Mines Football Fun In the course of years since its founding in 1866 by Episcopalian Bishop George M. Randall, as part of a theological seminary then known as Jarvis School of Theology, the Colorado School of Mines has come to be regarded as a tough academic institution and as one of the nation’s foremost colleges in the training of engineers in the mineral industries. Generally overlooked or forgotten is the important role the school played in the development of athletics as a part of college life. Articles in the Golden Transcript and documents of a historical nature in the Mines’ library, give reason to believe the school may have been fielding football teams which played informally or on a club basis, as early as 1880. A complete record of scores of all Mines football games, compiled by Dave C. Johnston (CSM business manager of athletics from 1914 until his retirement in 1952), shows that Mines’ first game of record was played in 1888. It was with the University of Denver. Mines won 6 to 4. The record has been kept up-to-date. By 1890, fairly regular competition with other colleges and universities in Colorado was being scheduled, augmented by games with some high schools and club teams, such as the Denver Athletic Club and Littleton Wheel Club. With the increasing popularity of football in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the student leaders of the athletic association felt it advisable to hire a professional coach. Money raised through student fees would pay his salary. In 1904, Gordon "Shorty" Ellsworth, a graduate from the University of Chicago, was employed in that capacity. Commencing with that year, he produced four consecutive Colorado State championship teams. The Orediggers, as the Mines football team came to be nicknamed, later practiced on Stratton field near the center of the Mines campus. Later—sometime prior to World War I, which the United States entered in 1917—a rough practice field was laid out west of golden on the south bank of Clear Creek on land donated by the Rubey Clay Company. Improvements were gradually made on this area which were paid for by contributions from townspeople, alumni, students, and others interested in Mines’ athletic fortunes. In 1922, a small stadium was erected and the Orediggers began to play some of their home games in Golden. In 1927-28, wings were added to the seating facility. These stands provide the principal seating for spectators at Mines games today. The athletic complex was named Brooks Field in honor of Ralph Brooks, a former member of the Board of Trustees. Great victories of the past will be recalled: the 103 to 0 massacre of the green Colorado University team in 1890; the 50 to 0 pasting handed Wyoming in 1898; the 51 to 0 beating given Aggies in 1904; the 24 to 0 win over a good CU team in 1912; the 49 to 0 win over BYU in 1922; the 13 to 12 defeat of DU in 1928; the 50 to 7 drubbing dealt Colorado college in 1939; the 14 to 6 defeat of C.C. in 1951 for the RMC championship; the great upset of powerful Idaho State 7 to 0 in 1960 following the Bengals’ 80 to 6 slaughter of C.C. the week before; 1972’s 14 to 12 win over Western new Mexico University at Homecoming which triggered the Oredigger four-game winning streak. Those are some of the great wins in Mines football history. Mines Magazine January 1975