1892 - 1895 University of North Carolina Football Archive
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GUEST:
These items are items that my wife's grandfather had when he played football at Carolina in 1892, '93, '94 and '95. I was, uh, up at my father-in-law's law office in 1995. Looking over some of, uh, Mr. Merritt's law books up there. (clicks teeth) And I found this old football up under one of the desk up there. And I picked it up, and of course, it was flat as a pancake. And, uh, my father-in-law said "Well, if you want that football, take it on home with you." So I said, "Wow, that's kind of cool." And he said, "Well, while you're up here, there's a football uniform and a, and a photo, team photograph. You want that too?" And I said, "Why, sure.”
APPRAISER:
And in that photo I see in the back row, uh, on the right side, that would be your, uh, wife's grandfather.
GUEST:
Th-that's Mr., uh, William Merritt right there.
APPRAISER:
William D. Merritt. The North Carolina football program, of course, it didn't start until 1888. '88, okay. And then he played, as you said, 1892 to 1895. They were pretty competitive right away. In fact, in that 1895 season, his last season, they finished with seven wins, one loss and one tie…
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
...first place in their conference. There's an interesting story about the 1895 team. John Heisman, who the Heisman Trophy is named after.
GUEST:
Correct.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, in fact, he was in attendance at that game, University of North Carolina versus Georgia. On a botched punt attempt, George Stevens catches the ball…
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
...on what was a forward pass– referees didn't see it. Scores a 70 yard touchdown for them to win that game, six to nothing.
GUEST:
Absolutely. Yup.
APPRAISER:
Pop Warner, who's coaching Georgia, was livid, but the touchdown stood. So this forward pass between University of North Carolina and Georgia that happened in 1895...
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
...is really considered the first forward pass in football.
GUEST:
It wasn't legal.
APPRAISER:
Wasn't legal.
GUEST:
Wasn't legal. But the referees didn't see it.
APPRAISER:
Right. And John Heisman witnessed that from the stands and then spent years working on getting the forward pass to be a legal play in football. It wasn't until 1906...
GUEST:
'06.
APPRAISER:
...that they actually then allowed the forward pass. As we look at the large photo, I see at least one player that has one of the first pieces of equipment for facial protection in football, and that was the leather nose guard. We also have the football, which is considered– called a melon ball or a rugby-style ball. And you always find these deflated. The reason for that is these had a bladder in them. The bladders would barely last the full game. They're called a bladder ball. And then we see something pretty incredible here, is that this is the jersey he apparently wore that season in this team photo, something we don't see. So a lot of the baseball and football jerseys of the time are what's called the bib front...
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
...where they're similar to this.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
A lot of those were inspired by fireman's uniforms.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Of course, the quilted pants provide a little bit more cushion, to before they had the thigh pads in football. Also, that photo was taken by Charles Milton Bell from Washington, D.C. Charles Milton Bell was a very famous American photographer. It's fantastic to see this archive. We are not aware of any other examples of a 1892 to 1895 North Carolina football, game-worn uniform, or photographs.
GUEST:
Right. That's great.
APPRAISER:
Let alone also a team-noted football there. This is worth more as an archive than it would be as the sum of its parts. You're going to want to insure this group for $25,000.
GUEST:
Wow. Maybe somebody in the family will be interested now. (chuckles) That's great. That's great news, I had no idea.
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