In 1919, under the name of Weber Normal College, then a high school and two year college, the institution established its first official football team. A church school at the time, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Board of Education gave the approval for all schools to form football teams. At the time the paper stated, “it is the general belief that football is a useless, as well as dangerous game for the schools, but this belief is rapidly changing to the more modern idea that the sport is an asset to the school as well as a great benefit to those who participate.” (Weber Herald 9/18/1919)
Malcolm Watson was the coach for the first two seasons, learning how to play football the summer before the first season. The first team had sixteen players and finished the season with two wins and six losses. The team played against local high schools and other Latter-day Saint academies for the first three years. In 1922, the last year high school classes were offered at then Weber College, there was both a high school and a junior college football team. From 1919-1936 the football coach also served as the Athletic Director.
Through the years the team has had eighteen coaches, and was part of the Intermountain Junior College Conference (1922-1946), Intermountain Collegiate Athletic Conference (1948-1961), and the Big Sky Conference (1963-present), winning championships throughout the decades. The program was almost dropped in 1993 due to financial and equity issues, but support from the students, school, and community saved the team.
Take a stroll through the decades as the Weber State University football program celebrates 100 years. “Football is one of the real tests of courage and sportsmanship and it helps keep up the morale of the school.” (Weber Herald 9/18/1919)
Contributors: Jamie Weeks, Kandice Harris, Michael Thompson, Marina Kenner, Rachel Seffker
