Editor’s Note: This is the second of a three-part story on the history of the Grand River Conference. Next week’s final installment will present the league’s initial method of making all-conference selections, plus a time-line of league membership since 1990.
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Conference records describe such activities as a fund-raising football circus to discussion of using footballs painted white with black stripes.
In 1946, a football game where each school fielded a team for one quarter was planned. The money-making project opened the 1947 season. Princeton, Ridgeway, Bethany and Grant City comprised the North team. Maysville, King City, Stanberry and Albany comprised the South team.
Each team drew a number from a hat to determine which North team played which South team for a quarter of regulation football. Newcomer Gallatin was assigned to the South team with the No. 1 North team playing Gallatin a five-minute quarter before the circus game and the No. 2 North team playing Gallatin another five-minute quarter afterward.
After the 12-minute periods were played with five minute breaks plus the extra periods for Gallatin, the South team won, 13-0. Points were scored by King City and Albany for the South team.
The event was popular but shortlived. The MSHSAA Board of Control ruled the circus game was a scheduled date and that 13 days of practice would be necessary to conform with state regulations. This meant the teams were to drop a regular season game to make room for the circus event. The GRC voted to discontinue the circus the following year.
In the 1950s, school colors became an issue. The GRC decided that football helmets could be used only as white. White was to be used only as trim on jerseys unless the school color was white. The GRC minutes even show a discussion where a white football using black stripes was proposed.
Home teams were to wear white uniforms while visitors wore their colors, starting in the mid-1950s. Today, this tradition is not always observed.
One other side note from GRC annals involves press coverage. In November, 1969, the conference officially opposed the “Keith Young Football Ratings,” published by the St. Joseph Gazette. The ratings placed emphasis on lop-sided scores. The protest was mailed when Grant City was ranked ahead of Princeton. Princeton was 10-0 on the year while Grant City finished 8-1, losing only to Princeton.