John G. Griffith
Encyclopedia
John George "Red" Griffith (born c. 1878, date of death unknown) was an American football
player and coach of football, basketball
, and baseball
. He served as the head football coach at Simpson College
(1901), the University of Idaho
(1902–1906, 1910–1914), the University of Iowa
(1909), Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
, (1915–1916), and New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now New Mexico State University
(1917), compiling a career college football
record of 49–38–5. Griffith was also the head basketball coach at Idaho (1905–1907, 1910–1915), Iowa (1906–1907, 1908–1910), Oklahoma A&M (1915–1917), and New Mexico A&M (1917–1920), tallying a career college basketball
mark of 101–80. He also coached baseball at Iowa for one season in 1906.
, Griffith was a four-time college football
letter winner for the University of Iowa
from 1897 to 1900. Griffith, a fullback
, played for some of the greatest teams in Iowa football
history.
Against Illinois
in 1899, Griffith returned a punt 85 yards as Iowa won, 58–0, to cap an undefeated season. After the game, referee R. T. Hoagland of Princeton said, "The dodging run of Griffith down the field for a touchdown was the best piece of individual playing that I ever saw. The men (of the 1899 Hawkeyes) are all stars; they make the best team I ever saw."
In Iowa's first year in the Western Conference
(now known as the Big Ten) in 1900, Griffith was named Iowa's team captain. The team won the Western Conference title in Iowa's first year in the league. Iowa had to settle for a controversial 5–5 tie against Northwestern
in Griffith's final game at Iowa. The entire team except Griffith ate a bad batch of creamed potatoes and got food poisoning the day before the game.
Still, Griffith did not suffer a defeat in his final twenty games as a player at Iowa, going 17–0–3. His last collegiate loss was late in his sophomore season.
. When Iowa football coach Alden Knipe
retired after the 1902 season, school officials considered hiring Griffith but went with John Chalmers
instead. Griffith continued as Idaho's football coach until 1906.
When Chalmers was succeeded by Mark Catlin as Iowa's head coach, Griffith left Idaho to serve as Catlin's assistant coach at Iowa. Griffith was Iowa's assistant football coach in 1907 and 1908. He also served as Iowa's head basketball coach during the 1906–1907 season. After a one year break, Griffith resumed Iowa's head basketball coaching duties for the 1908–1909 season, Iowa's first basketball season in the Big Ten. He also coached the Iowa baseball team for one season in 1906.
Catlin left Iowa prior to the 1909 football season, and the Hawkeyes hired Griffith as their ninth head football coach. He was the first Iowa graduate to lead the football team. He coached Iowa to a 2–4–1 record in 1909. His star player that season was Walter "Stub" Stewart.
Griffith finished out the 1909–1910 basketball season, his third as a head basketball coach. His team went 11–3 that year, bringing Griffith's three year basketball coaching record to 29–14. After the basketball season, Griffith announced he was leaving Iowa. Stewart replaced him as the basketball coach.
Griffith left the head football coaching position at Iowa after just one year. He returned to Idaho to become the head of their entomology department. He also served as their head football coach again from 1910 to 1914. His ten year record at Idaho was 28–22–2.
Griffith also coached football at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1915 and 1916, compiling an 8–9–1 record. In 1917, he led the football team at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University
) to a 4–2 record.
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 of football, 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...
, and 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 served as the head football coach at Simpson College
Simpson College
Simpson College is a four-year, coeducational liberal arts institution situated in Indianola, Iowa, USA, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Simpson, which has been fully accredited by North Central Association since 1913, is a small school with approximately 1,400 full-time students...
(1901), the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
(1902–1906, 1910–1914), 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...
(1909), Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
, (1915–1916), and New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
(1917), compiling a career 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...
record of 49–38–5. Griffith was also the head basketball coach at Idaho (1905–1907, 1910–1915), Iowa (1906–1907, 1908–1910), Oklahoma A&M (1915–1917), and New Mexico A&M (1917–1920), tallying a career college 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....
mark of 101–80. He also coached baseball at Iowa for one season in 1906.
Playing career
Born in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, Griffith was a four-time 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...
letter winner for 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...
from 1897 to 1900. Griffith, a 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...
, played for some of the greatest teams in Iowa football
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
history.
Against Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
in 1899, Griffith returned a punt 85 yards as Iowa won, 58–0, to cap an undefeated season. After the game, referee R. T. Hoagland of Princeton said, "The dodging run of Griffith down the field for a touchdown was the best piece of individual playing that I ever saw. The men (of the 1899 Hawkeyes) are all stars; they make the best team I ever saw."
In Iowa's first year in the Western Conference
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...
(now known as the Big Ten) in 1900, Griffith was named Iowa's team captain. The team won the Western Conference title in Iowa's first year in the league. Iowa had to settle for a controversial 5–5 tie against Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
in Griffith's final game at Iowa. The entire team except Griffith ate a bad batch of creamed potatoes and got food poisoning the day before the game.
Still, Griffith did not suffer a defeat in his final twenty games as a player at Iowa, going 17–0–3. His last collegiate loss was late in his sophomore season.
Coaching career
Griffith graduated from Iowa in 1901. In 1902, he was hired as head football coach and athletic director at the University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. When Iowa football coach Alden Knipe
Alden Knipe
Alden Arthur Knipe was an American football player and coach. He served as the sixth head football coach at the University of Iowa from 1892–1894, compiling a record of 30–11–4. Knipe was also the first head head baseball coach at Iowa, coaching two seasons from 1900 to 1901...
retired after the 1902 season, school officials considered hiring Griffith but went with John Chalmers
John Chalmers
John George Chalmers was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Franklin & Marshall College , the University of Iowa , Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College, , and the University of Dubuque , compiling a career college...
instead. Griffith continued as Idaho's football coach until 1906.
When Chalmers was succeeded by Mark Catlin as Iowa's head coach, Griffith left Idaho to serve as Catlin's assistant coach at Iowa. Griffith was Iowa's assistant football coach in 1907 and 1908. He also served as Iowa's head basketball coach during the 1906–1907 season. After a one year break, Griffith resumed Iowa's head basketball coaching duties for the 1908–1909 season, Iowa's first basketball season in the Big Ten. He also coached the Iowa baseball team for one season in 1906.
Catlin left Iowa prior to the 1909 football season, and the Hawkeyes hired Griffith as their ninth head football coach. He was the first Iowa graduate to lead the football team. He coached Iowa to a 2–4–1 record in 1909. His star player that season was Walter "Stub" Stewart.
Griffith finished out the 1909–1910 basketball season, his third as a head basketball coach. His team went 11–3 that year, bringing Griffith's three year basketball coaching record to 29–14. After the basketball season, Griffith announced he was leaving Iowa. Stewart replaced him as the basketball coach.
Griffith left the head football coaching position at Iowa after just one year. He returned to Idaho to become the head of their entomology department. He also served as their head football coach again from 1910 to 1914. His ten year record at Idaho was 28–22–2.
Griffith also coached football at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1915 and 1916, compiling an 8–9–1 record. In 1917, he led the football team at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
) to a 4–2 record.
Football
External links
- John G. Griffith at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com