6 man History

I was visiting with my neighbor tonight at a Christmas party. My phone kept getting texts from cowboy with updates and neighbor asked about it so I explained I receive texts with updates on Sixman games. He replied that he had played 6man at Buda and played in the first Texas Sixman coaches Assn.Allstar game in 1950. His coach was the first president, name of L.B. Owen.
This man has been my closest neighbor for over 50 years. Taught me biology in high school. I had no idea he had played 6man and probably never would have known if not for score updates from cowboy ........ Amazing......
 
smokeyjoe - He was pretty close on his memory...but the first coaches association all-star game was played in 1947 at Big Springs (1946 was the first year of the clinic but no games were played), they added the basketball game in 1949. The 1950 clinic and games were the first ones played at a different site (San Marcos SWTTC).

As a trivia question I'd ask which team won that first football game in 1947????

I have records that say the 1950 football game was East 20 West 14
 
I don't know if this was posted here or not already, but here's a photo that shows Nathan Hayes and Craig Steele in their high school days, along with a few other 6 man notables.....

11353454355_a13b8d3d69.jpg
 
I decided to search the Archive and see when the very first 6 man game ever was played and what the papers said about it.

From the September 23, 1934 Beatrice Daily Sun:

Will Test Six Man Football
New Game Devised By Steve Eppler, Beatrice High Coach Takes Eye Of Football World—Play It At Hebron Wednesday

Gridirion history may be made next Wednesday night at the Hebron football fieldwhen the first six man football game
in the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, will be contested.

The game will be played under arc lights by four teams picked from members of the Little Blue Conference—Belvidere and Alexandria against Chester and Hardy.

A new game, thanks to Steve Epler, the new assistant coach at the Beatrice high school, will be born before the eyes of the sporting public.

Steve evolved the game while serving as coach and instructor at Chester. He'll be present for the world premiere, along with other coaches, schoolmen, the curious and several representatives from the state university gridiron staff.

This new game carries most of the features of football as we know it, but has some modifications to make the game less dangerous and to open up the running and passing phases of the game.

For instance: All players except the center are eligible to receive passes. The man who first receives the ball on the snap back from center can not carry it across the scrimmage line without first passing it to another player. The pass must either be a forward flip or some other variety of at least two yards distance.

The field is shortened and narrowed- 80 yards by 40 yards. Epler's purpose was to provide football for schools with sparse
boy-enrollment, but other exubarant advocates point out that that the game will be ideal for grade school lads. They'll be able to play football without the hazards of unsupervised and un-equipped play.

Substitutes, such as autumn baseball and softball have been tried by schools unable to muster the eleven boys and relief lads necessary for a football team. But they haven't been entirely satisfactory.

So, it appears football history will be in the making in Hebron Wednesday night.
Click to expand...
 
More from the 11/1/1934 Beatrice Daily Sun....

The Hebron College homecoming will feature a 6 man exhibition game between Hebron Academy and Belvedere High School along with an 11 man game between Hebron College and Concordia Teacher's College.
 
From the November 11, 1934 Beatrice Daily Sun

ODELL WINS SIX-MAN FAN-PLEASER

ODELL. Nov. 10 (Special)—
Sixman football received a warm reception
in its debut here Friday as Coach A. R. Major's Odell aggre-
gatlon defeated Endicott, 14 to 13.

Cacek scored twice for the home team on end runs, and each time
Skrabal added the extra point. Endicott scored in the first and
third periods. Odell in the second and fourth quarters.

A good sized crowd was greatly pleased with the exhibition.
Click to expand...
 
From the same paper, same day, different year...

IDAHO LIKES SIXMAN FOOTBALL AS CREATED BY EPLER

CASCADE, Idaho, Nov. 11 OP)—
Six man football played in four eight minute periods on a field 80
yards long and 120 feet wide is finding favor in smaller western
Idaho schools.

Idaho has been the latest to give the three year old game a
fling. This season only a few games were played. Next fall four
central Idaho high schools have lined up complete schedules.

"The game, worked out by Stephen Epler in 1933 at Chester,
Neb., has been found successful," Superintendent A. B. Anderson of
Cascade said.

