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This Matters To Somebody

@tm2s.bsky.social

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Four Minnesotans exploring the world through the sports you didn’t know you’d love LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/tm2s iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-matters-to-somebody/id1831854739 RSS Feed: https://anchor.fm/s/1036c317c/podcast/rss

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 16d

We need a pin explaining what we're about. So, hi!

We're four friends who met through U of Minnesota sports fandom.

Turns out we also have a shared interest in sports outside of the Big 4 (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), especially sports not common in the US. We think they're great and want to share them.

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Reposted by This Matters To Somebody

BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL @edsbs.bsky.social · 31m

Chattanooga’s finest

13 7 98

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 18m

Been watching this on repeat for 5 minutes

Rob Friedman @pitchingninja.com · 3h

All 8 of the Blue Jays Pitchers from Yesterday (overlay)

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 33m

it’s me, aubrey plaza accord @sellingtheta.bsky.social · 3h

Olivia Reeves world record snatch at 123kgs and world record clean and jerk at 155kgs at the IWF world championships in Norway yesterday

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 1h

Tomorrow we’ll move to the War Years where a surprise guest at the game created an unforgettable moment for the band on the field at Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis.

A special guest, you say?!

(Bo Pelini brings a cat onto the field during Nebraska's Spring Game)

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Nebraska finished 7-2-1 and 2nd place in the MVC. Highlights included wins over both Iowa and Iowa State, but they lost the head-to-head with Kansas. Like Minnesota, Nebraska finished against Jim Thorpe’s Carlisle as well, but met a 37-6 defeat on a cold December day in front of only 2,000 people.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Minnesota lost consecutively to Chicago and Wisconsin without scoring, then edged Carlisle 11-6 in a game featuring All-American Jim Thorpe. They ended 3-2-1, tied with Northwestern for last in the Western Conference. It was the first time Minnesota had ever been outscored cumulatively in a season.

Native American athletics legend Jim Thorpe, during his Carlisle years

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Coach Cole was ok with it. “I am well satisfied that the #Nebraska boys kept the Gophers from scoring…there was no muckerism and we left Minneapolis feeling that we had been nicely treated…”

#Minnesota papers looked eagerly to the next match with Chicago, now expecting a win.

Minneapolis newspaper headline:

THREE TIMES MINN. NEARLY MAKES SCORE

Dr. Williams' Men Carry Ball to Brink of Goal, Only to Be Repulsed

Maroon and Gold Outplays Heavier Cornhusker Team in Great Struggle

(By W. F. Allen)

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

#Nebraska faithful complained that one of the officials (“Umpire Gale, the former Chicago player…”) had called an off-sides on Nebraska where what we would now call offensive pass interference was correct.

Remember that whole Chicago player poaching controversy from earlier? Yeah.

a referee wearing glasses and a striped shirt stands on a field

ALT: a referee wearing glasses and a striped shirt stands on a field

media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Both teams claimed the moral victory, and both fans pointed fingers.

The Minneapolis Journal asked if Coach Cole was signaling his QB in-game, with sarcasm: “Of course no one is willing to believe that the Nebraska coach would signal his team in direct opposition to the rules of football.”

a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face while wearing glasses .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face while wearing glasses .

media.tenor.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Forward passes had only been legal for 2 years and incompletes were penalized 15 yards. Where large running gains require a defensive mistake, long passes are very risky, and rough fields make erratic bounces, a punt-heavy strategy makes some sense.

But it leads to highlights like these:

Highlight from a game recap: "MAKES 7 YARDS"

Highlight from a game recap: "MAKES 8 YARDS" oh ok, getting better

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This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Seriously, the game was full of punts on 1st down. Sounds crazy, right? It wasn't.

American football was only 34 years on from Harvard vs. McGill football friendlies where an amalgamation of Canada’s rugby-focused game met up with Boston’s style, and created a new sport. More on that in Episode 4:

TMTS Episode 4: Canadian Football League

Podcast Episode · This Matters To Somebody · 2025-08-19 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

ANYWAY, rather than risk a safety, Nebraska immediately punted and miraculously recovered at their own 25, then hit a 25 yard run to the 50. But after several failed efforts as the clock wound down, time was called and the game ended in a 0-0 tie, all thanks to the unending series of #punts.

