Joe Brandy
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ralph Brandy was an American football
player and coach.
After serving as an Army lieutenant in World War I
, Brandy enrolled at Notre Dame
and became the starting quarterback
for the football team
during the undefeated 1920 season—which was the final season for the legendary George Gipp
prior to his death from pneumonia
. He was also a starting guard and a captain for the basketball
team.
After graduation, Brandy accepted a position as a mathematics instructor and coach at St. Thomas
in St. Paul, Minnesota for five years, directing nearly all of the athletic programs, including football, baseball, basketball and hockey. He would also spend one year in the NFL coaching the Minneapolis Marines in 1924.
In 1926, he returned to his hometown of Ogdensburg, New York
, where he headed up the Advance News weekly newspaper for 16 years, and also coached for three seasons at the Ogdensburg Free Academy
. He then founded radio station WSLB
and operated it until the late 1950s, at which time he became president of the board at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.
Brandy died in 1971 at the age of 73, and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ogdensburg
.
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 and coach.
After serving as an Army lieutenant in 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...
, Brandy enrolled at Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and became the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the football team
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
during the undefeated 1920 season—which was the final season for the legendary George Gipp
George Gipp
George "The Gipper" Gipp was a college football player who played for the University of Notre Dame. Gipp was selected as Notre Dame's first All-American and is Notre Dame's second consensus All-American , after Gus Dorais. Gipp played multiple positions, most notably halfback, quarterback, and...
prior to his death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He was also a starting guard and a captain for the 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...
team.
After graduation, Brandy accepted a position as a mathematics instructor and coach at St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
in St. Paul, Minnesota for five years, directing nearly all of the athletic programs, including football, baseball, basketball and hockey. He would also spend one year in the NFL coaching the Minneapolis Marines in 1924.
In 1926, he returned to his hometown of Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, where he headed up the Advance News weekly newspaper for 16 years, and also coached for three seasons at the Ogdensburg Free Academy
Ogdensburg Free Academy
Ogdensburg Free Academy is a small high school in northern New York State. It consists of around 750 or more students in the 7th through 12th grade. The famous Golden Dome is located on State Street and attracts residents from across the North Country. Ogdensburg Free Adademy is home to the Van...
. He then founded radio station WSLB
WSLB
WSLB is an all-sports radio station, operating from Ogdensburg, New York, United States. Prior to switching to an all-sports format, WSLB was an oldies radio station. WSLB is the affiliate of ESPN Radio for the St. Lawrence County area.-History:...
and operated it until the late 1950s, at which time he became president of the board at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.
Brandy died in 1971 at the age of 73, and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
.