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Clarence MacDonald, letter man from 1916, and Roy Rife, who had played on
Ohio University in 191 7, were sent to the University from the navy to continue
their education at Ohio State. MacDonald was appointed acting captain before
the Wesleyan game and later elected to take the place of "Chic" Harleywho was
picked as captain after the 191 7 season, but who enlisted in the aviation corps
instead of returning to the University. MacDonald was used at end throughout
the season with Rife at half and as punter.
In addition to Harley the men on the 1917 squad who would have been eligible
this year, but who did not return, doing service for their country instead, were
Stinchcomb, \Mllaman, Schweitzer, Myers, Weiche, Nemecek, Miller, Fuller,
Johnson, Cramer and Hamilton. Hamilton was in medical college but did not
have time for football practice.
Ohio State was confronted with the same dilemna as all other colleges, as to
what action the war department would take on athletics. It was finally decided
by the Western Conference to turn control of all intercollegiate athletics over to
the Government. The committee on education agreed to allow all members of
the Students' Army Training Corps to participate in intercollegiate games, regardless
of eligibility or class standing. This ruling allowed the colleges to use
freshmen on their football teams, ineligibles or men not in the training corps.
The war department also decided to allow each team one overnight trip during
the season.
The government ruling caused a revision of the schedules and the Northwestern
game was dropped. The date of the Michigan contest was shifted from October
26 to November 30. The matter of practice was left to the military authorities
at the different universities to decide in order not to conflict with schedules.
In the matter of practice Ohio State faced its hardest problem. The only opportunity
given was an hour after drill until evening mess. This hour coming
from 5:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m., practically all the work was done after dark under
electric lights. The Buckeyes faced another difficulty in that Coach Wilce, who
attended medical college throughout the season, was also a member of the training
corps and had only a short time each day to spend with the team.
Whereas other Western Conference schools were allowed from two to three
hours of daylight practice Ohio State was forced to be content with the one hour
of after dark work. Not only was Coach Wilce handicapped in developing his
candidates, who had had some previous experience, but he had practically no time
to work with his freshman material. While Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan
teams were composed almost entirely of first year men, Ohio State used only one
as a regular, that being Pixley, who was used at guard all season.
Coach Wilce did get to use three of the men in the veterinary reserve, Sneddon
and McCune on the line and Moeller in the backfield. In addition to MacDonald
and Rife, Early, substitute center, was sent to the University from the navy.
Volzer, who was in the dental reserve, was used occasionally on the line.
The Buckeyes, despite the difficulties under which the team was struggling, was
started out rather auspiciously, leading the rooters to predictions of another Westert
Conference championship. Wesleyan came to Ohio Field October 5 with one
victory to its credit and was walloped 41 to o. The game marked the advent of
"Shorty" Davies as an Ohio State star. The little Irontonian reminded the few
old time fans of Harley or Stinchcomb, by his sensational dodging. Wesleyan
was slightly crippled through injuries and did not put up the brand of football
it played later in the season.
In addition to Davies, Myers and Matheny performed well in the backfield for
the Buckeyes. Matheny by his line plunging, and Myers by his end running
were big helps to Ohio State. The defensive work of the team seemed almost
without a flaw, the ends especially showing to an advantage in stopping prospective
end runs of the Methodists.
During the week betweenthe Wesleyan and Denison games Coach Wilce's mother
died in Milwaukee and he was away from the team several days, Director St. John
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