Tod Rockwell
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand Almon "Tod" Rockwell (1900 – March 22, 1952) was an American football
player and coach. He played quarterback
for the University of Michigan
in 1923 and 1924. He helped the 1923 Michigan Wolverines football team
win a National Championship. He was the head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
team from 1926 to 1927 and of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
team from 1928 to 1929.
broke his ankle in a game against the Quantico Marines
. When Rockwell came into the game against the Marines, Michigan lined up for a field goal with Rockwell holding the ball. As the Marines came through to block the kick, Rockwell jumped to his feet and ran the ball 26 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown run was Rockwell's first play for Michigan's varsity team. The following week, Rockwell played back to receive a kick against Wisconsin
. The ball bounced off his chest at the 32-yard line, and Rockwell picked up the loose ball. Rockwell was hit and appeared to be knocked down, but the whistle was not blown and Rockwell continued running 68 yards through a relaxed Wisconsin secondary, which thought the ball was dead. Rockwell scored a touchdown that defeated the Badgers 6 to 3. Years later, Harry Kipke wrote about the play and described Rockwell's "perfect acrobatic somersault" as he appeared to be down but maintained his balance and ran for the winning touchdown.
The following week, Michigan faced Minnesota
for the Western Conference championship, and Rockwell caught a pass from Michigan's fullback on his fingertips, juggled the ball, and ran 31 yards for a touchdown that led Michigan to a tie with Illinois for the conference championship. Rockwell's performance in the closing games of the 1923 season led sports writer Billy Evans
to write: "Rockwell is one of the best open field runners in the Western Conference. He, more than any other man, saved the Big Ten title for Michigan."
After the 1923 season, another sport writer said of Rockwell: "Through the years Michigan has turned out a bunch of brilliant quarterbacks, 'Boss' Weeks, 'Shorty' McMillan, Tommy Hughitt and Uteritz but Rockwell gives promise of equaling the remarkable performance of all these former celebrities." The 1923 team finished the season with a perfect 8–0 record and has been recognized as the National Champion of 1923 by Billingsley.
Rockwell returned in 1924 as Michigan's starting quarterback. He started seven games at quarterback and one at halfback in leading the Wolverines to a 6–2 record in 1924, including wins over Michigan State
(7–0), Wisconsin (21–0), Minnesota (13–0), Northwestern
(27–0) and Ohio State
(16–6). However, the Wolverines could not stop the Illinois
team led by Red Grange
, giving up 39 points to Michigan's 14. Rockwell was the second leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference
in 1924 with 77 points on 10 touchdowns, 14 extra points and one field goal; Rockwell's point total was one point behind conference scoring leader Red Grange
.
(1926–1927), where he had a record of 8–8, and Louisiana Tech
(1928–1929), where he had a record of 5–11–3. Rockwell later became a sports writer for the Detroit Free Press.
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. He played 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 University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1923 and 1924. He helped the 1923 Michigan Wolverines football team
1923 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1923 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1923 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The Wolverines played their home games at Ferry Field.-Schedule:...
win a National Championship. He was the head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
team from 1926 to 1927 and of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...
team from 1928 to 1929.
Playing career
Rockwell was a backup quarterback for Michigan at the start of the 1923 season but got the starting quarterback job after Irwin UteritzIrwin Uteritz
Irwin Charles "Utz" Uteritz was an American athlete and coach. He played American football and baseball for the University of Michigan from 1921 to 1923. At 140 pounds, he was one of the lightest quarterbacks ever to start for a major college program. Despite his size, Michigan football coach...
broke his ankle in a game against the Quantico Marines
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
. When Rockwell came into the game against the Marines, Michigan lined up for a field goal with Rockwell holding the ball. As the Marines came through to block the kick, Rockwell jumped to his feet and ran the ball 26 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown run was Rockwell's first play for Michigan's varsity team. The following week, Rockwell played back to receive a kick against Wisconsin
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...
. The ball bounced off his chest at the 32-yard line, and Rockwell picked up the loose ball. Rockwell was hit and appeared to be knocked down, but the whistle was not blown and Rockwell continued running 68 yards through a relaxed Wisconsin secondary, which thought the ball was dead. Rockwell scored a touchdown that defeated the Badgers 6 to 3. Years later, Harry Kipke wrote about the play and described Rockwell's "perfect acrobatic somersault" as he appeared to be down but maintained his balance and ran for the winning touchdown.
The following week, Michigan faced Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
for the Western Conference championship, and Rockwell caught a pass from Michigan's fullback on his fingertips, juggled the ball, and ran 31 yards for a touchdown that led Michigan to a tie with Illinois for the conference championship. Rockwell's performance in the closing games of the 1923 season led sports writer Billy Evans
Billy Evans
William George Evans , nicknamed "The Boy Umpire," was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1906 to 1927...
to write: "Rockwell is one of the best open field runners in the Western Conference. He, more than any other man, saved the Big Ten title for Michigan."
After the 1923 season, another sport writer said of Rockwell: "Through the years Michigan has turned out a bunch of brilliant quarterbacks, 'Boss' Weeks, 'Shorty' McMillan, Tommy Hughitt and Uteritz but Rockwell gives promise of equaling the remarkable performance of all these former celebrities." The 1923 team finished the season with a perfect 8–0 record and has been recognized as the National Champion of 1923 by Billingsley.
Rockwell returned in 1924 as Michigan's starting quarterback. He started seven games at quarterback and one at halfback in leading the Wolverines to a 6–2 record in 1924, including wins over Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
(7–0), Wisconsin (21–0), Minnesota (13–0), 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...
(27–0) and Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
(16–6). However, the Wolverines could not stop the 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...
team led by Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
, giving up 39 points to Michigan's 14. Rockwell was the second leading scorer in the Big Ten 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...
in 1924 with 77 points on 10 touchdowns, 14 extra points and one field goal; Rockwell's point total was one point behind conference scoring leader Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
.
Coaching career
After graduating from Michigan, Rockwell coached for four years at of the North DakotaNorth Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
(1926–1927), where he had a record of 8–8, and Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football program represents Louisiana Tech University in Western Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since the Bulldogs first season in 1901, Louisiana Tech has compiled an all-time record of 554 wins, 422...
(1928–1929), where he had a record of 5–11–3. Rockwell later became a sports writer for the Detroit Free Press.