FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
[rps-paypal]
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
— General history
— J.F. “Pop” McKale
— The games
— Comparisons then and now
— Wildcats nickname
— Military service
— Rankings
— The players
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
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.
[/ezcol_1half_end]
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
In the next few days, the series will provide multiple quick facts of each player. Today’s player is:
Emzy Lynch impressed Arizona coach J.F. “Pop” McKale from the start as a freshman center of the 1914 team
Emzy Harvey “Swede” Lynch (1895-1979)
Freshman center from Yuma
Lynch, like many settlers of his generation, came to Arizona in 1900 in a covered wagon from his native Texas and prospered in the state. The Lynch family moved to Yuma, where Emzy became a high school sports legend like his Arizona teammate Orville McPherson. After playing for Arizona from 1914-16, Lynch left college to serve in the Army in World War I from 1917-18. He returned to Arizona, became captain of the Wildcats in 1919 and graduated with a degree in mining engineering. His career included work as a mining engineer for Inspiration Copper Co. at Miami.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
THE LAST WEEK IN THE SERIES:
— No. 42: Verne La Tourette, left halfback
— No. 43: William Asa Porter, quarterback/fullback
— No. 44: Bill Hendry, right tackle
— No. 45: James Vinton Hammels, left end
— No. 46: Albert “Bumps” Crawford, quarterback
— No. 47: Leo F. Cloud, halfback
— No. 48: George Clawson, left guard
[/ezcol_1half_end]
He also taught physics and served as a coach at Northern Arizona University. In 1930, he became a federal marshal until he was appointed Arizona commander of the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II, he served as a captain of the Arizona Induction Center, was on two tours of duty in Japan and was commanding officer of the Prisoner of War Camp at Florence. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 37 years in the Army. In 1955, Lynch became a bailiff. He was an adult probation officer when he retired in 1966. He was an active member of the Arizona Alumni Association until his passing in 1979 at age 84.
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)
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
What they were talking about on this day in 1914
Sunday, July 19, 1914
The Boston Braves, in last place in the National League for most of the season up to this point, score three runs in the ninth at Cincinnati to win 3-2. The victory takes Boston (36-43) out of last place, a percentage point better than Pittsburgh (35-42). The Braves would go on to make their historic run, winning the pennant by 10 1/2 games over the New York Giants. They won the World Series, becoming the first team to accomplish that feat after being in last place as late as July 18.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
[/ezcol_1half_end]
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.
