In early October 1884, The Michigan Argonaut (a University of Michigan weekly newspaper) wrote that prospects looked good for Michigan's rugby team. (
The game of American football was evolving in 1884 and was sometimes referred to as rugby and sometimes as football.)
 The Argonaut noted that many students were gathering daily at the northeast corner of campus to practice for the fall games.
With several key players returning, including Olcott, Prettyman, and Killilea, and many new prospects, the paper concluded "there is no reason why an eleven cannot be made up which will equal any Rugby team the University ever had."

The football team was managed by the university's Rugby Association.
 In early October, the Association met and elected Edward Adolphus Rosenthal as the president, Frank G. Higgins as the vice president, Ross L'Estrange Mahon as the treasurer, Edward Lester Dorn as the corresponding secretary, and James S. Skinner as the recording secretary.
 Henry Killilea was appointed as the manager.
  At a meeting held on the Tuesday before the Chicago game, Horace Greely Prettyman was elected as the team's captain.

In late October and early November, The Chronicle urged "every student who takes an interest in Rugby" to participate in the "scrub" or "practice" games or to try their hand at umpiring.
 Several lines above the notice about the scrub game, the introduction of a new technology was rumored: "There is rumor of the introduction of incandescent lights into Ann Arbor."

During the first week of November, the Albion College team invited the Michigan eleven to play a game at Albion on November 7.
 The team was unable to accept the invitation because the required permission from the faculty could not be secured.
 The Chronicle expressed its hope that a game with Albion could be arranged.
 Such a game was arranged for the following week in Ann Arbor.
In early October 1884, The Michigan Argonaut (a University of Michigan weekly newspaper) wrote that prospects looked good for Michigan's rugby team. (The game of American football was evolving in 1884 and was sometimes referred to as rugby and sometimes as football.)  The Argonaut noted that many students were gathering daily at the northeast corner of campus to practice for the fall games. With several key players returning, including Olcott, Prettyman, and Killilea, and many new prospects, the paper concluded "there is no reason why an eleven cannot be made up which will equal any Rugby team the University ever had."
The football team was managed by the university's Rugby Association.  In early October, the Association met and elected Edward Adolphus Rosenthal as the president, Frank G. Higgins as the vice president, Ross L'Estrange Mahon as the treasurer, Edward Lester Dorn as the corresponding secretary, and James S. Skinner as the recording secretary.  Henry Killilea was appointed as the manager.   At a meeting held on the Tuesday before the Chicago game, Horace Greely Prettyman was elected as the team's captain.
In late October and early November, The Chronicle urged "every student who takes an interest in Rugby" to participate in the "scrub" or "practice" games or to try their hand at umpiring.  Several lines above the notice about the scrub game, the introduction of a new technology was rumored: "There is rumor of the introduction of incandescent lights into Ann Arbor."
During the first week of November, the Albion College team invited the Michigan eleven to play a game at Albion on November 7.  The team was unable to accept the invitation because the required permission from the faculty could not be secured.  The Chronicle expressed its hope that a game with Albion could be arranged.  Such a game was arranged for the following week in Ann Arbor.
1884 Michigan Wolverines football team