Brooke Brewer
Encyclopedia
Edward "Untz" Brooke Brewer (1894–1970) was an American athlete. Brewer played two seasons of professional football with the Cleveland Indians and the Akron Pros
in the National Football League
(NFL). He was considered one of the best high school quarterback
s in the country and played college football
at Maryland State College. Brewer was also an accomplished track and field
athlete.
in the 50-yard dash, and was considered one of the finest athletes in the nation. The New York Times
also called him one of the best quarterback
s in the South
. He originally intended to go to the University of Pennsylvania
, but instead attended Maryland State College, which is now known as the University of Maryland
.
Brewer enrolled at Maryland in 1916. That year, he competed in the 60-yard dash and 70-yard high hurdles
events. He also set a world record for the indoor 50-yard dash and ran the 100-yard dash
in 9.6 seconds. In addition to track, Brewer also played football during the .
The following year, Brewer left college in order to enter the United States Army
during World War I
. He was stationed at Camp Crane in Allentown, Pennsylvania
to train as part of the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps (USAAC) before deployment to France
. While in Pennsylvania, he played on the "Usaacs" football team. Its roster included other future football professionals such as Tuffy Conn
and Carl Beck
.
By 1920, Brewer was back at Maryland and participated in football and track for two more seasons. The football team's successes in and were largely credited to Brewer's drop-kicking ability. In track, he served as the captain for his final season in 1922. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order
. In 1920, he participated in the fraternity's inaugural "The Cotton Pickers' Minstrel Show
", which was described as a financial and critical success. Brewer graduated in 1922 with an "Arts and Sciences" degree.
as a halfback
and fullback
for two seasons. In 1921, he played for the Cleveland Indians, but recorded no statistics. In 1922
, he played for the Akron Pros
. He saw action in eight games, including four starts
, and scored one rushing
touchdown
. During that season, he also served as Akron's head coach, and the team compiled a record of 3–5–2.
Brewer died on February 12, 1970 in Pompano Beach, Florida
. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1984.
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
in 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...
(NFL). He was considered one of the best high school 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...
s in the country and played 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...
at Maryland State College. Brewer was also an accomplished track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete.
Early life
Brewer was born on November 21, 1894 in Washington D.C. He attended the St. Albans School, where he played baseball and football and competed in track and field. Brewer beat Olympian Howard DrewHoward Drew
Howard Drew was an American track and field athlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.He was born in Lexington, Virginia.In 1912 he qualified for the final of the 100 metres event...
in the 50-yard dash, and was considered one of the finest athletes in the nation. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
also called him one of the best 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...
s in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. He originally intended to go to 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...
, but instead attended Maryland State College, which is now known as the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
College and military service
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
events. He also set a world record for the indoor 50-yard dash and ran the 100-yard dash
100-yard dash
The 100 yard dash is a track and field event of 100 yards or 91.44 metres. It was part of the Commonwealth Games until 1966, and was included in the decathlon of the Olympics, at least in 1904. It is not generally used in international events...
in 9.6 seconds. In addition to track, Brewer also played football during the .
The following year, Brewer left college in order to enter the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was stationed at Camp Crane in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
to train as part of the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps (USAAC) before deployment to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. While in Pennsylvania, he played on the "Usaacs" football team. Its roster included other future football professionals such as Tuffy Conn
Tuffy Conn
George Washington "Tuffy" Conn was a professional American football player who played in 1920 for the Cleveland Tigers and the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association...
and Carl Beck
Carl Beck
Carl Linnwood Beck was a professional football player from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After attending high school, Beck attended the West Virginia University, Bucknell University and Lafayette College. He made his professional debut in the National Football League in 1921 with the Buffalo...
.
By 1920, Brewer was back at Maryland and participated in football and track for two more seasons. The football team's successes in and were largely credited to Brewer's drop-kicking ability. In track, he served as the captain for his final season in 1922. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
. In 1920, he participated in the fraternity's inaugural "The Cotton Pickers' Minstrel Show
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
", which was described as a financial and critical success. Brewer graduated in 1922 with an "Arts and Sciences" degree.
Professional football
Brewer played professionally in the National Football LeagueNational 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...
as a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and 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...
for two seasons. In 1921, he played for the Cleveland Indians, but recorded no statistics. In 1922
1922 Akron Pros season
The 1922 Akron Pros season was their third in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 8-3-1, winning only three games. They finished tenth in the league.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, he played for the Akron Pros
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
. He saw action in eight games, including four starts
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
, and scored one rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
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:...
. During that season, he also served as Akron's head coach, and the team compiled a record of 3–5–2.
Brewer died on February 12, 1970 in Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1984.