Images of the 1906 Maryville College football team, used with kind permission from Maryville College.
My vagrant fancy wanders
to a game of long ago
(MC went to Knoxville and played the University of Tennessee on Nov. 13, 1906 to an 11-0 victory at Waite Field)
with the white and orange legion,
(“the white and orange legion” was the University of Tennessee Volunteers)
a proud and haughty foe.
(UT’s last wining season was 1902, when they posted a 6-2 record, although in their five previous meetings with an 'official' UT team, the Volunteers led the series 5-0, with a combined score of 125-0. UT dropped football as an official sport for two years in 1894. The two teams met, with a 0-0 tie in 1894 and a 6-6 tie in 1895. Both games were played in Knoxville.)
We’d tied the Auburn players,
(MC went to Auburn and played to a 0-0 tie on Monday, Oct. 8, 1906)
we’d stunned the Engineers
(MC went to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech and played to a 6-6 tie on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1906)
and now were fit and ready
(The 1907 MC annual, the Chilhowean, states: "The fact that on this trip [Mississippi - Nov. 4, Alabama - Nov. 6, and Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Nov. 8] not a single man was hurt seriously enough to be forced to go out of a game argues well for the condition and grit of the men.")
to meet the Volunteers.
The many fans who filled the stands
-the well, the halt, the lame-
All felt aright we had the might
to win the glory game.
Cap. Foster, Barr and Henry
(Lloyd Elmore Foster - ‘07 was captain of the 1906 football team. Hyder Edward Barr played Left Half Back. John Frank Henry played Right End)
and Horny, called The Ram,
(Orrin Rankin “Hornybuck” Magill played Left End)
the Coach sent forth to battle
(The Coach was Reid Stuart Dickson)
‘longside the brothers Sam.
(R.C. and A.C. Samsel, both tackles for the 1906 team, R.C. at Right Tackle, A.C. at Left Tackle.)
The second time we had the ball,
the fans went all a-roar
when Horny circled ‘round the end
and raced ahead to score.
The games we played the runs we made
gave people no such thrill
as did this end maneuver
made by Hornybuck Magill.
And now to make it certain
Bill Campbell made the play
(William Harrison Campbell played Full Back and had a 30 yard touchdown run in the game.)
which iced the cake the deeper
and stowed the game away.
The flags the foe had flaunted
we trampled ‘neath our cleats
which set the people shouting
and dancing in the streets.
My vagrant fancy wanders
to the game I ponder most -
The game we won in Knoxville
from that proud and mighty host.
Of all the men who won that game
so many years ago,
just three of us are waiting now
to hear the whistle blow.
Other notes about the team:
Foster - RHB
Lloyd Elmore Foster is listed in the 1906-07 Maryville College Bulletin as a Senior from Johnson City studying Classical. He was also captain of the baseball team. Lloyd was born on June 25, 1883 and died on May 2, 1956, per his FindAGrave memorial.
Barr - LHB
Hyder Edward Barr is listed in the 1906-07 Maryville College Bulletin as a member of the Middle Class of the Preparatory Department from Bristol studying English. In the 1907-08 Marville College Bulletin he is listed as part of the Special group, studying English. Hyder "Scotty" Barr went on to a baseball career, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1908 and 1909 seasons. He was born on October 6, 1885 and died on December 2, 1934, per his FindAGrave memorial.
Campbell - FB
William Harrison Campbell was a freshman in the 1906-07 school year, was from Johnson City and was studying Latin.
Taylor - QB
Frank Eckle Taylor was a senior in 1906-07 and was studying Political Science. Frank was from New Market, Tennessee. He joined the Army and rose to the rank of Major. He was born on August 16, 1886 and died on June 23, 1938, per his FindAGrave memorial.
Hunt - C
Charles Finley Hunt was a sophomore in 1906-07 and was studying Mathematical. Charles was from Madisonville, Tennessee. According to the 1907-08 Marville College Bulletin, Charles is still a Sophomore. According to his WWI Draft Registration Card Charles was born on November 1, 1886. At that time he was a bookkeeper in Canyon, Texas.
Bayless - RG
W.R. Bayless
Smith - LG
James Burnett Smith. James was in the Senior Class of the Preparatory Department in 1906-07 and was from Newport, Tennessee.
R.C. Samsel - RT
Richard Clarence Samsel was a senior in 1906-07 and was studying Political Science. R.C., and his younger brother, A.C, were from Tate Springs, which is near Bean Station, Grainger Co., Tenn. R.C. was born on September 9, 1883 and died on June 25, 1966, per his FindAGrave memorial.
A.C. Samsel - LT
Albert Charles Samsel was a sophomore in 1906-07 and was studying Latin. For the 1907-08 school year he was a Freshman, studying Chemistry. A.C. was born on August 4, 1890 and died on February 21, 1980, per his FindAGrave memorial.
Henry - RE
John Frank Henry, a member of the Middle Class in the Preparatory School, from Rockford, Tennessee and was studying English.
Magill - LE
Orrin Rankin “Hornybuck” Magill, is listed as being a member of the Sophomore class in the 1906-07 Maryville College Bulletin. He was from Brookwood, Alabama, and is studying Chemistry. ex ‘09, has been in China working with the YMCA according to the April, 1947 Maryville College Alumni Magazine. Orrin was born on November 27, 1887 and died on September 3, 1976, per his FindAGrave memorial.
Dickson - Coach
Reid Stuart Dickson taught Latin and was the Physical Director at Maryville College. There is a Reid Stuart Dickson listed on FindAGrave who died on May 7, 1959. Research at FamilySearch.org shows that this Reid Stuart Dickson was born on January 26, 1885 and was a minister in the United Presbyterian Church, USA.
Steinmetz - Manager
The Steinmetz listed in the 1906-07 Maryville College Bulletin is Edison Ario Steinmetz from Centralia, Pa., studying Political Science as a Junior. He is also listed as the manager of the football team. The 1907 edition of The Chilhowean lists his name as Karl E. Steinmetz. Karl was born on June 17, 1886 and died on November 17, 1959, according to his FindAGrave memorial. A glowing story of his life appeared in the Knoxville News-Sentinel on the day of his passing.
Conclusion: based on the poet's claim that "three of us are waiting now" and the death info of the team that I currently know, the likely author candidates are:
- R.C. Samsel - d. 1966
- Orrin Magill - d. 1976
- A.C. Samsel - d. 1980
As always, further research needs to be conducted, perhaps in conjunction with the Maryville College Alumni Office.
