Detroit Junior College football, 1918–1922
The Detroit Junor College football teams (later known as the Detroit City College Tartars, the Wayne State Tartars, and finally the Wayne State Warriors) represented Detroit Junior College (renamed Detroit City College in 1923 and eventually Wayne State University) in American football from 1918 to 1922. The five seasons covered by this article represent the initial five years of the Wayne State football program. Highlights of the school's first five years of intercollegiate football included the following:
- The 1918 Detroit Junior College football team compiled a perfect season with a 4–0 record while outscoing opponents, 99 to 0. The first game, played on October 5 in Canada, was a 41–0 victory over Assumption College. The first home game, played on November 2, was an 18–0 victory over Michigan State Normal.
- In 1918, David L. Holmes became the school's head coach. He held that position for eleven (11) years through the 1928 season.
- The 1921 Detroit Junior College football team compiled the program's second undefeated season with a 6–0–2 record, including victories over Baldwin–Wallace (28–0), Michigan State Normal (3–0), and Toledo (13–0). They outscored opponents, 165 to 0.
- The 1922 team failed to score a point for four consecutive games from October 14 to November 11.
1918
[edit ]| 1918 Detroit Junior College football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 4–0 |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Wayne D. Brenkert |
| Home stadium | Goldberg Field |
Seasons 1919 → | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||
| Detroit Junior College | – | 4 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Central Michigan | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Marquette | – | 2 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||
| Heidelberg | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Lincoln (MO) | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| St. Xavier | – | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| Notre Dame | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||
| Butler | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| Western State Normal | – | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Saint Louis | – | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Michigan Agricultural | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Akron | – | 2 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| St. Mary's (OH) | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Toledo | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Nebraska | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Michigan State Normal | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Iowa State Teachers | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Wabash | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Fairmount | – | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Haskell | – | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Lake Forest | – | 0 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Detroit | – | 0 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
The 1918 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1918 college football season. The team was coached by David L. Holmes and compiled a 4–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 99 to 0.[1] The team was made up of members of the school's Student Army Training Corps.
Two of the victories, including the first in program history, were against Assumption College. The first game was played in Canada, at Windsor, Ontario. Fullback Wayne Brenkert scored three touchdowns in the first game against Assumption.[2] The team also defeated the University of Detroit (on Thanksgiving Day) and Michigan State Normal in the first meetings with each of those two schools. A game with Western State was initially scheduled but cancelled.
The team played its three home games at Goldberg Field, which was located at Ferry Avenue and Hastings Street in Detroit.[3] Wayne considers the 1918 team to be its first intercollegiate football team, though contemporary press accounts also reference a 1917 football team.[4]
Detroit Junior College, the first junior college in the state of Michigan, was established by David D Mackenzie who was the principal of Detroit Central High School. The junior college was located on the campus of the high school, Old Main. Wayne Brenkert played for both Detroit Central High School (winning a High School National Championship in 1915) and Detroit Junior College and is a member of Wayne State University Hall of Fame.
Schedule
[edit ]| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 5 | at Assumption (ON) | Windsor, ON | W 41–0 | [5] [2] |
| November 2 | Michigan State Normal |
| W 18–0 | [6] [7] |
| November 23 | Assumption (ON) |
| W 35–0 | [8] [9] |
| November 28 | Detroit |
| W 6–0 | [10] [11] |
1919
[edit ]| 1919 Detroit Junior College football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 3–5 |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | George Dennis |
| Home stadium | Goldberg Field |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||
| Notre Dame | – | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Lincoln (MO) | – | 3 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Detroit | – | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Western State Normal | – | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Akron | – | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| North Dakota Agricultural | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| Haskell | – | 8 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Marquette | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | 2 | ||||
| St. Xavier | – | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Morningside | – | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Heidelberg | – | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Saint Louis | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||
| Valparaiso | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Wabash | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||
| Central Michigan | – | 2 | – | 2 | – | 3 | ||||
| Michigan Agricultural | – | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||
| Nebraska | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||
| St. Mary's (OH) | – | 2 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Iowa State Teachers | – | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||
| Toledo | – | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Butler | – | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||
| Bowling Green | – | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
The 1919 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1919 college football season. In its second year under head coach David L. Holmes, the team compiled a 3–5 record.[1]
Schedule
[edit ]| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 27 | at Alma | Alma, MI | L 0–14 | [12] | |
| October 4 | 2:30 p.m. | at Western State Normal |
| L 0–88 | [13] [14] [15] |
| October 11 | Adrian |
| L 0–20 | [16] | |
| November 1 | at Assumption (ON) | Windsor, ON | L 0–13 | [17] | |
| November 8 | Toledo |
| W 8–7 | [18] | |
| November 15 | Central Michigan |
| W 42–14 | [19] | |
| November 20 | Assumption (ON) |
| W 20–0 | [20] | |
| November 27 | Michigan Agricultural freshmen |
| L 0–24 | [21] |
1920
[edit ]| 1920 Detroit Junior College football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 5–1–1 |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Harold Grant Iler |
| Home stadium | Grindley Field |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||
| Notre Dame | – | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Michigan Mines | – | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Butler | – | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| St. Xavier | – | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Detroit | – | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Marquette | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Haskell | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| St. Ignatius (OH) | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Iowa State Teachers | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| South Dakota State | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Indiana State | – | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Valparaiso | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Nebraska | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Central Michigan | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Akron | – | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Wabash | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Western State Normal | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| North Dakota Agricultural | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Michigan Agricultural | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||
