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Many things were happening in the fall of 1931. Notorious gangster Al Capone had been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Across the Atlantic in Germany, the Nazi Party continued to gain power. Back
stateside, Mickey Mantle and Dan Rather were born. It was, however, the effects of the Great Depression that were making the biggest
news in the United States and across the world.
Times were tough. Some had lost everything. But there were many trying to do their part to help out. In college
football, several universities competed in a series of postseason benefit games to raise money for those affected by the Great Depression.
The Big 10 even hosted a mini-tournament of four schools (two first round ‘games’, each 20 minutes, with the winners meeting in the finals.) Taking inspiration from their big brothers, Indiana high school football decided to do their part as well.
“INDIANA SCHOOLS TO BE ALLOWED ONE CHARITY GAME”
This was the headline throughout the state in late October when Arthur L. Trester, Permanent Secretary of the IHSAA, announced that member schools could extend the season an extra week.
The normal rules of 1931 allowed schools to play up until Nov. 30, so this
exception gave them the chance to extend their schedule an extra week into December.
| NOTE: It was in this decree that Trester, also known as czar of the IHSAA, reduced the age limit from 21 to 20 years of
age (it is now 18). |
John K. Jennings, of Evansville, had recently organized the Unemployment Relief Agency, one of the first work relief programs in the nation and the first in the state. Seeing a chance to help, Jennings called upon the principals of Bosse, Central, Memorial and Reitz high schools. He had an idea.
“FOOTBALL TOURNEY SLATED DEC. 5 AT REITZ BOWL”
On Nov. 17, the Evansville Press announced that the four city high schools would meet in a postseason tournament for the benefit of the unemployed. The pairings would be made just before the first game. According to the paper, “The teams will play 10-minute halves with one-minute rest periods. Winners of the first two games will meet in the third game.”
| NOTE: Lincoln High, the ‘colored school’ as it
was then called, was not considered for the tournament, as certain
prejudices of that day would not allow them to compete against a ‘white
school’. A charity game between Lincoln and Central for mid-November had
been discussed, but negative public reaction put an end to those talks.
Lincoln would finally play a 'white' Evansville school in 1949, beating
Mater Dei 27-13. |
What an exciting afternoon of football this would provide! What a great way to help raise money! Football fans all across Evansville were abuzz for the tournament, until three days later…
“TRESTER RIDES ROUGH SHOD OVER CHARITY GAMES”
You can’t do that, said Trester, czar of the IHSAA. Technically, he was right. The teams that won the first round games would be playing a second round, but the games were scheduled for ten minutes apiece, not even a full quarter. The two teams that would meet in the finals wouldn’t even be playing a full half of football, let alone two games.
Jennings used this argument when he wired Trester on Nov. 24, but the next day’s headline showed Trester’s answer, which the Press didn’t think much of:
“CZARISTIC ATTITUDE OF A. L. TRESTER IS SCORED”
Even the Governor of Indiana, Harry G. Leslie, met with Trester. But the czar held firm and the IHSAA backed his decision. In Trester’s defense, if he made the exception for Evansville, other schools would want the same. But Dick Anderson’s headline in the Nov. 29 edition of the Press finalized his opinion:
“WE BOW, MR. TRESTER! WHAT ARE A FEW MORE THOUSANDS FOR UNEMPLOYED RELIEF COMPARED TO BREAKING ONE LITTLE RULE?”
While it had become obvious that Trester and the IHSAA were not going to budge, an interesting situation had developed. A few days earlier, on Thanksgiving, Reitz defeated Bosse, 6-0. Both schools were now 2-1 in the final city standings and could claim a share of the championship of Evansville.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! That’s exactly what Jennings and Evansville school officials decided to do.
“TEAMS TIED FOR CITY TITLE TO MEET ON DEC. 5”
This was the headline of the Nov. 27 Press sports section. Bosse and Reitz would meet to play off their tie to determine the true city champion in the second game of a double header. Central and Memorial, both 1-2 in the city standings, would open things up to resolve third place.
A few more wrenches were thrown in, just for good measure. There was talk of whether or not the games would count in the final standings, after all (it was finally agreed that they would) and the location of the double header was moved from Reitz Bowl to Bosse Field, but the day finally came and the games went off without a hitch.
Third Place: Memorial def. Central, 9-6, in front of 4,000 fans
City Championship: 6,000 fans witnessed Bosse defeat Reitz, 13-0, to claim the 1931 city title
| NOTE: Bosse had been in the running for the state title before their Turkey Day defeat. The Bulldogs finished 9-1 and South Bend Central (10-0) was chosen as the most outstanding team in the state and “recognized by the Indiana High School Athletic Association as the official championship
team.”
Also, Mr. Trester may not have been a hero in this story, but he
greatly helped to build up basketball and athletics in Indiana. He was the
affiliated with the IHSAA from 1911 to 1944, when he passed away at 66,
and is a member of the National and Indiana Basketball Halls of Fame.
According the the Indiana
Basketball Hall of Fame's entry for Trester, he was characterized as
"honest, uncompromising, alert and militant." |
1931 Team Pages
1931
Indiana High School Football
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Dan Engler
