History of Sports at MSU
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History of Sports at MSU Portia Vescio University Archives and Historical Collections 101 Conrad Hall 355-2330 [email protected] http://archives.msu.edu Overview About the University Archives History of athletics at MSU up to entry in Big Ten Closer look at history of specific sports Helpful resources What is the University Archives? Official repository for the historical records of Michigan State University Established by mandate of Board of Trustees in 1969 33,000 cubic feet of records Subjects: administration, athletics, campus buildings and grounds, student groups and activities, student memorabilia, faculty papers and research. Historical Collections 700+ collections related to Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Topics include: – Michigan in the Civil War – Automotive, lumber and agricultural industries – Life in rural Michigan Thomas Saylor, 3rd Michigan Cavalry, US Civil War General Subjects in the University Archives Michigan State University – Athletics, Campus Grounds & Buildings, Student Life – Faculty, Research, International Projects Michigan Industries – Lumbering (Hackley & Hume, Muskegon) – REO Motor Car Co. and Ransom E. Olds – W.K. Kellogg and the Battle Creek Sanatorium – Agriculture and Dairy – 4-H Clubs – Lansing and East Lansing U.S. History – Civil War – Environmentalism John F. Kennedy on the steps of the MSU Union, 1960. Primary Sources A primary source is a written document, speech, or other sort of evidence, created during the time under study. – Autobiographies –Photographs –Diaries – Letters – Film Footage – Interviews – Speeches MSU students studying and reading in a dormitory lounge, 1957. Handling Archival Materials Collections are unique and one-of-kind – All materials are reading room use only No overnight circulation – Pencils and laptops allowed – Collection-level inventories – Reference archivists assist – We bring material to you – Use gloves to handle Location: 101 Conrad Hall Conrad Hall is located east of the Wharton Center at the corner of Wilson Road and Fee Road between Fee Hall and Akers Hall. Open Hours Monday: 9:00-5:00 Tuesday: 9:00-5:00 Wednesday: 10:00-5:00 Thursday: 9:00-5:00 Friday: 9:00-5:00 Special Closing: Fencers, 1928 Thursday, Feb. 9 from 1:00-5:00 How do I know what you have in the University Archives? The Class of 1897. Library Catalog http://www.lib.msu.edu/ Limit Location to University Archives Type in Basic Keywords Online Resources HISTORY OF MSU ATHLETICS Early Years 1855 – MAC founded 1857 – First students enter the college Administration initially resistant to athletic teams 1862 – Students begin to campaign for athletics College Hall Trivia Question Which was the first sport to have an organized team on campus? A. Football B. Baseball C. Boxing Trivia Answer B. Baseball The Stars, a student-run team was formed in 1865 Early Years, cont. 1870 – Students renew efforts for athletic programs 1881 – The College Speculum takes up the crusade 1884 – MAC wins first intercollegiate sporting event (in baseball over Olivet) 1886 – Student-run athletic association formed Article in the College Speculum, April 1, 1882 Field Days and the MIAA Field days provided an opportunity for athletes to compete. First one held in 1884 In 1886 MAC hosted Albion and Olivet Competitions included wrestling, baseball, running, jumping, boxing, shot putting, and football. Out of field days came the MIAA- MAC, Olivet, Albion and Hillsdale. MAC Field Day Baseball Team 1888 Change Begins 1886 – Armory completed 1890 – State Board of Agriculture approves $250 for equipment 1892 – First on-campus track installed 1896 – Football begins first official season with four game schedule 1897 – Bobby Gale hired by athletic association 1899 – Charles Bemies hired as first athletic coach. 1896 Football Team Recruiting a Football Team Athletic Director George E. Denman began recruiting football players as early as 1902 Wrote letters and visited “promising athletes” urging them to attend MAC Felt that he was at a disadvantage as MAC not known in the East Development in other Sports 1900 – First two tennis courts built on campus 1902 – First swimming pool installed. Old College Field becomes main athletic area 1904 – Harry Moon is the first Aggie to compete in the U.S. Olympic team trials Class Athletes 1897 Trivia Question In what year did MSU become the Spartans? Aggies vs. Spartans “Aggies” was the original nickname for athletic teams on campus 1925 – MAC becomes Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science Formal contest held – “Michigan Staters” wins 2 Lansing newspapermen reject this, dig through rejected entries and choose “Spartans” The Spartan Chester Brewer Director of Athletics, 1903-1910 Led Aggies to such dominance, that MAC kicked out of MIAA Basketball team had a 70-25 record after 7 seasons Returned as coach 1917-1921 Rules Regulating Athletes May 1910 Faculty approve of regulations – Three years of eligibility- Freshmen not eligible – Outlawed pay for playing on college teams – Athletes must compete under their own names – Football team could not begin practice until school year started – Football team could only play teams from other colleges and no more than 9 games (16 for baseball and basketball) Building Teams 1908 – Football team has first undefeated season (6-0-2) including a 0-0 tie with UM. Aggies played Notre Dame in basketball for first time, winning 33-20, MAC is also expelled from the MIAA after winning 10 consecutive field days 1913 – First perfect football season (7-0-0), including victory over UM First touchdown in MAC victory over UM, 1913 Taking more Control 1915 – College strengthens Board in Control of Athletics. Student oversight of athletics disappears. 