A Legacy of Firsts: The Enduring History of Oberlin College Athletics

Oberlin College, a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, boasts a rich and storied history, not only in academics but also in athletics. Founded in 1833 as the Oberlin Collegiate Institute (later renamed Oberlin College in 1850), the institution quickly established itself as a progressive and forward-thinking establishment. This ethos extended to its athletic programs, which have been marked by pioneering achievements and a commitment to inclusivity.

Early Days: From "O" Men to the Birth of the Yeomen

Oberlin began its intercollegiate athletics program in 1886, initially with only men competing. Early on, football players and other athletes were known simply as Oberlin Men or "O" Men. The name Yeomen was selected in a contest that ran in the Oberlin Review from Oct. 26 - Nov. 12, 1926. The selection was then announced at a later date. Oberlin's athletics teams will forever remain the Yeomen and Yeowomen, but in 2014 the department officially welcomed a squirrel mascot to its department-wide branding scheme. The albino squirrel has been a part of the college's history dating back to the 1970s and has become an endearing icon in recent years. Often found in Tappan Square, the squirrels have held a special place in the hearts of many Obies.

A Pioneer in Physical Education and Coaching

Since the late nineteenth century, Oberlin College has been a leader in training physical education teachers. The skill and mentoring of founders like Delphine Hanna produced a generation of men and women who were among the most important individuals in the structuring of physical education and in the formation of professional societies in the areas of recreation, athletics, and physical education.

Oberlin holds the distinction of being the first school coached by the legendary John Heisman. He coached the teams in 1892 and 1894, the second and fourth seasons that football was a varsity sport at the college. The faculty had not approved football as a sport prior to 1891, but it agreed to hire Heisman as head coach for the 1892 season because he was recommended by Walter Camp. Heisman was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he starred as an end in football. In those days football was quite popular in the East and was just beginning to take root in the Midwest. The hiring of Heisman enabled Oberlin to become one of the leading team's in the Midwest. In 1892 the "O" Men, as they were called at the time, were led by Heisman to their first undefeated season with a perfect 7-0 record, beating their opponents by an average score of 37-4 which included two wins over Ohio State and one over Michigan. Because Heisman enrolled in post graduate courses in art, he was permitted to play football for Oberlin as he participated in the late stages of some games near the end of the season. Heisman became known as the leading pioneer in developing the game of football into what it is today with formation shifts, centering the ball, and forward passing. His contribution to Oberlin was in proving that an intelligent coach was an integral part of the sport.

The Controversial Game vs. Michigan

On a cold Saturday afternoon in November 1892, Oberlin's team took the field in Ann Arbor against a heavily favored Michigan squad which had trounced them handily the year before. Notable among the Oberlin visitors was their new player-coach John Heisman, who had been hired away from the University of Pennsylvania by the Oberlin Athletic Association (a student-run enterprise in those days) and who brought an undefeated team with him to Ann Arbor. The team's fastest running back was Charles Savage, who a few years later would become Oberlin's director of athletics and, like Heisman, a nationally prominent figure. The game in Ann Arbor was close all the way. At halftime Michigan led 22-18. so Oberlin could catch the last train home. With less than two minutes remaining, Michigan drove to the 5-yard line before Oberlin stopped them and took over on downs. Two plays later Oberlin made its final touchdown. Score: Oberlin 24, Michigan 22, with less than a minute to go. had arrived, time had expired, and the Oberlin squad trotted off the field to catch the train. Next the umpire (a Michigan man) ruled that four minutes remained on the game clock, owing to timeouts that Oberlin's timekeeper had not recorded. Michigan then walked the ball over the goal line for an uncontested touchdown and was declared the winner, 26 to 24. By that time the Oberlinians were headed home clutching their own victory, 24 to 22.

Read also: Progressive Education at Oberlin

A Founding Member and Shifting Landscapes

During the early part of the 20th century, Oberlin enjoyed a wide range of success. Oberlin is a charter member of the NCAA and was one of the founding members of the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1902, along with Western Reserve University, Kenyon College, Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and Case School of Applied Science. The league commonly was known as the "Big Six." Ohio State left the league to join the Big Ten in 1913, signifying the widening athletic distance between liberal arts schools like Oberlin and major universities. Since 1929, Oberlin has been unable to duplicate the success of its early years in college football. As a result of The Great Depression and World War II many young men were enlisting in the armed forces instead of attending college and playing football. The college, as a private institution, began focusing on the liberal arts aspect of Oberlin's education, forgoing aggressive expansion like former rivals Michigan and Ohio State. During these years Oberlin experienced up and down seasons, though they would lose more often than win. In 1985 Oberlin helped found the North Coast Athletic Conference, based on the principle of gender equality in athletics.

