"[1] The captain of the 1888 team was halfback James E. Duffy who had set the world's record for dropkick distance in 1886.

In its first issue of the 1888–1889 academic year, The Chronicle (a weekly newspaper at the University of Michigan) expressed concern over the prospects for the school's football team.

[3] For those willing to assist the team in practice, The Chronicle wrote: "Don't be afraid of a rough tumble or a laugh for an awkward play.

"[6] On October 17, 1888, Theodore Roosevelt, then a "scholar and writer of New York," visited the Michigan campus and delivered a speech.

Roosevelt has no fear of the murderous Sioux or of a cattle stampede, but he does claim that it is not healthy to get in the way of the U. of M. rugby team.

The 1888 Michigan team received challenges from Notre Dame, the Harvard School of Chicago, the Detroit Athletic Club, and Albion College.

The Detroit Free Press emphasized the unfamiliarity of the game in its coverage: "The spectacle of twenty muscular young men in one colossal heap, struggling, pulling, hauling, pushing, with arms, legs and caps flying in every direction is an exciting and certainly novel one.

While one unaccustomed to foot ball will naturally be startled by some of the acrobatic feats, still it is impossible to watch the game for any length of time without a tingling of the blood and holding of the breath.

The Free Press described the athletic grounds as "a gay scene" with young men "scampering over the field" in picturesque suits consisting of "close-fitting knitted caps of gay colors, canvas jackets and knickerbockers, stockings of various colors and shoes of all kind.

"[10] On the opening play of the game, Michigan's team captain James E. Duffy (who had set the world's record for dropkick distance in 1886) lined up for the kick off, but Michigan halfback Edgar McPherran grabbed the ball on a pre-arranged trick play and ran downfield.

[10] Michigan played its only home game against Albion College at the Ann Arbor Fairgrounds on November 24, 1888.

Albion's four points were awarded after the visitors disputed a call made by the officials and threatened to leave the grounds.

"[12] The Detroit Free Press called it "a splendid game" with "some excellent team work being done by the 'Varsity eleven.

It was attended by 3,000 persons, and the proceeds totaling approximately $1,200 were given to charities, including the Geneva Fresh Air Fund, the Lake Side Sanitarium, and the Training School for Nurses.

The New York Times and Outing magazine both called it "undoubtedly the greatest football event that ever took place in the West.

The man who is tackled, if game, will endeavor to hold the ball while the members of both teams will try to form a mountain on top of him.

After eating supper at the hotel, the team attended a performance of Francis Chassaigne's "Nadjy" at the Chicago Opera House.

[15][16] Chicago's center (Peters) and left guard (Burke) were well-known former college players who were brought in from St. Paul and Nebraska.

The New York Times wrote: "Prettyman lost his temper and struck Peters in the mouth twice with his fist.

"[17] The New York Times called Prettyman "the backbone of the Michigan rush line" and noted that the team was disheartened after his ejection.

"[18] The Detroit Free Press described the difficulties that the Michigan team had in handling Peters after Prettyman was ejected: "Two or three men went for him and were hurled from his shoulders like boys tossed by a long-horned Texas steer, and clearing the mob he knocked down the last remaining opponent and scored a touch-down.

Noses were bleeding profusely, every man's lips were cut and swollen faces were plastered with mud, and lame joints and twitching backs were many.

The Chronicle expressed the hope that the game would spark interest in football in the West and opined that "the fever may now be said to be upon us.