# Detroit City College Tartars football, 1923–1933

The Detroit City College Tartars football teams (later known as the Wayne State Tartars) represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) in American football from 1923 to 1933. The program's history prior to 1923 are covered at Detroit Junior College football, 1918–1922. In 1934, the school became known as Wayne State University, and seasons are dealt with individually.
Highlights of the years from 1923 to 1933 include the following:
* The 1923 Detroit City College Tartars football team compiled a 4–3–1 record, including victories over Ferris Institute, Hope College, Grans Rapids Junior College, and Findlay College.
* After compiling a losing record in 1923, the 1925 compiled a 4–3–1 record, including victories over Assumption College, Hope College, Grand Rapids Junior College, and the University of Toledo.
* The teams suffered losing records in 1926 (2–4–1), 1927 (2–6), 1928 (2–5–1), and 1929 (2–7).
* David L. Holmes stepped down as the school's head football coach after the 1928 season. He remained with the school as athletic director and track coach for several decades thereafter.
* After Holmes' departure, the teams failed to win a game in 1930 (0–9) and 1931 (0–6–1) under head coach Norman G. Wann.
* In 1932, Joe Gembis took over as head coach. He served 14 years as head coach, compiling a 42–51–8 record.

## 1923

The 1923 Detroit City College Tartars football team was an American football team that represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1923 college football season. In their sixth year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Tartars compiled a 4–3–1 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 13 | Ferris Institute | Roosevelt FieldDetroit, MI | W 54–0 |
| October 20 | Hope | Roosevelt FieldDetroit, MI | W 20–0 |
| October 27 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | L 0–13 |
| November 3 | Grand Rapids | Detroit, MI | W 42–8 |
| November 10 | at Olivet | Olivet, MI | T 7–7 |
| November 17 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | L 0–38 |
| November 24 | Findlay | Detroit, MI | W 28–0 |
| November 29 | Central Michigan | Detroit, MI | L 7–21 |

## 1924

The 1924 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College during the 1924 college football season. In their seventh year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Tartars compiled a 2–5 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 4 | at Assumption (ON) | | W 6–0 |
| October 18 | at Olivet | | L 14–19 |
| October 25 | Ferris Institute | Detroit, MI | W 3–0 |
| November 1 | Adrian | Detroit, MI | L 6–19 |
| November 8 | at Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | L 7–10 |
| November 15 | Toledo | Roosevelt FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–27 |
| November 29 | Central Michigan | Codd FieldDetroit, MI | L 6–38 |

## 1925

The 1925 Detroit City College Tartars football team was an American football team that represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1925 college football season. The team compiled a 4–3–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 118 to 58. Leigh Pascoe was the team captain.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 4 | at Ferris Institute | Big Rapids, MI | L 12–13 |
| October 10 | Assumption (ON) | Codd FieldDetroit, MI | W 9–0 |
| October 17 | Olivet | Codd FieldDetroit, MI | T 6–6 |
| October 24 | Hope | Hamilton & Lysander Aves.Detroit, MI | W 7–0 |
| November 1 | at Adrian | Adrian, MI | L 0–20 |
| November 8 | Grand Rapids | College fieldDetroit, MI | W 55–0 |
| November 14 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | W 23–0 |
| November 26 | Central Michigan | Codd FieldDetroit, MI | L 6–18 |

## 1926

The 1926 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College as an independent during the 1926 college football season. In their ninth year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Tartars compiled a 2–4-1 record (.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 9 | at Assumption (ON) | Windsor, ON | W 7–0 |
| October 16 | Michigan State Normal | College FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 23 | at Hope | Holland, MI | W 3–0 |
| October 30 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–19 |
| November 13 | Toledo | Detroit, MI | L 7–14 |
| November 20 | Bowling Green | Detroit, MI | T 0–0 |
| November 25 | Central Michigan | Codd FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–9 |

## 1927

The 1927 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College as a member of the Michigan Collegiate Conference (MCC) during the 1927 college football season. In their tenth year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Tartars compiled a 2–6 record (0–3 in conference games) and finished in last place in the MCC.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 7 | Assumption (ON) | Detroit, MI | W 13–0 |
| October 15 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | L 0–13 |
| October 22 | at Bowling Green | Bowling Green, OH | L 0–6 |
| October 29 | at Western State Teachers (MI) | Western State Teachers College FieldKalamazoo, MI | L 0–44 |
| November 5 | at Valparaiso | Valparaiso, IN | W 6–0 |
| November 12 | Hillsdale | Detroit, MI | L 6–22 |
| November 19 | at Michigan State Normal | Normal FieldYpsilanti, MI | L 0–39 |
| November 24 | Central Michigan | Detroit, MI | L 6–33 |