1916 – backlash over MAC’s efforts to recruit best athletes in Michigan Beginning of battles between booster clubs and administration over athletics World War I era on campus MAC turned into a virtual military camp – Students leaving to join war effort – Formation of ROTC on campus in Spring 1917 – Athletics not cancelled, but all progress was halted Typical World War I scene on campus. 3rd MAC Training Detachment, Company A. October 1st, 1918. Post-War Growth 1920 - Men’s Gymnasium opens. MAC joins the NCAA. 1921 – WKAR broadcasts basketball games 1923 – Football stadium with seating capacity of 14,000 is built. WKAR begins broadcasting football games. Track team, 1920s Aerial view of campus, 1920s North Central Association Investigation 1933 Uncovered four unacceptable conditions: – Grades in physical education classes were uniformly high – Athletes (5 % of male students) received 11-12% of student loan money – Percentage of athletes employed exceeded all other groups – Percentage of athletes indebted to college exceed all other groups World War II era 1940 – Enrollment more than doubles 1943 – MSU President John Hannah issues a statement, “Termination of all inter-collegiate athletic competition at M.S.C. for the duration” True or False When MSU petitioned to enter the Big Ten in 1946, it was welcomed with open arms by all the other schools. Big Ten Answer False! In his memoirs, John Hannah writes, “Minnesota carried the torch for Michigan State. Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin supported us; the University of Michigan opposed us strenuously and Indiana and Iowa were noncommittal. Northwestern, too, was friendly.” Entry into Big Ten 1946 – University of Chicago withdraws from Big Ten 1948 – MSC voted into Big Ten pending certification May 20, 1949 – MSC officially becomes member of Big Ten, competition to begin in 1950-51 school year, except football which begins 1953 Big 10 Headlines All-time largest crowd in Macklin Stadium, (26,977) Oct. 25, 1947 Brief Histories of Individual Sports Baseball Was the first organized athletic activity on campus Early teams were mediocre John Kobs began as coach in 1925 Kobs had 34 winning seasons out of 38 1878 Sophomore Baseball Club Hockey Began on campus in 1906, played two games against Lansing High School Played on Red Cedar River – weather providing 1922 – Becomes a varsity sport. Tennis courts are flooded to make arena John Kobs coached the team 1925-1930 1931 – Hockey cancelled until 1950 when an artificial ice arena was built in Demonstration Hall. Early Varsity Hockey team 1953 Hockey Team Fencing Dates back to 1895 MIAA Field Day Not seen again on campus until post WWI when Chester Brewer reinitiated sport Joseph Waffa and Omar M. Lebel organized first fencing club (men and women) Becomes varsity sport in 1926 Charles Schmitter coached MSU fencing for over 30 years Fencing team practice 1936 Women’s fencing, 1926 Swimming First pool installed 1902, not popular as an organized sport until post WWI Becomes varsity sport in 1922 Teams not great in 1920s, but improve during 1930s New coach Charles McCaffree in 1942 brought team to new highs post-WWII Big Ten Invitational Swimming Relays 1956 Basketball First season was in 1899. Team played 2 games to Olivet and lost. Played in the Armory until 1918 Was considered a “minor” sport at first Became more prominent under coach Van Alstyne January 12, 1948 Basketball game vs. Marquette Basketball Trivia Question Which was the first basketball team at MAC to play against an off campus rival? (Men or women?) Basketball Trivia Answer The women In January 1898, Lansing High School defeated MAC, 16-2 They met again a week later, when Lansing High School won in a 26-6 rout. WOMEN’S ATHLETICS Early Women on Campus Early agriculture curriculum not of interest to women First women students entered 1870 Main problem was housing women students Women’s Athletics 1888 – Women regular members of tennis club Competed in field days in tennis from 1896 Early women’s sports: fencing, pistol, field hockey, and swimming Morrill Hall Former Women’s Building Built in 1899- Dedicated 1900 Women lived and took classes there Included gymnasium for them to train Women’s Athletic Association Organized in 1924 by Helen Grimes, director of physical education Oversaw competition between the classes in baseball, field hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and rifle By 1926 had a membership of 100 athletes Co-eds had to follow certain rules – Sleep 8 hours per night; one cup of coffee per day, no smoking Source: M.S.C.