# Albion football, 1884–1899

The Albion football teams (later known as the Albion Britons) represented Albion College in American football during the program's first two decades from 1884 to 1899. In these years, Albion was one of the elite teams in the Midwest, playing and winning games against Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State. Highlights include the following:
* Albion played its first intercollegiate game in 1884, defeating the team from Olivet College by a 10-5 score.
* In 1886, Albion defeated Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) by a 79-0 score.
* In 1891, Albion defeated the Michigan Wolverines by a 10-4 score. Albion had played seven prior games with the Wolverines, each prior game ending in a loss by a combined score of 287-22.The Albion team arrived at its local train station at midnight following the game. They were met at the depot by a large crowd, including almost every male student at the college, armed with kazoos, razoos, bells, drums, and fish-horns. The team was taken by carriage to a bonfire on College Hill, where Burnham provided a first-hand account of the game.
* In 1894, Albion played two games with Notre Dame. The first game ended in a scoreless tie. In the second game, played on November 29, 1894, Albion won.

## 1884

In its first season of intercollegiate football, Albion's 1884 football team was led by coach Springer and compiled a 2-1 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| | Olivet | | W 10–5 |
| November 15 | Michigan | Ann Arbor FairgroundsAnn Arbor, MI | L 0–18 |
| | Olivet | | W 10–2 |

### Game summaries
#### Michigan

On November 15, Albion lost to Michigan. The game was the first meeting between the two programs. As Albion and Michigan were the only two colleges in Michigan at that time with football programs, Albion played Michigan on a regular basis. The two programs played 16 games between 1884 and 1905, with Michigan winning 15 of those games.
Michigan won the inaugural game by a score of 18–0 in a match that was limited to a single inning. Michigan's 18 points were scored on three goals. The Chronicle (a weekly newspaper at the University of Michigan) wrote: "The Albion team was only recently organized, but nevertheless did some good playing. They proved themselves a gentlemanly set of fellows, and expressed their satisfaction at the treatment received."
The game was played at the Ann Arbor Fairgrounds and was part of university's annual field day. The program for the field day included a ten-mile walk, three-mile walk, “collar and elbow,” standing long jump, half mile run, “hop, step and jump,” heavyweight boxing (won by Higgins), tug-of-war, Indian club swinging (won by W. J. Olcott), hammer throw, "catch-as-catch-can wrestling," "passing rugby ball" (won by Thomas H. McNeil with a distance of 116 feet), drop-kick, 100 yard dash, sprint exhibition by Michigan's national collegiate sprint champion Fred N. Bonine, baseball throwing, “chasing greased pig,” obstruction race, lawn tennis, and the rugby game at 4:15 pm
The Detroit Free Press wrote that "[t]he game of Rugby between the University and Albion College [was] for the championship of Michigan." The Free Press wrote that growing interest in the new game was creating a market for weights in Ann Arbor stores:
   "As a result of the field-day Rugby games a new invasion of villainous looking Indians clubs and weighty dumb bells occupies a conspicuous place in nearly all the stores resorted to by students. It is no uncommon thing to see a sprig of youth walk calmly into a store and come out again in a few minutes lugging a pair of dumb bells having enough iron to last a foundry a week; and he never fails to take his way homeward through the principal streets."

## 1885

No games played.

## 1886

In its second season of intercollegiate football, Albion's 1886 football team was led by coach Hagle and compiled a 1-2 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 16 | Michigan | Albion, MI | L 0–18 |
| October 30 | at Michigan | Ann Arbor FairgroundsAnn Arbor, MI | L 0–50 |
| | Michigan Agricultural | | W 79–0 |

### Game summaries
#### Game one: Michigan 50, Albion 0

The first game was played on October 16, 1886, at Albion, with Michigan winning by a score of 50–0. The Michigan Argonaut described the game as "a walk-over for our team." The score was already 37 to 0 when time was called for the half. The writer noted that the Albion team was "not in fine trim" and failed to get the ball near the Michigan goal. Perhaps trying to find something favorable to say about the opponent, the Argonaut reporter observed that "the Albion team did their best work in tackling."

