The first game in Miner football history was played on Nov. 20, 1893, and the first Miner touchdown wasn’t scored until the next season by G.W. Smith, but the real story of the Miner football team wouldn’t take place until two decades later. 

In 1914, the MSM team beat Mizzou 9-0, spawning wild celebrations in Rolla according to reports. The team would go on to earn seven more shutouts, including two games in which they scored more than 100 points. The eight-game season was a perfect 8-0. But the team was not without skeletons — it was alleged that some of the “recruited” players were paid $100 a month by townspeople who wanted a winning team — with some of the players not even enrolled as students. In 1915, only five members of the perfect team remained on the roster.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Studying the past to improve the future

Studying the past to improve the future

Katy Bloomberg, who earned her bachelor’s degree in history in 2006, believes that her experience working in S&T’s Archives prepared…

Hilary (Kuehn) and Christopher Zerr

Hilary (Kuehn) and Christopher Zerr

Hilary (Kuehn) was living in the Residential College in August 2006 when her roommate, Emilie, took her to a party…

From uranium to wine

From uranium to wine

Richard K. Vitek, a 1958 chemistry graduate, began his career as a research chemist producing uranium from ore, before moving…

Ruth (Farrar) and Richard Kinsey

Ruth (Farrar) and Richard Kinsey

Ruth (Farrar) met Richard Kinsey on the steps of his fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta in 2011. Ruth grew up in…

S&T’s first building: the Rolla Building

S&T’s first building: the Rolla Building

Missouri S&T’s first building still stands and is home to our mathematics and statistics department. Built for Rolla’s high school,…

Brandon Moore and Mackenzy Vedder

Brandon Moore and Mackenzy Vedder

Brandon Moore met Mackenzy Vedder while working as a bartender at Hoppers Pub in September 2019 at Hoppers Pub.  “I…