Clayton Teetzel
Encyclopedia
Clayton Tryon Teetzel was an American athlete and athletic coach. He played American football
and competed in track for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899 and later coached football, basketball and track at Michigan State Normal College
(now Eastern Michigan University), Benton Harbor High School
, Brigham Young University
, and Utah State University
.
. The family later moved to Chicago where the father worked as a salesman. Teetzel became a track star at Englewood High School
in 1894. In 1895, Teetzel transferred to the Michigan Military Academy
in Orchard Lake, Michigan, but returned to Englewood High School for his senior year in 1896. During his high school career, he won Illinois state high school championships in the 440-yard dash
and 880-yard run, and finished in the top three in the 220-yard dash and the mile run. Teetzel also played football for Englewood. After leading Englewood to a 28–6 victory over rival Lake View, a Chicago newspaper wrote:
The Englewood school newspaper lauded his contributions as follows:
that compiled a record of 6–1–1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 168 to 31. In the Wolverines' season-ending loss to Chicago in 1897, Teetzel scored Michigan's first touchdown on a long run through left tackle (and kicked the goal after touchdown) and was cited as one of two Michigan players who had outplayed his adversary:
Teetzel also played at the end position for the undefeated 1898 Michigan Wolverines football team
that won the university's first Western Conference championship. In 1899, Teetzel moved to the halfback position for the Wolverines team
that compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents 176 to 43.
Teetzel graduated from the University of Michigan Law School
with an LL.B.
degree in 1900.
, now Eastern Michigan University, from 1900 through 1902, compiling a 6-14-1 record. He was the first person to coach at MSNC for longer than one year.
, a Benton Harbor newspaper paid tribute to Teetzel's contributions and reported on an accident suffered by Teetzel:
. Shortly afterwards, the university began offering its first physical education classes, with "free-arm movements and dumb-bell drills" for men and, for coeds, "fancy marching" and "wand drills." In April 1905, Teetzel led Brigham Young's track team in its first dual meet in six years against the University of Utah
. It was reported in the local press that Teetzel, "one of the greatest sprinters that ever left Michigan," had taught the Brigham Young men his stride.
During the fall of 1905, Teetzel was granted a leave to return to Michigan to coach the Benton Harbor football team. (BYU did not have a football team until the 1920s.) After coaching Benton Harbor to an undefeated season, he returned to Provo where BYU's athletes were reportedly pleased to have him back.
Teetzel met with his greatest success at Brigham Young as the coach of the university's basketball team
. He coached the BYU basketball team to an 11–1 record in the 1905–06 season and followed with records of 7–3 and 4–2 in the 1906–07 and 1907–08 seasons.
After Teetzel announced his resignation, Teetzel was honored at a dinner at which the athletic association presented him with a gold stop watch and the faculty presented him with "an autograph album of Provo views."
, at Logan, Utah
, replacing Coach Fred M. Walker. Teetzel's duties at Utah State included coaching the basketball, baseball, football, track, wrestling, swimming and boxing teams. Teetzel recruited athletes from California and elsewhere and developed one of the top track teams in the far west, while also training dozens of men in boxing and wrestling. In his first season as the school's basketball coach, the team compiled a record of 1–11. After three more losing seasons, Teetzel turned the program around. The Utah State basketball team compiled a record of 10–4 in the 1913–14 season under Teetzel. As coach of the Utah State football team, Teetzel compiled the following record:
After seven years as the head of the athletic department at Utah State, Teetzel announced in early 1916 that he was taking an extended vacation trip to California and would return to Logan the latter part of the year. He resigned his coaching responsibilities, leading to reports that he would be replacing Coach Glaze at the University of Southern California
. Teetzel denied the rumors and told the press that he was "through with the coaching game" and wished to go into business. He had received his law degree from Michigan in 1900, passed the Utah bar examination, and indicated he would prefer to practice law. Newspapers in Utah reported at the time: "When Teelzel leaves the college, he leaves with the good will of every student, faculty member and friend of the college. ... Teetzel is well liked all over the state for his true sportsmanship and the way in which be has treated all with whom he has come in contact."
with his wife, Jessie, and their three children, Henry (age 7), Phillip (age 3), and Carolyn (age 2). In September 1918, Teetzel was living in Chicago, Illinois and working as an advertising solicitor for the Chicago Tribune
. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Teetzel was living in Chicago with his wife, Jessie B. Teetzel, and their son, Henry G. Teetzel. His occupation was listed as a solicitor for advertising copy.
