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1921 Buffalo Football

by Scott Hollander
University at Buffalo Libraries

Team photoAs was usually the case, spirits were high going into the 1921 football season. (see “Football Season at U.B. Expected to Outdo Others” Buffalo Courier, 2 September 1921)  The season review below comes from the 1922 Iris Yearbook:

Although no phenomenal victories were attained, the 1921 football season was undoubtedly the most successful that our University has had for several seasons.

Seven games were played, resulting in two victories two ties and three losses. Our better team work was the result of past seasons. With the aid and support of several enthusiastic alumni members, faculty manager and coaches, we were able to secure accommodations for the football candidates at one of the leading hotels of the City. Here, under the ever watchful eye of their trainer, the men were disciplined and prepared for the coming battles.

The preliminary training consisted of setting up exercises, dummy tackling, strap bucking, blackboard instructions and lectures by Coach Powell. Owing to the fact that the grading and leveling of the new Rotary Field had not
been completed, it was necessary to hold training twice daily at the Front. Strict observance to the many training rules was demanded, with severe penalty for a breach.

Coaches Powell and Carrick are to be commended for the manner in which they conducted the season’s training. They were severely handicapped from the start by the lack of material and necessary co-operation of the student body. In a University of our enrollment there is no reason why we should not be able to produce one of the strongest college teams in the East and we earnestly hope that another year will find the “Blue and White” in its proper place.

There was talk of a Buffalo rematch with Canisius College (see “Canisius Ready To Play U.B.; Says Game Is Expected” Buffalo Courier, 3 November 1921), as the two teams played each other in 1920, but a game in 1921 never materialized.

The 1921 football season would be the last for coach Art Powell as he decided to focus strictly U.B. basketball.

1921 Buffalo Football Season

Date Home Team Score Visiting Team W-L-T Location
10/8/19211 Buffalo 0 – 0 Thiel College T Buffalo, NY
10/15/19212 Bethany College 42 – 0 Buffalo L Wheeling, WV
10/22/19213 Buffalo 14 – 2 Alfred University W Buffalo, NY
10/29/19214 Buffalo 54 – 0 St. Stephens
(Annandale-on-Hudson, NY)		 W Buffalo, NY
11/5/19215 Allegheny College 22 – 12 Buffalo L Erie, PA
11/12/19216 Hobart 35 – 0 Buffalo L Geneva, NY
11/19/19217 Buffalo 0 – 0 Rensselaer Polytechnic T Buffalo, NY

FINAL RECORD: 2-3-2
Home: Rotary Field, Bailey and Winspear Avenues
Coach: Art Powell

  1. “U.B. Holds Thiel to Scoreless Tie in Opening Game” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 9 October 1921.
  2. “U. of B. Proves an Easy Mark for Bethany Eleven” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 16 October 1921.
  3. “Alfred Gridders Defeated by U. of B. Team, Score 14 to 2” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 23 October 1921.
  4. “Rejuvenated U.B. Beats St. Stephens Team, Hands Down” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 30 October 1921.
  5. “Allegheny Trick Plays Dazzle U.B., But Bisons Score” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 6 November 1921.
  6. “U.B. No Match for Crack Hobart Team on Slow Field, 35-0” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 13 November 1921.
  7. “U.B. – Rensselaer Battle to a Draw” Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, NY, 20 November 1921.

Newspaper clipping: Gootball season at U B expected to outdo othersFOOTBALL SEASON AT U. B. EXPECTED TO OUTDO OTHERS

—

New, Good Men For Team -New Field and Stands Near Completion.

—Football at the University of Buffalo this fall is due for a big season, according to Coaches Art Powell and Russell Carrick. Beginning tomorrow the collegiate pigskin warriors will practice on their own field at Main and Winspear avenue. A schedule of seven games has been completed with the Hobart game on November 12 as the feature attraction.

The student body and faculty are behind the efforts of the athletic authorities and considerable enthusiasm has already manifested itself. Addition of newcomers, some of them with formidable reputations, have filled the coaches with optimism and has also made the veterans from last year’s eleven step lively to hold their places. Newcomers who have reported for practice dally thus far are Rosenberg of Rochester, Alferi of Batavia, Burns of South Park, Smith of North Tonawanda, Bardy of Colgate, Brown of Warsaw, Bender of Masten Park and Jorr of Syracuse.

Helwig Leads Veterans.

Capt. Helwig, who played at tackle on last year’s eleven and who is again on the line, heads the former blue and white players who have returned to the college. Among the others are Taylor, tackle; Kendall, end, who report tomorrow; Wende, guard; Moore, backfield, and Reiberg, guard.

New Field Soon Ready.

The University of Buffalo men will have a brand new field for their games this season and a new steel stand now in the process of erection will be completed in time for the first game. The stand will seat 7,506 people and will be one of the beauties of the new university. The field is at Winspear and Bailey avenues, and a tiling and drainage system similar to that of the larger eastern colleges has been installed which will be a boon to the players in case of inclement weather. The official schedule follows:

Oct. 8— Thiel at Buffalo.
Oct. 15—Bethany at Wheeling, W. Va.
Oct. 22—Alfred at Buffalo.
Oct 29—St Stephens at Buffalo.
Nov. 5—Alleghany at Erie.
Nov. 12—Hobart at Geneva.
Nov. 19—R. P. I. at Buffalo.

This year’s schedule is featured by the Alleghany game, which will be played in neutral grounds at Erie, and the game with Bethany at Wheeling, W. Va.

— Buffalo Courier, September 25, 1921

Newspaper clipping: Canisius ready to play U B Says game expectedCANISIUS READY
TO PLAY U.B.; SAYS
GAME IS EXPECTED

—

Had Place on Schedule Up
to Midsummer—Anxious
for Game.

—

“We are willing, even anxious to play the University of Buffalo in football this fall.” declared Manager Sullivan of the Canisius college football team last evening. Manager Sullivan’s statement came in response to the enquiries made of the press in the last few days anent a Canisius— U. of B. game.

“Furthermore,” continued the Canisius manager, “we stand ready to play the U. of B. on any date and any field. We were tentatively on the University of Buffalo’s football schedule until early summer when we were dropped through no fault of our own. Our correspondence in  regard to this game is always open, to inspection.”

A meeting between Canisius and U. of B. is due the public. It is natural thing that the two local college elevens should meet on the gridiron. They are the representatives of the two higher educational institutions in the city, and a keen, friendly rivalry would be wholesome for both. Last year these teams staged a fine grid battle, U. of B. winning 13 to 0. Sportsmanship would seem to entitle Canisius to a chance to retrieve her laurels. The University of Buffalo is scheduled to close its season on November 19. Canisius is to finish up one week later. A game on December 3 would be ideal.

— Buffalo Courier, November 3, 1921