Michigan State Normal Normalites football, 1891–1899

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Michigan State Normal Normalites football, 1891–1899

The Michigan State Normal Normalites represented Michigan State Normal School (which later became Eastern Michigan University) in American football during the program’s first decade, from 1891 to 1899. Most seasons the team played as an independent; in the mid-1890s they competed in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Opponents often included local high schools, the University of Michigan, Albion College, Hillsdale College, the Toledo YMCA, Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), the Detroit Athletic Club, and Ypsilanti High School.

1891
- 2 games, two losses
- Head coach: James M. Swift (1st season)
- Captain: None listed
- Notable: First season of intercollegiate football for the school; the team’s first points came from a Dorgan touchdown in the first half

1892
- Record: 2–1
- Head coach: Dean W. Kelley (1st season)
- Captain: George L. Wilson

1893
- Record: 4–2
- Head coach: Ernest P. Goodrich (1st season)
- Captain: J. M. Swift

1894
- Record: 5–2 (0–1 MIAA)
- Conference: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
- Head coach: Verne S. Bennett (1st season)
- Captain: Charles D. Livingston

1895
- Record: 3–3
- Head coach: Marcus Cutler (1st season)
- Captain: Benjamin J. Watters

1896
- Record: 5–1 (2–0 MIAA)
- Conference: MIAA (champions)
- Head coach: Fred W. Green (1st season)
- Captain: Charles D. Livingston
- Notes: Five shutouts; team outscored opponents 116–18
- Enrollment at the school around 800

1897
- Record: 3–2 (1–1 MIAA)
- Head coach: Andrew Bird Glaspie (1st season)
- Captain: George L. Wilson

1898
- Record: 1–5–2 (0–3 MIAA)
- Head coach: Enoch Thorne (1st season)
- Captain: Fred Q. Gorton
- Notes: Five games were shutout; team outscored 100–19

1899
- Record: 1–1–1 (0–1 MIAA)
- Head coach: Dwight Watson (1st season)
- Captain: George L. Wood
- Notable results: 5–5 tie with the University of Michigan freshman team; lost to Michigan Agricultural College 18–0; defeated the Toledo YMCA 24–0

Overall, the 1890s saw a growing, learning program with several successful seasons, a conference championship in 1896, and the foundations of a football tradition that would continue as the school evolved into Eastern Michigan University.