Gus Welch, a Chippewa born in Spooner, Wisconsin, was a celebrated quarterback for the Carlisle Indian School. Known for his prowess on the field, Welch earned second team All-American status and was ranked among the top three quarterbacks in 1913. He is also remembered as the roommate of the legendary Jim Thorpe. One of the most fantastic college football stories involves Welch and a teammate named Black Bear.
During a game against a formidable Pennsylvania team, Welch noticed Black Bear was underperforming, merely going through the motions. Frustrated, Welch devised a unique motivational tactic. After another failed play, he struck Black Bear on the ear, blaming the opposing team for the blow. Enraged and energized, Black Bear played fiercely, leading Carlisle to victory. Welch continued these unconventional motivational methods throughout the season, including against Harvard, where he bit Black Bear’s leg to provoke a fiery response.
The authenticity of this tale, found in Mac Davis’s “Say It Ain’t So” and John Steckbeck’s “Fabulous Redmond, The Carlisle Indians and Their Famous Football Teams,” is debated. The story references a player named Elmer Bush, a member of the Pomo Nation, who attended Carlisle from 1910 to 1915. Whether embellished or not, this story remains a part of college football history, highlighting the extraordinary and sometimes bizarre lengths players and coaches went to for success.
Do you have any other fantastic college football stories to explore? Let me know!
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