Cornell Big Red football
Encyclopedia
The Cornell Big Red
football team represents Cornell University
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) college football
competition as a member of the Ivy League
. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation. The team has attained five national championships and has had seven players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
and there were 40 players per side. In 1874, the university president and founder, Andrew Dickson White
, disallowed a team of Cornell students from traveling to Cleveland, Ohio
to play a Michigan
team. White said, "I refuse to let 40 of our boys travel 400 miles merely to agitate a bag of wind." On November 12, 1887, Cornell played its first intercollegiate game against Union College
, losing 24–10. The following year, the Cornellians record their first win by beating Palmyra
, 26–0, and went on to finish the season with a 4–2 record.
In 1892, Glenn "Pop" Warner
first played the game and the Cornellians finished the season having posted a 10–1 mark. Two years later Warner rose to become the team captain. After college, Warner began his coaching career and returned to Cornell in 1897. That year, he led the team to a 5–3–1 record. The following season, Cornell compiled a 10–2 record. Warner then moved on to coach the soon-to-be legendary Carlisle Indians football team
.
In 1901
, under first-year coach Ray Starbuck, the Cornellians outscored their opponents 324–38 and won 11 games for the only time in school history. Pop Warner returned as head coach from 1904 to 1906, during which time his teams posted a 21–8 record.
In 1915
, Cornell won all nine of its games. They handed Harvard
their first loss in 50 consecutive games, 10–0. Gil Dobie
took over as head coach in 1920
. In his first season, the Cornellians posted a 6–2 record, but in each of the subsequent three years they finished 8–0. Cornell was awarded the national championship for each of those three seasons by at least one selector. In those seasons, Cornell outscored its opponents, 1,051 points to 71.
Cornell defeated Penn State, 21–6, in 1938
to begin a school record unbeaten streak of 16 games. The Big Red compiled an 8–0 record in 1939
for its fifth national championship. The possibility of a Rose Bowl
invitation that season was rebuffed by the university administration. The unbeaten streak came to an end in 1940
with the infamous Fifth Down Game
. After the game, Cornell voluntarily forfeited to Dartmouth
when review of film showed the Big Red had inadvertently used five downs. The ESPN College Football Encyclopedia
named the game, and Cornell's honorable concession, the second greatest moment in college football history.
In 1951
, Cornell beat defending Big Ten
and Rose Bowl champion Michigan
, 20–7. Between 1969 and 1971, running back Ed Marinaro
broke numerous NCAA records with a career total of 1,881 yards and 24 touchdowns. His senior year, he finished as runner-up in the Heisman Trophy
voting behind Pat Sullivan
of Auburn
. That same season, Cornell finished 6–1 to secure a share of the Ivy League conference championship for the first time. Cornell twice more attained the title, shared in 1988 with Penn and shared with Dartmouth in 1990.
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{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%"
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Year
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Selectors
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Coach
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Record
|- align="center"
| 1915 || Helms, Houlgate, NCF, Parke H. Davis
|| Al Sharpe || 9–0
|- align="center"
| 1921 || Helms, Houlgate, NCF, Parke H. Davis || Gil Dobie
|| 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1922 || Helms, Parke H. Davis || Gil Dobie || 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1923 ||Sagrin Ratings
|| Gil Dobie || 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1939 || Litkenhous, Sagarin || Carl Snavely
|| 8–0
|-
|}
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%"
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Year
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Conference
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Coach
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Overall record
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Conference record
|- align="center"
| 1971 || Ivy League
|| Jack Musick
|| 8–1 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1988 || Ivy League || Maxie Baughan
|| 7–2–1 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1990 || Ivy League || Jim Hofher
|| 7–3 || 6–1
|- align="center"
|}
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
football team represents Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) 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...
competition as a member of the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation. The team has attained five national championships and has had seven players 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...
.
History
In 1869, the first intermural football on the Cornell campus took place, although it did not resemble the modern sportHistory of American football
American football can be traced to early versions of rugby football and association football. Both games have their origin in varieties of football played in Britain in the mid-19th century, in which a football is kicked at a goal and/or run over a line....
and there were 40 players per side. In 1874, the university president and founder, Andrew Dickson White
Andrew Dickson White
Andrew Dickson White was a U.S. diplomat, historian, and educator, who was the co-founder of Cornell University.-Family and personal life:...
