A Forgotten First National Championship: The 1914 Army Football Team, 2nd Edition

A Forgotten First National Championship: The 1914 Army Football Team, 2nd Edition

See how the Army college football team was able to win all nine games during the 1914 season. Army decisively played and defeated teams from Rutgers, Colgate, Villanova, Notre Dame, Navy and others. The team was later named by the NCAA as one of three national college football champions for 1914. Eisenhower, Bradley, Van Fleet, Stilwell, and thirty other players and coaches later became General officers and fought in three major wars. Six players and coaches were later named to the NFF's College Football Hall of Fame, including Tennessee's head football coach Bob Neyland and all-around athlete Ollie Oliphant. The United States Military Academy at West Point (Army) had played college football since 1890, and never had an undefeated until its 25th season in 1914. Over 200 out of 600 Cadets turned out in early September for the football team, and Head Coach Charlie Daly selected sixty for the team. Between six days of classes, military drills and parades, and the dangers of learning to ride horses (a major cause of season-ending injuries), the Cadets practiced one or two hours late each day in order to play on Saturdays. This team won nine straight games, including handily defeating a Notre Dame team that had beat them the season before. Follow how Army football started and the day to day activities of the 1914 season. See what happened to the 83 coaches and players after they hung up their cleats and became Army Officers, coaches, and presidents of companies or of the USA. They married and had families, some were killed or died on active duty, some lost loved ones early, and many achieved some remarkable accomplishments. West Point charity organizations will receive all profits from your purchase of this book.