#### Game two: Michigan 24, Albion 0

The second game was played at the Ann Arbor Fairgrounds on October 30, 1886, as part of a "field day" that included various athletic events. Michigan won the football game, 24 to 0. The Michigan Argonaut noted, "The most striking difference between the elevens was that of weight, U. of M. presenting a much heavier team. It was evident, however, that Albion had come to play ball, and what they lacked in avoirdupois was in great measure made up by neat and rapid playing." The teams agreed to play "two innings of thirty minutes each," and the "rugby game" started at 3:35 with referee George W. Whyte calling, "Play." Michigan lost the toss, and Jaycox kicked off for Michigan, sending the ball near Albion's goal line. Michigan scored its first touchdown seven minutes into the game to take the lead 6 to 0. Michigan scored a second touchdown "just before the inning was called," and led 12 to 0 at the intermission. The second inning began at 4:40 p.m., and the Argonaut reported that "Albion played a much better game in this inning than did Michigan, and several times it looked as though they would score." Jaycox and Jim Duffy made several bad fumbles in the second inning, and Morrow, "who had been serving in first-class style one-fourth back, made several poor throws to the half backs and lost ground for Michigan." Jim Duffy made two brilliant runs in the inning, and Jaycox ran for a touchdown shortly before the game ended. Albion objected that the field was "overrun with spectators," and also claimed that Jaycox had run out of bounds on his touchdown run, but the claim was overruled. The Argonaut concluded its report on the game by noting, "The Albion boys were gentlemen, and played a square game."

## 1887

Led by team captains, the team compiled an 0-1 record.
Michigan L 0-32

## 1888

The 1888 Albion football team, sometimes known as the Albion Methodists, was an American football team that represented Albion College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1888 college football season. The team compiled a 0–2 record, and was outscored by a combined total of 84 to 4. Albion scheduled two of its games in 1888 against opponents that later became NCAA Division I FBS football programs, which today are among the top five in winning percentage and total wins at that level.

### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result |
| November 24 | | at Michigan | Ann Arbor FairgroundsAnn Arbor, MI | L 4–76 or 4–80 |
| December 1 | | at Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | cancelled |
| December 1 | 2:15 p.m. | at Detroit Athletic Club | Detroit Athletic ParkDetroit, MI | L 0–18 |

### Game summaries
#### Michigan

On November 24, 1888, Albion lost by a 76–4 score to the 1888 Michigan Wolverines football team at the Ann Arbor Fairgrounds. Albion's four points were awarded after the visitors disputed a call made by the officials and threatened to leave the grounds. The Albion players were persuaded to continue with the game "upon a concession of four points by the home team." The Detroit Free Press called it "a splendid game" with "some excellent team work being done by the 'Varsity eleven." The Chronicle wrote: "As usual U. of M. had a walk away. Albion scored her first point through an error."

#### Detroit Athletic Club

On December 1, Albion lost by an 18-0 score against the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC) in a game played at the Detroit Athletic Park in Detroit. On the opening possession, Albion drove to DAC's 25-yard line but failed to convert on a fourth down. After that drive, DAC dominated the game. The Detroit Free Press credited Albion tackle S.C. Griffin, as well as halfbacks Landau and Critchell for their play. Led by team captains, the team compiled an 0-2 record.

## 1889

No games played.

## 1890

The 1890 team was led by team captains and compiled a 2-2 record.
Michigan L 10-56 Michigan L 0-16 Michigan Athletic Club W 68-0 Olivet L 32-12

## 1891

The 1891 team was led by team captains and compiled a 5-0 record.
Michigan W 10-4 Olivet W 11-0 Olivet W 24-6 Hillsdale W 34-4

## 1892

The 1892 team was led by team captains and compiled a 3-1 record.
Hillsdale W 41-0 Detroit Athletic Club W 18-0 Michigan Military W 40-0 Michigan L 8-60

## 1893

The 1893 Albion football team was an American football team that represented Albion College in the 1893 college football season.

### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 16 | | Hillsdale | Albion, MI | L 0–18 | |
| October 28 | | at Detroit Athletic Club | Detroit, MI | L 8–20 | ~1,000 |
| November 4 | | at Olivet | Battle CreekOlivet, MI | W 42–16 | |
| November 11 | | at Notre Dame | Brownson Hall fieldNotre Dame, IN | L 6–8 | |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | L 0–18 | |

## 1894

The 1894 Albion football team was an American football team that represented Albion College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1894 college football season. Under first-year head coach Walter B. Gage, Albion won the MIAA championship, with victories over Hillsdale and Olivet and a victory over Notre Dame in their Thanksgiving Day game.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October 13 | at Michigan* | Regents FieldAnn Arbor, MI | L 10–26 | |
| October 15–19 | Battle Creek High School* | | W 72–0 | |
| October 20 | at Notre Dame* | Brownson Hall fieldNotre Dame, IN | T 6–6 | |
| October 27 | at Michigan Military Academy* | Jackson, MI | W 18–0 | 600–1,000 |
| October 29 | Hillsdale | Fair groundsAlbion, MI | W 18–0 | |
| November 5 | Olivet | Albion, MI | W 18–0 | |
| November 19? | at Hillsdale | Hillsdale, MI | W 36–10 | |
| November 29 | at Notre Dame* | Brownson Hall fieldNotre Dame, IN | W 19–12 (or 22–12) | 200+ |
| *Non-conference game ||||||
The contest against Battle Creek High School was considered a practice game, and so is not reflected on the final record.

### Second team schedule

Albion's second team was organized in early October. They were managed by W. F. Kendrick and captained by Frank Mulholland.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
| November | Michigan Agricultural College | East Lansing, MI | W | |
| November 11 | Michigan reserves | Albion, MI | W 6–0 | |

## 1895

In its second and final season under head coach Walter B. Gage, the team compiled a 3-1 record and outscored opponents by 35 to 22.
Lansing Athletic Club W 24-0 Lansing Athletic Club W 2-0 Olivet L 2-22 Detroit Athletic Club L 7-0

## 1896

The 1896 Albion football team was an American football team that represented Albion College in the 1896 college football season. Under first-year head coach and former star halfback F. J. Shipp, Albion compiled a 4–4 record, and were outscored by their opponents 124 to 67. In the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the team finished with a 2–1 record.

### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| October | | Detroit Athletic Club* | | W 17–6 | |
| October | | Jackson High School* | | W 24–0 | |
| October 17 | 4:00 p.m. | at Detroit Athletic Club* | Detroit, MI | L 0–22 | |
| October 24 | | Hillsdale | Albion, MI | W 20–0 | |
| October 31 | | at Notre Dame* | Brownson Hall fieldNotre Dame, IN | L 0–24 | |
| November 7 | | Michigan State Normal | Ypsilanti, MI | L 0–52 | |
| November 14 | | Kalamazoo | Albion, MI | W 6–4 | |
| November 26 | | Detroit Athletic Club | Detroit, MI | L 0–16 | 1,000 |
| *Non-conference game |||||||

## 1897

The 1897 team was led by coach Niles and compiled a 3-4-1 record.
Jackson High W 10-7 Olivet L 16-28 Hillsdale T 0-0 Kalamazoo L 0-52 Hillsdale W 5-2 Ypsilanti L 0-18 Kalamazoo L 10-26 Olivet W 36-0

## 1898

The 1898 Albion football team was an American football team that represented Albion College in the 1898 college football season.

### Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| October 22 | Michigan Agricultural | East Lansing, MI | L 6–62 |
| | Hillsdale | | L 2–34 |
| November 5 | Kalamazoo | Albion, MI | L 0–11 |
| November 12 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo, MI | L 0–25 |
| November 19 | Notre Dame* | Albion, MI | L 0–60 |
| | Jackson Athletic Club* | | W 15–0 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Reserves schedule

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
| October 22 | Jackson High School | Jackson, MI | L 0–18 | |

## 1899

In their first season under head coach Chester Brewer, the team compiled a 3-5 record.
Hillsdale L 5-6 Marshall High W 34-6 Michigan L 0-26 Olivet L 0-23 Hillsdale L 5-11 Olivet W 10-0 Kalamazoo L 0-11 Kalamazoo W 16-11