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Daily Bread: January 23, 2009 (Edward Cochems Edition)

Good morning, Whitewater

There’s no school for students in Whitewater today. Enjoy your three-day weekend.

There are no municipal city public meetings, either.

On this day in history in 1957, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, we find a sad day in Wisconsin history: “Edward Cochems Died.” So who was he? I didn’t recall either, but thanks to the website of the Wisconsin Historical Society, the tale may be told:

On this date Edward Bulwar Cochems died. Cochems is credited with developing football’s forward passing attack. He was also considered one of the University of Wisconsin’s finest athletes at the turn of the century. In response to a 1906 mandate from football’s rule committee that allowed forward passing and required a team to gain ten yards in 3 downs, Cochems invented an aggressive forward passing strategy that revolutionized the sport. He coached at North Dakota, Clemson, and St. Louis University. He is buried in Madison’s Resurrection Cemetery.

More on Cochems may be found elsewhere online.

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