The First Game of the Century
Michigan vs Chicago 1905

Every now and then a football game is played that sets itself apart from all others. Such games are put in a special category and referred to as the Game of the Century. To breath that lofty air, a game must feature a classic match-up of talented players and well drilled teams. The teams have to be undefeated, with a championship on the line. The game must be highly anticipated, to the point that it is a classic, even before the first down is ever played. Most importantly, the action on the field has to live up to expectations. And if all the stars are lined up right, it should be played on Thanksgiving Day, under a light dusting of snow.

The first game of football’s first full century to deserve to be called the Game of The Century, was the 1905 contest between the Chicago Maroons and the Michigan Wolverines. By any measure it was a classic. It was the final game of the season between two undefeated conference rivals. The contest featured the best player in the nation against a team that had not lost in nearly five years. The teams were led by two of the biggest names in coaching: Fielding ‘Hurry-up’ Yost and ‘The Grand Old Man of the Midway’ Amos Alonzo Stagg. Adding to the historical significance of the contest, it was the last great ground game before the legalization of the forward pass, and played under a cloud of uncertainty that football might be banned because of excessive violence.

Although both teams were undefeated, it was a David and Goliath confrontation. Under Fielding Yost, Michigan was a jugernaught. The Wolverines entered the game with a 56 game unbeaten streak. They had not tasted defeat since Yost arrived in 1901, and had outscored their opponents 2,821 - 40. Michigan had won four straight conference titles, and back to back national championships, in 1901 and 1902. Combining a potent offense with an impregnable defense, the Wolverines had rolled over so many teams that they had come to be known as, the ‘Point a Minute Team.’

ground assaults. It was eleven men versus eleven men. Players played both offense and defense, and substitutions were rare. Those that did leave the game were usually either carried off injured, or dragged away as they pleaded to stay. Rule changes in 1906 would spread out the players and open up the game. Football’s most violent era was coming to a close.

Twenty-seven thousand fans filled Marshall Field in Chicago. When the gates opened at 11:30 there was a rush for the standing room. Fans stood for over two hours waiting for the game to begin. The best available rooftops on nearby buildings were also gone by the time the reserve ticket holders filed in. The fans killed time watching workmen remove a layer of hay that had been spread over the field to protect it from the cold. Snow flurries which had begun in the morning increased. Fans had a chance to see what might be the game of the future if football were to be banned. There was a soccer demonstration game on the field, but it was largely ignored.

With the cheering sections still only half full, the Chicago fans sent the first yell booming across the field: “Go-Chi-ca-go.” Michigan fans answered with their locomotive chant. The Maroon band entered the stadium and circled the field, arousing an enthusiastic response from the home town fans. The soccer demonstration continued and a goal was scored, but nobody was paying attention.

on megaphones, banners and streamers shown brightly, maroon on one side, maize and blue on the other. Snow flurries filled the air with an impartial haze.

Suddenly there was a sustained roar from the Maroon stands, as captain Catlin led the Chicago Maroons through the entrance. They ran out onto the open field, shed their maroon blankets, and began to loosen up. The roar of the crowd turn into a song, sung to the tune of Little Boy Blue:

Give a cheer for our alma matter,
Till the echoes reach the skies,
As the boys come on the gridiron
Let a loyal shout arise.
When the varsity band starts playing,
That “Go Chicago” tune,
Then we’ll sing with hearts and voices
For the team that wears maroon.

Two minutes later, Captain Norcross and the Michigan Wolverines ran onto the field. The Wolverine fans in the west stands erupted. Fans of the maize and blue were standing on tip toe, to watch their players warm up. The Michigan band played Hot Time, and the Michigan fans sang along:

Cheer, boys, cheer: our men are on the field.
We all know they’ll never, never yield.
We’ll shout and sing when they have swept the field.
There’ll be a hot time in Ann Arbor tonight.

A light layer of snow started to show on the field. The playing surface was slippery from the light covering of snow, but other than that, it was in great shape. The turf was firm and springy. Eckersall and Garrels practiced punting, while the captains and coaches met with the officials. Chicago won the toss, and captain Catlin chose the wind. The snow lightened up as the time of the kickoff drew near. When the game finally started at 1:45, the crowd grew quiet. The silence was so dense it was tangible.

