.gif)
Andy Smith (coach)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith (September 10, 1883 – January 8, 1926) was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania
(1909–1912), Purdue University
(1913–1915), and the University of California, Berkeley
(1916–1925), compiling a career college football
record of 116–32–13. As head coach of the California Golden Bears football
program, Smith guided his "Wonder Teams" to a record of 74–16–7, captured five Pacific Coast Conference
titles, and claimed three national championships
. Smith was the winningest football coach in school history until he was surpassed by Jeff Tedford
in 2011. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 1951.
, Smith's "Wonder Teams" were considered to rival Knute Rockne
and Notre Dame
in terms of success, though these two top teams never met on the field.
The 1920 Cal team might have been one of the best college football teams ever. They went unbeaten and untied for the season with 9 victories, outscored their opponents by 510 points to 14, and capped off the season by defeating Ohio State
in the Tournament of Roses East-West Game (now known as the Rose Bowl
) 28–0. In a retroactive research poll, the Helms Athletic Foundation
determined this team to be national champions that year, a conclusion recognized by the NCAA. Cal finished undefeated the following year and was again invited to play in the Rose Bowl, which ended in the only scoreless tie in the history of the game. The Bears turned down invitations from the Tournament of Roses in 1922 and 1923, unhappy that their 1921 opponents, the Washington and Jefferson Presidents
, were much older than most college players and not subject to the same eligibility requirements. Cal scheduled its own bowl game on January 1, 1925, defeating Pennsylvania
at California Memorial Stadium
.
Smith's all-time college coaching record was 116 victories, and 32 defeats for a .761 winning percentage.
Smith died of pneumonia soon after the completion of the 1925 season. His memorial service was held at the gates of Memorial Stadium and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered over the field. In 1927, the Andy Smith bench in Memorial Stadium was dedicated in his honor. Because of the success of his "Wonder Teams," the Cal football program sold enough season tickets to pay for a new California Memorial Stadium in its entirety. Memorial Stadium is still known today as "The House that Andy built." He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1951.
"Winning is not everything; it is far better to play the game squarely and lose than to win at the sacrifice of an ideal."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(1909–1912), Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
(1913–1915), and the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(1916–1925), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 116–32–13. As head coach of the California Golden Bears football
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
program, Smith guided his "Wonder Teams" to a record of 74–16–7, captured five Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
titles, and claimed three national championships
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. Smith was the winningest football coach in school history until he was surpassed by Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
in 2011. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 1951.
Coaching career
Smith's philosophy of clean living and good sportsmanship carried him through some of the great early college football programs. During an incredible five-season span from 1920 to 1924, the Golden Bears went undefeated, running up a record of 44–0–2. Although during this period there were no college football polls, during the Roaring TwentiesRoaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
, Smith's "Wonder Teams" were considered to rival Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
and Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in terms of success, though these two top teams never met on the field.
The 1920 Cal team might have been one of the best college football teams ever. They went unbeaten and untied for the season with 9 victories, outscored their opponents by 510 points to 14, and capped off the season by defeating Ohio State
1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1920-1921.They outscored opponents 150-20 in the regular season and beat Michigan, 14-7...
in the Tournament of Roses East-West Game (now known as the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
) 28–0. In a retroactive research poll, the Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
determined this team to be national champions that year, a conclusion recognized by the NCAA. Cal finished undefeated the following year and was again invited to play in the Rose Bowl, which ended in the only scoreless tie in the history of the game. The Bears turned down invitations from the Tournament of Roses in 1922 and 1923, unhappy that their 1921 opponents, the Washington and Jefferson Presidents
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference...
, were much older than most college players and not subject to the same eligibility requirements. Cal scheduled its own bowl game on January 1, 1925, defeating Pennsylvania
Penn Quakers football
The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
at California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium
California Memorial Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley. Commonly known as Memorial Stadium, it is the home field for the University of California Golden Bears of the Pacific-12 Conference...
.
Smith's all-time college coaching record was 116 victories, and 32 defeats for a .761 winning percentage.
Smith died of pneumonia soon after the completion of the 1925 season. His memorial service was held at the gates of Memorial Stadium and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered over the field. In 1927, the Andy Smith bench in Memorial Stadium was dedicated in his honor. Because of the success of his "Wonder Teams," the Cal football program sold enough season tickets to pay for a new California Memorial Stadium in its entirety. Memorial Stadium is still known today as "The House that Andy built." He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1951.
Quotes
"We do not want men who will lie down bravely to die, but men who will fight valiantly to live.""Winning is not everything; it is far better to play the game squarely and lose than to win at the sacrifice of an ideal."