Meme of Frank Beamer's classic arms-up celebration of a 0-0 regulation finish between Virginia Tech and Wake Forest

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

The rules in 1908 that makes these decisions more puzzling. Touchdowns were worth 5 points, field goals were 4. So Minnesota passed up two short field goals that would have made the game 8-0, which in 1908 is a two-possession game.

Different than today where going for it is a more obvious choice.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Soon after, a #Minnesota back named Young took the ball over the goal line and pandemonium broke out in the crowd. but the referee called the play back, stating that the ball had been grounded at the 5.

#Gophers ran for two twice in a row, and TURNED THE BALL OVER ON THE 1 YARD LINE. Still 0-0

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Early in the 2nd half, #Minnesota resorted to rugby punting tactics to gain field position by relying on their defense to make stops. A 20-yard pass got them to the 12 before turning the ball over on downs at the 5.

Generally we say "go for it" but at 0-0 perhaps a field goal would have made sense?

Possible explanation for not kicking the short field-goal

(The Three Stooges pretending to kick a field goal from Curly's head)

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

The 1st half a literal field-position battle of short runs and punts. As halftime approached, #Nebraska nearly won the game by unleashing the forward pass to the MN 20 yard line.

But the #Huskers fake field goal was fumbled, and a follow-up 35 yard attempt went only 20 yards.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 2h

Minnesota papers criticized the #Gophers play: "The Gophers showed few plays outside of a short forward pass...and straight line smashes."

But they had similar criticism for #Nebraska: "Nebraska...was utterly helpless outside of a few forward passes which did not work with regularity."

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

#Nebraska was the physically larger team, but their roster was somewhat depleted by injuries. #Minnesota had a full, but smaller, squad.

Nebraska won the toss and chose to receive, with the wind at their backs. What followed bore more relation to rugby than what we now call American football.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Northrop Field would host the 1908 edition of the rivalry. Nebraska fans could secure travel, lodging, and a ticket for $7.20 on a special train direct from Lincoln. 500 #Nebraska supporters made the trip to sit among 11,500 #Gopher faithful.

A view of Northrop Field during the 1907 Chicago vs. Minnesota game. The Armory Building can be seen on the left.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Northrop Field in Minneapolis would host the 1908 edition of the rivalry. #Nebraska fans could secure travel, lodging, and a ticket for $7.20 cents on a special train direct from Lincoln. Ultimately 500 supporters made the trip to sit among 11,500 #Gopher faithful.

A panorama of Northrop Field during the 1907 Chicago vs. Minnesota game. The Armory Building can be seen at the left.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

The efforts seemed to buoy Nebraska’s fortunes rather than sink them. Starting their season against Peru Normal, Doane, and Grinnell they were 3-0. Not a Murderer's Row of opponents, but none of the victories were in doubt as #Nebraska outscored them by a combined 83-5.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Nebraska faced its own off-field challenges. That summer, there were multiple allegations of tampering and bribes by Amos Alonzo Stagg and the University of Chicago to lure away Nebraska players including star center Sidney Collins and halfback Harry Minor.

Amos Alonzo Stagg in later years, showing his many trophies but no hint of the atomic pile that had been built under his former football field.

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Meanwhile, #Nebraska was coming off an 8-2, 2nd place Missouri Valley Conference season. William “King” Cole was in his 2nd season leading the #Huskers. Cole was a #Michigan Man, an alumnus of Fielding Yost’s famous “Point-A-Minute” 1902 Wolverines. He appeared to be building a powerhouse in Lincoln

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

Center Orren Safford was finally elected captain and the team set to work. But the roster was physically small compared to previous #Gopher teams. The challenges added up.

Minnesota shuffled into the Nebraska game with a shaky 2-0 record with unconvincing wins vs. Lawrence and Iowa State.

Headline from the Minneapolis Journal over a photo of three college football players in their undershirts.

DR. WILLIAMS' THREE MIDGETS

McGovern, Johns, and Atkinson

This Matters To Somebody @tm2s.bsky.social · 3h

As the University eligibility committee reviewed his status, Capron was forced to ride the bench and Dr. Williams had to walk back his captaincy, claiming he had “…never been captain of the Minnesota team, even for a minute.”

Capron eventually admitted to the "George Rapp" name and was ineligible.

Image of George Capron titled "GOPHER CAPTAIN" from the Minneapolis Journal, September, 1908