Denver Ministers football, 1910–1919

The Denver Ministers football program, 1910–1919 represented the University of Denver in college football during the 1910s as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference. The program was led by seven head coaches during the decade, only one of which (John Fike) coached for more than one season in the 1910s. Fiske led the program from 1915 to 1918, compiling a winning record in each of his four years as head coach.

1910–1919 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Head coach
Seasons
 1909
1920 

Highlights of the decade included:

  • The 1911 team compiled a 5–2–1 in the program's first and only season under head coach Thomas A. Barry.
  • The 1914 team compiled a 5–4 record in the program's first and only season under head coach Harry G. Buckingham.
  • The 1915 team compiled a 4–3 record in the program's first season under head coach John Fike.
  • The 1916 team compiled a 4–2–1 record in the program's second season under Fike.
  • In their third season under Fike, the 1917 Ministers compiled a perfect 9–0 record and tied with Utah Agricultural for the RMC championship. It was the only perfect season in University of Denver football history.

1910

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1910 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record4–3–1 (2–2 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1909
1911 
1910 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado College +400700
Colorado +300600
Utah220420
Denver220431
Colorado Mines140240
Colorado Agricultural040050
  • + Conference co-champions

The 1910 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1910 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach John P. Koehler, the Ministers compiled a 4–3–1 record (2–2 against conference opponents), tied for third place in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 72 to 65.[1]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 1Denver alumni*Denver, COW 11–3
October 8Wyoming*Denver, COW 17–3
October 15Marquette*Denver, COT 0–0
October 22at Nebraska*L 0–27
October 29at Colorado Agricultural
W 22–0
November 5Colorado MinesDenver, COW 17–6
November 12at UtahL 0–20[2]
November 24Colorado CollegeDenver, COL 5–6
  • *Non-conference game

1911

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1911 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record5–2–1 (3–1–1 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1910
1912 
1911 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado $500600
Utah311511
Denver311521
Colorado College320430
Wyoming230431
Colorado Mines150250
Colorado Agricultural050060
  • $ Conference champion

The 1911 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1911 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Thomas A. Barry, the Ministers compiled a 5–2–1 record (3–1–1 against conference opponents), tied for second place in the RMC, shut out six of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 81 to 22.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 7Denver alumni*Denver, COW 12–0
October 14UtahDenver, COT 0–03,000[4]
October 21Baker*Denver, COW 5–0
October 28South Dakota*Denver, COL 0–10[5]
November 4Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COW 49–0
November 11at Colorado MinesGolden, COW 9–0
November 18at WyomingLaramie, WYW 6–0[6]
November 30Colorado CollegeDenver, COL 0–12
  • *Non-conference game

1912

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1912 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record2–6–1 (1–3 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1911
1913 
1912 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Mines +510910
Utah +410511
Colorado320630
Colorado Agricultural320320
Colorado College240540
Denver130261
Wyoming050270
  • + Conference co-champions

The 1912 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1912 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Clem Crowley, the Ministers compiled a 2–6–1 record (1–3 against conference opponents), finished sixth in the RMC, and were outscored by a total of 130 to 87.[7]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 21Denver alumni*Denver, COT 0–0
September 28at Washburn*Topeka, KSL 0–12
October 5at Colorado AgriculturalL 13–14
October 19at UtahL 0–66
October 26at Occidental*Los Angeles, CAL 0–13
November 2HaskellDenver, COL 10–12[8]
November 9Baker*Denver, COW 44–0
November 16Colorado MinesDenver, COL 0–10
November 28at Colorado CollegeW 20–3
  • *Non-conference game

1913

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1913 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record2–5 (1–3 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1912
1914 
1913 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado $401511
Colorado Mines510510
Colorado College221521
Colorado Agricultural $220320
Utah120241
Denver130250
Wyoming050050
  • $ Conference champion

The 1913 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1913 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Charles Wingender, the Ministers compiled a 2–5 record (1–3 against conference opponents), finished sixth in the RMC, and were outscored by a total of 140 to 47.[9]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 11Denver alumni*Denver, COW 6–0
October 18Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COL 6–20
October 25South Dakota*Denver, COL 0–43
November 1Kearney Normal*Denver, COL 0–7
November 8at WyomingLaramie, WYW 26–0
November 15Colorado CollegeDenver, COL 2–21
November 27at Colorado MinesGolden, COL 7–49[10]
  • *Non-conference game