In his later years, Teetzel spent his summers in South Haven, Michigan
. He died in South Haven in July 1948 at age 71.
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...
and competed in track for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899 and later coached football, basketball and track at Michigan State Normal College
Eastern Michigan Eagles
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Eastern Michigan Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University. Altogether, they have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports The Eastern Michigan...
(now Eastern Michigan University), Benton Harbor High School
Benton Harbor High School
Benton Harbor High School is a high school in Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States, owned and operated by Benton Harbor Area Schools.The school is made up of a number of "learning communities":*Communication, Arts & Business Academy...
, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
.
Early years
Teetzel was born in Michigan in 1876. His father, William H. Teetzel, was a native of Canada who worked as a traveling salesman. His mother, Carrie Teetzel, was a native of Michigan. At the time of the 1880 United States Census, Teetzel was living with his parents and older brother, William H. Teetzel, in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The family later moved to Chicago where the father worked as a salesman. Teetzel became a track star at Englewood High School
Englewood Technical Prep Academy
Englewood Technical Prep Academy or sometimes referred to as simply Englewood High School , part of the Chicago Public School system, served the Englewood community on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois....
in 1894. In 1895, Teetzel transferred to the Michigan Military Academy
Michigan Military Academy
The Michigan Military Academy, also known as the M.M.A., was an all-boys military prep school in Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County, Michigan. It was founded in 1877 by Captain J. Sumner Rogers, and closed in 1908 due to bankruptcy...
in Orchard Lake, Michigan, but returned to Englewood High School for his senior year in 1896. During his high school career, he won Illinois state high school championships in the 440-yard dash
440-yard dash
The 440-yard dash, or quarter-mile race, is a sprint race in track and field competitions.In many countries, athletes previously competed in the 440 yard dash – also referred to as the 'quarter-mile'...
and 880-yard run, and finished in the top three in the 220-yard dash and the mile run. Teetzel also played football for Englewood. After leading Englewood to a 28–6 victory over rival Lake View, a Chicago newspaper wrote:
"The playing of Teetzel was the feature of the game. The Lake View men seemed unable to stop him when he had the ball and hit their line for repeated gains. At one time he broke through the line of the opposing team and carried the ball 100 yards for a touchdown and made many runs of from thirty to forty yards."
The Englewood school newspaper lauded his contributions as follows:
"Clayton Teetzel, at Right Half Back, deserves considerable more space than we can allot to him. He is as good a player as Englewood High School has ever turned out, and is capable of playing on almost any college team in the country. A swift runner, dodger and exceedingly difficult to tackle, he hits the line with almost irresistible force. All the praise and flattery that he gets fails to make him conceited, which amount to a virtue in his case. He probably has carried the oval more yards than any other high school player in the country this year."
University of Michigan
After graduating from high school, Teetzel enrolled at the University of Michigan where he played football and also ran for the track team. Teetzel played end for the 1897 Michigan Wolverines football team1897 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1897 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1897 college football season. The team, with former Michigan halfback, Gustave Ferbert, as head coach, compiled a record of 6–1–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 168 to 31. The team suffered its...
that compiled a record of 6–1–1 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 168 to 31. In the Wolverines' season-ending loss to Chicago in 1897, Teetzel scored Michigan's first touchdown on a long run through left tackle (and kicked the goal after touchdown) and was cited as one of two Michigan players who had outplayed his adversary:
"Teetzel did splendid work and if anything had a little better of the argument with Hamill. Outside of Teetzel and Quarterback Howard Felver, however, the Chicago players outplayed their opponents."
Teetzel also played at the end position for the undefeated 1898 Michigan Wolverines football team
1898 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1898 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1898 college football season. The team, with Gustave Ferbert as head coach, went 10–0 and became the first Michigan football team to win the Western Conference championship. The first great Michigan football...
that won the university's first Western Conference championship. In 1899, Teetzel moved to the halfback position for the Wolverines team
1899 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1899 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1899 college football season. The team was coached by former Michigan halfback Gustave Ferbert. The Wolverines opened the season with six consecutive shutouts, outscoring opponents in those six contests by a...
that compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents 176 to 43.
Teetzel graduated from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
with an LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1900.
Michigan State Normal College
Teetzel served as the football coach at Michigan State Normal CollegeEastern Michigan Eagles football
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference...
, now Eastern Michigan University, from 1900 through 1902, compiling a 6-14-1 record. He was the first person to coach at MSNC for longer than one year.