Epler, now attending Columbia University, New York City, was
assistant coach at the Beatrice high school during 1934 and 1935
after leaving Chester.
Click to expand...
 
From the 11/25/1934 Beatrice Daily Sun:

ALL STAR BEATRICE HIGH TEAM WILL PLAY 6 MAN FOOTBALL AT PALISADE

An All-Star Beatrice high sixman football team is being recruited
by Steve Epler, creator of the new sport, for a Thanksgiving Day
tussle at Palisade.

Palisade, a small community some 40 miles west of McCook, has
a six-man aggregation that has squelched a dozen Colorado, Kansas
and Nebraska opponents, and is now looking for bigger and better
foes.

The Palisade coach, an ex-Northwestern university football
ace, thought that the game's inventor could rustle up an oufit
that would be a worthy foe for his hot shots.

Epler believes he can do that very thing, and will use Dale Halloway,
Chester Arthur, Forrest Wilke, Lawrence Fraley, Wilfred Davis,
Verdon Rector and Glenn Dunn of the first team and Rex
Floyd and Kenneth Rinne of the second stringers as his squad.

The local outfit will drill at least two nights this week, possibly three.
Click to expand...
 
Old Bearkat":4xwxs4m7 said:
I decided to search the Archive and see when the very first 6 man game ever was played and what the papers said about it.

From the September 23, 1934 Beatrice Daily Sun:

Will Test Six Man Football
New Game Devised By Steve Eppler, Beatrice High Coach Takes Eye Of Football World—Play It At Hebron Wednesday

Gridirion history may be made next Wednesday night at the Hebron football fieldwhen the first six man football game
in the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, will be contested.

The game will be played under arc lights by four teams picked from members of the Little Blue Conference—Belvidere and Alexandria against Chester and Hardy.

A new game, thanks to Steve Epler, the new assistant coach at the Beatrice high school, will be born before the eyes of the sporting public.

Steve evolved the game while serving as coach and instructor at Chester. He'll be present for the world premiere, along with other coaches, schoolmen, the curious and several representatives from the state university gridiron staff.

This new game carries most of the features of football as we know it, but has some modifications to make the game less dangerous and to open up the running and passing phases of the game.

For instance: All players except the center are eligible to receive passes. The man who first receives the ball on the snap back from center can not carry it across the scrimmage line without first passing it to another player. The pass must either be a forward flip or some other variety of at least two yards distance.

The field is shortened and narrowed- 80 yards by 40 yards. Epler's purpose was to provide football for schools with sparse
boy-enrollment, but other exubarant advocates point out that that the game will be ideal for grade school lads. They'll be able to play football without the hazards of unsupervised and un-equipped play.

Substitutes, such as autumn baseball and softball have been tried by schools unable to muster the eleven boys and relief lads necessary for a football team. But they haven't been entirely satisfactory.

So, it appears football history will be in the making in Hebron Wednesday night.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

There was also a little article on this game in the Sept 26, 1934 El Paso Herald.....
 
From the September 27, 1934 San Antonio Express, an article on the first 6 man game:

HIGH SCHOOLS FIND 6-MAN GRID TEAMS; OPENS UP PLAY

HEBRON, Neb.. Sept. 26—
High school youths given the honor of experimenting here tonight
in the first two six-man football games known to modern sport,
had to be content with honor and no victory as both contests ended In ties.

A 19-19 score marked the feature "midget" game between
a combined team of Alexandria and Belvldere, Neb. High
Schools and a Chester-Hardy crew. In the preliminary, even
the liberal passing, which the innovation Invites failed to
break a scoreless deadlock between Beatrice and Hebron
Academy.

One result of the experiment was a suggestion by Hal J. Bower
of Lincoln, Neb., a former Big Six football official, that the
innovations compromise by adding one more man. He suggested
a five-man line and two man backfield for defense and
4-3 combination on offense.

Stephen Epler, assistant football coach at Beatrice High
School, who originated the "midget" affair, claimed the
night's exhibition vindicated his theory that a six-man team
opens up plays better and prevents injuries. Epler's idea is
that the sport meets the need of thousands of small high
schools unable to support and train regulation "squads.
Click to expand...

That 7 man idea was interesting. I wonder if anyone ever gave it a try?

