Digital Commons @ Otterbein

Title

1950 Otterbein College (0) at Denison University (26) Football Film

Authors

Otterbein University

Files

Description

Otterbein 0 at Denison 26

Saturday, October 7, 1950

Deeds Field, Granville, Ohio

Time: 7:07 Type: B&W 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

Denison University is a private liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio. One of the earliest colleges established in the former Northwest Territory, Denison University was founded in 1831. The college was called Denison University, in honor of a key benefactor, William S. Denison, a Muskingum County farmer, who pledged $10,000 toward the college's endowment. It was the second Baptist college west of the Allegheny mountains after Georgetown College, which was founded in 1829. Colors: Red and White. Mascot: Big Red. (One of the few colleges that have a mascot based on their colors. In the 1920s the Denison basketball team was large for the time and wore all red uniforms, prompting a Columbus, Ohio, sportswriter to coin the nickname “The Big Red.” During the 1970s the school temporarily used a native American as a mascot but that quickly disappeared and the school reverted to the use of the school color.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denison_University

Pio, Chris, Gryphons, Gorloks and Gusties: A History of NCAA Division III Nicknames and Mascots, Privately Published, Las Vegas, NV, 2021, pp. 52-53.

Coaches: Otterbein – George W. Novotny (OSU ‘38) Novotny played tackle for Ohio State during his undergraduate career, graduating in 1938. He came to Otterbein shortly thereafter as assistant football coach. In 1939 Novotny became head coach at Lima Central High School before joining the Navy in 1942, rising to the rank of Lieutenant (j.g.), seeing action in both the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II. Following the war Novotny took over the head coaching duties at Otterbein in 1946. The Cardinals went 8-1 that year, with their only defeat coming at West Virginia University 13-6. Novotny’s tenure lasted until his resignation in 1950. He went on to become the athletic and recreation director for North American Aviation in Columbus and was also a member of the Westerville School Board.

Denison – Jack Reese Carl (Denison ’41) Jack Carl was a three-sport letter winner at Denison in football, track and baseball from 1938 through 1941. Immediately after graduation he was assistant football coach at East Palestine (Ohio) High School and taught physical education and coached basketball at East Palestine's junior high school. He entered the United States Navy and spent 32 months overseas during World War II as a lieutenant. He returned to Denison to become the head football and track coach from 1949 through 1953. While at the helm of the Big Red football team, his teams compiled a record of 24-16-1. Carl was a member of coaching legend Bo McMillin’s staff at Indiana (1946) before moving to Hanover College (Indiana) as head coach for the 1947-1948 seasons. During his tenure at Hanover his teams led the country in total offense. When he returned to his alma mater in 1949, he replaced another coaching legend and Denison alum, Woody Hayes, who had moved on to Miami University. Carl resigned from his post at Denison in March 1954 to enter private business in Norwalk, Ohio. He was replaced as head football coach by Keith W. Piper, who was his line coach for three seasons. Carl was enshrined in the Denison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

Notes:

Otterbein is in dark jerseys, Denison is in white. The game was played in extreme heat. Two Otterbein players would go on to make their mark on college athletics. Senior quarterback Fred Martinelli (#55) would go on to be a longtime National Football Foundation Hall of Fame coach at Ashland College. Sophomore end, Elmer “Bud” Yoest (#77) went on to be a football assistant, cross country and track head coach and finally athletic director at Otterbein. For more game details see the Columbus Dispatch articles linked to this page.

References:

“Ed Rarey Is Lost To Otterbein Grid Squad,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, October 5, 1950, p. 15B.

“Capital-Wittenberg, Otter-Denison Games Share Top Billing,” Columbus Evening Dispatch, Ocotber 6, 1950, p. 14B.

“Denison is 26-0 Victor Over Otters,” Columbus Sunday Dispatch, October 8, 1950, p.4D.

Game Date

10-7-1950

Game Score

Otterbein 0 - Denison 26

Coaches

Otterbein – George W. Novotny (OSU ‘38)

Denison – Jack Reese Carl (Denison ’41)

Game Location

Deeds Field, Denison University, Granville, Ohio

Comments

Otterbein is in dark jerseys, Denison is in white. The game was played in extreme heat. Two Otterbein players would go on to make their mark on college athletics. Senior quarterback Fred Martinelli (#55) would go on to be a longtime National Football Foundation Hall of Fame coach at Ashland College. Sophomore end, Elmer “Bud” Yoest (#77) went on to be a football assistant, cross country and track head coach and finally athletic director at Otterbein. For more game details see the Columbus Dispatch articles linked to this page.

Game Film # and Reel #

Game Film #5, Reel #17

Recommended Citation

Otterbein University, "1950 Otterbein College (0) at Denison University (26) Football Film" (1950). 1950-1956 Sports Films. 2.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/sports_films_1950-1956/2

Film Time

7:07 minutes

Keywords

College Football, Football Programs, Football Films