Today's Factoids... Nebraska Fans Are Slappies

As discussed in the First Factoid Feast, Second Factoid Feast, Third Factoid Feast, and Fourth Factoid Feast, my searches through football history sometimes take me to topics too important to ignore but too minor to Tidbit. Such nuggets are factoids, three of which are shared with you today.

Nebraska Fans Are Slappies

Nebraska went 8-2 in 1905, getting blown out by Michigan and Minnesota while turning the tables on their other eight opponents. One of those opponents was South Dakota, then coached by Arthur Whittemore, a Brown All-American offensive lineman who patrolled South Dakota’s sidelines for several decades.

(1910 South Dakota yearbook)

Until the 1960s, college coaches were prohibited from coaching from the sideline, as were teammates and fans. In short, the game was to be played using the brains and brawn of the players on the field, not the coach’s brain. At some point in Nebraska’s 42-6 victory, a Nebraska fan became upset at what he considered Whittemore’s coaching from the sideline. Since the officials did not penalize Whittemore for the perceived infractions, the fan took matters into his own hands by leaning over the fence and slapping Whittemore in the face.