The 1898 football season was not a great one for the Gophers. Jack Minds serving his only year as the U of M football coach lost three game straight, Grinnell (really? ya'll lost to Grinnell?), Iowa State, and Wisconsin. Times were tough in Dinkytown after coming back from Madison having suffered a 28-0 pounding. The Ariel (the student newspaper precursor to The Minnesota Daily) was FED UP. First writing a scathing editorial about how much Madison loves its university, and then asking its readers to help solve Minnesota's perceived lack of school spirit.
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On November 11, 1898 a meeting was held at the chapel to discuss plans for the upcoming Northwestern game.