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tBBC Sunday Morning Coffee: May 04, 1890

jcollingsworth

Guest
Sunday Morning Coffee: May 04, 1890
jcollingsworth
via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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The Sunday morning breeze blasted through the untidy room. The sun’s brightness also began its commanding appearance. It shone directly onto the face of Alexander Lilley, who rolled to his side in an attempt to rid the nuisance and gather a few extra moments of sleep. He knew he’d be hearing a knock soon enough at his small flat in the German Village section of Columbus. George Cole would be arriving to congratulate him on his victory the day before.

The Ohio State University had just entered the world of football. It was a new sensation that was quickly picking up traction throughout many of the universities and colleges throughout the nation. Alexander knew the Buckeyes weren’t Harvard, Princeton, Army, or Columbia. But he had taken up the challenge presented to him by George Cole to coach the first football squad for OSU.

And – certainly, after the win against Ohio Wesleyan the day before up in Delaware, 20-14, with five touchdowns, points awarded per TD being 4 points, with no extra point accomplished, he was optimistic.

He now sat up in his bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Alexander was an athletic man and had the build to show it. He favored the British game of rugby, as a player anyway, but in his new adventure of the American “cheap” attempt to mix rugby and soccer, he hoped to pass on his knowledge of the game that he loved – rugby.

Alexander finally made his way to the kitchen. He fished through his cabinet where he pulled out a can of coffee with a spoon stuffed into its disappearing contents. He pulled down a pitcher before pumping the handle of the water well serving him for running water in the kitchen – a luxury he was quite proud of. He shoveled two spoonfuls of coffee into his new plunger filter, also known as a French press brewer, before lowering it into the now bubbly water. Alexander enjoyed the new toys of the day, knowing prosperity was coming his way with this new thing called football with The Ohio State University.

He leaned against the table as he awaited the coffee to brew, a taste he needed more than anything at that moment as his sleep continued to be the mastering factor.

The day before resurfaced in his mind during this personal moment. It all began with him and the team departing The Ohio State University campus at 6:00 a.m. by rented horse and buggy as they headed to Delaware for their scheduled 9:30 a.m. game against Ohio Wesleyan.

A smile leaped onto his chiseled face as he recalled in their journey the shenanigans perpetrated by some of the players were – well, just laugh out loud funny. The insistence of team Captain Paul Lincoln of telling a joke that no one got, cared to get, or portrayed to get, about the farmer and his cow ‘Betsy’ was, in truth, nothing other than ridiculous and vulgar. But he continued and milked it as long as he could until evidence provided to him that there wasn’t a soul in-sync with his ‘troubling’ humor that he finally yielded to the silence wanted by the rest. Then there was Richard Ellis who had gas issues, proclaiming his Mother served him for dinner the day before of fish they snagged three days before from the Scioto River. Edwin Martin had them all in stitches as he told Richard that wasn’t rotten fish smell, just poisoning of a “Mother’s misdirection”.

It was all great fun – that early morning buggy ride to Delaware. They arrived with time to suit up and do some stretches prior to the kick-off time of 9:30 a.m. What was exceptionally impressive to Alexander was the crowd that had shown for the game. It had to be close to a thousand people – he’d learn later that it was closer to seven-hundred. And though Ohio Wesleyan had their following, especially since this is where the game was, many had filtered from Columbus to root for the Buckeyes for their inaugural journey into this new craze of football.

He recalled the first touchdown – knowing it would be a trivia question hard to answer a century later – knowing that this football thing would evolve into American culture. Quarterback Joseph Large ran from eight yards out to score the first Buckeye TD ever. Alexander laughed. He knew the importance of it. Joseph Large was only happy he wasn’t popped by the Ohio Wesleyan defense that had been taunting him throughout the game because of his name, saying the only thing large about him was his “clown feet”.

The other touch-down’s by Captain Paul Lincoln, co-captain Jesse Jones, and Edwin Martin, were all exciting, especially since Ohio Wesleyan wasn’t having any intent of losing – but Large’s TD was special – and it isn’t because it was the first Buckeye TD ever, but it was good for Joseph who was having issues at home, parents breaking up, and he needed that personal lift. This made Alexander pleased.

The smell of coffee now dominated the room. He stepped forward and pulled the rod from the chamber, lifting the steel filter from the boiling water. He poured himself a cup of steaming coffee, staring at it in utter pleasure. The blackness of the liquid delighted him. It made him think of ink. He lifted the cup and sipped it before exhaling with complete approval.

There was a knock at the door.

Standing on the stoop was George Cole. He held a loaf of freshly baked bread. “Got the coffee ready?”

“Indeed!” Alexander stepped back allowing him proper passage into his flat.

“Tell me,” George stepped into the flat, “aren’t you pleased that I spoke you into taking this job?”

“No profit in volunteering!” Alexander smiled. “But, yeah, winning is fun.”

“One and zero!” George patted him on the back in passing.

Alexander smiled. “One and zero, yeah!”

“Coffee?” George asked.

“Let me get you a cup.” Alexander passed him as he led him into the kitchen.

The post Sunday Morning Coffee: May 04, 1890 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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