Gridiron Immortals of 1920
An in-depth examination of the pioneering athletes and the selection processes that defined the first All-America college football team of the Roaring Twenties.
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Overview
The Genesis of Gridiron Greatness
The 1920 All-America college football team represents a pivotal moment in the sport's history, recognizing the era's most outstanding collegiate athletes. These selections were a testament to individual prowess and team contribution, shaping the early narrative of football excellence. The concept of an "All-America" team, originating in the late 19th century, had by 1920 become a significant honor, reflecting a player's perceived dominance on the field.
Defining Elite: The NCAA's Role
For the 1920 season, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) formally recognized specific selectors whose choices contributed to the determination of "consensus" All-Americans. This institutional recognition underscored the growing importance and standardization of these annual accolades, providing a framework for historical comparison and official record-keeping within college football.
A Media Phenomenon
The selection of All-America teams in 1920 was a prominent feature in the burgeoning sports media landscape. Various organizations and influential writers, ranging from established figures like Walter Camp to major news syndicates and newspapers, each offered their authoritative lists. This multiplicity of selectors provided diverse perspectives on player performance and contributed to the widespread public discourse surrounding the sport's top talents.
Official Selectors
Walter Camp: The Father of American Football
Walter Camp, often credited with shaping the rules and strategies of American football, was arguably the most influential selector of his time. His All-America selections, published in *Collier's Weekly*, carried immense prestige and were widely regarded as the definitive list of the sport's elite. Camp's meticulous evaluations set a high standard for player recognition.
Football World Magazine's Perspective
*Football World* magazine provided another key "official" voice in the All-America selections of 1920. As a specialized publication dedicated to the sport, its choices reflected an in-depth understanding of collegiate play and player performance, contributing to the broader consensus on the year's top athletes.
Syndicated Influence: INS & Menke
The International News Service (INS), operated by the Hearst newspapers, and the Frank Menke syndicate (led by sporting editor Frank G. Menke of King Features Syndicate), were also recognized by the NCAA as official selectors. These syndicates leveraged their extensive reach to disseminate their All-America teams to a national audience, highlighting the growing commercial and popular appeal of college football.
Consensus All-Americans
The Consensus Process: Identifying the Elite
The NCAA's determination of "consensus" All-Americans for 1920 relied on the selections made by its four officially recognized bodies: Walter Camp (WC), *Football World* (FW), the International News Service (INS), and the Frank Menke syndicate (FM). A player's inclusion on multiple official first-teams was the primary criterion for achieving this distinguished status, signifying widespread agreement on their exceptional performance.
1920 Consensus All-Americans: A Roster of Excellence
The following table presents the players officially recognized as Consensus All-Americans for the 1920 season, detailing their position, school, and the number of official first-team selections they received, alongside mentions from other notable selectors.
Anomalies in Consensus: A Closer Look
While the NCAA provides a framework for consensus, historical records reveal interesting discrepancies. For instance, Percy W. Griffiths (Penn State, Guard) and Doc Alexander (Syracuse, Center) were named first-team by two of the four official selectors, yet are not presently recognized as consensus All-Americans by the NCAA. Conversely, Iolas Huffman (Ohio State, Guard) is recognized as consensus despite only one official first-team selection. Similarly, Tom Davies (Pittsburgh, Halfback) received two official first-team selections but is not recognized, while others with two selections are. These cases highlight the nuanced and sometimes inconsistent nature of historical sports recognition, inviting deeper scholarly inquiry into the methodologies and criteria applied over time.[1][2][3]
Other Selectors
United Press & Walter Eckersall: Broader Perspectives
Beyond the NCAA's official designees, other prominent media entities and sports journalists offered their own All-America selections. Henry L. Farrell, a staff correspondent for the United Press (UP), provided his expert choices, contributing to the national conversation. Similarly, Walter Eckersall of the *Chicago Tribune*, a respected voice in Midwestern sports, published his selections, reflecting regional insights and broader journalistic influence.
NEA & Lawrence Perry: National Reach
The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), with selections by Dean Snyder, and Lawrence Perry, an "acknowledged authority on college sports" for the Consolidated Press, further expanded the reach of All-America recognition. These selectors, through their syndicated columns, brought their analyses to a vast readership across the country, solidifying the national appeal of college football and its star players.
The New York Times: A Prestigious Voice
As a leading national newspaper, *The New York Times* also published its own All-America team, adding a layer of journalistic authority and prestige to the selections. Its choices, often reflecting a sophisticated understanding of the game and its players, contributed significantly to the public's perception of the era's top collegiate football talent.
Dominating the Ends
Chuck Carney, Illinois
A consensus All-American, Chuck Carney of Illinois was a formidable presence at end. His exceptional play earned him a first-team selection from Walter Camp (WC-1) and multiple other notable selectors including Lawrence Perry (LP-1), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-1), United Press (UP-1), and Walter Eckersall (WE-1). Carney's collegiate career was so impactful that he was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Bill Fincher, Georgia Tech
Bill Fincher from Georgia Tech also achieved consensus All-American status, primarily through his first-team selection by Walter Camp (WC-1). His versatility was noted, with Lawrence Perry (LP-1) also selecting him, albeit as a Tackle. Fincher's contributions to the game were recognized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Luke Urban, Boston College
Luke Urban of Boston College was a consensus All-American, receiving first-team nods from the Frank Menke syndicate (FM) and *Football World* (FW). He also garnered recognition from Lawrence Perry (LP-1) and *The New York Times* (NYT), solidifying his reputation as one of the premier ends of the 1920 season.
