It’s particularly appropriate to offer thanks during this week and Around the D is happy to thank a former faculty member and member of the class of 1951, J. B. Stroud, for sharing a family story that overlaps with Davidson history.
One hundred years ago– November 27, 1913, his uncle, Robert “Dutch” Witherington, played in a Davidson – Wake Forest football game.
Robert “Dutch” Witherington, class of 1916. Image from the scrapbook of classmate Roy Perry
The game was played on Thanksgiving in Charlotte and rated a few headlines.
Banner headline in Charlotte Observer on November 27, 1913
Article headline announcing the Great Annual Clash
Although Witherington would leave Davidson for Wake Forest in the spring of 1914, for the fall of 1913 he was pure Davidson as a full back. His running game was mentioned in post-game articles. The Sporting News reported that in the first quarter: “On a great run and good interference Witherington made thirty yards around right end. It was a great play.”
Headline from Sporting News, November 28, 1913
Unfortunately, Davidson lost 5 of those yards on a penalty. In the fourth quarter, Witherington ran for over 65 yards in various plays. In describing that last quarter, The Charlotte Observer noted, “Witherington showed more ability as a gainer of ground that he had displayed in all the rest of the game.”
As it turned out, the Charlotte Observer headline was right — the teams were evenly matched. The final score was Davidson 6 — Wake Forest 0 — with the winning touchdown happening in the 3rd quarter. That runs was completed by Witherington’s teammate, left end Wilson Cosby from Mount Airy, NC. (NOTE: if you enlarge the article below, you’ll see that in 1913 Davidson was known as the Presbyterians. The Wildcat name and mascot are 4 years in the future).
Charlotte Observer article recounting the 1913 Thanksgiving day game
The Thanksgiving rivalry kept up for only a few more years. In 1914, Davidson won a closely matched game again with Witherington playing for Wake Forest. According the Davidsonian account he made a “beautiful” run for 8 yards and later scored Wake’s only touchdown. Luckily for Davidson, the score came out 7 to 6 in Davidson’s favor.
In1915, the score was Davidson 21, Wake Forest 7. There was no game in 1916 or 1918. In 1917, the game was played on November 17 and the score was a blow-out–Davidson 72, Wake Forest 7. In 1919, the game moved to September. There was a brief return to Thanksgiving dates from 1930 to 1939 – in that decade Davidson won 5 games and Wake Forest took 5.
