All-American in 1917
Weston began the 1917 college football season as a second substitute quarterback for Fielding H. Yost's University of Michigan football team. Cliff Sparks started the first two games as Michigan's quarterback, with Lowell Genebach as his substitute. Sparks was injured in the second game of the season, and Yost gave Weston the start against Mount Union College. Weston seized the opportunity and put on an offensive display that attracted national attention. On the second play of the game, Weston "straight-armed and dodged the entire Mount Union team, running sixty-five yards for a touchdown."[2] Weston scored a total of five touchdowns in the first two quarters and led the Wolverines to a 69–0 win over Mount Union. Following the game, one newspaper called him a "sensation" under the headline: "Yost Discovers Star Performer."[2]
Weston celebrated his first day of play on a Michigan varsity team by tearing up the enemy so fast that the [sic?] had to quit giving himself the ball -- he made so many gains that he was wearing out his team making them keep up with him.[2]
An Iowa newspaper also took note of Weston's debut:
Weston brought his rating up from that of a second substitute quarterback to that of the star of Yost's men. He played an unrivaled game despite his handicap of weighing only 143 pounds. He is the lightest and fastest man on the team.[3]
Weston won the starting quarterback position and led the Wolverines in the next six games, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 234 to 3.[4] After his first three starts, Weston faced a major test against a strong Nebraska team. In a profile of the Wolverines published the week before the game, The Lincoln Daily Star focused on Weston: "Weston is continuing to improve at the quarterback. Work seems to agree with him; he has put on three pounds of weight since he became famous two weeks ago, being no longer the lightest man on the squad."[5] Leading the Wolverines to a 20–0 win over Nebraska, his reputation continued to grow.[6]
The Wolverines followed the shutout of Nebraska with a 69–0 win over Kalamazoo and a 42–0 win over eastern power Cornell. Weston gained over 300 yards on the ground against Kalamazoo and Cornell, making him a favorite for All-American honors.[7] In the game against Cornell, Weston also intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 80 yards for the first of his three touchdowns. The Syracuse Herald described Weston's interception return: "After Cornell's backs were held they tried a forward pass, Pendleton chucking the leather into Weston's hands. The little 'Eel' grabbed the spheroid and dashed down the field with it seventy-five yards for a touchdown."[8] His performance against Cornell also included runs of 45, 35, and 25 yards,[8] leading sportswriters to note his "remarkable skill as an open field runner."[9] The Associated Press reported on Weston's performance against Cornell as follows:
Weston, Michigan's little quarterback, made most of Michigan's gains and his wonderful open field running kept the crowd on edge. ... Quarterback Weston, the smallest field general Michigan has ever had, played a game that will live long in Michigan history. ... Every touchdown that Michigan made was directly or indirectly the result of Weston's magnificent gains."[10]
After conquering Cornell at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, the undefeated Michigan team traveled east to Philadelphia to play Penn. News of Weston's skills had spread to the East Coast. However, it was reported after the game that "the football fans of the East who gathered at Philadelphia for the Penn-Michigan game to get a glimpse of Weston, the Michigan quarterback, who is touted as a greater player than the famous Willie Heston, were treated to a disappointment."[11] During the first half of play, Weston got into a fistfight with Penn halfback Strauss, and both players were ejected from the game.[12][13] The Associated Press reported that the ejection of Weston was a serious loss and that the Michigan team "did not play with sustained power" after Weston's departure. His replacement at quarterback, Genebach, fumbled a punt, allowing Penn to recover the ball at the ten-yard-line in the third quarter.[12] Penn won the game 16–0, and one eastern sports editor noted, "Weston, it appears, would make a better battler than a football star."[11]
Weston's difficulties continued when it was announced two days before the season's final game that he would be barred from participation for his poor academic performance.[7][14]
After starting the season with eight wins and no losses, the Wolverines finished the years with losses in the final two games, both without Weston. This led sports columnist Grantland Rice to compare Weston to Ty Cobb:
Detroit's Tigers can get along without Ty Cobb as easily as Michigan can get along without Weston. Michigan with Weston could beat Nebraska 20 to 0. Michigan, minus Weston, was soft and woolly picking. A good quarterback is more to be chosen than great riches, or than tackles, halfbacks or ends.[15]
Weston's loss of academic eligibility caused most All-American and All-Western selectors to overlook him. One newspaper wrote, "It is certain that Weston of Michigan, had he not been declared ineligible, would have been the easy pick for the honor."[16] The one major All-American selector who chose Weston as his first-team All-American quarterback was Walter Eckersall of the Chicago Tribune.[17] Eckersall was the referee for the Michigan-Cornell game, where he had been an up-close witness to Weston's performance. Another reporter credited Weston with being the "backbone" of Michigan's offense.
Weston was one of the sensations of the west this year. Flashing to recognition from the scrub eleven, he proved the backbone of Michigan's offense and is expected to be the Wolverines' field general next year.[18]