| Earlham | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Northern Illinois State | – | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||
| Dayton | – | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Kent State | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Saint Louis | – | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||
| Bowling Green | – | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Toledo | – | 0 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
The 1920 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1920 college football season. In its third year under head coach David L. Holmes, the team compiled a 5–1–1 record.[1]
Schedule
[edit ]| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9 | Toledo |
| W 14–2 | [22] |
| October 15 | Assumption (ON) |
| W 24–0 | [23] |
| October 30 | Ferris Institute | Detroit, MI | W 48–0 | |
| November 6 | at Michigan State Normal | Ypsilanti, MI | L 7–21 | [24] |
| November 13 | at Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, MI | W 20–0 | [25] |
| November 20 | at Defiance | Defiance, OH | W forfeit | [26] |
| November 25 | Central Michigan |
| T 6–6 | [27] |
1921
[edit ]| 1921 Detroit Junior College football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 6–0–2 |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Hazen Dever |
| Home stadium | Grindley Field |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||
| Detroit Junior College | – | 6 | – | 0 | – | 2 | ||||
| Notre Dame | – | 10 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Creighton | – | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Detroit | – | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| South Dakota State | – | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Kirksville Osteopaths | – | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| Iowa State Teachers | – | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| Wabash | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Central Michigan | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Butler | – | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Western State Normal | – | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Marquette | – | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| DePauw | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Haskell | – | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||
| Michigan Mines | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||
| North Dakota Agricultural | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Saint Louis | – | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||
| Valparaiso | – | 2 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Michigan Agricultural | – | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||
| Northern Illinois State | – | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||
| Earlham | – | 2 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||
| St. Ignatius (OH) | – | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||
| Dayton | – | 1 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||
| Kent State | – | 0 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
The 1921 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1921 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach David L. Holmes, the Detroit team compiled a 6–0–2 record, did not allow any of its opponents to score, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 165 to 0.[1]
The season opener against Assumption College was played in Canada at Sandwich.[28] The Central Michigan game was played on Thanksgiving Day at Grindley Field in Detroit.[29]
On December 9, 1921, the student council held a banquet and dance in honor of the football team for having not allowed a point to be scored against them during the 1921 season.[30]
Hazen Dever was the team captain.[31] Other players included Cameron Cunningham, Jack Duncan, Newman Ertell, Norm Heym, Raymond Humphrey, Harold Grant Iler, Russell Lightbody, Thomas MacKay, and M. Cole Seager, and players with the surnames Allen, Becklein, Boyd, Breslin, Grant, Grove, Johnson, Monihan, Plauman, and Richards. Frank Olney was the manager.[32]
Schedule
[edit ]| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | at Assumption (ON) | Windsor, ON | W 26–0 | [33] |
| October 1 | Ferris Institute | Cancelled | [34] | |
| October 8 | Alma |
| T 0–0 | [35] |
| October 15 | Baldwin–Wallace |
| W 28–0 | [36] |
| October 29 | Michigan State Normal |
| W 3–0 | [37] |
| November 5 | Olivet |
| W 26–0 | [38] |
| November 12 | Grand Rapids |
| W 39–0 | [39] |
| November 19 | at Toledo | Toledo, OH | W 13–0 | [40] |
| November 24 | Central Michigan |
| T 0–0 | [29] |
1922
[edit ]| 1922 Detroit Junior College football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 2–3–2 |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Cam Cunningham |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||
| Western State Normal | – | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||
| Bradley | – | 9 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||
| Marquette | – | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||
| Central Michigan | – | 6 | – | 0 | – | 2 | ||||
| Notre Dame | – | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||
| Butler | – | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Haskell | – | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||
| Detroit | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||
| Michigan Mines | – | 1 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||
| Wabash | – | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| St. Ignatius (OH) | – | 4 | – | 1 | – | 3 | ||||
| Dayton | – | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||
| Saint Louis | – | 6 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| Valparaiso | – | 3 | – | 2 | – | 2 | ||||
| Baldwin–Wallace | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||
| DePauw | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||
| Michigan Agricultural | – | 3 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||
| Earlham | – | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||
| Kent State | – | 0 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||
The 1922 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1922 college football season. In its fifth year under head coach David L. Holmes, the team compiled a 2–3–2 record.[1]
Schedule
[edit ]| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 | Ferris Institute | W 19–0 | ||
| October 14 | at Baldwin–Wallace | L 0–32 | ||
| October 28 | at Michigan State Normal | Ypsilanti, MI | T 0–0 | |
| November 4 | Olivet |
| T 0–0 | [41] |
| November 11 | at Grand Rapids | L 0–3 | ||
| November 18 | Toledo |
| W 6–2 | [42] |
| November 30 | Central Michigan |
| L 7–20 | [43] |
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Wayne State University. pp. 111, 114. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "Junior College Beats Sandwich: Brenkart Star in 41-0 Game in Which Detroiters Have Good Chance to Try Out All Their Material". Detroit Free Press. October 6, 1918. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Last Opponent of University: These Teams Will Struggle Thanksgiving Day for City S.A.T.C. Championship". Detroit Free Press. November 26, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Will Engage in Athletics Again". Detroit Free Press. September 10, 1918. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Aggregation To Open Saturday". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College To Play Normals". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Puts Ypsi Team in the Discard". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1918. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Hopes To Make Strong Finish". Detroit Free Press. November 22, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Is Assumption's Conqueror, 35-0". Detroit Free Press. November 24, 1918. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Brenkert's Run Nets Touchdown; U. of D. Is Loser". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1918. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Goldberg Field Contest Looms as a Scrappy One". Detroit Free Press. November 28, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Loses: Detroit Beaten by Alma Eleven, 14-0". Detroit Free Press. September 28, 1919. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Detroit Jr. Here To Meet Normal Team". Kalamazoo Gazette . Kalamazoo, Michigan. October 4, 1919. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon .
- ^ "Teachers Win Opener From Detroit Jrs". Kalamazoo Gazette . Kalamazoo, Michigan. October 5, 1919. p. 22. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon .
- ^ "Junior College Gets Drubbing". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1919. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Adrian Blanks Junior College: Homes' Outfit on Short End of 20-0 Count". The Detroit Free Press. October 12, 1919. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Assumption Too Many for Fast Detroit Eleven: Sting of Old Score Wiped Out in 13 to 0 Victory". The Border Cities Star. November 3, 1919. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Wins First Game: Defeats Toledo University by Lone Point, 8-7". The Detroit Free press. November 9, 1919. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Swamps Normals". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. November 15, 1919. p. 14. Retrieved December 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon .
- ^ "Collegians Get Sweet Revenge: Turn Tables on Assumption Thursday, 20-0". The Detroit Free press. November 21, 1919. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Aggie Fresh Finish Strong: Count All of Game's Points in Final Period; Score 24 to 0". The Detroit Free Press. November 28, 1919. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Toledo Defeated by Junior College: University Lads Score Only 2 Against Locals' 14". The Detroit Free Press. October 10, 1920. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Trims Canadians: Holmes' Team Shows Fine Running Attack, 24-0". The Detroit Free Press. October 16, 1920. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "State Normal Is Juniors' Master: Detroiters Get Jump But Are Outplayed in Last Half". The Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1920. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Juniors Trample on Upstate Team: Detroit College Wins 20 to 0 Battle at Grand Rapids". The Detriot Free Press. November 14, 1920. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Junior College Without Action: Defiance Cancels the Game Slated for Saturday". The Detroit Free Press. November 20, 1920. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mt. Pleasant in Tie With Juniors: Annual Detroiters' Single Score in Fourth Period". The Detroit Free Press. November 26, 1920. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "D. J. C. Picks Hard Team In Canucks". Detroit Free Press. September 24, 1921. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Junior Ties Teacher Team: Neither Eleven Scores in Muddy Fray at Grindley Field". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1921. p. 13.
- ^ "Victorious '11' To Dine, Dance: Junior College Folk Plan Fete for Athletes". Detroit Free Press. December 4, 1921. p. 82 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2016 Media Guide, p. 112.
- ^ 2016 Football Media Guide, pp. 118-121.
- ^ "Juniors Win From Assumption, 26-0". Detroit Free Press. September 25, 1921. p. 27.
- ^ "Juniors Run Into Schedule Trouble". Detroit Free Press. September 27, 1921. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Juniors Tie With Alma". Detroit Free Press. October 9, 1921. p. 26.
- ^ "Juniors Down Ohioans, 28-0". Detroit Free Press. October 16, 1921. p. 25.
- ^ "J.C. Defeats State Normals". Detroit Free Press. October 30, 1921. p. 24.
- ^ "Junior Bumps Olivet Hard". Detroit Free Press. November 6, 1921. p. 24.
- ^ "Detroit Wins Junior Title". Detroit Free Press. November 13, 1921. p. 23.
- ^ "Junior Better On Muddy Lot: Detroit Collegians 'Outswim' University of Toledo by 13 to 0 Count". Detroit Free Press. November 20, 1921. p. 26.
- ^ "Juniors Tie With Olivet: Neither Team Shows Punch in Pinch and Game Ends in Draw; Green-Gold Offers Stubborn Resistance to Attack of Visitors". The Detroit Free Press. November 5, 1922. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Two Place Kicks Win for Juniors: Detroit Collegians Beat Toledo University By 6 to 2". The Detroit Free Press. November 19, 1922. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Juniors Fall To Teachers". Detroit Free Press. December 1, 1922. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.