Also, the Nebraska paper article did not mention the second game in this double header.
 
OK, here's an interesting find. I found this in the October 6, 1936 Lockhart Post Register. Evidentally, some central Texas schools got a big jump and organized an 8 team 6 man conference in 1936. Prairie Lea, Martindale, Kyle, Lytton Springs, Dripping Springs, Wimberly, Dale, and Uhland were a part of this.

Six-Man Football Conference

Kyle Trims Dale 72-6
Kyle's powerhouse running attack crossed the Dale Mustang's
goalline eleven times and made six extra points to ring up their second
victory of the season on the Kyle gridiron last Friday. Sanders,
shifty Kyle quarterback, crossed the Mustang goal line six times, while
his teammates, Nance and Decker, scored 3 and 2 touchdowns respectively.

The highlight of the game happened at the beginning of the third
quarter when Decker, Kyle fullback, ran the klckoff back 65 yards,
for a touchdown. Decker proved to be outstanding on the defense for
Kyle.

McDonald and Barber were the whole show on the defense and offense
for the Mustangs. McDonald scored Dale's lone tally in the first
quarter on a pass from Barber.

Starting lineup
DALE (6) KYLE (72)
Roberts LE Bryant
McDonald C Drumm
McConnell RE Booth
Barber QB Sanders
Lackey HB Nance
Stevens FB Docker
Click to expand...
 
More games

INDIANS DEFEAT KANGAROOS

Coach Louis Wehmeyer and his Prarie Lea Indians downed the Uhland Kangaroos
on Central Texas famed gridiron. Lions Field, last Friday night by a score of 32 to 2.
The Kangaroos opened their bag of tricks in the first half and held the powerful Indians
to one talley during that period.

B Wranitsky. Kangaroos right end, blocked a Prarie Lea punt on the Indian four yard line in the first
quarter. Prarie Lea recovered behind their goal line which gave Uhland a safety or 2 points. The Kangaroos
are a very much improved team since their first game with Martindale.

Brown, Gleason, Thompson, McCartney and Weeks scored for the Indians. Brown and Heinemeyer.
towering Prarie Lea ends, broke through the Uhland defense many times to throw the Kangaroo ball
carriers for losses. Brown proved his ability of being an able pass receiver by snagging a ten yard pass
and galloping 55 yards for a touchdown.

There was a rather small crowd at the game probably because most of our good friends of Lockhart
boarded a special train that took them to Smithville to see the Lion-Tiger game in that city.

Starting lineup.
Prarie Lea (32) Uhland (2)
Brown LE Schuetzeberg
Thorman C Schiwitz
Heidenemeyer RE Wranitsky
Gleason QB Graef
Thomson HB Franke
Reedy FB Kaiser
Click to expand...
 
...and another game

SPRINGS UPSETS FAVORED BULLDOGS

The favored Lytton Springs Bulldogs were upset last Friday afternoon by Dripping Springs on their
gridiron by a score of 36 to 12.

Meyers, Dripping Springs full back, played an excellent game. His shifty running gave the Bulldog
defense a headache throughout the game Meyers and his teammates are on their way to the top
if they continue to improve in the future as in the past. It was only two weeks ago that Prarie Lea defeated
them 74 to 7. Dripping Springs was strong on defense, but need some help from the blocking
department on the offense.

The Bulldogs were stricken with bad luck when their star half back, James Glass, received a foot injury
and left the game in the third quarter. Clendennen, Bulldog fullback, played a good defensive game.

Starting lineup:
Lytton Springs (12) Dripping Springs (36)
Vann RE Guslin
Strawn C W. Spiller
Cardwell LE Maxey
Lamb QB J. Spiller
Gass HB Hollingsworth
Clendennen FB Meyers
Click to expand...
 
From the same page....

OUTSTANDING PLAYER

This week we have chosen a hard hitting full back as our outstanding
player. He ran a kick-off back 60 yards for a touchdown and plunged
over for another. This fullback exhibited some blocking and tackling
that was excellent. Several times he threw the opposing backs
than Mr. Bob Decker of Kyle. Good luck to you through the remainder
for losses. The player is none other of the season Bob.
Click to expand...
 

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