2,000 Cheering Students Bid Godspeed To Team
Title
2,000 Cheering Students Bid Godspeed To Team
Subject
Demonstration of Nebraska football spirit
Description
Students show support for Nebraska football team by showing up 2,000 strong to see the team off on their trip to Portland, Oregon.
Source
2,000 Cheering Students Bid Godspeed To Team, The Daily Nebraskan
Date
October 18, 1916
Language
English
Original Format
Newspaper
Text
2,000 Cheering Students Bid Godspeed to Team
Greatest Demonstration of Nebraska Spirit
Football Team and Band Leave for Portland Backed by Hopes of All Cornhuskers
Scratch a calm, self-centered, midnight-oil-burning Nebraska University student and you will find a yelling, cheering, confident, loyal, true and fanatic partisan to all that is held dear in the name of Cornhusker.
Nebraska University students in the past have been accused of lacking spirit. That illusion has been dispelled, even Coach Stewart gladly admitting last night that he was mistaken in thinking that this school lacked the spirit of others he had known.
For last night's farewell for the team was the greatest demonstration of college love and loyalty to Nebraska University that has ever been seen here. The football team is going to Portland knowing that the hearts of the students who remained behind are with them to the end.
Armory Filled
Half an hour before the rally started co-eds and varsity men began to fill up the Armory. Dick Rutherford's wish that the walls would be pushed out was nearly fulfilled, for the crowd now only packed every corner of the auditorium, but overflowed on the stairs and landings leading into the hall.
Cheer after cheer arose as the band entered, members of the team came in and took their places on the platform, and the chancellor and coaches sat down.
It was a happy crowd, one that felt confident that its team would go forth and battle well, and that in victory or defeat Nebraska would not suffer because she was not well represented.
Stirring Music
The band never played better. Stirring music thrilled the crowd into that keen-edged excitement that will move a mob. Hearts throbbed faster and the blood coursed through the veins with a tingle as old number one, U-U-Uni, was given again and again, by the men, by the women, by all together.
Homer Hewitt, chairman of the rally committee of thirty, presided. He first introduced Vic Halligan, assistant coach, former captain of a great Nebraska eleven, and the old "What will we give 'em? Halligan," rose again.
Halligan asserted the team faced be solved by a Nebraska eleven. The Cornhuskers were going out, not merely as representatives of Nebraska, but also to uphold the honor of the middle west against the Pacific coast. Vic wouldn't say it, but all through his remarks one felt that he was confident the team was not unworthy of the task reposed in it.
Captain Tim Corey
Captain "Tim" Corey got up, to say for the team that they appreciated the demonstration of the students. "We are going out to try to show them up, and we are going to do it," he said, while the rooters shouted approval of the sentiment.
Then came Chancellor Avery, who called upon the team to remember that Nebraska expected every man to do his duty, and expressing his complete confidence that the men would do their duty for their school and for their state. "Our love, our hopes, and our affection go with you,"he said. "Nebraska knows that you will do your duty."
Cries of "We want Stewart" brought the coach to his feet with the confession that he had been wrong in thinking last week that Nebraska lacked student spirit. But he did not underestimate the strength of the opponent to be met at Portland. he pleaded for every student to think and hope and pray for victory with all his might next Saturday, and he asserted that the psychic wave would be felt on the battlefield. In closing he pledged the team, and they responded by leaping to their feet, to the sentiment, "For Nebraska we will," and then the students pledged themselves to do the same. It was an inspiring moment.
Dr. Condra was the last speaker. He recalled the famous players of an older day, and he, too, admitted that never before had there been such an outburst of enthusiasm as was displyed last night. He made a plea for a bigger University spirit, so that no student would do anything petty or mean or selfish that would reflect discredit upon his university.
As the band played, the thousands poured out of the Armory to get into the procession to the train.
Torchlight Parade
The torchlight parade which escorted the team, riding in state in a decorated carryall, was in the opinion of onlookers, the biggest thing that has ever been gotten together to give a Nebraska football team a rousing sendoff.
Easily 2,000 students, of whom 800 were co-eds, who established a precedent by marching in a parade down O street, gathered on Twelfth street after the rally and formed in three sections, each of which extended a little over a block. The band headed the first section, followed by a block-full of screeching co-eds. Followed the carryall with the team, pulled by a dozen tugging men. Close on the heels of the carryall came a long line of men, and then a huge ear of corn, symbol of Nebraska, decorated for the occasion and carried by a squad of boys. An even longer string of men brought up the rear.
Marching east on Q and south on Sixteenth, the parade halted for a moment at the corner of Sixteenth and O streets and the entire supply of Lincoln's red torches and Roman candles was distributed as evenly as possible among the throng. With the band playing, with spontaneous cheering and yelling, with darting, popping fireworks and the flaring red of the torches, the long line swung up O street, practically paralyzing traffic until it passed. In the center of the procession rode the team silently acknowledging this tribute, visual and audible, paid to their prowess.