The tension seemed to spilled out onto the field: the game began with a series of mistakes. Michigan was called for off sides on the kickoff. The second kick was fielded by Eckersall and returned to the thirty-three yard line. After two short gains by Catlin and Bezdek, Eckersall tried to catch Michigan off guard with a fake punt. The plan backfired when Eckersall fumbled, and he was downed on the twenty-five yard line. Michigan had a golden opportunity to deal Chicago a crushing blow, and get the ‘Point a Minute Team’ up and running. On first down Norcross fumbled, costing Michigan its chance. There was a scramble for the loose ball. When the Maroons recovered the ball, Chicago fans celebrated with a sigh of relief.

Chicago made a few short gains but was forced to punt. Now it was time to answer the question that was on everybody’s mind. Could Chicago’s defense withstand Michigan’s pounding ground assault? The game hung in the balance with the answer. Michigan began a bruising attack. Tom Hammond and ‘Shorty’ Longman made a first down. Curtis, Stuart and Longman made another. The crowd watched with quiet intensity. Finally the Defense stiffened. Michigan needed only a short gain for the first down but decided not to chance it.

Eckersall fielded the punt and tried to dance away from the defenders, but he was downed on the forty. The home crowd tried to inspire the Maroon offense with the Boola song:

Go it Chicago, go it Chicago,
Go it Chicago, go it Chicago,
Go it Chicago, go it Chicago,
Go it Chicago, go it Chicago,

The inspiration didn’t work. Bezdek fumbled on second down. The Wolverines had the ball on the Maroon forty yard line.

Once again Michigan failed to take advantage of great field position. Unable to gain ground, the Wolverines attempted a field goal. The kick fell short and was returned by Eckersall to the twenty five yard line. Chicago lost yards and was forced to punt. Michigan was about to get the ball with great field position again, but Norcross fumbled as he fielded the punt. Not only was it another missed opportunity, but with the ball near mid field, Chicago had gained over thirty yards on the exchange. However, the Michigan defense was still impenetrable: the Maroons were forced to punt back to Michigan. This time Norcross made a nice return of 12 yards. Chicago fans shouted encouragement to their team, while Michigan fans confidently sang:

Well aint it great, just simply great,
To wipe Chicago, right off the slate,
Pile up that score, we want some more.
To make Chicago-go-way-back-and-sit-down.

At times it looked as if both teams would be able to march to the other’s goal. Drives would begin with great promise only to stall. The crowd stopped expecting big plays and started cheering for short gains. In the stands bets were being placed on whether either team would score. Adding to the Wolverines difficulties, Michigan’s starting tackle was kicked out of the game.

Eckersall lay where he had landed, almost unconscious. It was several minutes before the little quarterback got back on his feet. Still dazed, he resumed his position behind the line as the crowd cheered wildly for his bravery.

The game settled into punting dual, with each side waiting for the other to make mistake. Both sides almost got their wish. Norcross of Michigan muffed a punt but recovered it. Eckersall fumbled a punt, but fortunately for Chicago, he was out of bounds.

Near the end of the first half, Chicago mounted an aggressive drive behind the running of Hugo Bezdek. The Michigan fans shouted; “Hold em Michigan!” and sang their famous fight song:

Hail to the victors valiant,
Hail to the conquering heroes,
Hail, hail to Michigan,
Champions of the west.

The momentum turned in Michigan’s favor. Harry Hammond played inspired ball, catching Catlin for a loss. On the next play, Chicago was penalized fifteen yards. Then Harry Hammond caught Eckersall for another loss, and the promising drive was over. The punting dual resumed and lasted until half-time.

On the sideline watching the game in street clothes was Leo De Tray, star running back for the Chicago Maroons. He had been forced to sit out the game because of a doctor’s warning, that if he were to play, he might lose vision in one eye. With victory in sight De Tray decided to put his own vision at risk. As the Chicago team was leaving the field, De Tray made a dash for the locker room. The crowd, sensing what was happening, cheered De Tray as he ran to change into his uniform.

Chicago fans were feeling good. The Maroons had shown that they could play with mighty Michigan. Other than the Chicago faithful, few thought the Maroons would still be in the game at half-time. Michigan fans were surprised, but still confident enough to sing during the ten minute half-time.

When Michigan rips ‘em up again, hurrah, hurrah.
When Michigan rips ‘em up again, hurrah, hurrah.
We’ll sing and cheer and cheer and shout
And put Chicago all to rout,
And we’ll all have a whale of a time, when Michigan rips ‘em up.

