Don Faurot
Encyclopedia
Donald Burrows Faurot was an American football
and basketball
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now Truman State University
, from 1926 to 1934 and at the University of Missouri
from 1935 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1956. During World War II
, Faurot coached the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks
in 1943 and the football team at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
in 1944. He was also the head basketball coach at the Northeast Missouri State Teachers College from 1925 to 1934, tallying a mark of 92–74. Faurot lettered in three sports while at Missouri form 1922 to 1924: in football, as a halfback
, basketball, and baseball.
Faurot is credited with inventing the split-T
formation. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 1961. The playing surface as Missouri's Memorial Stadium was named Faurot Field
in his honor in 1972.
on June 23, 1902 to parents Frederick W. Faurot and Charlotte Burrows Faurot. He lost two fingers on his right hand in a boyhood farming accident, yet still became an accomplished multi-sport athlete.
Faurot's association with the University of Missouri started when he was a young boy who would sneak into old Rollins Field to watch the Tigers
play and practice. He was the eldest of four brothers to win a football
letter
at MU. Faurot was a three-sport letterman from 1922 to 1924. A lightweight 145-pound fullback
in football, he also captained
the basketball
team and was an infielder
in baseball
. He was a member of FarmHouse
Fraternity while attending the University of Missouri.
), where he spent nine years, from 1926 through 1934, with a record of 63 wins, 13 losses and 3 ties. From 1932 to 1934, his teams had a 26-0 record, the best small-college record in the country. During the run the team was the MIAA champion in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 and 1934. He also coached the basketball team to the 1927 MIAA championship.
, where he would remain until 1956 except for three years of service in the United States Navy
during World War II
. At Missouri, he took over a team that had won only two games in three years and with the athletic program over $500,000 in debt.
His major contribution to football was his innovation of the Split-T
offense at Mizzou in 1941. In the post-World War II era, countless universities adopted the Faurot formation — most notably, Bud Wilkinson
and Jim Tatum
, who learned the offense first-hand while serving as his assistant coaches with the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks
during World War II
. More than 60 years later, it is still in vogue today at all levels of football. Several of football’s most notable formations — the Wishbone
, Wingbone, Veer
or I-attack and others — utilize Faurot’s option play as their basic concept.
In 19 years as the Tiger football coach, Faurot’s record was 101 wins, 79 losses and 10 ties. His 1939 team, featuring All American Paul Christman
, won Faurot’s first Big Six
title and a bid to the Orange Bowl. His 1941 team also won the Big 6 and played in the Sugar Bowl
. In 1956, he stepped down as head coach and became athletic director. Under him, the Tigers won three conference titles and went to four bowl game
s. When he retired as athletic director
in 1967, the program was in the black and the capacity of the football stadium's capacity had doubled to more than 50,000.
's College Football Hall of Fame
, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
, the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, the Blue-Gray Game Hall of Fame, past president of the American Football Coaches Association
, and recipient of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
for his distinguished service in the advancement of the best interests of football. In 1972, the Tigers’ football playing surface was officially named Faurot Field
— something he said probably rated as his greatest personal honor. As a graduate student in agriculture in 1926, Faurot helped lay the sod on the field, prior to the opening of Memorial Stadium that fall. In 1995, he placed the final square of sod as MU successfully converted the stadium’s floor back to natural grass. Right up through 1994, Faurot was active as a talent procurer and coach for the annual Blue-Gray Football Classic
in Montgomery, Alabama
. He was secretary of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for many years, and was also the executive secretary of the Missouri Senior Golf Association. He spent a term after his retirement as assistant director in charge of special events for the MU Alumni Association. Though he stepped down as athletic director in 1967, he never really found a way to retire, maintaining an office at the Tom Taylor Building where he spent several hours nearly every day. He was a regular attendee at football practice until shortly before his death. He died October 19, 1995 in Columbia, the week of the MU Homecoming. He was 93 years old.
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 basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now Truman State University
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
, from 1926 to 1934 and at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
from 1935 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1956. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Faurot coached the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks
Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football
The Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks represented the U.S. Navy pre-flight school at the University of Iowa in the college football seasons of 1942, 1943, and 1944.- History :...
in 1943 and the football team at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...
in 1944. He was also the head basketball coach at the Northeast Missouri State Teachers College from 1925 to 1934, tallying a mark of 92–74. Faurot lettered in three sports while at Missouri form 1922 to 1924: in football, 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...
, basketball, and baseball.
Faurot is credited with inventing the split-T
Split-T
The split-T is an offensive formation in American football that was popular in the 1940s and 50s. Developed by Missouri Tigers head coach Don Faurot as a variation on the T formation, the split-T was first used in the 1941 season and allowed the Tigers to win all but their season-opening match...
formation. He was 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...
as a coach in 1961. The playing surface as Missouri's Memorial Stadium was named Faurot Field
Faurot Field
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is the home field of the University of Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. It is primarily used for football. In 1972, Memorial Stadium's playing surface was named Faurot Field in honor of longtime coach Don Faurot. During the offseason, soccer goals are set up...
in his honor in 1972.