, disallowed a team of Cornell students from traveling to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
to play a Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team. White said, "I refuse to let 40 of our boys travel 400 miles merely to agitate a bag of wind." On November 12, 1887, Cornell played its first intercollegiate game against Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, losing 24–10. The following year, the Cornellians record their first win by beating Palmyra
Palmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
, 26–0, and went on to finish the season with a 4–2 record.
In 1892, Glenn "Pop" Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...
first played the game and the Cornellians finished the season having posted a 10–1 mark. Two years later Warner rose to become the team captain. After college, Warner began his coaching career and returned to Cornell in 1897. That year, he led the team to a 5–3–1 record. The following season, Cornell compiled a 10–2 record. Warner then moved on to coach the soon-to-be legendary Carlisle Indians football team
Carlisle Indians football
The Carlisle Indians football team represented the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in intercollegiate football competition. The program was active from 1893 until 1917, when it was discontinued. During the program's 25 years, the Indians compiled a 167–88–13 record and 0.647 winning percentage,...
.
1901 college football season
The 1901 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Harvard, Michigan, and Yale as national champions....
, under first-year coach Ray Starbuck, the Cornellians outscored their opponents 324–38 and won 11 games for the only time in school history. Pop Warner returned as head coach from 1904 to 1906, during which time his teams posted a 21–8 record.
In 1915
1915 college football season
The 1915 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing Cornell, Oklahoma, and Pittsburgh as national champions. Only Pittsburgh and Cornell claim national championships for the 1915 season.-Conference standings:The following is an...
, Cornell won all nine of its games. They handed Harvard
Harvard Crimson football
The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873...
their first loss in 50 consecutive games, 10–0. Gil Dobie
Gil Dobie
Gilmour "Gloomy Gil" Dobie was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now North Dakota State University , the University of Washington , the United States Naval Academy , Cornell University , and...
took over as head coach in 1920
1920 college football season
The 1920 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing the California, Notre Dame, and Princeton as national champions. Only California and Princeton claim national championships for the 1920 season.-Conference standings:The...
. In his first season, the Cornellians posted a 6–2 record, but in each of the subsequent three years they finished 8–0. Cornell was awarded the national championship for each of those three seasons by at least one selector. In those seasons, Cornell outscored its opponents, 1,051 points to 71.
Cornell defeated Penn State, 21–6, in 1938
1938 college football season
The 1938 college football season ended with the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University being named the nation’s #1 team by 55 of the 77 electors in the Associated Press writers' poll. The AP poll was in its second year, and seven votes were taken during the final weeks of the 1937 season,...
to begin a school record unbeaten streak of 16 games. The Big Red compiled an 8–0 record in 1939
1939 college football season
The 1939 college football season concluded with the Aggies of The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas being named as the national champions by the voters in the Associated Press writers' poll....
for its fifth national championship. The possibility of a 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...
invitation that season was rebuffed by the university administration. The unbeaten streak came to an end in 1940
1940 college football season
The 1940 college football season ended with the Gophers of the University of Minnesota being named the nation’s #1 team and national champion, and the Stanford University Indians in second, with the two teams receiving 65 and 44 first place votes respectively...
with the infamous Fifth Down Game
Fifth Down Game (1940)
The Fifth Down Game is a college football game that was conceded by the victor after films confirmed that errors by the game officials had allowed an unpermitted fifth down as the last play of the game.-Background:...
. After the game, Cornell voluntarily forfeited to Dartmouth
Dartmouth Big Green football
The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League...
when review of film showed the Big Red had inadvertently used five downs. The ESPN College Football Encyclopedia
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
named the game, and Cornell's honorable concession, the second greatest moment in college football history.
In 1951
1951 college football season
The 1951 college football season finished with seven unbeaten major college teams, of which five were unbeaten and untied. Ultimately, the Tennessee Volunteers were voted the best team by the Associated Press, followed by the Michigan State Spartans, with the Vols having a plurality of first place...
, Cornell beat defending Big Ten
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...
and Rose Bowl champion Michigan
1951 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1951 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1951 college football season. The team's head coach was Bennie Oosterbaan...
, 20–7. Between 1969 and 1971, running back Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights....
broke numerous NCAA records with a career total of 1,881 yards and 24 touchdowns. His senior year, he finished as runner-up in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting behind Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
of Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
. That same season, Cornell finished 6–1 to secure a share of the Ivy League conference championship for the first time. Cornell twice more attained the title, shared in 1988 with Penn and shared with Dartmouth in 1990.
