1931 College Football All-America Team
Encyclopedia
The 1931 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Team
s in 1931. The organizations that chose the teams included: Associated Press
, United Press, Collier's Weekly
/Grantland Rice
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Hearst
/INS
, Central Press Association
, and College Humor.
The only unanimous All-American selection in 1931 was Tulane
's Gerald “Jerry” Dalrymple
.
wrote a column about the proliferation of “All-America” teams. He noted: “The ‘All’ boys are it, tooth and nail. They are ‘All’-ing North, South East and West. They will wind up ‘All’-Americaing, the most virulent form of the ‘All’ plague that besets us every Winter. The late Walter Camp
little realized what he was bringing upon the country . . . At the moment, Mr. Camp probably had no idea that he was sowing the seed of a fearful pestilence.” Runyon noted that Camp’s word was viewed as gospel, but with his passing “the rush to fill his shoes was prodigious,” and the “’All’ business became a national obsession.”
Selectors recognized by NCAA in consensus determinations
Other selectors
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
s in 1931. The organizations that chose the teams included: Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, United Press, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
/Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Hearst
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
/INS
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
, Central Press Association
Central Press Association
The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, and College Humor.
The only unanimous All-American selection in 1931 was Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
's Gerald “Jerry” Dalrymple
Jerry Dalrymple
Gerald R. "Jerry" Dalrymple was an American football player and coach of football and basketball in the United States. Dalrymple was All-Southern in sophomore year; All-American in his junior and senior year at Tulane University. In 1931, he was the only unanimous All-American in the country...
.
NCAA consensus All-American team
The following players make up the consensus All-American team recognized in the NCAA All-American guide.| Position | Name | School | Unanimous | College Hall of Fame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ends | Jerry Dalrymple Jerry Dalrymple Gerald R. "Jerry" Dalrymple was an American football player and coach of football and basketball in the United States. Dalrymple was All-Southern in sophomore year; All-American in his junior and senior year at Tulane University. In 1931, he was the only unanimous All-American in the country... Vernon “Catfish” Smith |
Tulane Tulane Green Wave Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official... Georgia Georgia Bulldogs football The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54... |
Yes No |
Dalrymple HOF Profile Smith HOF Profile |
| Tackles Tackle (American football) Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions.... |
Dallas “Dal” Marvil Jess Quatse Jack Riley |
Northwestern Northwestern Wildcats football The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876... Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... Northwestern Northwestern Wildcats football The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876... |
No No No |
No No Riley HOF Profile |
| Guards Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Clarence “Biggie” Munn Biggie Munn Clarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship... John “Johnny” Baker Johnny Baker John W. "Johnny" "Bake" Baker was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Southern California, where he was a two-time All-American at guard... |
Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... Southern California |
No No |
Munn HOF Profile Baker HOF Profile |
| Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Thomas Yarr Tommy Yarr Tommy Yarr was an American football center. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He played one season of professional ball for the Chicago Cardinals in the National Football League. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in... |
Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... |
No | Yarr HOF Profile |
| Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Barry Wood Barry Wood (football) William Barry Wood, Jr. , was an American football player and medical educator. Wood played quarterback for Harvard during the 1929-1931 seasons and was one of the most prominent football players of his time... |
Harvard Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... |
No | Wood HOF Profile |
| Halfbacks Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Marchmont "Marchy" Schwartz Marchmont Schwartz -External links:... Ernest “Pug” Rentner Pug Rentner Ernest John "Pug" Rentner was an American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins and the Chicago Bears... |
Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an... Northwestern Northwestern Wildcats football The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876... |
No No |
Schwartz HOF Profile Rentner HOF Profile |
| Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Gaius Shaver Gaius Shaver Gaius Ray "Gus" Shaver was an All-American football player. He played at the quarterback and fullback positions for the University of Southern California Trojans football teams from 1929–1931. He was a consensus All-American in 1931 and led the Trojans that year to a national championship... |
Southern California | No | No |
Proliferation of All-American teams
In 1931, Damon RunyonDamon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
wrote a column about the proliferation of “All-America” teams. He noted: “The ‘All’ boys are it, tooth and nail. They are ‘All’-ing North, South East and West. They will wind up ‘All’-Americaing, the most virulent form of the ‘All’ plague that besets us every Winter. The late Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
little realized what he was bringing upon the country . . . At the moment, Mr. Camp probably had no idea that he was sowing the seed of a fearful pestilence.” Runyon noted that Camp’s word was viewed as gospel, but with his passing “the rush to fill his shoes was prodigious,” and the “’All’ business became a national obsession.”