Sidewalks Crowded
Crowds swept up the sidewalks on both sides, keeping even with the parade as it continued down the street, and a flock of cars spurted on ahead. Despite the jams and the shooting of fireworks, no accidents of any kind occurred.
Little attention was paid by the paraders to the unprotected trolley poles, and only once or twice did anyone take the trouble to jerk a pole from the wire. In this respect the parade was unique, just as it was in the fact that co-eds took a very big and active part in it.
When the line reached the Northwestern station at Ninth and S streets, it steamed through the building into the train yard, where two of the coaches which are carrying the team were already coupled. The yard was filled to overflowing, and the station itself was crowded. Men and co-eds pressed around the players and as many as could reach them shook hands and wished them good luck. Those farther back waited impatiently until the team, with Dr. and Mrs. Stewart and "Dick" Rutherford and his wife were all deposited in the parlor car, when concerted yells immediately arose for different members of the team.
Captain Corey Appeared
Captain Corey was the first to appear. "Fellows," he said, "this is the biggest thing that's ever been pulled off at Nebraska; with this sendoff we can't help but win." A deafening shout of approval greeted the captain's speech. Otoupalik, Moser and "Dick" Rutherford were called by turn, and in turn expressed their deep appreciation of the spirit the students had shown, and said it would be impossible to lose under such conditions.
Slowly the crowd moved away, and only a small portion of the thousands remained to cheer the men as the train pulled out. This was in accordance with the wishes of the coaching staff, which bustled the men off to bed as soon as their Pullman was coupled on.
Dr. Stewart's suitcase, containing the magic articles by which he is said to have helped to keep the Oregon "Aggies" in fit trim for their game with the Michigan "Aggies" a year ago, when the westerners made a journey 800 miles longer than the Huskers are undertaking, was missed from the pile of suitcases in Memorial hall after the rally, and up to a short time before the train pulled out had not been found. It is thought possible that it was mixed up among the band suitcases.
The Train
The train in which the team, band and business men will make the long trip, is all of steel, and consists of a combined dynamo and baggage car, a tourist sleeping car of sixteen sections for members of the band, a standard Pullman of the same size for members of the football squad, two additional standard sleepers for others making the trip, a dining car, and an observation and parlor car. The train went to Fremont over the Northwestern road. There it switched to the Union Pacific, where it will stay until it reaches Portland. Daily stops will be made by the team at different points along the way, when the Cornhuskers will get out for a little airing and a swift bit of practice.
Greatest Demonstration of Nebraska Spirit
Football Team and Band Leave for Portland Backed by Hopes of All Cornhuskers
Scratch a calm, self-centered, midnight-oil-burning Nebraska University student and you will find a yelling, cheering, confident, loyal, true and fanatic partisan to all that is held dear in the name of Cornhusker.
Nebraska University students in the past have been accused of lacking spirit. That illusion has been dispelled, even Coach Stewart gladly admitting last night that he was mistaken in thinking that this school lacked the spirit of others he had known.
For last night's farewell for the team was the greatest demonstration of college love and loyalty to Nebraska University that has ever been seen here. The football team is going to Portland knowing that the hearts of the students who remained behind are with them to the end.
Armory Filled
Half an hour before the rally started co-eds and varsity men began to fill up the Armory. Dick Rutherford's wish that the walls would be pushed out was nearly fulfilled, for the crowd now only packed every corner of the auditorium, but overflowed on the stairs and landings leading into the hall.
Cheer after cheer arose as the band entered, members of the team came in and took their places on the platform, and the chancellor and coaches sat down.
It was a happy crowd, one that felt confident that its team would go forth and battle well, and that in victory or defeat Nebraska would not suffer because she was not well represented.
Stirring Music
The band never played better. Stirring music thrilled the crowd into that keen-edged excitement that will move a mob. Hearts throbbed faster and the blood coursed through the veins with a tingle as old number one, U-U-Uni, was given again and again, by the men, by the women, by all together.
Homer Hewitt, chairman of the rally committee of thirty, presided. He first introduced Vic Halligan, assistant coach, former captain of a great Nebraska eleven, and the old "What will we give 'em? Halligan," rose again.
Halligan asserted the team faced be solved by a Nebraska eleven. The Cornhuskers were going out, not merely as representatives of Nebraska, but also to uphold the honor of the middle west against the Pacific coast. Vic wouldn't say it, but all through his remarks one felt that he was confident the team was not unworthy of the task reposed in it.
Captain Tim Corey
Captain "Tim" Corey got up, to say for the team that they appreciated the demonstration of the students. "We are going out to try to show them up, and we are going to do it," he said, while the rooters shouted approval of the sentiment.
