6 man History

[High Plains Drifter]

Mr. Mims, the coach in Bryson picture was a class act.

 

[Old Bearkat]

A little blurb on 6 man football in the September 5, 1940 Freeport Facts.

 

[Old Bearkat]

Mr. Mims, the coach in Bryson picture was a class act.

He looked like he was.

Did you see my comment on the 1988 Three Way post?

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the September 12, 1940 on the upcoming first games of the 1940 season for District 12B 6 man

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the Paris News October 24, 1940 on a couple of Oklahoma 6 man schools playing that week.

 

[Old Bearkat]

I wonder if Talhina or Savannah ever played any of the local Texas 6 man schools?

 

[Old Bearkat]

An odd tidbit from the October 25, 1940 Port Arthur News on 6 man intramural football at Chicago University after tehy dropped intercollegiate 11 man football.

 

[Old Bearkat]

District 14B 6 man from the November 7, 1940 Sweetwarer Nolan County News.

 

[Old Bearkat]

Of all the schools mentioned, only Blackwell still exists today.

 

[High Plains Drifter]

yessir, saw the Three Way post. I just figured the "Fence" was there forever. Was copying some old tapes and saw it in all its glory. Ha Along with a certain individual from a certain school hanging a double bird to the fans at S town. Pure class. Ha

 

[Old Bearkat]

Hey Leman,

Another reference to Sylvester as having played the first 6 man game in Texas from an article in the November 15, 1940 Anson Jones County Western Observer.

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the November 15, 1940 Big Spring Herald on the Dawson County 6 man district championship game between Klondike and Sparenburg.

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the Pampa News, November 15, 1940 on the Groom-Booker game to decide the District 1B 6 man district championship

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the San Antonio Express November 20, 1940 on the District championship game between Castroville (now Medina Valley) in Luling

 

[Old Bearkat]

Same paper, same date on the district 2B 6 man district championship between D'Hanis and La Pryor.

 

[cren22]

An odd tidbit from the October 25, 1940 Port Arthur News on 6 man intramural football at Chicago University after tehy dropped intercollegiate 11 man football.

I don't know how common this was, but I know that Chicago wasn't unique in doing this. I have seen mentions in the archives of the local papers here in Maryland about St. John's College in Annapolis having intramural six-man football starting up after they dropped intercollegiate football as well. They actually dropped all athletics during this time period and have never restarted them. They are still functioning, albeit with a really odd curriculum and a tiny enrollment. Their six-man intramural teams may have predated six-man high school play in this state.

Outside of St. John's and now Chicago, I have never seen this mentioned at the collegiate level. However, two schools located far apart in the 1940s both doing the same thing would suggest that this could have been fairly widespread during a brief period of time during the national heyday of six-man.

Several boarding prep schools may have also had intramural six-man teams. I have seen them mentioned at I believe St. Andrews School in DE. They had a full intramural six-man league with all the teams identified by colors (Red Team vs. Blue Team, etc...). I doubt they were they only school to do this.

 

[Old Bearkat]

So far, all I have found is Chicago U doing that. There were several more articles, all almost unreadable about them playing 6 man intramurals, and all taking a snotty tone about it. Chicago U's intramural teams did combine as an "all-star" team and did play several small colleges and Junior colleges in a few 11 man games.

 

[Old Bearkat]

From the Corsicana Daily Sun November 27, 1940 on the state 6 man powerhouse Prairie Lea.

 

[Old Bearkat]

A little tidbit from the October 11, 1945 Big Spring Herald on a High Island-Sabine Pass game.

 

[Old Bearkat]

Cowboy found some more old yearbooks. This time from May.

1972 May Tigers