Key
Bold - Consensus All-AmericanSelectors recognized by NCAA in consensus determinations
- AP = Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
- UP = United Press
- COL = Collier's WeeklyCollier's WeeklyCollier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
as selected by Grantland RiceGrantland RiceGrantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:... - NEA = Newspaper Enterprise Association
- INS = International News ServiceInternational News ServiceInternational News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
, the wire service of the HearstHearst CorporationThe Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
newspapers - AAB = All America Board
Other selectors
- CP = Central Press AssociationCentral Press AssociationThe Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, also known as the Captain's Poll, selected by a poll of the captains of the major football teams - WCFF = Walter Camp Football FoundationWalter Camp Football FoundationThe Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
- HSM = All-American team selected by 18,006 fans through nation-wide contest sponsored by clothier Hart, Schaffner and Marx
- CH = College Humor magazine
- LP = selected by Lawrence Perry, a former Princetonian who wrote a nationally-syndicated sports colyum called For The Game's Sake
Ends
- Gerald "Jerry" DalrympleJerry DalrympleGerald R. "Jerry" Dalrymple was an American football player and coach of football and basketball in the United States. Dalrymple was All-Southern in sophomore year; All-American in his junior and senior year at Tulane University. In 1931, he was the only unanimous All-American in the country...
, Tulane (AP–1; UP–1; COL–1; CP–1; NEA–1; INS–1; WCFF; HSM; CH-1; LP; AAB) - Vernon "Catfish" Smith, Georgia (AP-1; COL–1; NEA–2; INS–2; HSM; CP–1; CH-2; LP)
- Henry Cronkite, Kansas State (AP–2; UP–1; NEA–1; INS-2; CP–3; CH-1)
- John "Johnny" OrsiJohn OrsiJohn Francis 'Count' Orsi was an American football player. He played college football at Colgate University. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.-Early Years:...
, Colgate (AP–2; CP–2; NEA–2; INS-1; WCFF; CH-2; AAB) - Paul Moss, Purdue (NEA–3; INS-3l CP–2; )
- Koontz, Southern Methodist (CP-3)
- Bill Hewitt, Michigan (NEA-3)
- Garrett Arbelbide, Southern California (AP-3)
- Fred FelberFred FelberFrederick Emmett Felber was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of North Dakota....
, Univ. of North Dakota (AP-3) - Barres, Yale (INS-3)
Tackles
- Dallas "Dal" Marvil, Northwestern (AP–1; NEA–3; INS-1; CP–1; CH-2; HSM)
- Jesse Quatse, Pittsburgh (UP–1; COL–1; CP-2; WCFF; CH-1; AAB)
- Jack Riley, Northwestern (NEA–1; INS-2; WCFF; AAB)
- Paul SchweglerPaul SchweglerPaul Anthony Schwegler, born May 22, 1907 to immigrant parents from Germany and Russian Poland, was an American football defensive tackle. His college football experience helped to launch an acting career in Hollywood during the 1930s, first paying minor parts in football films and later in other...
, Washington (AP–1; COL–1; INS-3; CP–2) - Joseph Kurth, Notre Dame (AP–2; UP–1; NEA–1; INS–2; CP–3; LP)
- John "Jack" Price, Army (AP–3; CP–1; NEA–2; INS-1; CH-2)
- James MacMurdoJim MacMurdoJames Edward MacMurdo was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Boston Braves/Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh....
, Pittsburgh (AP–2; NEA–3; INS-3; HSM) - Ira Hardy, Harvard (NEA–2; CH-1; LP)
- Hugh Rhea, Nebraska (AP-3)
- Saunders, Tennessee (CP-3)
Guards
- Clarence "Biggie" MunnBiggie MunnClarence Lester "Biggie" Munn was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was the head football coach at Albright College , Syracuse University , and most notably Michigan State College , where his 1952 squad won a national championship...
, Minnesota (AP–1; UP–1; COL–1; NEA–1; INS–1; CP–1; HSM; CH-1; LP; WCFF; AAB) - Johnny BakerJohnny BakerJohn W. "Johnny" "Bake" Baker was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Southern California, where he was a two-time All-American at guard...
, Southern California (AP–2; UP–1; NEA–1; INS–1; CP–2; WCFF; HSM; CH-2; LP; AAB) - Herman HickmanHerman HickmanHerman M. Hickman was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee and later a head football coach for Yale University. He played pro football for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers. He later was a TV and radio analyst and broadcaster, a writer and a professional wrestler.-...
, Tennessee (AP–3; COL–1; NEA–3; INS-3; CP–1; CH-1) - Frank (Nordy) Hoffman, Notre Dame (AP-1; NEA–2; INS-2)
- Joe ZellerJoe ZellerJoseph Thomas Zeller was an American football offensive lineman. He played with the Green Bay Packers for one season, and the Chicago Bears for six seasons....
, Indiana (NEA-2) - Ignatius "Jim" ZyntellJim ZyntellIgnatius James Zyntell was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. He attended the College of the Holy Cross. Zyntell also has the distinction of being the last person, alphabetically, in the all-time NFL...
, Holy Cross (CP-2) - James Evans, Northwestern (AP–2; CP-3)
- Maurice "Mush" DubofskyMaurice DubofskyMaurice "Mush" Dubofsky was an American football player and coach. Dubofsky was an offensive lineman at Georgetown University from 1929-1931, earning honorable mention All-American honors in 1930....