Then came Chancellor Avery, who called upon the team to remember that Nebraska expected every man to do his duty, and expressing his complete confidence that the men would do their duty for their school and for their state. "Our love, our hopes, and our affection go with you,"he said. "Nebraska knows that you will do your duty."
Cries of "We want Stewart" brought the coach to his feet with the confession that he had been wrong in thinking last week that Nebraska lacked student spirit. But he did not underestimate the strength of the opponent to be met at Portland. he pleaded for every student to think and hope and pray for victory with all his might next Saturday, and he asserted that the psychic wave would be felt on the battlefield. In closing he pledged the team, and they responded by leaping to their feet, to the sentiment, "For Nebraska we will," and then the students pledged themselves to do the same. It was an inspiring moment.
Dr. Condra was the last speaker. He recalled the famous players of an older day, and he, too, admitted that never before had there been such an outburst of enthusiasm as was displyed last night. He made a plea for a bigger University spirit, so that no student would do anything petty or mean or selfish that would reflect discredit upon his university.
As the band played, the thousands poured out of the Armory to get into the procession to the train.
Torchlight Parade
The torchlight parade which escorted the team, riding in state in a decorated carryall, was in the opinion of onlookers, the biggest thing that has ever been gotten together to give a Nebraska football team a rousing sendoff.
Easily 2,000 students, of whom 800 were co-eds, who established a precedent by marching in a parade down O street, gathered on Twelfth street after the rally and formed in three sections, each of which extended a little over a block. The band headed the first section, followed by a block-full of screeching co-eds. Followed the carryall with the team, pulled by a dozen tugging men. Close on the heels of the carryall came a long line of men, and then a huge ear of corn, symbol of Nebraska, decorated for the occasion and carried by a squad of boys. An even longer string of men brought up the rear.
Marching east on Q and south on Sixteenth, the parade halted for a moment at the corner of Sixteenth and O streets and the entire supply of Lincoln's red torches and Roman candles was distributed as evenly as possible among the throng. With the band playing, with spontaneous cheering and yelling, with darting, popping fireworks and the flaring red of the torches, the long line swung up O street, practically paralyzing traffic until it passed. In the center of the procession rode the team silently acknowledging this tribute, visual and audible, paid to their prowess.
Sidewalks Crowded
Crowds swept up the sidewalks on both sides, keeping even with the parade as it continued down the street, and a flock of cars spurted on ahead. Despite the jams and the shooting of fireworks, no accidents of any kind occurred.
Little attention was paid by the paraders to the unprotected trolley poles, and only once or twice did anyone take the trouble to jerk a pole from the wire. In this respect the parade was unique, just as it was in the fact that co-eds took a very big and active part in it.
When the line reached the Northwestern station at Ninth and S streets, it steamed through the building into the train yard, where two of the coaches which are carrying the team were already coupled. The yard was filled to overflowing, and the station itself was crowded. Men and co-eds pressed around the players and as many as could reach them shook hands and wished them good luck. Those farther back waited impatiently until the team, with Dr. and Mrs. Stewart and "Dick" Rutherford and his wife were all deposited in the parlor car, when concerted yells immediately arose for different members of the team.
Captain Corey Appeared
Captain Corey was the first to appear. "Fellows," he said, "this is the biggest thing that's ever been pulled off at Nebraska; with this sendoff we can't help but win." A deafening shout of approval greeted the captain's speech. Otoupalik, Moser and "Dick" Rutherford were called by turn, and in turn expressed their deep appreciation of the spirit the students had shown, and said it would be impossible to lose under such conditions.
Slowly the crowd moved away, and only a small portion of the thousands remained to cheer the men as the train pulled out. This was in accordance with the wishes of the coaching staff, which bustled the men off to bed as soon as their Pullman was coupled on.
Dr. Stewart's suitcase, containing the magic articles by which he is said to have helped to keep the Oregon "Aggies" in fit trim for their game with the Michigan "Aggies" a year ago, when the westerners made a journey 800 miles longer than the Huskers are undertaking, was missed from the pile of suitcases in Memorial hall after the rally, and up to a short time before the train pulled out had not been found. It is thought possible that it was mixed up among the band suitcases.
The Train
The train in which the team, band and business men will make the long trip, is all of steel, and consists of a combined dynamo and baggage car, a tourist sleeping car of sixteen sections for members of the band, a standard Pullman of the same size for members of the football squad, two additional standard sleepers for others making the trip, a dining car, and an observation and parlor car. The train went to Fremont over the Northwestern road. There it switched to the Union Pacific, where it will stay until it reaches Portland. Daily stops will be made by the team at different points along the way, when the Cornhuskers will get out for a little airing and a swift bit of practice.
