1918 Detroit Junior College football team

The 1918 Detroit Junior College football team represented Detroit Junior College (later renamed Wayne State University) as an independent during the 1918 college football season. The team was coached by David L. Holmes and compiled a 4–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 99 to 0.[1] The team was made up of members of the school's Student Army Training Corps.

1918 Detroit Junior College football
Conference	Independent
1918 record	4–0
Head coach	David L. Holmes (1st season)
Captain	Wayne D. Brenkert
Home stadium	Goldberg Field

1918 Midwestern college football independents records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Detroit Junior College			–					4	–	0	–	0
Central Michigan			–					1	–	0	–	0
Marquette			–					2	–	0	–	1
Heidelberg			–					5	–	1	–	0
St. Xavier			–					4	–	1	–	1
Notre Dame			–					3	–	1	–	2
Butler			–					2	–	1	–	1
Western State (MI)			–					3	–	2	–	0
Michigan Agricultural			–					4	–	3	–	0
Akron			–					2	–	2	–	1
St. Mary's (OH)			–					1	–	1	–	0
Toledo			–					1	–	1	–	0
Michigan State Normal			–					1	–	2	–	0
Iowa State Teachers			–					1	–	3	–	0
Wabash			–					1	–	3	–	0
Fairmount			–					1	–	4	–	0
Lake Forest			–					0	–	1	–	0
Detroit			–					0	–	2	–	0
Haskell			–					0	–	2	–	0

Two of the victories, including the first in program history, were against Assumption College. The first game was played in Canada at Sandwich. Fullback Wayne Brenkert scored three touchdowns in the first game against Assumption.[2] The team also defeated the University of Detroit (on Thanksgiving Day) and Michigan State Normal in the first meetings with each of those two schools. A game with Western State was initially scheduled but cancelled.

The team played its three home games at Goldberg Field, which was located at Ferry Avenue and Hastings Street in Detroit.[3] Wayne considers the 1918 team to be its first intercollegiate football team, though contemporary press accounts also reference a 1917 football team.[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Source
October 5	at Assumption (ON)	Sandwich, ON	W 41–0	[5][2]
November 4	Michigan State Normal	Goldberg Field Detroit, MI	W 18–0	[6][7]
November 23	Assumption (ON)	Goldberg Field Detroit, MI	W 35–0	[8][9]
November 28	Detroit	Goldberg Field Detroit, MI	W 6–0	[10][11]

References

1. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Wayne State University. pp. 111, 114. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
2. "Junior College Beats Sandwich: Brenkart Star in 41-0 Game in Which Detroiters Have Good Chance to Try Out All Their Material". Detroit Free Press. October 6, 1918. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Junior College Last Opponent of University: These Teams Will Struggle Thanksgiving Day for City S.A.T.C. Championship". Detroit Free Press. November 26, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Junior College Will Engage in Athletics Again". Detroit Free Press. September 10, 1918. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Junior College Aggregation To Open Saturday". Detroit Free Press. October 5, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Junior College To Play Normals". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Junior College Puts Ypsi Team in the Discard". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1918. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Junior College Hopes To Make Strong Finish". Detroit Free Press. November 22, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Junior College Is Assumption's Conqueror, 35-0". Detroit Free Press. November 24, 1918. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Brenkert's Run Nets Touchdown; U. of D. Is Loser". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1918. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Goldberg Field Contest Looms as a Scrappy One". Detroit Free Press. November 28, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.