100 years ago in Moscow: University of Idaho football player dies during practice

From our archives, 100 years ago

University of Idaho football player Chauncey Lyman died during football practice in Moscow.

Lyman was attempting to tackle running back Stanley Brown when Lyman’s head struck Brown’s thigh. Lyman collapsed at once and went into convulsions. Doctors arrived within 10 minutes, but Lyman died a few minutes later.

Coaches reported that Lyman had earlier asked to come out of the scrimmage, by saying, “I’m all winded. Put in someone else.”

The assistant coach sent another man in, but later Lyman asked to return to the field. The assistant coach said, “No, you’re not fit to go in.”

Lyman insisted, but the coach again refused. The coach said that Lyman went in anyway, since there were only 10 men on the field. That’s when the accident occurred.

The college president said that it was the first fatal accident ever experienced at the university and he said he thought “the accident will put a serious damper on football enthusiasm at Idaho.”

Lyman was a sophomore from Idaho Falls.