TTHN Ep 7 - The Iron Men

The 1899 University of the South (Sewanee) Tigers football team is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of college athletics.  In a single six-day stretch, this team traveled by train across the South and defeated five opponents—shutting out each one—without the benefits enjoyed by modern teams. It’s a story of endurance, discipline, and a level of toughness that’s hard to fully appreciate today.  And that was only part of the season…In this episode, we walk through that legendary run—game by game—and place it in the broader context of the sport at the turn of the 20th century.SourcesJetmundsen, N., Jr., & Fecteau, K. D. (2024). Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899. Shakerag Hollow Press.New Sewanee. (n.d.). History of the Domain and University heritage.Register, W. (2016). Remembering ninety-nine iron: A historical perspective on the legendary football team that won five games in six days. Sewanee perspectives: On the history of the University of the South (2nd ed., pp. 345–404). The University of the South.Sewanee Athletics. (2021). Sewanee traditions: The 1899 team.https://sewaneetigers.com/sports/2021/4/28/sewanee-traditions-1899Team.aspxSewanee Athletics. (n.d.). Sewanee Athletics Hall of Fame.https://sewaneetigers.com/honors/sewanee-athletics-hall-of-fameUniversity of the South. (2024). Sewanee Athletics celebrates 2024 Hall of Fame inductees.Sewanee 1899 Project. (2024). Unsung hero: Cal Burrows.Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). College football.Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). University of the South.Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Leonidas Polk.Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Luke Lea.Jetmundsen, N., Jr. (2026, April 8). Personal interview.Credits:Hosted by Big John SummersProduced by Summers Media EnterprisesMusic by Big John SummersFollow & Support:Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights.Support the show on Patreon for:Early access to episodesAd-free listeningExclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews🎧 Bonus ContentA full-length interview with Norman Jetmundsen, author of UNRIVALED: SEWANEE 1899, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.🔗 Links 🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises🧢 Merch & Apparel:https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch🎤 Book John for Speaking Engagements:https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/speakLove what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!Support the show by subscribing to Patreon! Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries Advertise with us!  [email protected] Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd.   www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch Thanks for listening!  Please check out our other episodes!If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.