Today's Tidbit... Murder On The Football Field?

A recent acquisition led to an unexpected story of a possible murder during a college football game in West Virginia, and it got me thinking, “What would have to happen in a football game that would justify charging a player with murder?” The folks in West Virginia partially answered that question more than 100 years ago.

The acquisition mentioned above was the RPPC below, showing three players standing before a building. While I was interested in the players’ uniforms, especially the ill-fitting pants on the player to the left, my primary interest came from the goal posts standing so close to the building and its windows. The RPPC was mailed by "Brainy" on October 21, 1910, to a friend in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Brainy described the three pictured players as Bethany College's running backs who were enjoying one of the best seasons in college history.

By the time Brainy put pen to paper, Bethany had lost to Geneva 8-0, beaten Washington & Jefferson 3-0 and Waynesburg 23-0 before playing West Virginia to a scoreless tie the day after Brainy mailed the postcard. Following those games were a 5-0 win over Scio, a 17-5 loss to Hiram, and a scoreless tie with West Virginia Wesleyan to set up a rematch with West Virginia in Wheeling.