Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27
FOOT BALL At BATES.
Most Successful Season College Ever Had
Sketch Of Team and Their Work,

Lewiston, Me-. Nov. 26.-(SpeciaD.-
The most successful season in the his
tory of foot ball at Bates was finally
brought to close, today, by the cleo
ton of Captain Pulsfer, of this year.,
team, as captain for the year 1893.
Nate" as the boys all call him, is an
Auburn boy and fitted for college in
Nichols Latin school, entering Bates
in the class of so. That he is well fit
ted for his responsible position no one
can doubt. for he has shown himself
this year to be the best foot ball cap
tain Bates ever had. He is quiet and
unassuming, but always has the COM
plete confidence of his men and in
spires in them the same steadiness and
enthusiasm which characterize his own
playing. The boys all know that. win
or lose, the captain is playing the same
clean, hard, steady game. The force
of his example at critical time has
often helped to turn defeat into vic
tory, this year, and will do so in the
fall of 1898.
The close of the season naturally
merits short summary of the causes
which have. for the first time, given to
a Bates foot ball team the champion
ship of Maine.
In the first place the Bates team won
because there has been an intense foot
bail enthusiasm among the students all
through the season. Rain or shine,
crowds of students watched the daily
practice, so that when, just before the
important games, secret practice was
ordered, the team was obliged literally
to run away from its friends and flee
to some deserted pasture in the coun-
try. In every game the members of
the team felt the whole student bod,
behind them, compelling them to win.
Again, in the person of Mr. Hoag the
team had the best coach a Bates team
ever had, and in the opinion of those
competent to judge. the best coach
who has entered the State this year
Again, the makeup of the team was
guarantee of victory. The playing
has all been done by the 10 men whose
names and weight are given below:
Russell, 1901. half back and end, 15G
pounds; Richardson, 1900, end, $50
pounds; Sturges. 1900, end. 10 pounds;
Putnam, 1901, end, $50 pounds; Call
1900, tackle. 1874 pounds; Sprague, 49,
tackle, l72 pounds; Bruce, '9S. guard,
$50 pounds; Hoag. Divinity school, CEN
ter. 1S5 pounds: Saunders, '99. guard.
ia pounds: Purinton, 1900, quarter
back. 14S pounds; Fulsifer, '99, half
back, 1876 pounds: Halliday. 1901, full
back and half back, 1877 pounds Hnk-
ley, 'SS. full back and end. 152 pounds.
The members of the team have work
ID hard and trained faithfully. Bates
is proud of them, not merely because
they have won. but because they are in
every way fitted to represent the col
lege. A cleaner, more gentlemanly set
OF players could not be found any
where. Not a man uses tobacco or has
any bad habits. No coarse or profane
language is heard where they are prac-
ticing The majority Of the team are
actively interested in the religious
work of the college.
These characteristics have been
plainly apparent in the playing of the
team; and it will perhaps be interest
ing for believers in the brutal and de-
craving influence of foot ball to notice
that the championship of Maine is
held, this year. by team which has
not once been penalized or even warn
ed for rough playing, and which has
established reputation for clean,
square. honest foot ball.
The prospects for the season of '9S |
are very bright, only three men are
lost by graduation and material |
enough is already around in the COM
n freshman class n taxa Sona of tho |
vacant places. With the same captain. |
he same coach and the same spirit of |
loyalty, the '9S Bates team will be |
,ven better than that of 81.