Two-Bits Homan
Encyclopedia
Henry Homan was a professional American football
player. Homan was a college stand-out at Lebanon Valley College
where he played quarterback and graduated in 1924. He gained his nickname of "Two Bits" due to his size. Standing at 5' 5" and weighing in at an average 150 lbs throughout his playing day, Homan was one of the smallest players ever in the National Football League
.
Homan joined the NFL in 1925 with the Frankford Yellow Jackets
and played his whole career with them until 1930. Though one of the lesser known NFL players, he was one of the most popular Yellow Jacket players. The Yellow Jackets, with Homan, would go on to win the 1926 NFL Championship.
Homan also played football with the independent Millville Football & Athletic Club
, a professional football team based in New Jersey
in 1925. The team won the mythical "Pro Football Championship of New Jersey" that year. In January 1926, Homan and several other members of the Millville Big Blue, traveled to Florida to play a series of exhibition games. They formed a team called the Haven-Villa of Winter Haven
played against Jim Thorpe
and his Tampa Cardinals
. The team left Florida with a 5-0-1 record.
He was elected into the Lebanon Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
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. Homan was a college stand-out at Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
where he played quarterback and graduated in 1924. He gained his nickname of "Two Bits" due to his size. Standing at 5' 5" and weighing in at an average 150 lbs throughout his playing day, Homan was one of the smallest players ever in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Homan joined the NFL in 1925 with the Frankford Yellow Jackets
Frankford Yellow Jackets
The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926...
and played his whole career with them until 1930. Though one of the lesser known NFL players, he was one of the most popular Yellow Jacket players. The Yellow Jackets, with Homan, would go on to win the 1926 NFL Championship.
Homan also played football with the independent Millville Football & Athletic Club
Millville Football & Athletic Club
Millville Football & Athletic Club also known as the Millville Big Blue was a professional football team based in Millville, New Jersey from 1921 until around 1928. The team won the mythical "Pro Football Championship of New Jersey" in 1923 and again in 1925.At end of the 1925, several members of...
, a professional football team based in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1925. The team won the mythical "Pro Football Championship of New Jersey" that year. In January 1926, Homan and several other members of the Millville Big Blue, traveled to Florida to play a series of exhibition games. They formed a team called the Haven-Villa of Winter Haven
Haven-Villa of Winter Haven
The Haven-Villa of Winter Haven was a professional football team based in Winter Haven, Florida in 1926. While the team originated as a successful local team...
played against Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
and his Tampa Cardinals
Tampa Cardinals
The Tampa Cardinals, was a football barnstorming team, that played pick-up games, led by future pro football hall of famer, Jim Thorpe in 1926. During the time, the team was also billed as the St. Petersburg Cardinals and as Lena Vistas,...
. The team left Florida with a 5-0-1 record.
He was elected into the Lebanon Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976.
The Touchdown Celebration Rumor
Rumors have it that he was the first to celebrate a touchdown. On returning a punt for a touchdown, which he was a tremendous threat to do, Homan held onto the ball, shook his teammates hands and then the officials hand before he handed the ball to the official. Even though he had multiple returns for touchdowns no account of this incident has been found.Season Stats
(Record of NFL play only)| Year | Age | Team | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 27 | Frankford | 15 |
| 1926 | 28 | Frankford | 6 |
| 1927 | 29 | Frankford | 16 |
| 1928 | 30 | Frankford | 11 |
| 1929 | 31 | Frankford | 17 |
| 1930 | 32 | Frankford | 14 |