History- 1934-5 Siwash- A Record, Gambling Debt, & Title

The Knox Siwash experienced the worst and the best of sports during the 1934-1935 school year. 

The Siwash football squad set the national record for most losses in a row. They lost to Monmouth College in the last game of the year 39-0. That was Knox’s 27th loss in a row. This tied the national record set by Hobart College of Virginia. 

During the long season of 1934, the Siwash football squad was outscored 170-0. The closest game was a 6-0 loss to Cornell College. The worst loss was 44-0 to Bradley. The Siwash had not won a game since 1931. 

At the end of the football season, the Siwash were looking for a new football coach. I am not sure if it was his choice to leave or not. Knox claimed to have over 200 applicants for the coaching job. Knox hired a new coach by the name of Pete Reynolds, a Chicago businessman. 

In his initial interview after getting the job, Reynolds asked, “…to have it made clear that he applied for the job by letter and of his own free will and that he did not win the game in a dice game, nor is he paying off a freak gambling debt.”  I am guessing those weren’t the words of Knute Rockne when Notre Dame hired him. 

According to records I can find, Coach Reynolds must have known what he was doing as Knox won the opener of the 1935 season to end the streak. Knox tied the losing streak of 27 again from 1951-1954. 

The 1934-1935 athletic year was not all sad news for Knox. The Siwash won the Midwest Conference. In the MWC’s 15th season, this was Knox’s first outright championship.  

Coach Dean Trevor’s cagers behind star guard, Bill Lewis handed Cornell a 31-29 defeat to capture the title.