## 1928

The 1928 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College as a member of the Michigan Collegiate Conference (MCC) during the 1928 college football season. In their eleventh and final year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Tartars compiled a 2–5–1 record (0–3 in conference games) and finished in last place in the MCC.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 6 | at Detroit Junior College freshmen | Detroit, MI | W 24–0 |
| October 13 | at Manchester | North Manchester, IN | T 6–6 |
| October 20 | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–12 |
| October 27 | Western State | Detroit, MI | L 0–45 |
| November 3 | Toledo | Detroit, MI | W 13–6 |
| November 10 | Bowling Green | Detroit, MI | L 0–20 |
| November 17 | Michigan State Normal | Roosevelt FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–55 |

## 1929

The 1929 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) in the Michigan Collegiate Conference during the 1929 college football season. In its first season under head coach Norman G. Wann, the team compiled a 2–7 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 5 | Olivet | Detroit, MI | L 0–6 | |
| October 12 | at Hope | Holland, MI | W 7–0 | |
| October 19 | Hillsdale | Detroit, MI | L 0–32 | |
| October 26 | at Western State Teachers (MI) | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–40 | |
| November 2 | at Wilmington (OH) | Wilmington, OH | L 0–14 | |
| November 9 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | L 0–17 | |
| November 16 | at Bowling Green | Bowling Green, OH | L 2–25 | |
| November 23 | Michigan State Normal | Detroit, MI | L 0–31 | |
| November 28 | Central State (MI) | Central FieldDetroit, MI | W 6–0 | 3,000 |

## 1930

The 1930 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) in the Michigan Collegiate Conference during the 1930 college football season. In its second season under head coach Norman G. Wann, the team compiled a 0–9 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 4 | Notre Dame "B"* | Detroit, MI | L 0–51 |
| October 11 | at Michigan State Normal | Ypsilanti, MI | L 6–33 |
| October 18 | at Hillsdale* | Hillsdale, MI | L 12–13 |
| October 25 | Western State Teachers (MI) | Roosevelt FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–52 |
| November 1 | at West Liberty* | | L 0–39 |
| November 8 | at Findlay* | Findlay, OH | L 12–32 |
| November 15 | Bowling Green* | Detroit, MI | L 7–19 |
| November 22 | at Toledo* | Detroit, MI | L 0–18 |
| November 27 | Central State (MI) | Detroit, MI | L 0–13 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

## 1931

The 1931 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1931 college football season. In its third and final season under head coach Norman G. Wann, the team compiled a 0–6–1 record.
In January 1932, Sy Berent, a member of the team, led a petition drive in support of coach Norman Wann. The petition asserted that the team's mediocre performance in recent years was the result of high academic standards, the school's lack of appeal as an athletic center, and "indifference and lack of support by the student body." Wann was nevertheless replaced as the head football coach by Joe Gembis. Wann remained on the school's faculty as a teacher of physical education.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 3 | Albion | Lysander FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–6 |
| October 16 | at Bowling Green | Bowling Green, OH | L 0–13 |
| October 24 | Findlay | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–13 |
| October 31 | at Central State (MI) | Alumni FieldMount Pleasant, MI | L 0–42 |
| November 7 | Defiance | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 7–26 |
| November 14 | Olivet | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–32 |
| November 21 | Wilmington (OH) | Detroit, MI | T 0–0 |

## 1932

The 1932 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1932 college football season. The team compiled a 1–6 record and was outscored by its opponents by a combined total of 95 to 10.
Joe Gembis was hired as the team's head coach in July 1932. He succeeded Norman Wann as head coach. Gembis, a native of Vicksburg, Michigan, had played fullback for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1927 to 1929; he coached Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, Ohio, to a 14-4 record in 1931. Gembis agreed to coach the Detroit City College team in exchange for post graduate work.
On October 8, the Tartars defeated Toledo, 3–0, for their only victory of the 1932 season. Dan Dobbins, a substitute halfback, kicked a field goal in the last eight seconds.
During Gembis' 14-year tenure as the school's head football coach, the team began playing a higher caliber of opponents, including regular games against regular Michigan State, the University of Detroit, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Cincinnati, and Bowling Green. Gembis compiled an overall record of 42–51–8 at Detroit City College/Wayne University.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 30 | at Albion | Albion, MI | L 0–7 |
| October 8 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | W 3–0 |
| October 15 | Valparaiso | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–27 |
| October 29 | Central State (MI) | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–13 |
| November 5 | Kalamazoo | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 0–3 |
| November 11 | at Hope | Holland, MI | L 0–32 |
| November 19 | Defiance | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | L 7–13 |

## 1933

The 1933 Detroit City College Tartars football team represented Detroit City College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1933 college football season. In their second year under head coach Joe Gembis, the Tartars compiled a 2–5–1 record and were outscored opponents by a combined total of 130 to 56.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 29 | at Wittenberg | Springfield, OH | L 0–33 |
| October 7 | Toledo | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | T 0–0 |
| October 14 | at Findlay | Findlay, OH | L 7–12 |
| October 20 | at Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 6–20 |
| October 28 | at Central State (MI) | Alumni FieldMount Pleasant, MI | L 14–26 |
| November 4 | Hope | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | W 3–0 |
| November 11 | Valparaiso | Valparaiso, IN | L 0–33 |
| November 18 | Defiance | Kelsey FieldDetroit, MI | W 26–6 |