National championships
{| border="0" width="100%"| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%"
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Year
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Selectors
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Coach
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Record
|- align="center"
| 1915 || Helms, Houlgate, NCF, Parke H. Davis
Parke H. Davis
Parke Hill Davis was an American football player, coach and historian who retroactively named the national championship teams in American college football from the 1869 through the 1932 seasons. He also named co-national champions at the conclusion of the 1933 season...
|| Al Sharpe || 9–0
|- align="center"
| 1921 || Helms, Houlgate, NCF, Parke H. Davis || Gil Dobie
Gil Dobie
Gilmour "Gloomy Gil" Dobie was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at North Dakota Agricultural College—now North Dakota State University , the University of Washington , the United States Naval Academy , Cornell University , and...
|| 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1922 || Helms, Parke H. Davis || Gil Dobie || 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1923 ||Sagrin Ratings
Jeff Sagarin
Jeff Sagarin is an American sports statistician well-known for his development of a methodology for ranking and rating sports teams in a variety of sports...
|| Gil Dobie || 8–0
|- align="center"
| 1939 || Litkenhous, Sagarin || Carl Snavely
Carl Snavely
Carl "The Grey Fox" Snavely was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Bucknell University , the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Cornell University , and Washington University in St...
|| 8–0
|-
|}
Conference championships
{| border="0" width="100%"| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%"
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Year
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Conference
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Coach
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Overall record
!bgcolor="#b31b1b"| Conference record
|- align="center"
| 1971 || Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
|| Jack Musick
Jack Musick
Jack Musick was an American football head coach and football lineman. He is best known for his nine years spent as head coach at Cornell University from 1966 to 1974....
|| 8–1 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1988 || Ivy League || Maxie Baughan
Maxie Baughan
-Honors:In addition to being a member of the Georgia Tech and College Football Halls of Fame, Baughan has also been inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame , the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame. However, he has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of...
|| 7–2–1 || 6–1
|- align="center"
| 1990 || Ivy League || Jim Hofher
Jim Hofher
-External links:*...
|| 7–3 || 6–1
|- align="center"
|}
Consensus All-Americans
- 1895 Clinton Wyckoff, B
- 1900 Raymond StarbuckRaymond StarbuckRaymond D. Starbuck was an American football player and coach and railroad executive.Born in Fort Ann, New York, and raised in Glen Falls, New York, Starbuck attended Cornell University. He played fullback on the varsity football team in 1899 and 1900. He was captain of the football team in 1899...
, B - 1901 William WarnerBill WarnerWilliam J. "Bill" Warner was an American football player and coach. Warner graduated from Cornell University in 1903 and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society...
, GGuard (American football)In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... - 1901 Sanford Hunt, G
- 1902 William Warner, G
- 1906 Elmer ThompsonElmer ThompsonElmer Thompson was an American football player. He played for Cornell University from 1905 to 1907 and was selected as a first-team All-American in both 1906 and 1907.-Biography:...
, G - 1906 William NewmanWilliam Newman (American football)William "Bill" Newman was an American football player and coach. He was a first-team All-American center for Cornell University in 1906. He later coached football at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School as an assistant to Glenn "Pop" Warner and at Georgetown University as the school's head...
, CCenter (American football)Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... - 1908 Bernard O'Rourke, C
- 1914 John O'HearnJohn O'HearnJohn "Jack" Ewing O'Hearn was a professional football player. He played in the National Football League in 1920 with the Cleveland Tigers and in 1921 with the Buffalo All-Americans. He graduated from Cornell University where he was a member of the Sphinx Head Society...
, E - 1914 Charles BarrettCharley BarrettCharley "Chuck" Barrett was an American football player. He was the consensus All-American quarterback in 1914 and 1915 while playing for Cornell University and led Cornell to an undefeated season and national championship in 1915...
, B - 1915 Murray SheltonMurray SheltonMurray Norcross Shelton was an American football player. Shelton graduated from Cornell University in 1916 and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973....
, E - 1915 Charles Barrett, B
- 1921 Edgar KawEddie KawEddie Kaw was an American football player. He attended Cornell University and graduated in 1923. Kaw was elected into the Sphinx Head Society during his senior year....
, B - 1922 Edgar Kaw, B
- 1923 George PfannGeorge Pfann-External links:...
, B - 1938 Brud Holland, E
- 1939 Nick DrahosNick DrahosNick Drahos is a former American football end. He played college football at Cornell University and was a member of the Sphinx Head Society. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.-References:**...
, TTackle (American football)Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions.... - 1940 Nick Drahos, T
- 1971 Ed MarinaroEd MarinaroEd Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights....
, RBRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
(unanimous selection)