Cedric C. Smith
Encyclopedia
Cedric Crawford "Pat" Smith (March 12, 1895 – April 23, 1969) was an American football
fullback who played for the University of Michigan
(1915–1916), the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and the Buffalo All-Americans (1920–1921, 1923). He was either the second or third leading scorer in the inaugural season of the NFL (then known as the American Professional Football Association).
, Smith moved with his family to Bay City, Michigan
, where he attended high school.
freshman football team. Smith was a standout on the freshman team, being compared with Michigan State star George "Carp" Julian: "Smith weighs 190. He rips up the line in about the same manner as the Aggie terror." As a sophomore in 1915, Smith started five games at fullback. As a junior in 1916, he started seven games at fullback. Michigan's legendary coach, Fielding H. Yost, said of Smith: "Pat was a brilliant player ... fast, brainy and an excellent punter and passer. I would call him an all-around star. He was unfortunate in being injured on a number of occasions, but the following Saturday he was usually ready to put on another stellar performance." After the 1916 season, Smith's teammates selected him as captain of the 1917 Michigan football team.
Smith was also a member of the Michigan track and field team in 1916, 1917 and 1919. He won the Big Ten Conference
shot put
title in 1919.
At the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Smith was assigned to play on the unit's football team with other leading football players who were enlisted in the Navy. Smith was the captain and fullback for the Great Lakes team, a squad that beat the University of Iowa
14-7. For Thanksgiving, a special all-star match was played at Stagg Field in Chicago between players who were serving in the Army and Navy. Smith was the leader of the Navy team that defeated the Army 27-0. Newspaper accounts of the game report that Smith played a "brilliant game," as he "smashed his way over for two touchdowns."
With most of college football's top performers in the military service, Walter Camp
did not select an All-American team in 1917. Instead, he selected an All-America Service team and named Smith as the fullback on that team.
After the war, Smith returned to Michigan where he received his degree in 1919.
(then known as the American Professional Football Association) from 1920–1921 and 1923. In 1920, the first season of the NFL's existence, Smith led Buffalo with four touchdowns. Though individual records from the 1920 NFL season are difficult to verify, sources indicate that Smith's 24 points placed him as either the second or third leading scorer in the league. In 1921, Buffalo's backfield included Smith at fullback, Elmer Oliphant
at halfback, Ockie Anderson
, and Tommy Hughitt
at quarterback. With what was said to be the best backfield in the league, Buffalo finished in first place in 1921, compiling a 9-1-2 record and outscoring opponents 211-29. In November 1921, Buffalo played a game at Chicago's Cub Park in front of a large crowd, including "scores of Michigan men" who yelled for former Wolverine favorites, Smith and Hughitt. Smith played in only one NFL game after the 1921 season, a single game for Buffalo in 1923.
's Rouge plant in Detroit. At the time, the United Press reported on the assemblage of football greats who were then working at the plant, including Smith, Jim Thorpe
, Harry Newman
, Chuck Bernard
, Jack Blott
and Stan Fay.
Smith died in 1969 at age 74.
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...
fullback who played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(1915–1916), the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and the Buffalo All-Americans (1920–1921, 1923). He was either the second or third leading scorer in the inaugural season of the NFL (then known as the American Professional Football Association).
Early years
Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Smith moved with his family to Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
, where he attended high school.
University of Michigan
In 1914, Smith enrolled at the University of Michigan and played on the Michigan WolverinesMichigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
freshman football team. Smith was a standout on the freshman team, being compared with Michigan State star George "Carp" Julian: "Smith weighs 190. He rips up the line in about the same manner as the Aggie terror." As a sophomore in 1915, Smith started five games at fullback. As a junior in 1916, he started seven games at fullback. Michigan's legendary coach, Fielding H. Yost, said of Smith: "Pat was a brilliant player ... fast, brainy and an excellent punter and passer. I would call him an all-around star. He was unfortunate in being injured on a number of occasions, but the following Saturday he was usually ready to put on another stellar performance." After the 1916 season, Smith's teammates selected him as captain of the 1917 Michigan football team.
Smith was also a member of the Michigan track and field team in 1916, 1917 and 1919. He won the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
title in 1919.
World War I
After submarines sank seven U.S. merchant ships and the publication of the Zimmerman telegram, the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Even before the formal declaration of war, Smith enlisted with the Ann Arbor naval reserves and by the end of April 1917, he was reported to be "somewhere in the east" serving his country. In honor of Captain Smith's actions, the Michigan football team voted to preserve his status as captain of the 1917 team, even though he spent the fall at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. For the first time in the history of football at Michigan, the team had no active captain.At the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Smith was assigned to play on the unit's football team with other leading football players who were enlisted in the Navy. Smith was the captain and fullback for the Great Lakes team, a squad that beat the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
14-7. For Thanksgiving, a special all-star match was played at Stagg Field in Chicago between players who were serving in the Army and Navy. Smith was the leader of the Navy team that defeated the Army 27-0. Newspaper accounts of the game report that Smith played a "brilliant game," as he "smashed his way over for two touchdowns."
With most of college football's top performers in the military service, 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...
did not select an All-American team in 1917. Instead, he selected an All-America Service team and named Smith as the fullback on that team.
After the war, Smith returned to Michigan where he received his degree in 1919.
Professional football
Smith played professional football for Masillon Tigers in 1919 and for the Buffalo All-Americans in the fledgling 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...
(then known as the American Professional Football Association) from 1920–1921 and 1923. In 1920, the first season of the NFL's existence, Smith led Buffalo with four touchdowns. Though individual records from the 1920 NFL season are difficult to verify, sources indicate that Smith's 24 points placed him as either the second or third leading scorer in the league. In 1921, Buffalo's backfield included Smith at fullback, Elmer Oliphant
Elmer Oliphant
Elmer Quillen Oliphant, nicknamed Catchie or Catchy, Olie or Ollie was an American football player.-High school:...
at halfback, Ockie Anderson
Ockie Anderson
Oscar Carl "Ockie" Anderson was an All-American football player and coach. In 1916, he was selected as a first-team All-American quarterback while playing for Colgate University...
, and Tommy Hughitt
Tommy Hughitt
Ernest Fredrick Hughitt , was a National Football League utility player and coach. He was also an All-American quarterback for the University of Michigan in 1913....
at quarterback. With what was said to be the best backfield in the league, Buffalo finished in first place in 1921, compiling a 9-1-2 record and outscoring opponents 211-29. In November 1921, Buffalo played a game at Chicago's Cub Park in front of a large crowd, including "scores of Michigan men" who yelled for former Wolverine favorites, Smith and Hughitt. Smith played in only one NFL game after the 1921 season, a single game for Buffalo in 1923.
Later years
In 1943, Smith was working at Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's Rouge plant in Detroit. At the time, the United Press reported on the assemblage of football greats who were then working at the plant, including Smith, Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, Harry Newman
Harry Newman
Harry Lawrence Newman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines , the New York Giants , and the Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers .-College career:...
, Chuck Bernard
Chuck Bernard
Joseph Charles "Chuck" Bernard was a professional American football center who played for the Detroit Lions in 1934 and was a two-time All-American at the University of Michigan. He was born in Chicago, Illinois....
, Jack Blott
Jack Blott
Jack Leonard Blott was an All-American football center and place kicker for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1922–1923. He was also a baseball catcher for the Wolverines from 1922–1924. After a two-game Major League Baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1924, he worked as...
and Stan Fay.
Smith died in 1969 at age 74.