Trusting that you will present this before your association, and accept our invitation – in the meantime awaiting your prompt reply – I am respectfully yours, C. L. Cleveland, Sec.

The Association explained: "Inasmuch as the University possesses no eleven, and as the lateness of the season prohibits the training of one, a game this fall is out of the question.

"[3] On October 26, The Chronicle expressed skepticism, noting that past plans for an inter-collegiate game had been thwarted: "Our University is then, at length to engage in an athletic contest outside its own precincts.

Yet we have so often intended to put similar plans into execution, which have so invariably been frustrated through some unforeseen obstacle, that we are still in doubt as to the issue.

The paper reported that a team of 22 players had been selected and had decided to practice "after supper, when the campus would be free, and it would not interfere with study.

The uniform is of white canvas, close fitting, with blue stockings and belt.”[8] The team left for Chicago on “the day express” on the Thursday before the game.

[8] In his history of the Class of 1879, team member Irving Kane Pond recalled the events leading up to the Racine game as follows: "During the first semester of the year a slight ripple was caused in athletic circles by the receipt of a challenge from the Racine college eleven, to our, then not existing, University eleven.

The challenge was accepted, but no interest seemed to be taken in the game until late in the spring of the year, when elevens practiced evenings on the campus.

"[10]: 27  The Chronicle (a weekly newspaper at the University of Michigan) called it "the finest game of Rugby foot-ball every played this side of the Alleghenies.

Irving Kane Pond (who later became an architect) scored the first touchdown in Michigan football history midway through the first inning.

"[14] The Racine newspaper credited Michigan's passing and teamwork as the difference in the game: "Perfect harmony characterized the Michigan boys' playing, when one of them caught the ball he instantly passed it to a colleague nearer the enemy's goal and they were only discomfited when they practiced Racine's attempt to run with the ball dodging others.

"[16] The Chicago Daily Tribune concluded its game coverage with an injury report: "No bones were broken, but [Racine's] Torbert was stretched out on the turf.

"[8] Michigan's lineup against Racine consisted of David DeTarr, John Chase, Irving Kane Pond, Jack A.

[18] Another group of 250 students arrived in Detroit on the Saturday morning train from Ann Arbor and walked to Recreation Park to watch the game.

Shortly after the crowd arrived from Ann Arbor, word was received that Zachariah Chandler, the former mayor of Detroit, U.S.

Flags in the city were lowered to half mast, and the Detroit Free Press noted that an absurd report spread that the demonstration by the Michigan students "had some reference to that sad event.

Attendance was reported at 500–600 persons by the Detroit Free Press,[20] though University of Michigan records place the figure at 1,500.

[21] Given the novelty of the game in Detroit, the Free Press devoted much of its coverage to educating readers on the rules and methods of play.

"[20] Michigan's lineup against Toronto was David DeTarr (captain), Frank Gates Allen, Thomas R. Edwards, William W. Hannan, Richard Guy DePuy, Collins H. Johnston, Jack A.