1912 Oregon Agricultural Aggies football team

American college football season August 2023 December 2025 1912 Oregon Agricultural Aggies football Dolan-Sam-1912.jpg 230px Head coach Sam Dolan Northwest Conference Northwest 3–4 1–3 Sam Dolan 2nd Otto Sitton Bell Field The 1912 Oregon Agricultural Aggies football team represented Oregon Agricultural College (OAC)—now known as Oregon State University—as a member of the Northwest Conference during the 1912 college football season. In their second and final season under head coach Sam Dolan, the Aggies compiled an overall record of 3–4 record with a mark of 1–3 against conference opponents, placing last out of six teams in the Northwest Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 57 to 40. Idaho Second in N. W. Conference https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-1912-northwest-conf/160209216/ The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington December 2, 1912 December 3, 2024 11 Newspapers.com Otto Sitton was the team captain."Sitton OAC Captain," Spokane Spokesman-Review, Dec. 14, 1911, p. 14. Schedule y y October 12 O.A.C. alumni<ncg> Bell Field Corvallis, OR W 2-0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111866698/aggies-coming-next-saturday-to-play-spee/ The Oregon Daily Journal Aggies coming next Saturday to play speedy Multnomah eleven October 13, 1912 October 23, 2022 Newspapers.com October 19 at Multnomah Athletic Club<ncg> Multnomah Field Portland, OR L 0-9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111866833/multnomah-downs-oac/ Morning Register Multnomah downs O.A.C. October 20, 1912 October 23, 2022 Newspapers.com November 1 at Washington State Rogers Field Pullman, WA L 9-10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111867049/washington-state-college-wins-thrilling/ The Spokesman-Review Washington State College wins thrilling game from O.A.C. by 10 to 9 score November 2, 1912 October 23, 2022 Newspapers.com November 9 vs Washington Multnomah Field Portland, OR L 3-9 4,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nU5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AfADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3185%2C2715778 Twice-a-week Guard Washington wins from Oregon Aggies November 11, 1912 October 23, 2022 Google News Archive November 16 Whitman Bell Field Covallis, OR W 20-3 2,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111867340/whitman-loses-to-oac/ The Tacoma Daily Ledger Whitman loses to O.A.C. November 17, 1912 October 23, 2022 Newspapers.com November 23 vs Oregon Albany, OR (rivalry) L 0-3 7,000 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X2pXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5640%2C1272375 Eugene Daily Guard Oregon victor over Corvallis at Albany November 23, 1912 October 23, 2022 Google News Archive November 28 at 1912 Occidental Tigers Occidental<ncg> Baer Field Los Angeles, CA W 23-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111867751/oregon-aggies-conquer-oxy/ The Los Angeles Times Oregon Aggies conquer Oxy November 29, 1912 October 23, 2022 Newspapers.com Game recaps October 19: at Multnomah Athletic Club The Oregon Agricultural College Aggies opened their 1912 season with a pair of non-conference tune-up games, a 2-0 tussle against a team of former OAC players,"Varsity Bested the Alumni," Corvallis Weekly Gazette-Times, vol. 51, no. 39 (Oct. 11, 1912), p. 6. followed by a more serious game against the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club in Portland on October 19. The Multnomah game was played in Portland on a field covered with two inches of mud, causing the gridiron to resemble "a large swamp.""Varsity Squad Stepped On: Houser and Wolff Both Star," OAC Barometer, vol. 19, no. 9 (Oct. 23, 1912), pp. 1, 4. The MAC's players were larger and better conditioned, according to the reporter of the Aggies' campus newspaper, but they were able to hold their own defensively throughout the first half of the game. The contest was still scoreless into the third quarter before Kellogg of OAC committed a 15-yard penalty on a passing play, bringing the ball on the Aggie's 30 yard line."Multnomah's Husky Eleven is Too Much for Sterling Lineup of Aggies," Oregon Journal, vol. 9, no. 28 (Oct. 20, 1912), section 3, p. 9. Multnomah elected to free kick for points and converted from the spot for a 3–0 lead. Wolff added a fourth quarter touchdown for the home team on a one-yard run, sealing the victory for the Portland club, 9–0. November 1: at Washington State OAC opened the 1912 Northwest Conference season on November 1 with a 10–9 loss against Washington State College. In what was later proclaimed as "if not the best, one of the best games ever seen on Rogers Field," the Cougars battled back from a 9–7 deficit in the fourth quarter for the win, with a drive culminating in a 27-yard field goal providing the final margin of victory."OAC Falls Before State College Team of Fighters," Pullman Herald, vol. 25, no. 7 (Nov. 8, 1912), p. 6. The comeback thrilled Washington State fans, with the local newspaper remarking that "a new precedent has been established, for it is not within the memory of the oldest living alumnus that a WSC football team has come from behind and won a game after their opponents had taken a lead." November 9: vs. University of Washington On November 9 OAC went up against the University of Washington at Multnomah Field in Portland."The Big Game Comes Tomorrow," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 128 (Nov. 8, 1912), pp. 1, 4. Coming off a 34-point crushing in 1911, the Huskies were decided favorites in the contest, with one Corvallis newspaper acknowledging "OAC most emphatically has a chance – a bare, fighting chance, perhaps, but while there is life there is hope, and there is plenty of life around these