Formed in September of 1923 by members of the Roseburg Elks Lodge and agreeing to sponsor the team, Okey Taggert was elected to coach and captain the squad with H.C. Darby to manage.  The opening game was on the road to Cottage Grove to face the National Guard team with the Elks winning 6-0.  The return game was a white-washing 33-0 with Wally Rapp returning a punt 80-yards for a touchdown and catching another on the ensuing possession.  Okey Taggert scored the final touchdown when he intercepted Cottage Grove at midfield and raced across goal.  In the battle with Coos Bay, the All-Stars took the first game 12-0, and the Elks were able to win the return game at home 3-0 on a Glenn Smith field goal.  Smith, the starting quarterback was knocked out of the game later with a broken leg.  Glenn Smith and Okey Taggert were not expected to return for 1924.

Hugh Whipple joined in 1924 and the 180-pounder who could run the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds flat was an imposing runner to tackle from the fullback position.  During the second Ashland game, Wally Rapp, Ritzman, Watson and Bill Whipple were knocked out of the game in the first half, while Hugh Whipple fractured a rib but stayed in the contest until the third quarter.  Every reserve player was needed to fill the injured spots in the second half.  A Thanksgiving battle with the Oakland Gobblers ended in a 45-0 drubbing of the turkeymen.  Bob Cashin, former Seattle Athletic Club player was used sparingly but showed his dominance in the game.  Rapp broke loose on an 80-yard kickoff return before being hauled down short of the goal line.

The Elks would sell the uniforms to Harry McCabe and the new team would be sponsored by the Umpqua Post of the American Legion, but players did not have to be Legion members.  The opening Armistice Day game against the Eugene All-Stars, one of the three University Freshmen teams ended in a 21-0 loss.

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