The second half began with a thirty yard kickoff return by ‘Shorty’ Longman. Michigan didn’t try to seize the momentum coming out of the half-time. Instead, the Wolverines began the second half cautiously playing for field position. In a move that would be hard to imagine by today's standards, Michigan punted on first down. The punting duel between Garrels and Eckersall resumed.

Chicago put together a promising drive behind the running of Bezdek and Hitchcock. Eckersall kept it alive with a fake punt that gained ten yards. At this point Leo De Tray entered the game. The Chicago fans cheered as the wounded halfback assumed his spot behind the line. Michigan’s defense stiffened and the drive stalled.

With neither team able to sustain a drive, the biggest opportunities came in the kicking game. Chicago got off a punt that was nearly blocked by Michigan. The near miss for Michigan turned into a break for Chicago. Eckersall’s kick went high into the air, and Norcross muffed the reception. Hitchcock dropped on the loose ball, giving Chicago possession on Michigan’s forty yard line. The Maroons could only gain two yards. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Chicago attempted a long drop-kick field goal. Eckersall tried to move in as close as he could for the kick, but he came too close to the line. His kick was partially blocked. Norcross retrieved it for Michigan at the fifteen yard line.

Michigan fans gave Eckersall the laugh:

“Gee hee, Gee ha, Gee ha-ha-ha, A-ha, Eckersall"

Then they sang a song especially for him.

Eckersall, Eckersall!
When you’re running with the ball,
You will get an awful fall.
Eckersall, Eckersall!
Eckie, Eckie, break your neckie,
Eckersall!

Michigan and Chicago continued to trade punts. Garrels pinned Chicago back at their own fifteen yard line. A penalty cost the Maroons half the distance to the goal. Eckersall dropped back into punt formation behind his goal post. Instead of punting, he brought the ball down and slipped past the end. He ran for twenty yards, before being forced out of bounds.

Michigan suffered another loss when their captain had to leave the game. Norcross was shaken up and dazed after Eckersall’s fake punt. He didn’t want to leave the game and pleaded with Yost not to take him out. In spite of his desire to play on, Yost sent in Barlow to replace Norcross at quarterback.

Eckersall’s fake punt was a risky play. Failure would have meant a safety, but success invigorated the Maroon offense. Eckersall led his team down field, hammering at the Michigan line with DeTray and Bezdek. Like other promising opportunities the drive could not be sustained, and Chicago was forced to punt. Michigan got the ball on their own twenty yard line.

Michigan dropped into punt formation on first down. It looked as if the Wolverines would play it safe and resume the punting dual, but it was a fake. Garrels stepped around the left end and was in the open. Only Eckersall stood between him and the goal line. Garrels was angling toward the sideline to get past Eckersall. Eckersall dove low at the big Michigan end’s legs. The force of the collision was such that Garrels almost broke loose. All Eckersall could do was to cling to one of Garrels’ feet and drag him down. It wasn’t pretty but ‘Eckie’ saved a Michigan touchdown and almost certain defeat for Chicago. Michigan had to settle for a twenty-eight yard gain.

Michigan failed to seize the momentum following their big gain. Longman fumbled and Chicago got the ball near mid field. Chicago pounded out twenty yards to start another promising drive, only to be stopped by a penalty. Eckersall’s punt pinned Michigan on their own five yard line. Garrels attempted another fake punt, but this time nobody was fooled and he was thrown for a loss.

Unable to gain ground, Michigan punted. Garrels punt was short and Eckersall fumbled it. However, Chicago’s luck continued to hold, the referee ruled that the ball had been touched first by a Michigan man. Chicago took possession on the Michigan forty-five yard line. The Chicago fans in the east stands broke out in song:

Cheer, boys, cheer, Chicago’s got the ball.
Cheer, boys, cheer, U. of M. is bound to fall,
For when we hit their line, they’ll have no line at all.
There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.

Michigan fans yelled: “Hold’em, hold’em” and the Michigan defense did. Then came the play that would decide the game.

After Garrels punted, Yost removed Clark from the game. Devastated by his mistake, the sophomore running back disappeared under a blanket, and sat by himself. With a two point lead, possession of the ball near mid field, and little time remaining on the clock, it was the Chicago fans turn to sing.

O, how we ran, O, how we ran,
We ran all over Michigan,
O, how we ran.

Inspired by a chance for victory, the Maroons drove twenty-five yards with a series of fierce line bucks. The Maroons aimed their offense at Patrick, the man who had replaced, the ejected, Curtis at left tackle. At the twenty-five yard line, Michigan’s defense stiffened and the Wolverines took over on downs.

