1931 Central State Bearcats football team

American college football season

1931 Central State Bearcats football

Conference| Independent
Record| 4–3
Head coach|

* George Van Bibber (1st season)

Home stadium| Alumni Field

Seasons

<- 1930

1932 ->

1931 Midwestern college football independents records

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| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
Wilberforce |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 0  | - | 0
Marquette |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 1  | - | 0
Saint Louis |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 1  | - | 0
Detroit |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 2  | - | 1
Western State Teachers (MI) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 11 Notre Dame |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 2  | - | 1
DePaul |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 3  | - | 0
Michigan State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 3  | - | 1
Haskell |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 0
Michigan Tech |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 2  | - | 0
Michigan State Normal |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 2  | - | 1
Central State (MI) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 3  | - | 0
John Carroll |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 4  | - | 2
Wittenberg |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 3  | - | 3
Kent State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 4  | - | 0
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1931 Central State Bearcats football team represented Central State Teachers College, later renamed Central Michigan University, as an independent during the 1931 college football season. In their first season under head coach George Van Bibber, the Bearcats compiled a 4–3 record (2–1 against MCC opponents), held five of seven opponents to seven or fewer point, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 95 to 58. The team defeated its in-state rival Michigan State Normal (20–12), lost to rival Western State Teachers (6–7), and also lost to Big Ten Conference champion Michigan (0–27).[1][2]

Van Bibber was named Central State's head football coach in May 1931. He replaced Butch Nowack who left Central State to accept a coaching position at Indiana. Van Bibber had played football, basketball, and baseball at Purdue.[3]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

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October 3| at Michigan|

* Michigan Stadium
* Ann Arbor, MI

| L 0–27| 70,000| [4]
October 10|  Ferris Institute|

* Alumni Field
* Mount Pleasant, MI

| W 14–6|  | [5]
October 24| at Michigan State Normal|

* Normal Field
* Ypsilanti, MI (rivalry)

| W 20–12| 6,500| [6]
October 31|  Detroit City College|

* Alumni Field
* Mount Pleasant, MI

| W 42–0|  | [7]
November 7|  Alma|

* Alumni Field
* Mount Pleasant, MI

| W 13–0| 3,500| [8]
November 14| at Bowling Green|  Bowling Green, OH| L 0–6|  | [9]
November 21|  Western State Teachers (MI)|

* Alumni Field
* Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)

| L 6–7|  | [10]

* Homecoming

## Game summaries

[edit]

### Michigan

[edit]

Central State opened its 1931 season on October 3 with a 27-0 loss to Michigan. The games attracted a crowd of nearly 80,000 at Michigan Stadium.[11] Michigan played its backup players in the game. Michigan's touchdowns were scored by halfback Jack Heston (the son of former Michigan star Willie Heston), fullback Roderick Cox (1933 NCAA champion in the hammer throw), end Ted Petoskey, and substitute halfback Herbert Schmidt. Petoskey also kicked three points after touchdown.[11]

## References

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1. ^ "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 108. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
2. ^ "Central Michigan Yearly Results (1930-1934)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
3. ^ "Van Bibber Name Grid Coach at Mt. Pleasant". Detroit Free Press. May 30, 1931. p. 9.
4. ^ Tod Rockwell (October 4, 1931). "Michigan Shows Real Power As It Wins 2 Games: Central State, Hurons Whipped". Detroit Free Press. p. 13 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Ferris Gridders Lose To Teachers". Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1931. p. 16 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Hurons Bow To Bearcats". Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1931. p. 17 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Teachers Beat City Collegians: Central State Runs Away in Game to 42-0 Score". Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1931. p. 25 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Bearcats Beat Alma". Detroit Free Press. November 8, 1931. p. 24 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Bowling Green 6, Central 0". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 15, 1931. p. 37 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Western Wins by One Point: Combs' Kick Defeats Central State, 7 to 6". Detroit Free Press. November 22, 1931. p. 25 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ a b "Michigan Scores Double Victory Before 80,000". Chicago Tribune. October 4, 1931. pp. 2–5.2-5&rft.date=1931-10-04&rft_id=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1931/10/04/page/33/article/michigan-scores-double-victory-before-80-000&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1931+Central+State+Bearcats+football+team" class="Z3988">

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*[Conf]: Conference record
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