parts." Fan travel from Corvallis to Portland was coordinated, with an estimated 400 to 600 OAC fans anticipated to take advantage of a special $2.60 group travel rate to see the game in the city. In front of 4,000 cheering spectators, Washington made use of superior depth to emerge with a 9–3 win, with Huskies head coach Gil Dobie using 18 players in the victory."OAC Plays Great Game and Goes to Defeat Covered with Glory – and Mud," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 130 (Nov. 11, 1912), pp. 1, 4. With the score tied 3 to 3, the Washington coach inserted five fresh reserves in the fourth quarter; one of these picked off a pass by Dewey of the Aggies in the final four minutes of the game, a critical turnover which led to the winning score for Washington. November 16: Whitman College The third conference game of the season for the OAC Aggies brought the football team of Whitman College of Walla Walla, Washington to Corvallis. The Whitman Missionaries should not be regarded as a "patsy" opponent, having already shellacked a common opponent, the Washington State Cougars, by a score of 30–0, while having crushed the Oregon Webfoots by as nearly as impressive a margin, 20–0."The Game of All Games Tomorrow," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 134 (Nov. 15, 1912), pp. 1, 4. Indeed, coming into the game Whitman was regarded as the odds-on favorite. thumb|right|400px|OAC fans showed spirit with a "serpentine" line during halftime of the Nov. 23, 1912 game against the arch rival University of Oregon, held at a neutral field in Albany. Playing on a muddy field, the Aggies turned in their best performance of the year, topping Whitman by a score of 20–3."Whitman, Touted as Champions, No Match for OAC Saturday," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 136 (Nov. 18, 1912), p. 1. Dewey, Shaw, and Larson scored touchdowns for the Aggies in the win, with Niles adding a garbage time field goal for head coach Archie Hahn and his Whitman squad in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout. November 23: vs. University of Oregon The 1–2 Aggies next headed for a neutral field in neighboring Albany, Oregon, for their November 23 matchup against their arch in-state rivals, the University of Oregon Webfoots in the fifteenth installment of what would later come to be known as the Civil War. Although the final score was close, the game was dominated by the Eugene squad, with Oregon's Johnny Parsons breaking off three long runs against the Aggies, finishing the day with over 200 total yards gained.Franklin Allen, "Fenton's Boot Humbles OAC," Eugene Morning Register, vol. 29, no. 36 (Nov. 24, 1912), pp. 1, 6. Penalties and multiple missed kicks proved the bane for the Oregon team, with a number of long punts by OAC substitute Larson responsible for keeping Oregon out of the end zone. A 22-yard kick by Fenton for the Webfoots in the second quarter proved to be the game's only scoring in Oregon's 3–0 victory. November 28: at Occidental College With the conference schedule finished, the Beavers traveled south to play Occidental College of Los Angeles in their final game of the year, scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. The contract provided for a traveling squad of seventeen – eleven starters and six reserves – together with head coach Dolan."Team Goes to California Soon," Corvallis Weekly Gazette-Times, vol. 51, no. 45 (Nov. 22, 1912), p. 6. The Aggies were short two of their starters, with star left halfback Blackwell out with a badly sprained ankle and fullback Jim Evendon gone with a knee injury."OAC to Play in Southland Thursday P.M.," Corvallis Weekly Gazette-Times, vol. 51, no. 46 (Nov. 29, 1912), p. 1. Adding to the OAC injury woes were dings to left end Bennie Robertson (back) and right halfback Shaw (nose). Despite the physical shortcomings, the team managed to end the year on a promising note, delivering a punishing 23–6 win to Oxy."OAC Best Occidental, 23 to 6," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 145 (Nov. 29, 1912), p. 1. In the game Occidental took a 6–0 lead in the second quarter with a 70-yard run from scrimmage, but OAC quickly answered with a Shaw touchdown and a conversion to take a 7–6 lead. In the second half a fumble was recovered by Reynolds and returned all the way to the Occidental one-yard line, but OAC was unable to push the ball in and was forced to settle for three points. Two additional touchdowns, the first on a run by Robertson, concluded the scoring. OAC ended the year with 3 wins and 4 losses, although putting up just the Whitman win against three losses in conference play. For the year, powered by its two big wins, the Beavers outscored their opponents 57 to 40. Roster thumb|left|600px|1912 OAC Aggies team photo. • Left end: Bennie Robertson • Left tackle: Frank "Prunes" Moore • Left guard: "Gloomy Gus" Hofer • Center: Bob Chrisman † • Right guard: Otto Sitton (captain) • Right tackle: Everett May • Right end: Don Kellogg • Quarterback: George "Admiral" Dewey • Left Halfback: Ira "Fatty" Blackwell † • Right Halfback: James N. "Hunky" Shaw • Fullback: Jim Evendon †- 1912 All-Northwest First Team pick of Roscoe Fawcett (Oregonian)"Two Beavers for 'Star' Team," Corvallis Daily Gazette-Times, vol. 4, no. 147 (Dec. 2, 1912), p. 1. Average weight: Linemen: 174 pounds; Backfield 162 pounds. Substitute linemen: Hoffman, L.L. Laythe Backfield substitutes: Charles "Shrimp" Reynolds (QB), "Rasty" Rasmussen (FB), "Toots" Richardson (HB) Utility substitutes: A.L. Larson, Harry N. Hewitt, Anderson, Leroy McKenzie Injured in Multnomah game and lost for year: "Amy" Hauser Note: players played both offense and defense in this era, as in modern rugby or soccer. References Oregon Agricultural Category:Oregon State Beavers football seasons Oregon Agricultural Aggies football