Remember the Bulldogs! Union Football

When I was considering coming to Union to take my first librarians position I was reading the Wikipedia article about Union University and found it fascinating that Bear Bryant's first coaching position was at Union. I hope that my time at Union lasts longer than the Bears did but the point is that many don't realize that Union does have a football history.

The fall of 1952 was the last season that the Bulldogs competed on the gridiron. It was their second season under head coach and athletic director, Robert Jelks.  They finished their final season with 3 wins and 6 losses, boasting a big win over Georgetown. Through 1952, Union had some fine football seasons with great players like Casey Jones who consistently made the Little All American Team.

So for our latest display just outside the library in the PAC we wanted to Remember the Bulldogs. We found what we could in yearbooks, old football programs, and pictures harking back to the bulldogs glory days. There is also an old pair of Union football pants in archives but those were too fragile to display. One picture displays an early Union team who went up against Yale and we thought it was worth showing. So with homecoming approaching, if you are walking through the PAC then don't forget to stop and Remember the Bulldogs!

1934 Union Bulldogs Football. In the photograph: DeWitt Viar, ___ Lewis, Sheldon Carter, Francis Thompson, Paul Kilzer, Fred Baraga, ___ Lynch, ___ Garrison, Norman Burks, ___ Berryhill, Hubbard Trimm, Ernest Mullins, Raymond Phillips, Glen Johnson, Devoy Graham, Buddy Perry, Norman Hale, Joe B. Graham, Harlie Horne, M. C. Joyner, Odis Armstrong, John Alexander, Gerald Craig, John Rukavina, Bishop Arnold, Jack King, John Pechonick, Fate Lett, Lester Wright, Albert Kelly, R. L. Ammons