having such an able coach as we have in the person of Mr. A. M. Sattre. He is a man with considerable experience, both as player and coach.
The line up:
Concordia Position Valley City Subs for Valley City
Echman Center Avery Burfield for Bublitz
Grimstad Right Guard Granger Nokken for Davidson
Brekke Right Tackle A. Hansen Officials:
Hagen Right End Sollin Steven, referee
Steen Left Guard Faust McFarland, umpire
Larsen Left Tackle Engle Hansen, head lineman
Tanner Left End Davidson
R. Lavik Quarterback E. Hansen
Gronningen Right Halfback C. Bublitz
Dahl Left Halfback L. Bublitz
Ing. Lavik Fullback Aas(32)
1916 football scores:
Concordia 0 Valley City Normal 12
Concordia 0 Moorhead Normal 32
Concordia 0 Wahpeton Science 24
The players responded to the season by saying, "We look back on the season that was rich in experience and defeats. However, we will show marked improvement as a result of the first years' efforts.(33)
The Concordia College Record stated that the athletic association is an organization of students for the purpose of systematizing the management and financing of the various athletic teams. The membership fee has been $1.50 per year. This has admitted all members to all athletic games on home grounds.(34)
With football season over attention was turned to basketball and the
promise of a banner year. More class teams than ever before have been organized.
An Academy basketball team also was being organized for the first time.
They will be able to play area high schools.
From the Crescent, "Again and again we see the need to remind
the students that a winning team can only be had when hearty cooperation
among the knowledge seekers is shown. We need your support and cooperation.
We need your physical as well as your pecuniary aid. We will rely on you.
Come to the games and elicit your 'pep' and your 'juice'"(35)
Eighteen candidates answer the call for basketball practice. The 1916-1917 aggregate has a nucleus of a good team and we are fortunate in having a competent coach in Professor "Pop" Sattre, former coach at Columbia College.(36)
Results for the 1916-1917 basketball season:
Concordia 15 Fargo College 25
Concordia 21 NDAC 50
Concordia 10 Park Region 32
Concordia 15 NDAC 36
Concordia 16 UND 16
Concordia 14 Fargo College 24
Concordia 37 Park Region 9
Concordia 26 Moorhead Normal 19
Concordia 36 Gustavus Adolphus 21
Concordia 15 UND 20
Concordia 15 Hamline 27
Concordia 30 Moorhead Normal 12
The second Park Region game was described in the Crescent: "The husky aggregate known as Park Region came into our midst on the 27th of January. The game was called at 8:15, and the visitors came staggering into the battlefield like conquering heroes. Perhaps they thought it would be an easy as the first game. That thought was soon banished from their minds, however, when our veterans began to wallop them. Each member of the team did creditable work. It was a brilliant victory indeed."(37)
Inter-class competition in basketball was very competitive. The Crescent
described the results of one such game:
An excellent exhibition of the popular winter pastime was given in the
Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon February 12th. The battle was
staged between the Junior and the Collegiate tossers of the pigskin spheroid.
The game was full of thrills, from the time referee Lavik blew the first
blast on his silver trumpet until Bagley, the varsity's stellar forward
shot the last basket which ended the massacre. A few of the features of
the game were: the desperate guarding game put up by L. P for the Collegiates
which continually broke up the Junior offensive play, the floor work of
Dahl for the Juniors, and the discover by Homer Edgar Mason of one of Einar
Fossum's missing incisors imbedded the flesh and tissues of his left forearm.
The game grew too exciting for the Collegiate's only sub who was found
after the game down in the boiler room curling his auburn hair in anticipation
of the evening's frolic with the inhabitants of the north hall. By the
way the final score was 21 to 11 in favor of the College.(38)
Twenty candidates reported for the 1917 baseball team to Coach "Pop" Sattre. It was reported that this might be the best team ever. A schedule of games was arranged, but only five baseball scores could be found.
Concordia 2 Moorhead Normal 3
Concordia 11 Dakota Business College 1
Concordia 0 Park Region 10
Concordia 12 Moorhead Normal 6
Concordia 9 Valley City Normal 5
The following is a financial statement of the Concordia College Athletic Association for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1916:
RECEIPTS
Balance on hand October 1, 1915 $ 40.88
237 basketball season tickets 296.00
Basketball gate receipts 126.70
Guarantees from out of town games 75.00
91 baseball season tickets 68.25
Baseball gate receipts 5.25
Total receipts $612.08
EXPENDITURES
Guarantees to visiting basketball teams $145.00
Traveling expenses of home basketball team 85.85
Basketball supplies 54.24
Officials at basketball games 69.15
Salary of basketball coach 25.00
Expenses of representative at conference meeting 3.80
Baseball supplies 28.50
Guarantees to visiting baseball teams 40.00
Carfare of home baseball team 1.70
Officials at baseball games 8.00
Tennis supplies 17.70
Marks of honor 46.50
Printing 17.65
Stamps, stationery and phone calls 3.90
Gymnasium fixtures 21.85
Total expenditures $568.84
Balance on hand September 30th, 1916 $ 43.24
MORRIS BYE, Treasurer(39)
Chapter 2
1. Concordia College Record, July 1907.
3. Concordia College Record, July 1907.
6. Concordia College Record, July 1907.
7. Concordia College Record, March 1908.
8. Concordia College Record, May 1909.
34. Concordia College Record, January 1916.
54. Concordian, December 22, 1920.
55. Concordian,. April 22, 1921.
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