Bert Waters
Encyclopedia
Bertram Gordon "Bert" Waters (October 9, 1871 – October 10, 1930) was an All-American football player and coach for Harvard University
. He was selected as a College Football All-American in both 1892 (as a guard) and 1894 (as a tackle).
before enrolling at Harvard. At Harvard, Waters played for the football team from 1891-1894. He played nearly every position on the football team, including tackle, guard and halfback. Waters was selected captain of the Harvard football team in 1893. He was also selected as an All-American at the guard position in 1892 and at the tackle position in 1894. In November 1893, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the 5-foot, 11-inch, 180-pound Waters was the strongest player on the Harvard team and, with the exception of Marshall Newell
, the best-developed. Waters played in the 1894 Harvard-Yale football game that became known as "The Bloodbath in Hampden Park." Several playes were seriously injured, and Waters was accused of jabbing a finger into Frank Butterworth
's eye. Administrators were so shocked by the violence that the next two years' Harvard-Yale games were cancelled.
Waters also played a role in the racial integration of college football in 1893. Waters was captain of the 1893 team, but injured his knee in the middle of the season's final game against Yale. In honor of the contributions of William H. Lewis
, an African-American and future College Football Hall of Fame
r, Waters appointed him as team captain for the game. This was the first time that an African-American served as captain of a major college football team.
Waters also rowed for the crew while a student at Harvard.
Law School, and also worked as a coach for Harvard's football team. He was Harvard's head coach in the 1896 and 1897 seasons. In 1896, the Trenton Evening Times reported: "Bert Waters is pronounced to be the best foot ball coach Harvard has ever had. He plays no favorites and picks out the best players, regardless of social standing." After a disappointing 1896 season, Waters was replaced as head coach by Billy Brooks, but he remained on the Harvard coaching staff as an assistant coach. In 1897, The New York Times wrote:
After his coaching career ended in the late 1890s, Waters became a successful attorney. He continued to follow football, and when calls were made to eradicate the sport from university campuses, Waters spoke in defense of the game:
In 1908, Waters was married in New Canaan, Connecticut
, to Helen Kent Shaw.
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...
. He was selected as a College Football All-American in both 1892 (as a guard) and 1894 (as a tackle).
Football player
A native of Boston, Waters attended the Boston Latin SchoolBoston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
before enrolling at Harvard. At Harvard, Waters played for the football team from 1891-1894. He played nearly every position on the football team, including tackle, guard and halfback. Waters was selected captain of the Harvard football team in 1893. He was also selected as an All-American at the guard position in 1892 and at the tackle position in 1894. In November 1893, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the 5-foot, 11-inch, 180-pound Waters was the strongest player on the Harvard team and, with the exception of Marshall Newell
Marshall Newell
Marshall "Ma" Newell was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957.-Early years:...
, the best-developed. Waters played in the 1894 Harvard-Yale football game that became known as "The Bloodbath in Hampden Park." Several playes were seriously injured, and Waters was accused of jabbing a finger into Frank Butterworth
Frank Butterworth
-External links:...
's eye. Administrators were so shocked by the violence that the next two years' Harvard-Yale games were cancelled.
Waters also played a role in the racial integration of college football in 1893. Waters was captain of the 1893 team, but injured his knee in the middle of the season's final game against Yale. In honor of the contributions of William H. Lewis
William H. Lewis
William Henry Lewis was an African-American pioneer in athletics, politics and law. He was the first African-American college football player, the first in the sport to be selected as an All-American, the first to be appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney, the first to become a member...
, an African-American and future 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...
r, Waters appointed him as team captain for the game. This was the first time that an African-American served as captain of a major college football team.
Waters also rowed for the crew while a student at Harvard.
Football coach
After his college playing career ended, Waters attended the Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
Law School, and also worked as a coach for Harvard's football team. He was Harvard's head coach in the 1896 and 1897 seasons. In 1896, the Trenton Evening Times reported: "Bert Waters is pronounced to be the best foot ball coach Harvard has ever had. He plays no favorites and picks out the best players, regardless of social standing." After a disappointing 1896 season, Waters was replaced as head coach by Billy Brooks, but he remained on the Harvard coaching staff as an assistant coach. In 1897, The New York Times wrote:
"Whether as head coach, last year, he overtrained the team or not, his help was just what was needed after the Bowdoin game to pull the team together. On Thursday, he came on the field in his football clothes, was behind every play, often getting into the scramble himself, and kept the men in splendid spirits by his cheery voice and presence. There is not another coach in the country that can make a team work like Bert Waters."
After his coaching career ended in the late 1890s, Waters became a successful attorney. He continued to follow football, and when calls were made to eradicate the sport from university campuses, Waters spoke in defense of the game:
"Mr. Waters played the game as hard as it was ever played, and hasn't applied for a place in the invalids home yet. ... 'It was a great sport and I consider football the best of all athletic games. It hardens a man for emergencies, puts snap and confidence in him, which he retains in after life.'"
In 1908, Waters was married in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
, to Helen Kent Shaw.
See also
- 1892 College Football All-America Team1892 College Football All-America TeamThe 1892 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as the best players at their respective positions for the 1892 college football season, as selected by Casper Whitney for Harper's Weekly and the Walter Camp Football Foundation...
- 1894 College Football All-America Team1894 College Football All-America TeamThe 1894 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans for the 1894 college football season, as selected by Casper Whitney for Harper's Weekly and the Walter Camp Football Foundation...