They Fought Like Wildcats Centennial (1914-2014): Captain makes claim for 1914 All-Southwestern Eleven team

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Clipping of actual L.A. Times article published Nov. 8, 1914

Excerpt from L.A. Times, Nov. 8, 1914, authored by Bill Henry:

“Arizona’s cactus-fed athletes, despite heroic efforts on the part of their two halfbacks, (Asa) Porter and (Franklin) Luis, went down to defeat before the Occidental Tigers yesterday afternoon, the tally with all precincts heard from being 14 to 0 in favor of the Tigers.
Confident of rolling up a big score, the Tigers took the field with grins on their faces, but before the game was 10 seconds old they knew they had a battle on their hands.
The Arizona men showed the fight of wild cats and displayed before the public gaze a couple of little shrimps in the backfield who defied all attempts of the Tigers to stop them.”

This site will conduct a countdown in a 100-day period, leading up to Arizona’s 2014 football season-opener with UNLV on Aug. 29 at Arizona Stadium. The 100 Days ‘Til Kickoff countdown will include information daily about the historic 1914 Arizona team that helped create the school’s nickname of “Wildcats” because of how they played that fateful day against Occidental.

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The University of Arizona football media guide lists all-conference selections starting in 1933 when the Wildcats were part of the Border Conference, but honors started about 20 years before that with “All-Southwestern Eleven” selections.

These selections were made primarily by coaches at New Mexico and New Mexico State (which was New Mexico A&M in 1914).

A team in 1914 was not chosen because Arizona and New Mexico State only played each other. The Wildcats did not face New Mexico for the first time in six seasons. The programs reportedly did not see eye to eye after Arizona beat New Mexico 7-3 in a physical game in Albuquerque in 1913.

Arizona and New Mexico did not resume their series until 1920. The Wildcats continued to play New Mexico State every year. They started playing Texas-El Paso in 1919.

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An All Southwestern Eleven team was selected in 1913 by the coaches at New Mexico and New Mexico State and Arizona coach Frank A. King. King, who coached only one season, was outnumbered in his choices and the lone Arizona representative chosen was senior center Collins Ray Jones.

Arizona’s captain in 1914, Turner Smith, submitted a letter that was published by regional newspapers about what members of the “Varsity” should be included in an All-Southwestern Eleven team. The El Paso Herald published the letter on Dec. 4.

The 1914 Arizona football team that earned the honor of being named the first “Wildcats” was composed of (front row, left to right): Verne La Tourette, George Seeley, Leo Cloud, Richard Meyer, Asa Porter. Second row: Franklin Luis, Lawrence Jackson, Ray Miller, J.F. “Pop” McKale (coach), Turner Smith, Harry Hobson (manager), Orville McPherson, Albert Crawford, Ernest Renaud. Back row: Albert Condron, Emzy Lynch, Charley Beach, Vinton Hammels, Bill Hendry, George Clawson, Harry Turvey.
(AllSportsTucson.com graphic/Photo from University of Arizona Library Special Collections)

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What they were talking about on this day in 1914

Thursday, July 9, 1914

Women’s rights were recognized to the fullest extent by National Education Association (NEA), which passed resolutions endorsing woman suffrage, equal pay for teachers regardless of sex. The NEA also allotted five of 10 vice presidencies to women.

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An article published in the El Paso Herald on Dec. 2, 1914, written by Arizona captain Turner Smith stating his case for Varsity members who should be on the All-Southwestern Eleven team.

1914 Arizona captain Turner Smith

In the article, Smith stakes a claim for George Clawson and Charles Beach at guards, Albert Crawford at end and Franklin Luis, Asa Porter and Orville McPherson in the backfield.

“Clawson at left guard has made good with his defensive playing and has helped to make some of our biggest gains through center,” Smith wrote. “He has weight, speed and plays his man. Beach at right guard has played a star game the entire season. On defensive he is shifted to the secondary and has stopped all plays that came through the line.

“He blocked several punts and intercepted many short passes around the end. Crawford at end has won the name of ‘Ole Reliable’ by his steady playing. Crawford has speed, a sure tackler and most of all is a good pass receiver.”

Smith also credited Luis with helping the Varsity against Occidental and Pomona. He wrote that Luis was not effective against New Mexico State in a 10-0 win because “he had to walk twelve miles to play”. No explanation for that was given.

McPherson, Arizona’s fullback, was good in the open field after he was able to “pick his holes in the line”.

“Porter at left half should be chosen by all means,” Smith continued. “He played a brilliant game the entire season and is on a par with Foster, of Occidental. His speed, hard tackling and passing is above that of the average western back. He can be safely recommended for a back field place. Also hails from El Paso.

“The U. of A. season has been a most successful one both financially and in the number of games won, all of which the players credit to their coach, J. F. McKale.”

ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.