1895 Nebraska Bugeaters football team

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1895
Nebraska Bugeaters football
WIUFA co-champion
Nebraska state champion
ConferenceWestern Interstate University Football Association
Record6–3 (2–1 WIUFA)
Head coach
Home stadium"M" Street Park
Seasons
1895 Western Interstate University Football Association standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Missouri + 2 1 0 7 1 0
Kansas + 2 1 0 6 1 0
Nebraska + 2 1 0 6 3 0
Iowa 0 3 0 2 5 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1895 Nebraska Bugeaters football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1895 college football season. The team was coached by first-year head coach Charles Thomas and played their one home game at the "M" Street Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. They competed as members of the Western Interstate University Football Association.

Thomas spent two years as an assistant before being promoted to head coach following the departure of Frank Crawford at the conclusion of the 1894 season. After the season, Nebraska's second consecutive WIUFA conference championship, Thomas left to become the head coach at Arkansas.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 12at Sioux City AC*Sioux City, IAW 38–0
October 16at Butte AC*Butte, MTL 6–16
October 19at Denver AC*Denver, COW 12–4
October 263:15 p.m.at University Club of Omaha*
W 36–0
November 23:30 p.m.vs. Missouri
W 12–10
November 163:00 p.m.Kansas
L 4–83,000[1]
November 19at Doane*Crete, NEW 24–0600
November 22at
Grinnell, IA
L 0–24
November 283:15 p.m.vs. Iowa
W 6–02,000

Coaching staff

Coach[2] Position First year Alma mater
Charles Thomas
Head coach 1895 Michigan
Jack Best Trainer 1890 Nebraska

Roster

[3]

  • Brandt, Fletcher PLAYER
  • Cameron, John E
  • Dern, George T
  • Dungan, Will T
  • Fair, Richard FB
  • Flippin, George HB
  • Frank, Harry FB
  • Gardner PLAYER
  • Hammang, John T
  • Hayward, William T
  • Humphrey PLAYER
  • Jones, Albin G
  • Jones, Harry G
  • Kellar, C.E. G
  • King HB
 
  • Matson, Charles PLAYER
  • Melford, William C
  • Oury, W.Harry T
  • Packard, Leonard E
  • Placek, Emil QB
  • Reeler PLAYER
  • Shedd, George HB
  • Shue, James E
  • Spooner, Clinton QB
  • Sweeney, F.W. FB
  • Thorpe, Orley E
  • Whipple, Otis E
  • Wiggins, Frank HB
  • Wilson, Wilmer G
  • Yont, Alonzo HB

Game summaries

At Sioux City AC

Nebraska at Sioux City AC
1 2Total
Nebraska 38
Sioux City AC 0

Nebraska's trip to Sioux City was the longest road trip in the program's young history, a record surpassed several times later in the season. Nebraska dominated the game, shutting out Sioux City and setting new program records for points scored and margin of victory.[4][5]

At Butte AC

Nebraska at Butte AC
1 2Total
Nebraska 0 6 6
Butte AC 12 4 16

Nebraska again undertook its longest-ever road trip, traveling over 1,000 miles to Butte, Montana to face the Butte Athletic Club. Butte's ball control-heavy game plan meant Nebraska had only one possession in the game's first twenty minutes, and Butte led 12–0 by the half. A late Nebraska touchdown was not enough to overcome the early deficit. [4]

At Denver AC

Nebraska at Denver AC
1 2Total
Nebraska 6 6 12
Denver AC 4 0 4
  • Date: October 19
  • Location:
    Denver, CO

The third game between Nebraska and the Denver AC was considerably less emotional than the 1893 matchup, which resulted in Denver choosing to forfeit the contest during the second half. The Bugeaters used a strong run game to control the game and win 12–4. [4]

At Omaha

Nebraska at Omaha
1 2Total
Nebraska 12 24 36
Omaha 0 0 0

Nebraska's first game against the

University of Nebraska–Omaha
was a resounding Bugeaters victory. NU led by 12 at halftime and scored 24 more unanswered points to win 36–0. This was the only game ever played between Nebraska and Omaha. [4][5]

Missouri

Nebraska vs. Missouri
1 2Total
Nebraska 6 6 12
Missouri 10 0 10

Nebraska and Missouri met in Omaha to open the 1895 WIUFA season. The Bugeaters trailed 10–6 at halftime, but scored the second half's only touchdown to win 12–10.[4]

University of Missouri records suggest the final score of this game was a 12–0 Nebraska victory.[4]

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska
1 2Total
Kansas 0 8 8
Nebraska 0 4 4
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: "M" Street Park, Lincoln, NE
  • Game attendance: 3,000

Nebraska failed to take advantage of several first-half scoring opportunities, and the game reached halftime tied at zero. Both teams scored a touchdown and missed the following field kick, tying the game at four. Near the end of the game, Nebraska's players reportedly became confused about the amount of time remaining and eased back on their defensive effort, allowing Kansas to score the game-winning touchdown.[4][5]

At Doane

Nebraska at Doane
1 2Total
Nebraska 24
Doane
0
  • Date: November 19
  • Location: Crete, NE
  • Game attendance: 600
  • Game weather: Cold and windy

Nebraska traveled to Crete to meet Doane for the seventh time, dominating the game en route to a 24–0 victory. Wins over Doane and Omaha allowed the Bugeaters to claim a third unofficial Nebraska state championship.[4][5]

At Grinnell

Nebraska at Grinnell
1 2Total
Nebraska 0 0 0
Grinnell 4 20 24

A year after a 22–0 Nebraska win over Grinnell, the Pioneers returned the favor, shutting out the favored Bugeaters 24–0.[4][5]

Iowa

Nebraska vs. Iowa
1 2Total
Nebraska 0 6 6
Iowa 0 0 0
  • Date: November 28
  • Location: Omaha, NE
  • Game attendance: 2,000

By 1895, the Nebraska-Iowa contest was being held annually on Thanksgiving Day. The 1895 iteration was a defensive struggle, remaining scoreless until a second-half NU touchdown and subsequent field kick gave the Bugeaters a 6–0 win. The Bugeaters victory, combined with Missouri's defeat of Kansas, resulted in a three-way tie for the WIUFA championship. The tie-breaking system of the time awarded the conference pennant to the team that had allowed the fewest points on the season; this method of selection left Nebraska in third place, but the university later claimed the conference title.[4][5]

University of Iowa records suggest that this game was played on November 19, 1895.[6]

References

  1. Newspapers.com Open access icon
    .
  2. ^ "Nebraska head coaches". HuskerMax. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  3. ^ "Nebraska Football 1895 Roster". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1895 Game Recaps". Husker Press Box. Retrieved November 9, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c d e f "the 1890s". HuskerMax. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  6. ^ "Western Inter-State UniversityFoot Ball Association anomalies". HuskerMax. Retrieved November 10, 2009.