Vince Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Vincent Stevenson was an American football
player at the college level
for the Penn Quakers
in 1904 and 1905. In 1904, he earned All-American honors from Walter Camp
, after leading his team to a 12-0 record, in which the Quakers outscored their opponents 222-4.
In 1906, Stevenson played professionally for the Canton Bulldogs
of the "Ohio League
". However he was injured his knee in the third game of the seaon and was replaced at quarterback
by Twister Steinberg - until he was relieved by Jack Hayden. Stevenson tried to recover and rejoin the team, however the medical consenus was for him to sit out the remainder of the season, so that the bone could heal properly. The injured prevented Steveson from taking part in Canton's two game series, against the rivial Massillon Tigers
, that would result in a scandal.
During the 1910's, he became a crewman on several trans-oceanic oil tankers. World War I
was now taking place and these tankers were frequent targets for German
u-boats. Although he was reported missing on several occasions, he always showed up unharmed in some distant port.
In 1949, while watching a game between Penn and Cornell
, Stevenson proclaimed: "I don't like this two-platoon business," showing his favor having players play on both offense and defense. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1968.
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 at the college level
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...
for the Penn Quakers
Penn Quakers football
The Penn Quakers football team is the college football team at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Penn Quakers have competed in the Ivy League since its inaugural season of 1956, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
in 1904 and 1905. In 1904, he earned All-American honors from Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
, after leading his team to a 12-0 record, in which the Quakers outscored their opponents 222-4.
In 1906, Stevenson played professionally for the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
of the "Ohio League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
". However he was injured his knee in the third game of the seaon and was replaced at 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...
by Twister Steinberg - until he was relieved by Jack Hayden. Stevenson tried to recover and rejoin the team, however the medical consenus was for him to sit out the remainder of the season, so that the bone could heal properly. The injured prevented Steveson from taking part in Canton's two game series, against the rivial Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
, that would result in a scandal.
During the 1910's, he became a crewman on several trans-oceanic oil tankers. 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...
was now taking place and these tankers were frequent targets for German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
u-boats. Although he was reported missing on several occasions, he always showed up unharmed in some distant port.
In 1949, while watching a game between Penn and Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Stevenson proclaimed: "I don't like this two-platoon business," showing his favor having players play on both offense and defense. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1968.