[6] France played on the 1898 Michigan Wolverines football team that won the school's first Western Conference championship, outscoring opponents 205–26 with a perfect 10–0 record.

France gained press coverage for his role in the 1899 game against the Wisconsin Badgers that decided the Western Conference championship.

Wisconsin was led that year by Pat O'Dea, considered the greatest kicker in the history of the game to that time.

There were reports that Michigan's strategy was to put O'Dea out of the game, and he was subjected to a number of rough hits by France and William Cunningham.

In a draft registration card completed in 1918, France listed his residence as Alliance, Ohio, and his employer as the Morgan Engineering Co.