Early life and playing career
Faurot was born in Mountain Grove, MissouriMountain Grove, Missouri
Mountain Grove is a city in Texas and Wright Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri, located in south central Missouri. The population was 4,574 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountain Grove is located at...
on June 23, 1902 to parents Frederick W. Faurot and Charlotte Burrows Faurot. He lost two fingers on his right hand in a boyhood farming accident, yet still became an accomplished multi-sport athlete.
Faurot's association with the University of Missouri started when he was a young boy who would sneak into old Rollins Field to watch the Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
play and practice. He was the eldest of four brothers to win a 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...
letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
at MU. Faurot was a three-sport letterman from 1922 to 1924. A lightweight 145-pound 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...
in football, he also captained
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
the basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team and was an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He was a member of FarmHouse
FarmHouse
FarmHouse Fraternity International, Inc. is an all-male international social fraternity founded at the University of Missouri on April 15, 1905. It became a nationally recognized fraternity in 1921. FarmHouse is one of only three fraternities not to adopt Greek letters...
Fraternity while attending the University of Missouri.
Kirksville State
After college, Faurot was appointed head coach at Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman State UniversityTruman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
), where he spent nine years, from 1926 through 1934, with a record of 63 wins, 13 losses and 3 ties. From 1932 to 1934, his teams had a 26-0 record, the best small-college record in the country. During the run the team was the MIAA champion in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933 and 1934. He also coached the basketball team to the 1927 MIAA championship.
Missouri
In 1935, Faurot was named head coach of the Missouri TigersMissouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
, where he would remain until 1956 except for three years of service in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At Missouri, he took over a team that had won only two games in three years and with the athletic program over $500,000 in debt.
His major contribution to football was his innovation of the Split-T
Split-T
The split-T is an offensive formation in American football that was popular in the 1940s and 50s. Developed by Missouri Tigers head coach Don Faurot as a variation on the T formation, the split-T was first used in the 1941 season and allowed the Tigers to win all but their season-opening match...
offense at Mizzou in 1941. In the post-World War II era, countless universities adopted the Faurot formation — most notably, Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
and Jim Tatum
Jim Tatum
James M. "Big Jim" Tatum was an American football and baseball player and coach. Tatum served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the University of Oklahoma , and the University of Maryland, College Park , compiling a career college football record of...
, who learned the offense first-hand while serving as his assistant coaches with the Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks
Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks football
The Iowa Pre-Flight Seahawks represented the U.S. Navy pre-flight school at the University of Iowa in the college football seasons of 1942, 1943, and 1944.- History :...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. More than 60 years later, it is still in vogue today at all levels of football. Several of football’s most notable formations — the Wishbone
Wishbone formation
The wishbone formation, also known simply as the ’bone, is an offensive formation in American football. The style of attack to which it gives rise is known as the wishbone offense...
, Wingbone, Veer
Veer
The Veer is an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football, made famous at the collegiate level by the Houston Cougars. It is currently run primarily on the high school level, with some usage at the collegiate and the professional level with varying degrees of...
or I-attack and others — utilize Faurot’s option play as their basic concept.
In 19 years as the Tiger football coach, Faurot’s record was 101 wins, 79 losses and 10 ties. His 1939 team, featuring All American Paul Christman
Paul Christman
Paul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
, won Faurot’s first Big Six
Big Six
-Business and industry:* Big Six banks of Canada* Big Six law firms * What were the United States "big six auditing firms" , now the big four—see Big Four auditors* The "Big six" major film studios...
title and a bid to the Orange Bowl. His 1941 team also won the Big 6 and played in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
. In 1956, he stepped down as head coach and became athletic director. Under him, the Tigers won three conference titles and went to four bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s. When he retired as athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
in 1967, the program was in the black and the capacity of the football stadium's capacity had doubled to more than 50,000.
Honors
Faurot was a member of the National Football FoundationNational Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
's 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...
, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...
, the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, the Blue-Gray Game Hall of Fame, past president of the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, and recipient of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
The Amos Alonzo Stagg Award is presented annually by the American Football Coaches Association to the “individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football’’. Recipients receive a plaque which is a replica of the one given to...
for his distinguished service in the advancement of the best interests of football. In 1972, the Tigers’ football playing surface was officially named Faurot Field
Faurot Field
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is the home field of the University of Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. It is primarily used for football. In 1972, Memorial Stadium's playing surface was named Faurot Field in honor of longtime coach Don Faurot. During the offseason, soccer goals are set up...
— something he said probably rated as his greatest personal honor. As a graduate student in agriculture in 1926, Faurot helped lay the sod on the field, prior to the opening of Memorial Stadium that fall. In 1995, he placed the final square of sod as MU successfully converted the stadium’s floor back to natural grass. Right up through 1994, Faurot was active as a talent procurer and coach for the annual Blue-Gray Football Classic
Blue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. He was secretary of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for many years, and was also the executive secretary of the Missouri Senior Golf Association. He spent a term after his retirement as assistant director in charge of special events for the MU Alumni Association. Though he stepped down as athletic director in 1967, he never really found a way to retire, maintaining an office at the Tom Taylor Building where he spent several hours nearly every day. He was a regular attendee at football practice until shortly before his death. He died October 19, 1995 in Columbia, the week of the MU Homecoming. He was 93 years old.
Football