FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
[rps-paypal]
A picture of Arizona’s game with Pomona in 1914, the first homecoming in the school’s history (University of Arizona Library Special Collections)
[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 Friday 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=””]
“Joyous occasions are not easily forgotten, nor are the tastes of victorious fruits made less sweet after having been tasted. Long will the 1914 Thanksgiving game be remembered and replayed. Long will the thunder of that game echo in the ears of enthusiasts at future gridiron battles on Arizona’s field.” — Arizona’s 1914-15 Desert Yearbook statement of the Varsity’s 7-6 victory over Pomona (Calif.) in the school’s first homecoming game in 1914.
The following is a reprint of the yearbook’s account of Arizona’s rousing victory and Pomona, which earned the Varsity the Southwestern Championship:
Happy, indeed, are the recollections of that game which defended the southwestern championship; that won a championship from Southern California; that put the Greater Arizona on the map, and that fittingly closed a victorious football season for the University, the team and the coach (J.F. “Pop” McKale).
Before the largest and most enthusiastic crowd ever assembled on an Arizona football field, the Wild Cats came trotting on the gridiron at 3 p.m., amid the cheering from students and citizen rooters, and with the band playing and the crowds singing “Arizona Varsity Comes Marching on the Field.”
Both teams took a few minutes of limbering up and at 3:10 the ball was kicked off by (Asa) Porter to the far corner of Pomona territory, where the Wild Cat end nailed a Hun at the 30 yard line.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
THE LAST WEEK IN THE SERIES:
— No. 2: Arizona brings home bacon with win over rival New Mexico
— No. 4: Occidental holds off last challenge of Arizona’s men who “showed the fight of wild cats”
— No. 5: How long can Arizona’s opportunistic defense last against Occidental?
— No. 5: Arizona remains confident despite Occidental’s repeated failed attempts to score
— No. 7: Arizona’s “cactus-fed athletes” convincingly introduce themselves to Occidental
— No. 8: Overconfident Occidental suits up for Arizona without head coach, who scouts elsewhere
— No. 9: Varsity’s busy pregame preparation against Occidental includes reading letters from co-eds
[/ezcol_1half_end]
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
Thursday, Aug. 27, 1914
Negotiations are about completed for the release of 5,000 Mexican soldiers and camp followers who for many months have been interned at Fort Wingate, N. M., and Roscrans, Calif. Provisional Mexican President Venustiano Carranza has guaranteed safety Of the refugees and it is expected that in a few days the soldiers will return to their homeland. Most of the refugees are former federal soldiers who with their camp followers crossed into Texas following General Pancho Villa’s decisive victory at Ojinaga.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
[/ezcol_1half_end]
Arizona Hall of Famer Asa Porter kicks off to Pomona in the legendary 1914 homecoming game on Thanksgiving (University of Arizona Library Special Collections)
A poster posted on campus of the game between Pomona and Arizona in 1914
Pomona now commenced a march towards the Arizona goal which caused the grandstand to hold its breath. It seemed to carry us completely off our feet. In four minutes after the kickoff, Pomona had marched 70 yards, and sent Paul Adams through for a touchdown. Captain (Colvin “Beefy”) Heath, despite his mighty toe, missed goal, which fact later spelled “victory” for us.
The Wild Cats again lined up for a kickoff with everybody’s mind tense, but our boys had settled down and their defense began to worry the Huns and unload a big burden from the rooters. Note: In those days, the team that scored received the ensuing kickoff.
Pomona was forced to open up in the forward passing line, but here, too, our defense was awake and either broke up or intercepted the pride of
California. The first quarter ended with the score: Pomona, 6, Arizona O.
Again gunner Porter aimed at the fort (with a punt), this time striking short only 5 yards, with (Vinton) Hammels recovering the shot (a fumble) through a mighty leap. From here the tactics changed to straight football, giving (Franklin) Luis a run around end for a touchdown. He fumbled as he crossed the line. (Albert) Crawford was on the job, however, and recovered the ball, saving the day. Crawford kicked goal, giving us the long end of the score by one point.
With the ball kicked off again and a few plays, the half ended. Arizona 7, Pomona 6.
It was between halves that the memorable jubilee commenced. That famous serpentine circled the field giving all the yells the old school had ever heard. It must have told upon the visitors and surely gave strength to the Varsity. Dr. (M.P.) Freeman and Joe Scotti offered a purse of $100 for sweaters, providing the Varsity kept the lead.
An ad published in the Arizona Life student newspaper for Arizona’s game with Pomona in 1914
Crawford kicked off for the Wild Cats and the last halt of the mighty battle was begun, with Pomona playing every ounce and using every trick they had and the “Cactus-fed” Varsity blocking the attack with strong defense. This half was not a startling exhibition by Arizona for we wanted a bigger score and Pomona wanted to take the lead.
Once or twice Pomona got away for a seeming score, only to be brought to earth by our stalwart secondary defense. The Huns would try passes, punts, place kicks and drop kicks but we always had a defense equal to the assault. There was no getting away from facts — the fans were witnessing Arizona’s greatest game; a game of real football, fought to the last.
When that whistle echoed across the field, it produced a moment of the greatest joy ever experienced upon an Arizona gridiron. The future victories can never mean more for Arizona than that one. Therefore, Arizona, you won the championship through a good team, a great coach and a loyal Student Body, and it is up to you all to defend your victory next year, the next, and until the “Sands of the Desert Grow Cold.”
Note: The victory over Pomona spurred 1914 team member Albert Condron to come up with the idea of “A” Mountain, another lasting effect from that historic year.
Tomorrow: A slideshow of each 1914 team member as the countdown series closes.
The game ball of Arizona’s win over Pomona in 1914 showcased at the McKale Center Hall of Champions. Notice what appears to be blood stains from the hard-fought victory (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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.
