Today's Tidbit... Stanford Propelled By Airplane Drill

Football is a physical and inherently dangerous sport, so coaches have long sought ways to train their athletes and prepare them for the rigors of the game without risking injury in practice. Football equipment, such as tackling dummies and blocking sleds, allows teams to train without one athlete injuring another.

Approaching practice with a safety mindset was especially important at Stanford in 1919 since they dropped football after the 1905 season, playing rugby instead. Football returned in 1918 as part of the Student Army Training Corps program, but 1919 was their first varsity football season in 14 years. Evans had coached Colorado in 1916 and 1917 after a successful stint coaching Owensboro High in Kentucky after playing at Millikin (IL).

(1921 Stanford yearbook)

The Cardinal started the season 4-1, giving up six total points to the USS Boston, Oregon State, St. Mary's, and Santa Clara. In the second week of the season, they lost to the Olympic Club of San Francisco 13-0.