Talk about sour grapes. The 1913 college basketball season was winding down, and Syracuse University was snarling about a new cage power in the East.
Central New York had finally noticed Dave Beaver and his fab four teammates. Dave's surprising team had beaten Colgate, St. Law-Back in Time liams rence, College Army , and and Wil was – MARCH 7, 1913 10-1 on the year.
Syracuse had not given Mr. Beaver and his friends much thought earlier in the season. But now, people were talking about Dave and the “whirlwinds” from that small school in Schenectady – Union College. Much of that discussion took place on Friday, March 7, 1913, the day Union hosted New York University in its season finale.
“That the Union quintet has been attracting attention outside of the immediate community needs no proof,” the Schenectady Gazette reported that Friday, mentioning a recent story in a Syracuse newspaper.
NOT ON THE SCHEDULE
The Gazette paraphrased the Syracuse article, saying “Syracuse University is very desirous of getting a crack at the Union team for which at the beginning of the season there was no place on the Syracuse schedule.” Syracuse had defeated Union twice during the previous hoop campaign. Fans of the orange and blue knew the Garnet had lost guards Thomas Fairbairn and Howard Coward to graduation. They were wondering how the team could possibly be so strong, especially with four sophomores on the starting team.
Sportswriters of the day said Beaver and company were not big, muscle-bound players. But they could run.
“At first glance, even a trained observer would be likely to say, 'They look fast, but they cannot last the game out,' ” the Gazette said.
Beaver and his brother, forward Jacob Beaver, lived at 849 Albany St. when they weren't on campus. Lone senior Hartley Dewey, who would later become Union's treasurer, started at the other forward position; Ernest Houghton helped Dave Beaver bring up the ball in the back court. Howard Woods played center.
Syracuse was sufficiently concerned about a shift in Eastern basketball supremacy to telephone Union during the middle of the season and beg for a couple games. “But the athletic board could not see how this could be done,” the Gazette reported. So Syracuse went hungry. New York University players could have sent a soothing message to the Orange – something like “These guys are pushovers” – but Union ran them out of the gym. Hart Dewey scored 14 points and Dave Beaver, the team captain, added 12 as Union romped, 48-10.
REASON TO BE SATISFIED
At 11-1, coach Fred Dawson's team was among the 1913 college hoop elite. At season's end, Union had outscored its opponents 355 to 211. The only Garnet loss had come in the first game of the year to the University of Rochester, 26-25.
“The basketball season of 1913 was without doubt the most successful one that Union has had in her history,” team assistant manager Roblee H. Vaughn wrote in the college's 1913 yearbook, “The Garnet.”
“With a record of 11 victories out of a schedule of 12 games and with a logical claim to the collegiate championship of the eastern states, the team, the coach and every one in any way connected with the college has every right to feel just a little bit of satisfaction.”
Syracuse, with 1912 (and 1914) All-America star Lewis Castle in the lineup, finished 8-3 in 1913. Better days were ahead, as Syracuse became a national power and won the NCAA basketball title in 2003.
Union is still waiting for that championship season.