The 1916 Western Conference football season was the twenty-first season of college football played by the member schools of the Western Conference (later known as the Big Ten Conference) and was a part of the 1916 college football season.
Season overview Ohio State won its first Western Conference championship since joining in 1913 by going undefeated in both league play (4–0) and overall 7–0.
After finishing last for three straight seasons, Northwestern came in second place at 6-1 (4-1 WC) with their only conference loss to Ohio State in the finale for both teams.
Minnesota came in third at 6-1 (3-1 WC), Chicago fourth at 3-4 (3-3), Illinois fifth at 3-3-1 (2–2–1), and Wisconsin sixth at 4-2-1 (1–2–1).
Iowa went 4–3 overall and 1–2 in the conference for seventh place. Indiana came in eighth at 2-4-1 (0–3–1), and Purdue was last at 2-4-1 (0–4–1).
Ohio State
Northwestern
Minnesota
Chicago
Illinois
Wisconsin
Iowa
Indiana
Purdue
Bowl games No Western Conference schools participated in any bowl games during the 1916 season.
All-American honors
Ends
Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (INS-1) Fred Becker, Iowa (WE-1) Bob Karch, Ohio State (FM) Frank A. R. Mayer, Minnesota (WE-2)
Guards Sinclair, Minnesota (PP-2)Photograph of Sinclair from Library of Congress
Centers Fred Becker, Iowa (FY-2)
Quarterbacks Bart Macomber, Illinois (College Football Hall of Fame) (WE-2; PP-2; FY-1)
Halfbacks Chic Harley, Ohio State (College Football Hall of Fame) (WC-1; UP-1; INS-1; WE-1; PP-1; FY-1; BP-1) Claire Long, Minnesota (FM) Paddy Driscoll, Northwestern (College and Pro Football Hall of Fame) (WC-3; UP-2)
Fullbacks Pudge Wyman, Minnesota (UP-2; WE-1; FY-2)
Key NCAA recognized selectors for 1916 WC = Collier's Weekly as selected by Walter Camp INS = International News Service MS = Frank Menke SyndicateESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1152
Other selectors UP = United Press WE = Walter Eckersall, of the Chicago Daily Tribune FM = Frank G. Menke, former sporting editor of the International News Service (INS) MON = Monty, noted New York sports writer PP = Paul Purman, noted sports writer whose All-American team was syndicated in newspapers across the United States LP = Lawrence Perry, sporting editor of the New York Evening Post FY = Fielding H. Yost BP = The Boston Post, selected by Charles E. Parker, football expert of The Boston Post
Bold = Consensus All-American 1 – First-team selection 2 – Second-team selection 3 – Third-team selection
All-Western selections
Ends Bert Baston, Minnesota (ECP-1; JV-1) (CFHOF) Chic Harley, Ohio State (ECP-1; JV-1) (CFHOF) Frederick I. Norman, Northwestern (ECP-2) Charles Bolen, Ohio State (ECP-2; JV-2) Flynn, Minnesota (JV-2)
Tackles George Hauser, Minnesota (ECP-1; JV-1) Fred Becker, Iowa (ECP-1) Howard Courtney, Ohio State (JV-1) Manley R. Petty, Illinois (ECP-2) Frank A. R. Mayer, Minnesota (ECP-2; JV-2) Runquist, Illinois (JV-2)
Guards Charles Higgins, Chicago (ECP-1) Gilbert S. Sinclair, Minnesota (ECP-1) Conrad L. Eklund, Minnesota (ECP-2; JV-1) Gorgas, Chicago (JV-2)
Centers John L. Townley Jr., Minnesota (ECP-1; JV-1)
Quarterbacks Bart Macomber, Illinois (ECP-1; JV-1) (CFHOF) Claire Long, Minnesota (ECP-2; JV-2)
Halfbacks Paddy Driscoll, Northwestern (ECP-1; JV-2) (CFHOF/PFHOF) Harold Hansen, Minnesota (ECP-2)
Fullbacks Pudge Wyman, Minnesota (ECP-1; JV-1) Bob Koehler, Northwestern (ECP-2; JV-2)
*Key* Bold = consensus choice by a majority of the selectors
ECP = E. C. Patterson in Collier's Weekly
JV = Jack Veiock
CFHOF = College Football Hall of Fame
References