1914

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1914 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record5–4 (1–4 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1913
1915 
1914 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Mines $501501
Colorado410510
Colorado College311411
Colorado Agricultural330340
Utah230330
Utah Agricultural120250
Denver140540
Wyoming050150
  • $ Conference champion

The 1914 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1914 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach Harry G. Buckingham, the Ministers compiled a 5–4 record (1–4 against conference opponents), finished seventh in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 186 to 114.[11]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
?South High School*Denver, COW 33–7
October 3Sacred Heart*Denver, COW 20–0[12]
October 10Denver alumni*Denver, COW 7–3
October 17Kearney Normal*Denver, COW 82–0
October 31Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COL 6–19
November 7Colorado MinesDenver, COL 0–18
November 14at Colorado CollegeDenver, COL 7–61
November 21at WyomingLaramie, WYW 31–0
November 26ColoradoDenver, COL 0–6
  • *Non-conference game

1915

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1915 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record4–3 (2–3 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1914
1916 
1915 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Agricultural $700700
Utah420520
Colorado Mines420420
Colorado College320620
Denver230430
Wyoming150260
Colorado150160
Utah Agricultural030340
  • $ Conference champion

The 1915 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1915 college football season. In their first season under head coach John Fike, the team compiled a 4–3 record (2–3 against conference opponents), finished fifth in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 103 to 83.[13]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 9South High School*Denver, COW 47–0
October 16Montana A&M*Denver, COW 27–3
October 23at WyomingLaramie, WYW 19–7
October 30Colorado CollegeDenver, COL 0–21
November 6at Colorado MinesGolden, COL 0–18
November 20ColoradoDenver, COW 7–0
November 25at Colorado AgriculturalL 3–34[14]
  • *Non-conference game

1916

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1916 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record4–2–1 (3–2 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1915
1917 
1916 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Agricultural $601601
Colorado College410610
Denver320421
Utah220320
Colorado Mines221321
Wyoming140140
Colorado150151
Utah Agricultural040151
  • $ Conference champion

The 1916 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1916 college football season. In their second season under head coach John Fike, the Ministers compiled a 4–2–1 record (3–2 against conference opponents), finished third in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 92 to 79.[15]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 30Denver freshmen*Denver, COT 0–0
October 14at WyomingLaramie, WYW 19–10[16]
October 21at ColoradoW 7–0
October 28Creighton*
W 19–13[17]
November 4Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COL 13–21[18]
November 18at Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, COL 13–35
November 30Colorado MinesDenver, COW 21–0
  • *Non-conference game

1917

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1917 Denver Ministers football
RMC champion
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record9–0 (6–0 RMC)
Head coach
Home stadiumUnion Park
Seasons
 1916
1918 
1917 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Denver $600900
Utah Agricultural401701
Colorado420620
Colorado Mines230530
Colorado College230330
Utah230240
Wyoming140340
Montana State012022
Colorado Agricultural071171
  • $ Conference champion

The 1917 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1917 college football season. In their third season under head coach John Fike, the Ministers compiled a perfect 9–0 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the RMC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 226 to 45.[19]

At the end of the season, both Denver and Utah Agricultural were undefeated against RMC opponents. A game between the two teams was proposed to determine an undisputed conference champion, but Denver's faculty ruled against the game. Denver officials claimed the title and asserted that the Utah Aggies "have a right to claim nothing more than a tie for the honors."[20][21]

The 1917 team compiled the only perfect season in the program's history.[22]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 6Camp Logan*Denver, COW 45–0
October 13Montana StateDenver, COW 33–7
October 20ColoradoDenver, COW 7–0
October 27at Colorado AgriculturalFort Collins, COW 10–6
November 3at WyomingLaramie, WYW 18–0
November 10at Kendall*
W 20–19[23]
November 17Colorado Mines
  • Union Park
  • Denver, CO
W 51–0[24]
November 24at Colorado Teachers*Greeley, COW 14–6
November 29Colorado CollegeDenver, COW 28–7
  • *Non-conference game

1918

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1918 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record3–2 (3–1 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1917
1919 
1918 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Mines $200400
Denver310320
Colorado120230
Colorado College120120
Colorado Agricultural020020
  • $ Conference champion

