Football 1905
Photograph courtesy of the Dickinson College Archives
In 1905, much of Dickinson College athletics was centered around the football team.  It played teams then against whom today competition would be impossible for their opponents included Penn State, Leigh, Navy, and Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh).  This is an action photograph from their home game against Penn State.

Their schedule in 1905 consisted of a season opener against Western Maryland, followed by Haverford, Navy, the Carlisle Indian School, Western University of Pennsyvania, Ursinus, Lehigh, and Penn State University.  Their season ended with four wins and four losses.  Their biggest game of every season at that time was the Penn State game and in the 1905 season saw a close 6-0 defeat.  The above photograph depicts a Dickinson "goal-line stand" that eventually failed.  In this picture, Dickinson is in the solid jersey, while Penn State is in the striped. The field they are playing on is at the corner of today's Cherry and Louther Streets in Carlisle.  The College used this field until it acquired Biddle Field only a few years after this game.
 
Unlike the much larger teams of today at the College, the 1905 club comprised only about twelve players and three coaches.  They were Charles Salter, John Klingstine, William Hoffman, Fred Simpson, Harry Cramer, William Viebahn, Paul Davis (captain), William Robison, Carl Benner (assistant manager), William Williams, Charles Harry, Andrew English, Grover Parvis, Charles Messner, and Percey Lingle (manager). Paul Davis led from the front, kicking at one point a 53 yard field goal.  This kick was recognised in the 1906 Spalding Football Guide, receiving national recognition as the third longest ever field goal from scrimmage.

Luke Bussard