Other Notable Ends
The 1920 season featured a wealth of talent at the end position. Beyond the consensus selections, several other players received significant recognition from various selectors:
Anchoring the Tackles
Stan Keck, Princeton
Stan Keck of Princeton was an undisputed force at tackle, earning first-team selections from all four official NCAA recognized selectors: Frank Menke syndicate (FM), *Football World* (FW), International News Service (INS-1), and Walter Camp (WC-1). His dominance was further acknowledged by Lawrence Perry (LP-1), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-1), *The New York Times* (NYT), United Press (UP-1), and Walter Eckersall (WE-1). Keck's exceptional career led to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ralph Scott, Wisconsin
Ralph Scott from Wisconsin was another consensus All-American tackle, notably selected first-team by Walter Camp (WC-1). He also received a second-team nod from the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-2), underscoring his significant impact on the line during the 1920 season.
Other Notable Tackles
The tackle position in 1920 featured a strong cohort of players who were recognized by various selectors for their contributions:
Guarding the Line
Tim Callahan, Yale
Tim Callahan of Yale was a consensus All-American guard, receiving first-team honors from the International News Service (INS-1) and Walter Camp (WC-1), along with a first-team selection from United Press (UP-1). His robust play was crucial to his team's success and earned him widespread recognition.
Tom Woods, Harvard
Tom Woods from Harvard also achieved consensus All-American status at guard, with first-team selections from *Football World* (FW) and Walter Camp (WC-1). He was further recognized by *The New York Times* (NYT) and received second-team nods from International News Service (INS-2), United Press (UP-2), and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-2).
Iolas Huffman, Ohio State
Iolas Huffman of Ohio State was a consensus All-American guard, earning a first-team selection from the Frank Menke syndicate (FM) and Lawrence Perry (LP-1). His inclusion highlights the diverse criteria and regional influences that contributed to the All-America selections.
Other Notable Guards
The guard position was well-represented by numerous talented players in 1920, with several receiving significant recognition:
Commanding the Centers
Herb Stein, Pittsburgh
Herb Stein of Pittsburgh earned consensus All-American honors at center, with first-team selections from the Frank Menke syndicate (FM) and Walter Camp (WC-1). His strong performance at the crucial center position was also recognized with a second-team nod from Walter Eckersall (WE-2). Stein's legacy is further cemented by his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Other Notable Centers
The center position saw several other talented players recognized by various selectors for their skill and leadership:
Quarterback Maestros
Donold Lourie, Princeton
Donold Lourie of Princeton was a consensus All-American quarterback, receiving first-team selections from the International News Service (INS-1) and Walter Camp (WC-1). His exceptional leadership and playmaking abilities were also recognized by Lawrence Perry (LP-1), *The New York Times* (NYT), and United Press (UP-1). Lourie's distinguished career earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Other Notable Quarterbacks
The 1920 season featured several other highly regarded quarterbacks who made significant impacts:
Dynamic Halfbacks
Gaylord Stinchcomb, Ohio State
Gaylord Stinchcomb of Ohio State was a consensus All-American halfback, earning first-team selections from the Frank Menke syndicate (FM) and Walter Camp (WC-1). His dynamic play was also recognized by Lawrence Perry (LP-1), Walter Eckersall (WE-1), and received a second-team nod from International News Service (INS-2) and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-2). Stinchcomb is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Charley Way, Penn State
Charley Way from Penn State also achieved consensus All-American status at halfback, with first-team selections from Walter Camp (WC-1), United Press (UP-1), and International News Service (INS-1). His consistent performance made him a standout player in the 1920 season.
Other Notable Halfbacks
The halfback position was rich with talent, featuring several other players who garnered significant attention from selectors:
Powerful Fullbacks
George Gipp, Notre Dame
George Gipp of Notre Dame stands as one of the most legendary figures in college football history, earning consensus All-American status at fullback. He received first-team selections from all four official selectors: Frank Menke syndicate (FM), *Football World* (FW), International News Service (INS-1, as HB), and Walter Camp (WC-1). Gipp's extraordinary talent was also recognized by Lawrence Perry (LP-1, as HB), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA-1, as HB), United Press (UP-1), and Walter Eckersall (WE-1, as HB). His posthumous induction into the College Football Hall of Fame underscores his enduring impact.
Other Notable Fullbacks
The fullback position also saw other strong performers recognized by various selectors:
Key Selectors
NCAA Recognized Selectors for 1920
The NCAA officially recognized four primary selectors for determining the consensus All-America team in 1920. These entities were considered the authoritative voices in collegiate football analysis for the season:
Additional Influential Selectors
Beyond the official NCAA-recognized selectors, several other prominent media outlets and sports journalists published their own All-America teams, contributing to the rich tapestry of early football commentary and recognition:
- UP: United Press, with selections by Staff Correspondent Henry L. Farrell.[7]
- WE: Walter Eckersall, representing the *Chicago Tribune*.[8]
- NEA: Newspaper Enterprise Association, with selections by Dean Snyder.[9][10]
- LP: Lawrence Perry, an "acknowledged authority on college sports," for the Consolidated Press.[11]
- NYT: *The New York Times*.[12]
Understanding Selection Notations
When reviewing historical All-America selections, it is important to understand the common notations used to denote a player's recognition:
- Bold: Indicates a Consensus All-American, as recognized by the NCAA.[13]
- 1: Denotes a first-team selection by a particular selector.
- 2: Denotes a second-team selection.
- 3: Denotes a third-team selection.
These notations provide a concise way to understand the breadth and depth of a player's recognition across various journalistic and institutional bodies.
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