The 1918 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1918 college football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach John Fike, the Ministers compiled a 3–2 record (3–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the RMC, and were outscored by a total of 74 to 49.[25]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
November 9at Colorado MinesGolden, COL 6–48
November 16Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COW 14–0[26]
November 23ColoradoDenver, COW 6–0
November 28Colorado CollegeDenver, COW 16–0
December 7Colorado Teachers*Denver, COL 7–2
  • *Non-conference game

1919

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1919 Denver Ministers football
ConferenceRocky Mountain Conference
Record1–5–1 (0–4–1 RMC)
Head coach
Seasons
 1918
1920 
1919 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Colorado Agricultural $710710
Utah410520
Colorado College311421
Utah Agricultural320520
Wyoming330350
Colorado231231
Denver041151
Colorado Mines041043
Montana State030131
  • $ Conference champion
  • † Ineligible for conference title

The 1919 Denver Ministers football team represented the University of Denver as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) during the 1919 college football season. In their first and only season under head coach George Koonsman, the Ministers compiled a 1–5–1 record (0–4–1 against conference opponents), tied for seventh place in the RMC, and were outscored by a total of 191 to 23.[27]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultSource
October 18ColoradoDenver, COL 7–26
October 25WyomingDenver, COL 6–36
November 1Colorado AgriculturalDenver, COL 3–33
November 8Colorado MinesDenver, COT 0–0
November 15at Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, COL 0–38
November 221:30 p.m.at Phillips*
L 0–58[28][29]
November 27US Recup. Company*Denver, COW 7–0

References

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  1. "1910 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. "Utah Scores Great Victory On Denver". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. November 13, 1910. p. 8 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "1911 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  4. Fitzpatrick, Tommy (October 15, 1911). "Utah Hold Denver to No Score Tie". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 14. Retrieved September 15, 2022 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. "South Dakota Blanks University of Denver". Omaha Daily Bee. Omaha, Nebraska. October 30, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved January 16, 2024 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. "Burgess Is Shining Star: Holds Denver U. to No Score Until He Is Injured and Retires". The Helena Daily Independent. November 19, 1911. p. 7 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "1912 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  8. "Haskell Wins From Denver". The Indian Leader. November 8, 1912. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "1913 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  10. "Colorado Mines Is Winner Over University". Albuquerque Journal. November 28, 1913. p. 4 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "1914 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  12. "Football Teams Of Rocky Mountain Conference In Action". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. October 10, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved September 15, 2022 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  13. "1915 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  14. "Aggies Cinch Right To Title: Rocky Mountain Conference Champs Beat Denver 34 to 3". The Salt Lake Herald-Republican. November 26, 1915. p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  15. "1916 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  16. "Denver Beats Wyoming in Hard Game at Laramie". Salt Lake Telegram. October 15, 1916. p. 8 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Denver Whips Creighton by Aid of Fumbles". Omaha Daily Bee. October 29, 1916. pp. Sports 1, 2 via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Denver Eliminated in Conference Race". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 5, 1916. p. Sports 2 via Newspapers.com.
  19. "1917 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  20. "Denver 'U' Cancels Game with Aggies". The Salt Lake Telegram. December 1, 1917. p. 10 via Newspapers.com.
  21. In games against three common conference opponents (Colorado, Wyoming, and Colorado A&M), Utah Agricultura won by a total margin of 120 points; Denver defeated the same three opponents by a total margin of only 31 points.
  22. "Denver Pioneers School History". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  23. "One Point Gives Denver University Victory Over Kendall Collegians". Tulsa Daily World. November 11, 1917. p. 12 via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Denver University Defeats Miners, 51-0". Salt Lake Telegram. Salt Lake City, Utah. United Press. November 18, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2023 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  25. "1918 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  26. "Denver U Beats Aggies: Superiority in Forward Passing Gives Denver Advantage". The Salt Lake Herald. November 17, 1918. p. 16 via Newspapers.com.
  27. "1919 Denver Pioneers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  28. "Play At High School". The Enid Daily News. Enid, Oklahoma. November 27, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2021 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  29. "Denver Loses To Phillips". The Enid Daily Eagle. Enid, Oklahoma. November 28, 1919. p. 3. Retrieved August 12, 2021 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.