The Albion football teams (later known as the Albion Britons) represented Albion College in American football during the program's second decade of college football from 1890 to 1899. The team competed as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1890s. Highlights include the following:
The 1890 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1890 college football season. The team compiled a perfect 4âÂÂ0 record (3âÂÂ0 in MIAA games).
The 1891 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1891 college football season. The team compiled a perfect 4âÂÂ0 record (3âÂÂ0 in MIAA games).
On October 17, 1891, Albion defeated the Michigan Wolverines for the first time by a 10âÂÂ4 score. The game was played at the Ann Arbor Fairgrounds in 30-minute halves. Albion had played Michigan seven times from 1886 to 1890 and had lost all seven of the previous matches by a combined score of 287 to 22.
Albion scored first, using a formation that Michigan argued was illegal. The Albion linemen, excepting the ends, locked arms and formed a wedge of protection for the quarterback who ran behind the wedge. The ends, halfbacks, and fullback locked in behind the quarterback, protecting the ball carrier from all sides. Because Albion's line was heavier, Michigan's line had difficulty in stopping Albion's advance. Michigan argued that the use of interlocking arms violated new rules prohibiting the use of arms to interfere with or obstruct an opponent who was not carrying the ball. Michigan also argued that the quarterback run was illegal as a violation of a rule prohibiting the first man to receive the ball when snapped from advancing the ball. Burnham (quarterback and captain) and Anderson (left halfback) scored touchdowns for Albion in the first half, and Burnham kicked a goal from touchdown. Hayes scored a touchdown for Michigan in the second half.
The Albion team arrived at its local train station at midnight following the game. They were met at the depot by a large crowd, including almost every male student at the college, armed with kazoos, razoos, bells, drums, and fish-horns. The team was taken by carriage to a bonfire on College Hill, where Burnham provided a first-hand account of the game.
The 1892 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1892 college football season. The team compiled a 3âÂÂ1 record (1âÂÂ0 in MIAA games).
On November 5, 1892, Albion lost to the Michigan Wolverines by a score of 60âÂÂ8. The game was played in halves of 45 minutes in front of 600 spectators at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan scored 10 touchdowns and converted on all 10 kicks for goal from touchdown. The Detroit Free Press reported: "The university team played a sprinting game, nearly every touchdown being made after long runs and skillful dodging." George Jewett, Michigan's first African-American player, was credited with playing a "great game", having kicked nine consecutive goals after touchdown. Dygert kicked the 10th goal. The score was evenly divided between the two halves, with Michigan scoring 30 points and Albion four points in each half.
The game was marked by rough play. Michigan's left guard Jefferis received a "vicious kick" in the back, the sound of which could be heard in the grandstand. Jefferis left the game and was replaced by Hall. Michigan's right end Hayes accused Albion's fullback Mulholland of putting fingers in his mouth and trying "to tear him." An Albion player also accused Michigan's left tackle Bray of slugging him in the face.
The 1893 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1893 college football season.
The 1894 Albion football team represented Albion College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1894 college football season. Under first-year head coach Walter B. Gage, Albion won the MIAA championship, with victories over Hillsdale and and a victory over Notre Dame in their Thanksgiving Day game.
The contest against Battle Creek High School was considered a practice game, and so is not reflected on the final record.
Albion's second team was organized in early October. They were managed by W. F. Kendrick and captained by Frank Mulholland.
The 1895 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1895 college football season. In its second and final season under head coach Walter B. Gage, the team compiled a 2âÂÂ2 record (0âÂÂ1 in conference) and outscored opponents by a total of 42 to 40.
The 1896 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association] (MIAA) during the 1896 college football season. Led by former F. J. Shipp in his first and only season as head coach, Albion compiled a of 4âÂÂ4 record (2âÂÂ1 in conference games) and was outscored by a total of 124 to 42. Shipp had starred as a halfback for Albion during the previous five seasons.
The 1897 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1897 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach William A. Niles, the team compiled a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record (2âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 in MIAA games).
The 1898 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1898 college football season. In its first year under head coach Carl Jacobs, the team compiled a 1âÂÂ5 record (0âÂÂ4 in MIAA games).
The 1899 Albion football team represented Albion College as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1899 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Chester Brewer, Albion compiled a 2âÂÂ6 record (1âÂÂ5 in conference games) and was outscored by a total of 99 to 76.