He would then sidestep in such a manner as to elude Rhodes’s manoeuvres to prevent him breaking through, and stop Gill for a loss.

Hector Cowan, who was captain of the Princeton ’88 team was another rough player.  In those days the men in the heat of playing would indulge in exclamations hardly fit for a drawing room.  In fact most of the time the words used would have been more in place among a lot of pirates.

Cowan was no exception to the rule so far as giving vent to his feelings was concerned, but he invariably used one phrase to do so.  He was a fellow of sterling character and was studying for the ministry.  Not even the excitement of the moment could make him forget himself to the extent of the other players, and where their language would have to be represented in print by a lot of dashes, Cowan’s could be printed in the blackest face type without offending anyone.

It was amusing to see this big fellow, worked up to the point of explosion, wave his arms and exclaim: 

“Oh, sugar!”

It would bring a roar of mock protest from the other players, and threats to report him for his rough talk.  While the men made joke of Hector’s talk they had a thorough respect for his sterling principles.

VICTORIOUS DAYS AT YALE

During the early days of football Yale’s record was an enviable one.  The schedules included, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, Columbia, Stevens Institute of Technology, Dartmouth, Amherst, and University of Michigan.

It is interesting to note that since the formation of the Football Association, in 1879 to 1889, Yale had been awarded the championship flag five times, Princeton one, Harvard none.  Yale had won 95 out of 98 games, having lost three to Princeton, one to Harvard and one to Columbia.  Since 1878 Yale had lost but one game and that by one point.  This was the Tilly Lamar game, which Princeton won.  In points Yale had scored, since points began to be counted, 3001 to her opponents’ 56; in goals 530 to 19 and in touchdowns 219 to 9, which is truly a unique record.

It was during this period that Pa Corbin, a country boy, entered Yale and in his senior year became captain of the famous ’88 team.  This brilliant eleven had a wonderfully successful season and Yale men now began to take stock and really appreciate the remarkable record that was hers upon the field of football.

In commemoration of these victories, Yale men gathered from far and near, crowding Delmonico’s banquet hall to the limit to pay tribute to Yale athletic successes.

“And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout ... they took the city.”

In a room beautifully decorated with Yale banners and trophies four hundred Elis sat down to enjoy the Bulldog Feast, and there honored and cheered to the echo the great football traditions of Yale and the men who made her famous by so vast a margin.