He was elected as captain of the 1897 Dartmouth football team for his senior by his teammates, succeeding Walter McCornack.

During the 1901 season, captain John Sigrist endured an injury during a game with Western Reserve University.

Forty-eight hours later, he was pronounced dead and it very nearly led to the abolishment of football at Ohio State.

[5] A resolution to cancel the remainder of the season was defeated by an 18–8 vote, but it proved difficult for the Buckeyes to emotionally recover.

They lost three of the last four games and Coach Eckstorm decided to leave his post at the end of the season.