Benton Harbor High School
He served as the football coach at Benton Harbor High School from 1903 to 1904. In 2002, a book titled "The Way We Played the Game: A True Story of One Team and the Dawning of American Football," was published. The book told the story of Benton Harbor High School's 1903 football team and American football in its nascent form. Coach Teetzel is depicted in the book as a disciplined strategist who teaches his players a "thinking man's game." Shortly after Teetzel left Benton Harbor in 1905 to take a position with Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, a Benton Harbor newspaper paid tribute to Teetzel's contributions and reported on an accident suffered by Teetzel:
"Coach Teetzel, the man who made the Benton Harbor football team famous the past two years and gave Benton Harbor a reputation that she could have secured in no other way met with the most serious accident of his life. While doing some fancy stunts in the gymnasium in the Brighasn Young University at Provo, Utah, on March 6, he fell and broke his leg four inches above the ankle. Teetzel is now instructor in athletics at the Brigham Young university."
Brigham Young
In early 1905, Teetzel, a non-Mormon, was hired to supervise the extracurricular sports program at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. Shortly afterwards, the university began offering its first physical education classes, with "free-arm movements and dumb-bell drills" for men and, for coeds, "fancy marching" and "wand drills." In April 1905, Teetzel led Brigham Young's track team in its first dual meet in six years against the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. It was reported in the local press that Teetzel, "one of the greatest sprinters that ever left Michigan," had taught the Brigham Young men his stride.
During the fall of 1905, Teetzel was granted a leave to return to Michigan to coach the Benton Harbor football team. (BYU did not have a football team until the 1920s.) After coaching Benton Harbor to an undefeated season, he returned to Provo where BYU's athletes were reportedly pleased to have him back.
Teetzel met with his greatest success at Brigham Young as the coach of the university's basketball team
BYU Cougars men's basketball
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference...
. He coached the BYU basketball team to an 11–1 record in the 1905–06 season and followed with records of 7–3 and 4–2 in the 1906–07 and 1907–08 seasons.
After Teetzel announced his resignation, Teetzel was honored at a dinner at which the athletic association presented him with a gold stop watch and the faculty presented him with "an autograph album of Provo views."
Utah State
In May 1908, Teetzel was hired as coach at Utah State Agricultural CollegeUtah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, at Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
, replacing Coach Fred M. Walker. Teetzel's duties at Utah State included coaching the basketball, baseball, football, track, wrestling, swimming and boxing teams. Teetzel recruited athletes from California and elsewhere and developed one of the top track teams in the far west, while also training dozens of men in boxing and wrestling. In his first season as the school's basketball coach, the team compiled a record of 1–11. After three more losing seasons, Teetzel turned the program around. The Utah State basketball team compiled a record of 10–4 in the 1913–14 season under Teetzel. As coach of the Utah State football team, Teetzel compiled the following record:
- 1909: 2–2–1
- 1910: 5–2–0 (including victories over Idaho St., Montana, and Montana St.)
- 1911: 5–0–0 (outscoring opponents 164 to 0)
- 1912: 4–2–1
- 1913: 3–3–0
- 1914: 2–5–0 (being outscored 56 to 208)
- 1915: 3–4–0
After seven years as the head of the athletic department at Utah State, Teetzel announced in early 1916 that he was taking an extended vacation trip to California and would return to Logan the latter part of the year. He resigned his coaching responsibilities, leading to reports that he would be replacing Coach Glaze at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Teetzel denied the rumors and told the press that he was "through with the coaching game" and wished to go into business. He had received his law degree from Michigan in 1900, passed the Utah bar examination, and indicated he would prefer to practice law. Newspapers in Utah reported at the time: "When Teelzel leaves the college, he leaves with the good will of every student, faculty member and friend of the college. ... Teetzel is well liked all over the state for his true sportsmanship and the way in which be has treated all with whom he has come in contact."
Family and later years
At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Teetzel was living in Logan, UtahLogan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
with his wife, Jessie, and their three children, Henry (age 7), Phillip (age 3), and Carolyn (age 2). In September 1918, Teetzel was living in Chicago, Illinois and working as an advertising solicitor for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Teetzel was living in Chicago with his wife, Jessie B. Teetzel, and their son, Henry G. Teetzel. His occupation was listed as a solicitor for advertising copy.
In his later years, Teetzel spent his summers in South Haven, Michigan
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
. He died in South Haven in July 1948 at age 71.