Digital Commons @ Otterbein

Title

1953 Otterbein College (19) vs. Marietta College (7) Football Film (Homecoming)

Authors

Otterbein University

Files

Description

Otterbein 19 vs Marietta 6

Homecoming

Saturday, October 24, 1953

Memorial Stadium, Westerville, Ohio

Time: 15:06 (Color 3:58, B&W 11:02) Program: No

Schools: Otterbein University is a private university in Westerville, Ohio. The university was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and named for United Brethren founder the Rev. Philip William Otterbein. After the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church, in 1968, Otterbein has been associated with the United Methodist Church. Colors: Tan and Cardinal. Mascot: Cardinals

Marietta College began as the Muskingum Academy, in 1797, which was the birth of higher education in Ohio. The Muskingum Academy, completed late that year, became the first institution of its kind in the Northwest Territory. Today's College was chartered in 1835. Colors: Navy Blue and White. Mascot: Pioneers (Early athletic teams were referred to as “Blue & Whites.” However, since the late 1920s teams have been known as the “Pioneers" due to the role played by the settlement of Marietta as the first permanent settlement and first capital of the Northwest Territory. The current mascot is referred to as “Putnam the Pio” in honor of Gen. Rufus Putnam, the town’s founder and Revolutionary War hero.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marietta_College#History

Pio, Chris, Gryphons, Gorloks and Gusties: A History of NCAA Division III Nicknames and Mascots, Privately Published, Las Vegas, NV, 2021, p. 109.

Coaches: Otterbein – Harry Walter “Buck” Ewing (July 18, 1888, Lincoln, Nebraska – March 11, 1962, Westerville, Ohio; Nebraska ’09), Otterbein coach and athletic director Harry Ewing returned to the sidelines in 1951 after George Novotny resigned to further is graduate studies. Ewing’s extensive coaching experience started after his graduation as an assistant at Nebraska, then as head football coach at Morningside College (Iowa - 1911), South Dakota State University (1912-17), Ohio Wesleyan (1919-21), Miami University (1922-23) and finally at Otterbein. Known as “Mr. Athletics” at Otterbein he coached football coach from 1935-1938, 1942-1945 and 1951-1954. Besides football he coached basketball, track and served as athletic director. The indoor track in the Otterbein Rike Center is named in his memory and he was named to the Otterbein College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

Marietta – John “Red” Smith (Muskingum ’40) Coached the Pioneers from 1952-1956 compiling a record of 7-29-2.

Notes:

Otterbein is wearing white jerseys with tan pants; Marietta wearing blue jerseys with blue pants. This being Otterbein’s Homecoming the first 3:58 of the film is in color. The initial 1:54 minutes are pregame festivities, band marching down the field, homecoming floats, homecoming court, cheerleaders, national anthem and the beginning of rain. At 11:54 (black and white) are the halftime ceremonies, band marching on field, homecoming court escorted across 50-yardline, queen crowned, kissed by both Marietta and Otterbein football captains, Otterbein AFROTC unit and color guard marches down field in review, very strong winds, homecoming court go back across the field and watch game from cars. For more game details see the Columbus Dispatch articles linked to this page.

References:

“Former Cambridge Boys Are Suffering Injuries,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, October 19, 1953, p. 13A.

“Fowler May Get Starting Job On Otterbein Team,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, October 21, 1953, p. 9B.

“Pittsburgh Girl Otterbein Queen,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, October 22, 1953, p. 20B.

“Otterbein and Cap Play Home Games, Ohio Goes to Miami,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, October 23, 1953, p. 20B.

“Otterbein Back Gains Ground,” Columbus Sunday Dispatch, October 25, 1953, p. 2D.

“Otterbein Is 19-7 Winner Over Marietta,” Columbus Sunday Dispatch, October 25, 1953, p. 8D.

Game Date

10-24-1953

Game Score

19-6 (Otterbein Cardinals)

Coaches

Otterbein – Harry Walter “Buck” Ewing (July 18, 1888, Lincoln, Nebraska – March 11, 1962, Westerville, Ohio; Nebraska ’09)

Marietta – John “Red” Smith (Muskingum ’40)

Game Location

Memorial Stadium, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio

Comments

Otterbein is wearing white jerseys with tan pants; Marietta wearing blue jerseys with blue pants. This being Otterbein’s Homecoming the first 3:58 of the film is in color. The initial 1:54 minutes are pregame festivities, band marching down the field, homecoming floats, homecoming court, cheerleaders, national anthem and the beginning of rain. At 11:54 (black and white) are the halftime ceremonies, band marching on field, homecoming court escorted across 50-yardline, queen crowned, kissed by both Marietta and Otterbein football captains, Otterbein AFROTC unit and color guard marches down field in review, very strong winds, homecoming court go back across the field and watch game from cars. For more game details see the Columbus Dispatch articles linked to this page.

Game Film # and Reel #

Game Film #10, Reel #4

Recommended Citation

Otterbein University, "1953 Otterbein College (19) vs. Marietta College (7) Football Film (Homecoming)" (1953). 1950-1956 Sports Films. 10.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/sports_films_1950-1956/10

Film Time

15:06 (3:58 Color, 11:02 Black & White)

Keywords

College Football, Football Programs, Football Films