, Georgetown (NEA-3) - Gregory Kabat, Wisconsin (AP–3; CP-3)
- Milton "Red" Leathers, Georgia (INS-2)
- H.R. Myerson, Harvard (INS-3)
- Corbus, Stanford (CH-2)
Centers
- Tommy YarrTommy YarrTommy Yarr was an American football center. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He played one season of professional ball for the Chicago Cardinals in the National Football League. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in...
, Notre Dame (AP–1; NEA–2; INS-1; WCFF; HSM; CH-2; AAB) - Maynard MorrisonMaynard Morrison (American football)Maynard Davis "Doc" Morrison was an All-American football fullback and center for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1929-1931. Michigan football coach Harry Kipke ranked Morrison as the finest linebacker he ever saw. "No one ever got past him," Kipke said...
, Michigan (AP–3; COL–1; NEA-1; CP–3) - Ralph Daugherty, Pittsburgh (AP–2; NEA–3; INS–3; CP–1; LP)
- Charles Miller, Purdue (UP-1; CH-1)
- Pete Gracey, Vanderbilt (CP-2)
- McDuffie, Columbia (INS-2)
Quarterbacks
- W. Barry Wood, Jr.Barry Wood (football)William Barry Wood, Jr. , was an American football player and medical educator. Wood played quarterback for Harvard during the 1929-1931 seasons and was one of the most prominent football players of his time...
, Harvard (AP–1; COL–1; NEA–1; INS-1; CP–1; HSM; CH-2) - Austin Downes, Georgia (CP-3)
- William Morton, Dartmouth (AP–2; NEA–2; INS-3; CH-1)
- Carl Cramer, Ohio State (AP-3)
Halfbacks
- Marchmont "Marchy" SchwartzMarchmont Schwartz-External links:...
, Notre Dame (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP–1; UP–1; COL–1; NEA–1; INS–1; WCFF; HSM; CH-1; LP; AAB) - Ernie "Pug" Rentner, Northwestern (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP-1; UP–1; COL–1; NEA–1; INS–1 [named as fullback by Hearst]; CP–1; WCFF; HSM [named as fullback]; CH-1; LP; AAB)
- Donald Zimmerman, Tulane (AP–2; NEA–2; INS-1; CP–1; CH-2)
- Bob MonnettBob MonnettRobert C. Monnett was a professional American football player who played halfback for six seasons for the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1973....
, Michigan State (CP-1) - Eugene McEverGene McEver-External links:...
, Tennessee (AP–2; NEA–2; INS-2; CP–2) - Francis "Bud" Toscani, St. Marys (NEA-2)
- Cornelius Murphy, Fordham (CP-3; CH-2) {Murphy died from a ruptured blood vessel in the brain in December 1931}
- J.W. Crickard, Harvard (NEA-3)
- Albert J. "Mighty Atom" Booth, Jr., Yale (AP–3; INS-2)
- Weldon Mason, Southern Methodist (AP-3)
- Ray Stecker, Army (INS-3)
Fullbacks
- Gaius "Gus" ShaverGaius ShaverGaius Ray "Gus" Shaver was an All-American football player. He played at the quarterback and fullback positions for the University of Southern California Trojans football teams from 1929–1931. He was a consensus All-American in 1931 and led the Trojans that year to a national championship...
, Southern California (COL–1 [selected as fullback]; UP–1 [selected as quarterback]; NEA–3 [selected as quarterback]; INS–2 [selected as quarterback]; CP–1 [selected as fullback]; WCFF [selected as quarterback]; LP [selected as quarterback]; AAB) - Erny PinckertErny PinckertErny Pinckert was an American football halfback at Southern California for coach Howard Jones. He then played in the National Football League for the Boston Braves/Redskins, who then moved to Washington D.C....
, Southern California (College Football Hall of Fame) (AP–1; NEA–1; INS–3 [picked as halfback]; HSM [named as halfback]; CH-1) - Johnny CainJohnny CainJohn Lewis "Hurri" Cain was an American football player, coach of football, baseball, and tennis, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was a three-time All-American and a member of the 1930 national...
, Alabama (UP–1; NEA–3 [picked as halfback]; INS-3; WCFF; CH-2; AAB) - Ralston "Rusty" Gill, California (NEA–3; LP)
- Orville Mohler, Southern California (AP-3; CP-2 [picked as quarterback])
- Jack MandersJack MandersJack "Automatic Jack" Manders was a National Football League running back for the Chicago Bears from 1933 through 1940. He is the older brother of Clarence Manders....
, Minnesota (CP-2) - Bart J. Viviano, Cornell (AP-2)
- Clarke HinkleClarke HinkleWilliam Clarke Hinkle was a professional American football player for the Green Bay Packers. Wearing # 30, he played Tailback and Linebacker from 1932 to 1941....
, Bucknell (INS-2) - Nollie Felts, Tulane (CP-3)