The Umpire Strikes Back?
Players, coaches, and crowd members criticizing or attacking the officials at sporting events seem to be getting worse and more frequent, but it certainly is nothing new. Football had seen such incidents since well before the officials wore striped shirts; one of them occurred when Carlisle met Penn at Franklin Field in 1909. — www.footballarchaeology.com
Timothy P. Browns reminds us of a skirmish in a Penn versus Carlisle game where in the fray was involved Big Bill Edwards, Pop Warner, Waseuka, and an Umpire.
In a chaotic 1909 clash between Penn and Carlisle, a brawl erupted, showcasing the raw intensity of early football. The incident began when Carlisle's Waseuka delivered a forceful hit on Penn's quarterback, sparking a confrontation between Waseuka and Penn's Fretz. Former Princeton star and umpire Big Bill Edwards intervened, only to be struck by Waseuka. Edwards promptly ejected Waseuka.
Thanks to Timothy Brown of FootballArchaeology.com we have an account of the mele. Umpire Strikes Back
Carlisle's legendary coach, Pop Warner, stormed the field, accusing Edwards and referee Walter Okeson of bias. This led to Warner's own ejection, along with Fretz. Edwards, known for his imposing presence, maintained his composure, opting for ejection over retaliation, a testament to his self-control.
The controversy extended beyond the game. Carlisle, while accepting Edwards's handling of the brawl, harbored resentment from a previous game where he had shared Carlisle's strategies with Princeton, who then defeated them.
The skirmish, though dramatic, was overshadowed by the tragic death of Army's Eugene Byrne in a separate game. This event shifted the focus to player safety, leading to rule changes in 1910, and put the Edwards/Warner altercation into a much smaller perspective. Penn ultimately won the game 29-6, but the day's events highlighted the volatile nature of early football and the evolving role of officiating.
