Akron East Ends
Encyclopedia
The Akron East Ends are a defunct amateur American Football team that played in the Ohio League
, a forerunner to the National Football League
. They played in Akron, Ohio
, from 1894 until at least 1904. Its primary rivals were the amateur Canton Athletic Association (which eventually evolved into the professional Canton Bulldogs
), the Shelby Blues
, and later the Massillon Tigers
. The team became known as the Akron Athletic Club around 1904.
founder Bob Carroll
; Akron was, for several years prior to 1903, a top contender for the Ohio Independent Championship (OIC), though this was in the days before the association became a force in the professional game; there is a record of the East Ends losing 30-0 to the nation's best team, the Homestead Athletic Club
from Pittsburgh, on November 24, 1900, though this might not be the same East End team.
The East Ends were on the verge of winning the 1903 OIC on a common-opponent tiebreaker over the Shelby Blues. However the Massillon Tigers began making a run for the title. Akron initially dismissed Massillon, telling them to "go play for a couple of years" before trying to challenge the East Ends. However, Akron was unable to match Massillon's margin of victory over Canton. The East Ends defeated Canton 17-6, while Massillon defeated that same team 16-0. Akron felt compelled to play and beat Massillon and prove itself worthy of the state title. A game was scheduled and East Ends appeared to be in luck when several Massillon starters fell victim to injury. However the Tigers replaced its injured stars by buying the roster of the Pittsburgh Stars
, the champions of the 1902 National Football League
. In a game that had the feel of being one step short of a full-out riot, Akron lost to Massillon, 11-0, for the Ohio Independent Championship.
Akron vowed to avenge the loss in 1904, and in turn began paying at least half of its players. On the 1904 Thanksgiving Day matchup
, Akron traveled to Massillon, with about 1500 fans, to face the Tigers. The game was played in front of a total estimated crowd of 7,300 spectators. This was by far the largest attendance to date for a football game. Massillon jumped to an early 6-0 lead. However, Akron, in the last seconds of the game, scored a touchdown
and had an opportunity to tie the game. However Akron's kicker, Joe Fogg
, missed the extra point
attempt, as Akron lost the Ohio title for the second straight year.
The team seemed to fade from view after the 1904 contest, not wanting to pursue professional football any further. By no later than 1908, it had been superseded by the Akron Indians.
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
, a forerunner to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. They played in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, from 1894 until at least 1904. Its primary rivals were the amateur Canton Athletic Association (which eventually evolved into the professional Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
), the Shelby Blues
Shelby Blues
The Shelby Blues were an American football team based in Shelby, Ohio. The team played in the Ohio League from 1900 to 1919. In 1920, when the Ohio League became the APFA , the Blues did not join but continued to play against APFA teams, only to later suspend operations...
, and later the Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
. The team became known as the Akron Athletic Club around 1904.
History
The East Ends, along with the Akron Imperials and the Akron Blues, were one of the top amateur teams in Akron. According to Professional Football Researchers AssociationProfessional Football Researchers Association
The Professional Football Researchers Association is an organization of researchers whose mission is to preserve and, in some cases, reconstruct professional football history. It was founded on June 22, 1979 in Canton, Ohio by writer/historian Bob Carroll and six other football researchers and is...
founder Bob Carroll
Bob Carroll (author)
Robert Nuehardt Carroll, Jr. was an American historian and author.Carroll was best known for his contributions to American football research. He was the founder and executive director of the Professional Football Researchers Association , and edited the group's newsletter, The Coffin Corner until...
; Akron was, for several years prior to 1903, a top contender for the Ohio Independent Championship (OIC), though this was in the days before the association became a force in the professional game; there is a record of the East Ends losing 30-0 to the nation's best team, the Homestead Athletic Club
1900 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team
The 1900 Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team won the professional football championship of 1900. The team was affiliated with the Homestead Library & Athletic Club in Homestead, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh...
from Pittsburgh, on November 24, 1900, though this might not be the same East End team.
The East Ends were on the verge of winning the 1903 OIC on a common-opponent tiebreaker over the Shelby Blues. However the Massillon Tigers began making a run for the title. Akron initially dismissed Massillon, telling them to "go play for a couple of years" before trying to challenge the East Ends. However, Akron was unable to match Massillon's margin of victory over Canton. The East Ends defeated Canton 17-6, while Massillon defeated that same team 16-0. Akron felt compelled to play and beat Massillon and prove itself worthy of the state title. A game was scheduled and East Ends appeared to be in luck when several Massillon starters fell victim to injury. However the Tigers replaced its injured stars by buying the roster of the Pittsburgh Stars
Pittsburgh Stars
The Pittsburgh Stars were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious mixture...
, the champions of the 1902 National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
. In a game that had the feel of being one step short of a full-out riot, Akron lost to Massillon, 11-0, for the Ohio Independent Championship.
Akron vowed to avenge the loss in 1904, and in turn began paying at least half of its players. On the 1904 Thanksgiving Day matchup
Thanksgiving Classic
The National Football League's Thanksgiving Classic is a series of games played during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It has been a regular occurrence since the league's inception in 1920. Since 2006, three games are played every Thanksgiving...
, Akron traveled to Massillon, with about 1500 fans, to face the Tigers. The game was played in front of a total estimated crowd of 7,300 spectators. This was by far the largest attendance to date for a football game. Massillon jumped to an early 6-0 lead. However, Akron, in the last seconds of the game, scored a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
and had an opportunity to tie the game. However Akron's kicker, Joe Fogg
Joe Fogg
Joseph G. Fogg was an American football player for the Wisconsin Badgers and the Akron East Ends. He was also the founder and president of the Cleveland Touchdown Club as well as prominent attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. At the beginning of his law career he had practiced law part-time and coached...
, missed the extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
attempt, as Akron lost the Ohio title for the second straight year.
The team seemed to fade from view after the 1904 contest, not wanting to pursue professional football any further. By no later than 1908, it had been superseded by the Akron Indians.