Guy Roberts
Encyclopedia
Guy Thomas "Zeke" Roberts (May 10, 1900 - 1993) was a professional American football
player in the early National Football League
and the first American Football League
. He played for three pro teams over the course of two years. In 1926
he played with the Canton Bulldogs
in the NFL and the Cleveland Panthers
in the AFL. He played the following season
with the NFL's Pottsville Maroons
. Prior to his professional career, Roberts played college football
for the Iowa State Cyclones
.
, who became the first African-American athlete at the school. He was also on the field during a October 6, 1923 game between Iowa State and University of Minnesota
. It was during that game that Trice received several injuries that led to his death two days later.
Roberts also played in a one professional game, under an alias, while still a student at Iowa State. Following the end of the Cyclones 1924 season, Guy and two other players were asked to play a post-season game for which they would be paid. During the game the Iowa State players realized that some of their opponents were from the University of Iowa
. Roberts later stated that he still had one year of eligibility on the men's basketball team
and was fearful of being caught.
Roberts played four years at Iowa State, but did not graduate.
. It was then that he received word from the NFL's Pottsville Maroons
regarding him playing with the club that upcoming season. Roberts drove from California
to Pottsville, Pennsylvania
, on a stripped down Model T Ford. While enroute to Pottsville he stopped stopped in Cleveland
to see his future wife. While in Cleveland, he met with the manager of the Cleveland Panthers, who were a part of the upstart American Football League. The offered Guy $150 to play for them, which was more that what the Maroons were offering, and he accepted.
However the league folded after only a few games, and Guy returned to California. As soon as he got back to Los Angeles, the NFL's Canton Bulldogs called Guy with an offer and he soon joined the team and played the remainder of the 1926 with the Bulldogs, alongside Jim Thorpe
and Pete "Fats" Henry.
In September 1927, Guy was on Ohio to prepare for his October 1st wedding. It was then that he again received word from Pottsville Marrons asking him to play for the club for the upcoming season. Roberts accepted and he played for the Pottsville Maroons for the 1927 season.
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...
player in the early 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...
and the first American Football League
American Football League (1926)
The first American Football League , sometimes called AFL I, AFLG, or the Grange League, was a professional American football league that operated in 1926. It was the first major competitor to the National Football League. Founded by C. C...
. He played for three pro teams over the course of two years. In 1926
1926 NFL season
The 1926 NFL season was the 7th regular season of the National Football League. The league grew to 22 teams, a figure that would not be equaled in professional football until 1961, adding the Brooklyn Lions, the Hartford Blues, the Los Angeles Buccaneers, and the Louisville Colonels, with Racine...
he played with the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
in the NFL and the Cleveland Panthers
Cleveland Panthers
The Cleveland Panthers were a professional American football team that competed in the first American Football League in 1926. Owned by General C. X. Zimmerman , the Panthers played their home games in Luna Bowl in Luna Park...
in the AFL. He played the following season
1927 NFL season
The 1927 NFL season was the 8th regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, the league decided to eliminate the financially weaker teams. As a result, the league dropped from 22 to 12 teams, and a majority of the remaining teams were centered around the East Coast instead...
with the NFL's Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
. Prior to his professional career, Roberts 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...
for the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
.
College football
Guy played college football at Iowa State. He played alongside Jack TriceJack Trice
Johnny "Jack" Trice was a football player who became the first African-American athlete from Iowa State College...
, who became the first African-American athlete at the school. He was also on the field during a October 6, 1923 game between Iowa State and University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. It was during that game that Trice received several injuries that led to his death two days later.
Roberts also played in a one professional game, under an alias, while still a student at Iowa State. Following the end of the Cyclones 1924 season, Guy and two other players were asked to play a post-season game for which they would be paid. During the game the Iowa State players realized that some of their opponents were from 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...
. Roberts later stated that he still had one year of eligibility on the men's basketball team
Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team represents Iowa State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.-Johnny Orr era :...
and was fearful of being caught.
Roberts played four years at Iowa State, but did not graduate.
Professional football
In the summer of 1926, Guy was living in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It was then that he received word from the NFL's Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
regarding him playing with the club that upcoming season. Roberts drove from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
, on a stripped down Model T Ford. While enroute to Pottsville he stopped stopped in Cleveland
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 see his future wife. While in Cleveland, he met with the manager of the Cleveland Panthers, who were a part of the upstart American Football League. The offered Guy $150 to play for them, which was more that what the Maroons were offering, and he accepted.
However the league folded after only a few games, and Guy returned to California. As soon as he got back to Los Angeles, the NFL's Canton Bulldogs called Guy with an offer and he soon joined the team and played the remainder of the 1926 with the Bulldogs, alongside 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...
and Pete "Fats" Henry.
In September 1927, Guy was on Ohio to prepare for his October 1st wedding. It was then that he again received word from Pottsville Marrons asking him to play for the club for the upcoming season. Roberts accepted and he played for the Pottsville Maroons for the 1927 season.