Struggles and a Turnaround in Football

From 1990 through 2001 the Oberlin College football team lost more games than any other team in college football, winning only 4 games and nursing two separate streaks of 40 or more losses. The teams of 1994 to 2000 have been rated the fifth worst college football team of all time by ESPN.com's Page 2. After losing 56-0 to Allegheny in one 1992 game, the Yeoman had so few players they had to forfeit their next game against Wittenberg- and the forfeit turned out to be one of their finest outings. "Nobody got hurt," one school official told Sports Illustrated. "And a forfeit shows up as a 6-0 loss in the books, which was better than most of our scores." In 1994, Oberlin lost all nine games of its season scoring only ten points and giving up 358 points. In 1995, the Yeomen were outscored 469 to 72. In August 1996, Sports Illustrated featured Oberlin in its annual College Football Preview as the worst team in Division III. After four winless seasons from 1993 to 1996, Oberlin opened its 1997 season with an 18-17 victory over Thiel College, sparking post-game jubilation with fans rushing the field. The victory garnered national attention as ESPN featured it on SportsCenter. Oberlin would not win another game for almost four years. Swarthmore College and Oberlin scheduled a 1999 matchup, with both schools nursing long losing streaks, just so one of them could end their streak. Since the 2002 season, Oberlin has recovered from its years of college football futility. Aided in part by consistent coaching, and improvements to the athletic facilities under the guidance of the administration. 2007 may have been the most successful season in the early 2000s. The team went 5-5 overall and finished third in the North Coast Athletic Conference, breaking multiple offensive team records along the way. The group was also successful as individuals. Of the players on the 2007 roster, 6 hold multiple school records, 16 made the All-NCAC team, and 2 were named All-Americans. The 2007 squad boasts the school's all-time passer, receiver, kick-returner, rusher, and all-time leading scorer.

Modern Facilities and Coaching Staff

On November 16, 2013, Oberlin broke ground on the new Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex while playing its final game at Savage Stadium. Less than a month later, on December 6, 2013, it was announced that head coach Jeff Ramsey would be leaving the program. In February 2014 it was announced that interim head coach Jay Anderson would take over for Ramsey. The beginning of the 2014 season also saw the dedication of the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex and Dick Bailey Field, which replaced the outdated Savage Football Stadium and features an all-weather, multipurpose field with artificial turf and lights, suitable for multi-sport use. It serves as the home for the Yeomen football team, field hockey team, and men's and women's lacrosse teams. The complex includes a state-of-the-art press box, grandstands for home and visiting spectators, a support facility with home and visitor locker rooms, and innovative meeting and social spaces for the campus community. The complex is the result of an $8 million gift from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation. Steve Opgenorth took over as head coach of the program in 2020. In 2020 Steve Opgenorth announced the hiring of Alex Hanna to the position of Assistant Conerbacks Coach and Director of Football Operations. Hanna is believed to be the first woman to coach the Oberlin Football team and one of a handful of women coaching men's college football as of 2021.

Rivalries: Past and Present

Oberlin is a former rival of Ohio State, both having been members of the Ohio Athletic Conference. The two first played in 1892 and would compete 26 times over the next 30 seasons before Ohio State outpaced Oberlin's growth and left them behind to join the Big Ten. While it lasted, the rivalry was fairly even as Oberlin posted a 10-13-3 record against the Buckeyes including blowout wins of 50-0 and 40-0 and 128-0. As the gap in class sizes began to grow wider, so did the talent on the gridiron. In 1921, the teams met again as Ohio State came off a Rose Bowl appearance and a conference championship the previous year. The Buckeyes gained the lead in the first five minutes of the game after they scooped up a blocked Yeomen punt and scored. In the third quarter, the Yeomen put together an 85-yard drive that ended with a touchdown. Oberlin's kicker completed the point after, which proved to be all the lead the Yeomen would need to seal the victory. Oberlin has been part of traditional rivalries with several other liberal arts colleges in Ohio. These include the four other Five Colleges of Ohio: Denison, Wooster, Kenyon, and Ohio Wesleyan; as well as local rival Case Western Reserve. Kenyon has traditionally been Oberlin's biggest rival. The rivalry, which began over 100 years ago, stems from the school's many similarities, most notably the level of academic prestige. Though all of the schools in the North Coast Athletic Conference are known for their academic standards, Kenyon and Oberlin are consistently recognized as the top two academic schools in the conference and top 25 in the country. This, among other similarities, often leads to competitive recruiting of the same high school student-athletes. The rivalry on the field has been just as competitive.

