Robert M. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Robert Martin "Mother" Murphy was an administrator at Washington & Jefferson College
; his efforts to improve the
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team
directly led to its development as a national powerhouse during the early 20th century.
in 1906. From 1906 to 1925, he served as the college's student solicitor and graduate manager for the football team. In that position, he personally recruited many of the players that eventually comprised the most successful teams in the College's history. The modern analogue of his position would be the athletic director
.
College president James D. Moffat
personally credited Murphy for increasing the enrollment by 9%.
In 1910, the football program was in danger of being dissolved due to crushing debt. The Student Athletic Committee proposed a $1 per term student fee to fund the team, a proposal that was met with initial resistance from the student body. However, team manager and beloved student solicitor Murphy was able to convince the students to accept the fee.
In 1912, he personally recruited Bob Folwell
away from Lafayette College to serve as head coach for the football team, a move that ushered in the era of dominance for the football squad. That era of dominance peaked in the 1921 season, when the Presidents were invited to play in the 1922 Rose Bowl
. The team could only afford to send 11 men on the cross-country trip and Murphy had to mortgage his home to pay his own way.
He died on July 25, 1925.
The college's athletic program presents the annual "Robert M. Murphy Award" to graduates who have made "outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at W&J after graduation." The award has been presented at the annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The Rule, Hughes, and Murphy Prize, named for Murphy and two other alumni (James Rule (1898), Howard Hughes ’11) honors sophomore
students who display high levels of "academic achievement, academic promise, and leadership potential." The award carries a $2,000 cash prize.
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
; his efforts to improve the
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference...
directly led to its development as a national powerhouse during the early 20th century.
Career at Washington & Jefferson College
Murphy graduated from Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
in 1906. From 1906 to 1925, he served as the college's student solicitor and graduate manager for the football team. In that position, he personally recruited many of the players that eventually comprised the most successful teams in the College's history. The modern analogue of his position would be the 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...
.
College president James D. Moffat
James D. Moffat
James David Moffat was the 3rd president of Washington & Jefferson College.Moffat, a native of New Lisbon, Ohio, was born on March 15, 1846. He spent his youth in St. Clairsville, Ohio and Bellaire, Ohio before working as a teacher and a bookkeeper. He entered Jefferson College in 1865 and...
personally credited Murphy for increasing the enrollment by 9%.
In 1910, the football program was in danger of being dissolved due to crushing debt. The Student Athletic Committee proposed a $1 per term student fee to fund the team, a proposal that was met with initial resistance from the student body. However, team manager and beloved student solicitor Murphy was able to convince the students to accept the fee.
In 1912, he personally recruited Bob Folwell
Bob Folwell
Robert Cook "Bob" Folwell, Jr. was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Lafayette College , Washington & Jefferson College , the University of Pennsylvania , and the United States Naval Academy , compiling a career college football record of...
away from Lafayette College to serve as head coach for the football team, a move that ushered in the era of dominance for the football squad. That era of dominance peaked in the 1921 season, when the Presidents were invited to play in the 1922 Rose Bowl
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
. The team could only afford to send 11 men on the cross-country trip and Murphy had to mortgage his home to pay his own way.
He died on July 25, 1925.
Posthumous honors
On Mother's Day in 1936, the college honored Murphy by dedicating a day of service to Murphy's memory.The college's athletic program presents the annual "Robert M. Murphy Award" to graduates who have made "outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at W&J after graduation." The award has been presented at the annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The Rule, Hughes, and Murphy Prize, named for Murphy and two other alumni (James Rule (1898), Howard Hughes ’11) honors sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
students who display high levels of "academic achievement, academic promise, and leadership potential." The award carries a $2,000 cash prize.