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1918 Western State Normal Hilltoppers football team

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1918 Western State Normal Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record3–2
Head coach
CaptainFrank Thomas
Home stadiumNormal field
Seasons
← 1917
1919 →
1918 Midwestern college football independents records
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 Western State Normal Hilltoppers football team represented Western State Normal School (later renamed Western Michigan University) as an independent during the 1918 college football season. In their 12th season under head coach William H. Spaulding, the Hilltoppers compiled a 3–2 record and outscored their opponents, 223 to 30. The team defeated Hillsdale College, 103 to 0, the largest margin of victory in school history.[1][2] Quarterback Frank Thomas was the team captain;[3] he later became head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 1931 to 1946.

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteResultSource
October 122:45 p.m.Albion
L 12–14[4][5][6]
November 2at Michigan AgriculturalL 7–16[7][8]
November 161:45 p.m.Hillsdale
  • Normal field
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 102–0[9][10][11]
November 232:00 p.m.Hope
  • Normal field
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 62–0[12][13]
November 302:00 p.m.Notre Dame freshmen
  • Normal field
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 39–0[14][15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1910 - 19". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  4. ^ "Local Grid Games Today". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. October 12, 1918. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ Hall, Howard P. (October 13, 1918). "Albion Wins From Normal, Score, 14-12". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. p. 16. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ^ "Albion Beats Normals". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1918. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Western Normal Battles Aggies To Finish". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. November 3, 1918. p. 20. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ "Farmers Beat State Normal In Close Game". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1918. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Three Local Elevens Are In Action Today". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. November 16, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  10. ^ Hall, Howard P. (November 17, 1918). "Normal Runs Wildly Over Hillsdale". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. p. 18. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  11. ^ "Western Normal Beats Hillsdale; Score Is 102 to 0". Detroit Free Press. November 17, 1918. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Normal-Hope Game Local Gridiron Battle Today; Central Invade Muskegon". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. November 23, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  13. ^ Hall, Howard P. (November 24, 1918). "Hope Is Easy Picking For Normal Team". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. p. 18. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  14. ^ "Notre Dame Confident Of Victory". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. November 30, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  15. ^ Hall, Howard P. (December 1, 1918). "Brilliant Victory For Normal Finale". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. p. 18. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.