100 YEARSAGO IN THERECORD

Saturday, Nov. 23, 1918. The last time the RPI football team beat Union in the annual battle for the wooden shoes was thirteen years ago, in 1905, but two weeks after “nearly the entire team was in the infirmary,” the Cherry and White try to end their losing streak today. Coach Jack Reed was “laid up for about three weeks” with the Spanish flu, but he and his players are ready to face their traditional rivals from Schenectady in front of approximately 2,000 fans at ‘87 Field. “A biting wind from the north made it decidedly uncomfortable for all save the athletes,” The Record reports. Despite the weather, “It was a rare old day in November for Coach Jack Reed and his pets.” After a scoreless first quarter, Union gets on the board first. Starting with first and goal on the RPI five-yard line, Union scores on a fake pass play on fourth down. Failing to make the extra point, the Dutchmen go into halftime leading 6- 0. “In the third period the Renssleaer team began to show its gamest qualities, and to show its real ability,” our sportswriter recounts. The locals get a big break when Union fullback Heidorf fumbles the kickoff return and RPI right halfback Red Eller recovers. Two plays later, quarterback Shankey runs for a touchdown and center Jack Richards puts RPI ahead with an extra point. The teams mostly exchange punts until late in the fourth quarter, when RPI blocks a punt on the Union 30. “This seemed to bewilder the Schenectady men for the Engineers had little difficulty penetrating their line for substantial gains,” our reporter writes. The apparent clinching touchdown is called back due to a pushing penalty, but the referee only delays the inevitable. On the next play, making a fake pass of his own, Shankey hands the ball to Eller, who makes the clinching score. Writers for The Record and the Sunday Budget agree that RPI played a rough game. “Several times Union called to Referee Kelly and Umpire Phil Draper” hoping they’ll call penalties, but our writer notes that “These officials are the best to be seen in any section of the country, and they could not see the slightest infringement of the rules.” The real key to RPI’s victory, the Budget claims, was right end Phil Sweet’s prowess as a punter. He repeatedly pins Union deep in their own territory with punts as long as 70 yards. “One of the old timers on the sidelines” tells columnist Jack Rensselaer that the winning eleven “had courage, speed, straight and trick formations and that old time show of grit.”