The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-01-28
- Montana
Sports Tales
w of other days
of dQus

Montana interscholastic athletic ell
igibility rules are simple and strict. 1t
wasn't always so. There was a time
when high school teachers, athletic
managers and coaches went out on
the street and collected football ma
terial. In the 1905 and early 190O,s,
not many high schools in Montana had
football teams. AS time marched on.
more schools took up the grid sport,
Because several schools made a prac-
tice of plugging their lineups with
ringers, a move was started in 1903 to
purify high school athletics. Under the
proposed and accepted rules, only
students would be allowed to play. A
student was one who attended high
school regularly, or occasionally. 1t was
an easy game to beat. There was no
age limit; no scholastic requirements
were necessary. True, players were lin
tied to four years of competition, but
men as well as boys played for this or
that school.
Gradually O restrictions were
added, particularly when some schools
wouldn't play with ringer teams. So
ents. A state association was formed.
Eligibility was stressed. Go-aS-you-
please methods were discarded. For Is
years or more, Montana high school
athletics have been operated along
strict, u sane, practical lines. Eligi-
bility is a governing factor.
Started in Butte and Helena
tana schools to 60 in for football. They
were alone in the field for several
years. Butte highs first football team
was organized in 1893. One, two or
three games was considered a good and
sufficient schedule until the 1sO0's
came along; then, a few more schools,
recognizing football as a worthwhile
of five or six games to be enjoyed. In
cidentally, Butte's first team of SO
claimed, or won, the state champion
ship. Only n high school team, Hell
ena, was on the schedule. A few other
games were played with local elevens
that y organize for a day, get a
Butte high teams from 1893 to 1900
played a total of 20 games. Helena
high usually was on the schedule.
Butte High Topped Grizzlies
Along. came the 1901 team, which
played five games. Helena was the only
available interscholastic opponent.
Butte played the Fort Shaw Indians
twice: the Helena Athletic club and
the University of Montana. Butte high,
at the seasons end, claimed the un-
disputed state championship in all
divisions. The first contest with the
Indians was a scoreless tie. The dead
lock wasn't satisfactory to either party.
A second game wa arranged.
Butte % by a touchdown and con-
version, for a total of five points. The
games with the Helena teams were
Butte conquests. The contest with Mon
the seasons browning achievement, the
c~ollegians losing by a Is to II core.
There was a reason, and We'll get to
it later.
Wore Variety of Uniforms
The 1901 team wore a variety of uni
forms. Those who owned shin and nose
guards, naturally wore them. All ath-
letes went in for long hair,on the
theory that long hair was the going
vogue for footballers. and was a snub-
Der for hard knocks on the head. Head
guards were not to be introduced by
manufacturers of athletic equipment
for some years to come. Raw sleeps
wool and WadS of cotton were used
freely for shoulder and knee padding.
Teams of that period were not the
sartorial product that we look at today.
sonnet. too: There were six students
on the Butte high squad of 10. The
majority of the squad was engaged in
making a living. Some few had gradu-
ated from Butte high at one time or
another and there were some who never
attended Butte or any high school. The
roster of 1901 club makes interesting
reading. Here it is:
Butte's Roster of 1901
Bert Shy Cohen, center; 100
pounds; student.
Bill Matlock, right tackle; 21o
pounds; pumpman or Butte hill.
Herb Mills, right tackle; 1873 pounds;
student.
Herb Bretherton, the team baby;
right end; 16 years old; 40 pounds;
student.
Harley Brown, left guard; ITO
pounds; press foreman, Daily News.
Alvin Boyce, left tackle; 2O8 pounds;
rancher, Browns gulch.
Vino Mclean, left end; $50 pounds;
drove ice wagon.
John Curtis, quarterback; captain;
AS pounds; student.
John Corette, fullback; 165 pounds;
lawyer; played on Butte high teams Of
1894-95 -96-97.
Les Early, left half; 1eo pounds;
student.
Roy Richards, right half; 165
pounds; bank teller.
"Dode" Lane, halfback; 100 pounds;