Varsity Sports and Beyond

Oberlin Varsity SportsOberlin’s men’s sports offerings include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track & field. Women’s sports programs include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. In addition to competing within the conference and region, in recent years Oberlin athletes have competed on the national level in track & field, cross country, women’s tennis, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, and baseball. Yearly, numerous athletes are honored by various associations for their academic achievements as well as their athletic accomplishments.

Read also: Yeomen Gridiron Glory

Home contests take place within the college’s Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex and Dick Bailey Field, plus other outdoor venues that include the Robert Kahn Track and Fred Shults Field, Dill Field, and Culhane Field. You can use these facilities when not rooting for the home team. Interested in an activity that isn’t a varsity-level sport? Oberlin has more than 20 student-run clubs that are open to both newcomers and seasoned competitors. Some clubs are more instructional while others are quite competitive. Participants may learn as well as teach the sport or activity to others. Fun is generally part of the game, but not at the expense of good competition. Many clubs have outside coaches or instructors who assist with training, instruction, and scheduling seminars, competitions, or other events. The program is run by the Club Sports Council, a group dedicated to improving club sports at Oberlin and ensuring that participants are aware of their rights and responsibilities as club-based student-athletes. What do you get when you combine peer-to-peer competition with on-campus athletics? Answer: intramurals. We have a dynamic intramural sports programs designed by and for students as well as employees. You can continue in a sport you love or learn a new one. You can be fit without the pressure of competition, intense training, and travel. Intramurals offer many opportunities for physical activity and fellowship, while promoting wellness and the positive use of leisure time. Regardless of your athleticism, students involved in intramurals realize the benefits of social recreation and competitive involvement. Our intramural program offers varied seasonal activities throughout the academic year. Most sports are coed. Our health and wellness resources support and empower students to develop greater personal health skills, build stronger interpersonal relationships, and forge a strong sense of community. If soccer, volleyball, or running is not for you, try the Climbing Wall in the central atrium of Jesse Philips Physical Education Center. The four-sided, 25-foot pillar has more than 1,000 holds of all shapes and sizes-enough routes for climbers of any ability to challenge themselves and have fun.

Football Records

Bert M. Everett B. William M. C. K. Richard M. T. A. Udell H. William L. Paul N. Lysle K. J. J. R.V. R.V. Most rushing attempts, game: 46, Ron Stevenson (1981 vs. Most rushing yards, career: 2,505, R.V. Most rushing yards, season: 1,280, R.V. Most rushing yards, game: 336, R.V. Carroll (2006 vs. Most rushing touchdowns, career: 39, R.V. Most rushing touchdowns, season: 16, R.V. Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, R.V. Carroll (2006 vs. Longest run from scrimmage: 94 yards, Fred Cummings (1987 vs. Most passing attempts, game: 63, Josh Mandel (2011 vs. Most passing completions, game: 40, James Parker (1997 vs. Most passing yards, game: 506, Lucas Poggiali (2015 vs. Most passing touchdowns, game: 6, Willie Martinez (1974 vs. Longest pass completion: 89yds, Josh Mandel (2012 vs. Highest completion percentage, game: .888, Kevney O’Connor (1949 vs. Most receptions, game: 17, Felix Brooks-Church (1996 vs. Most receiving yards, game: 242, Justin Cruz (2014 vs. Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Jay Greeley (1974 vs. Longest pass reception: 89yds, Robin Witjes (2012 vs. Most points, season: 98, R.V. Most points, game: 30, R.V. Carroll (2006 vs. Most touchdowns, career: 40, R.V. Most touchdowns, season: 16, R.V. Most touchdowns, game: 5, R.V. Carroll (2006 vs. Most PATs, game: 9, Zach Richard (2007 vs. Most field goals, game: 4, Erickson Andrews (2012 vs. Longest field goal, 56yds, _(1994 vs. Most kickoff return yards, game: 250, Malik Cavallo (1993 vs. Most punt returns, game: 9, David Kalgren (2012 vs. Most punt return yards, game: 95, Jon Davies (1969 vs. Most tackles, game: 31, Keith LaDu (1985 vs. Most tackles for loss, game: 8, Jon Ramsier (2003 vs. Most interceptions, game: 1. 3, George Parr (2000 vs. Most interception yards, game: 110, Quammie Semper (2003 vs. Most sacks, game: 5, Sam Hobi (2001 vs. Average yards per punt, game: 52.9, Bryant Walker (2017 vs.

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