Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Banks of the Boneyard (Charles Kiler) [PAGE 18]

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On the Banks of the Boneyard

On the night of Friday, May 13, 1892, in Adelphic Hall at the University of Illinois, the Western Intercollegiate Athletic Association came into being, and without question it was the forerunner of the Big Ten of today. Since this meeting of the delegates marks the beginning of an historic period in western university athletics, I quote from the Illini the following account of its proceedings: The delegates and friends came together in Adelphic Hall on Friday evening, and were called to order promptly at 8:30 o'clock by Frank D. Arms. Charles A. Kiler was made temporary chairman, and Mr. Dickie, N. W. U., was made secretary. After briefly stating the object of the meeting, the chairman called for the adoption of a constitution and by-laws. Mr. Metcalfe offered the constitution and by-laws of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and these were adopted with a few important changes. While this was being done, a nominating committee, consisting of one delegate from each institution represented, was apportioning the offices among the several colleges. They unanimously gave to this University the Presidency, and named Frank D. Arms as the man to fill it—a just and fitting compliment to Mr. Arms and the University. The other officers are to be apportioned by the associations of the colleges to whom the offices have been allotted thus: Northwestern, vice-president; Purdue, secretary and treasurer; executive committee, Washington University; Rose Polytechnic; Iowa College; and Illinois College. This last committee is to determine the place for the next meeting. The report of the committee in charge of this present meeting showed a deficit of $37.53, which was a remarkably good showing considering the weather. Our local association will make this good. Many of the athletic events mentioned in this story have long since been discarded; about half of the men active in forming an Athletic Association more representative of western college athletics than we had enjoyed before this time have passed away, but those who are left will no doubt enjoy this reminder of the first step toward better competition for our athletic teams. We played our first baseball game with Michigan April 22, 1891; it was a cold, rainy day and in the present age no game would have been played. Michigan was a well-organized, up-to-date baseball team. They had a professional coach, played first-class baseball, and gave us a good trimming. They came again in the spring of '92 and our boys held them to a score of 6 to 5; as a matter of fact we should have won the game, but again the weather was bad and Illinois made too many errors, but we beat all other competitors in