The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-11

OhutGtGI taSE SATURDAY DG1Of0 the
Only Lou Young, coach of the
players present, could produce an,
paratus. Several of the old grads
the distinction in wrestling. Lou
II was Doctor Sylvanus B.
Newton. manager Of the 'sS Red
and Blue eleven. who called atten-
ton to the absence OF the garden
variety Of ear among the gridiron
athletics OF today. In his time
nearly every player wore one. 1t
was popular to wear one.
At least ten of the oid.timers,
with pride In their eyes, produced
decorated organs Of hearing, when
asked for q show down after Lou
Young commended that the younger
players could produce as many.
Included In the number was Doc1lr
Charles M. ,c'Buck') Wharton.
And to rub it in on the younger
players Bucks" ear was by popu-
lar vote acclaimed the hest speci-
men when compared to Lou
Young's.
I'm Justice to Lou Young and
Glle other modern stars, IL was
conceded that the older players
did their stuff when flying head
locks were the fashion. It was
only around '95 that the boys
bobbed their hair and wore head
2 gear.
Elm 1893 the first head guard was
used. Doctor Charles M. Wharton
wore 1t and Doctor Sylvanus B.
Newton was the inventor.
The departure from flying locks
70 headguards happened when
Buck" ripped his ear in playing
against Georgetown in '93. It was
torn so badly that 1t was feared
he would not be able TO play
against the Navy.
Doctor Newton rose to the occa.
sion. and In doing so, became the
inventor of the first football helmet
and saved thousands of athletes
from wearing a cauliflower ear ut
each and every function they at.
tended.
He first OF all secured a pair of
auspenders. Then he prowled around
until he found a saddle In order to
secure some felt.
Armed with the suspenders and
felt, Doctor Newton Travelled to q
harness shop and sewed them to-
be protected from further injury
BY the Navy players.
The continuance worked per.
teCtly. Doctor Wharton played
through the entire game and his
lncerated ear was none the worse
@t the finish. In fact, Buck"
played through every game there
after with it.
In the next few games, several
Of the other players tore their
ears and Doctor Newton bought
more suspenders and more felt.
In a short while, the entire team
sported bobbed hair and head
guards. They made a hit.
1t was during the season of '94
that the popularity of cauliflower
ears started on the decline. For it
was exceedingly difficult to change
the original structure Of an ear
while 1nclosed in headguard.
During the 49, season, when the
first helmet was introduced to the
football world, the Pennsylvania
eleven played fifteen games, losing
only to Yale, Harvard and Prince
ton.
In five days the Red and Blue
team of that year played four
games, which is something to
marvel at when the schedule of
present-day teams are considered.
On October 4, 1893, Penn
sylvania defeated the Columbia
~ G. by the score Of 30 to 0.
Two days later q return match
was played when the losers pro-
tested q decision and the Red
and Blue won again by 2O-tO-6
score.
On the following day Georgetown
was beaten by a 12-to-6 score. The
weekend closed with a 34.to-0 win
over Annapolis, the game in which
the head guard made. it's initial ap-
pearance on the brow of Doctor
Wharton.
In the month of October eleven
games were played. Among the VIC
tins were Lehigh, F. and M,
Gettysburg, State College and Lafay-
cite. The Maroon was buried I'M
der an S2-to-0 score.
According to the old-timers, who
lived that season over again at the
reunion last Saturday before watch
ing the alumni ana varsity play,
those were the good old days, when
football was rough and tough.
Only the three defeats at the
hands OF Yale, Harvard and Prince
ton prevented it's record from equal
ing the mark hung up by the Penn
aylvania eleven of this year. which
resumed training for the California
game yesterday afternoon.
KING "REARS DOWN. AS