Harvey Holmes
Encyclopedia
Harvey R. Holmes was an American
college football
coach at the University of Utah
(1900–1903), the University of Southern California
(1904–1907), and the Academy of Idaho
(now Idaho State University) (1909–1914).
Holmes attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where he lettered in football
in 1897 and 1898. He became coach at the University of Utah in 1900, and led the team to a record of 16–9–1; he was the first Utah coach to coach for multiple seasons. But his most enduring contribution at Utah may have been his composition of the lyrics to the school song "Utah Man."
In 1904 Holmes became the first salaried head coach of the USC football
team, and he compiled a 19–5–3 (.759) record over four seasons. USC's teams were called the Methodists before becoming the Trojans in 1912. In 1905, Holmes was the coach of the first USC team to play outside of Southern California. On November 4, playing a game at Stanford University
, the Methodists were trampled 16–0 by the traditional West Coast powerhouse; it was also USC's first game ever against major college competition, an experiment which the team would not repeat until 1914. While USC and Stanford would not meet again until 1918 (Stanford dropped football for rugby
during those years), this was the beginning of USC's oldest rivalry. But college football was going through a crisis period in which numerous players were dying in games every year, and many schools dropped the sport in favor of rugby for several seasons; the University of California
switched from football to rugby from 1906 through 1914, and Stanford dropped football from 1906 through the end of World War I
in 1918. Given its schedule featuring small colleges, high schools, and military and club teams, USC in that period had little need for a football coach with Holmes' credentials, and he departed in 1908; the university eventually switched to rugby from 1911 to 1913. Holmes' 1906 and 1907 teams had a combined record of 7–1–2, and outscored their opponents 218–20.
Holmes also coached the USC track
team from 1905 to 1908, and was the first formal coach of the baseball team in 1908, posting a record of 17–2. He was succeeded as football coach by USC Law School graduate Bill Traeger
.
In 1909 Holmes became football coach at the Academy of Idaho, where his teams had a record of 28–8 over six seasons, including perfect records of 4–0 and 6–0 in his first two years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
coach at the University of Utah
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
(1900–1903), 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...
(1904–1907), and the Academy of Idaho
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
(now Idaho State University) (1909–1914).
Holmes attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where he lettered in football
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
in 1897 and 1898. He became coach at the University of Utah in 1900, and led the team to a record of 16–9–1; he was the first Utah coach to coach for multiple seasons. But his most enduring contribution at Utah may have been his composition of the lyrics to the school song "Utah Man."
In 1904 Holmes became the first salaried head coach of the USC football
University of Southern California Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program, established in 1888, represents the University of Southern California in college football. USC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS and the Pacific-12 Conference . The Trojans have been a football powerhouse throughout NCAA...
team, and he compiled a 19–5–3 (.759) record over four seasons. USC's teams were called the Methodists before becoming the Trojans in 1912. In 1905, Holmes was the coach of the first USC team to play outside of Southern California. On November 4, playing a game at Stanford University
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
, the Methodists were trampled 16–0 by the traditional West Coast powerhouse; it was also USC's first game ever against major college competition, an experiment which the team would not repeat until 1914. While USC and Stanford would not meet again until 1918 (Stanford dropped football for rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
during those years), this was the beginning of USC's oldest rivalry. But college football was going through a crisis period in which numerous players were dying in games every year, and many schools dropped the sport in favor of rugby for several seasons; the University of California
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
switched from football to rugby from 1906 through 1914, and Stanford dropped football from 1906 through the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1918. Given its schedule featuring small colleges, high schools, and military and club teams, USC in that period had little need for a football coach with Holmes' credentials, and he departed in 1908; the university eventually switched to rugby from 1911 to 1913. Holmes' 1906 and 1907 teams had a combined record of 7–1–2, and outscored their opponents 218–20.
Holmes also coached the USC track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team from 1905 to 1908, and was the first formal coach of the baseball team in 1908, posting a record of 17–2. He was succeeded as football coach by USC Law School graduate Bill Traeger
William I. Traeger
William Isham Traeger was an American law enforcement official who served as sheriff of Los Angeles County from 1921 to 1932, and went on to serve one term as a United States Representative from California.-Early life:...
.
In 1909 Holmes became football coach at the Academy of Idaho, where his teams had a record of 28–8 over six seasons, including perfect records of 4–0 and 6–0 in his first two years.