There was not enough time to mount a methodical drive, so Michigan opened up. Passing was not an option, because the legalization of the forward pass was still one year away. The Wolverines’ only hope was to create some long runs. Barlow tried two runs, but the Chicago ends were waiting for him. He only gained four yards. The Wolverines needed to gain ground through the punting game, and hope for a Chicago mistake.

When his team needed it most, Garrels got off a great punt, sending the ball deep into Chicago territory. The effects of the fierce competition were beginning to show on Chicago’s hard-nosed full back, Hugo Bezdek. Chicago could not gain and punted back to Michigan. Michigan almost got the break they so sorely needed. Eckersall's punt was nearly blocked, missed only by the narrowest of margins.

Michigan tried another trick play. On a long delayed pass, Tom Hammond got around left end and into the open. He was met by his old high school teammate, but it was not a happy reunion for Hammond. Eckersall hit him with such force that he knocked the ball loose from Hammond’s grasp. There was a mad scramble for the loose ball that lasted several seconds. Both teams missed chances to pick it up and score a touchdown. The ball bounced near the sideline, towards Michigan’s goal, until it was finally recovered by the Wolverines.

Michigan lined up quickly and tried a quarterback run, but Barlow was thrown for a loss. After a brief meeting behind the line, Michigan tried a complicated play that was stopped for no gain. Garrels had to punt away. Chicago played it safe and punted back to Michigan. There was one last desperate attempt to break through the Chicago line, then the whistle blew signaling the end of the game, and releasing the crowd from its agonizing suspense.

The Chicago fans tore down the fences and ran out onto the field. Instantly the players were surrounded by a pushing, howling mob. They were lifted onto the shoulders of admiring fans and carried off of the field. The band marched around the field alone. The students didn’t fall in behind for their traditional snake dance. Everyone was trying to get near the players who had snapped Michigan's 56 game unbeaten streak.

The Chicago side of the stands emptied onto the field, and a great crowd surrounded the gymnasium, cheering continuously. Behind the east grand stands, other fans set fire to the large pile of hay that had been removed from the field before the game, and created a huge bonfire. Coach Stagg was discovered as he tried to slip away. He was lifted into the air, and carried around the field in triumph, followed by hundreds of fans. By the time he was finally let down at the steps of the gymnasium, out of breath and with his hat crushed, it looked as if he had played in the game.

Former players and supporters crowded into the basement of the gymnasium. When Stagg finally made it through the crowd outside the gym, he was pounced on by admirers inside. Prof. Oliver Thatcher embraced Stagg and the two did a little dance, a cross between a double shuffle and a cake walk. Then Stagg spotted another friend, broke away from the professor and danced with him.

Stagg made the rounds congratulating his players. He threw his arms around his muddy fullback. “Beautiful Bezdek, beautiful” said Stagg, while Bezdek grinned. In another room other players were already seeking treatment for their injuries. Some were stretched out on marble slabs, others ran hot water over their wounds. Eckersall was lying up to his neck in a tub of hot water. Regardless of how sore or injured the players were, they all wore smiles.

Outside, long lines of fans filed out of the exits proudly waiving their banners. The students left with one last song. First one group started to sing it, then others joined in, until it swelled to a great volume. It was Doxology, a song written especially for the occasion by their brave halfback, Leo DeTray, and set to the tune of Beulah Land:

We have reached the day of turkey and wine,
And we have been winners every time
Here stands undimmed one happy day,
For all our foes have passed away.

O varsity! dear varsity!
We are champions now its plain to see,
We have won our games, and now can brag;
And give all praise to Mr. Stagg.
We are the wearers of the “C,”
And just as happy as can be...

On the other side of the field, it was more like a funeral procession. The Michigan fans, proud but still dazed by defeat, faded away. They quietly over loaded transportation lines in their desire to just get away.

The celebration moved downtown and continued through the evening. Chicago hotels had special menus for the occasion. Electric lights flashed the news. Hotels and cafes were filled with joyful patrons wearing maroon. Students, old grads and pedestrians on the street took up the chant: “We ran - we ran - we ran all over Michigan!”

Back at Marshall Field after all had settled down, the teams and their rooters had gone, followed by the echoes of their cheers. The field still told the story of contest it had hosted. The middle of the field was worn down to the dirt, while the grass and the chalk lines near the end zones looked as good as they had before the kickoff.