Walter Eckersall
Encyclopedia
Walter "Eckie" Eckersall (June 17, 1886 – March 24, 1930) was an American football
player, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune
. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1951.
. His talent emerged at Hyde Park High School
, where he dashed 100 yards in 10.0 seconds, an Illinois record for 25 years, and excelled on the football field. In 1903, he quarterbacked Hyde Park to an undefeated season and then led the Hyde Park squad to a 105 to 0 trouncing of Brooklyn Polytechnic at Marshall Field on December 5, 1903 to claim the national championship.
Eckersall was highly recruited out of high school and both Fielding H. Yost of the Michigan
and Amos Alonzo Stagg
of the Chicago Maroons
. Stagg resorted to chicanery, snatching Eckersall off a train platform to keep him from attending a recruitment rendezvous arranged by Michigan coaches in Ann Arbor
in 1904.
powerhouses met at Chicago's Marshall Field
in front of 27,000 spectators, at that time the largest crowd to view a football game. Michigan was 12–0 and had a 56-game undefeated streak on the line, while Chicago was 10–0.
The game was a punting duel between Eckersall and Michigan's John Garrels
and was scoreless until early in the third quarter when a Michigan punt and Chicago penalty pinned Chicago inside their own ten-yard line. On third down, as Eckersall attempted to punt, he encountered a fearsome rush, but evaded the Michigan tacklers and was able to scramble to the 22-yard line and a first down. After three more first downs, the drive stalled and Chicago was forced to punt again. Eckersall's booming punt carried into the end zone where it was caught by Michigan's William Dennison Clark
who attempted to run the ball out. He advanced the ball forward to the one-yard line, but was hit hard by Art Badenoch and then was brought back inside his own end zone by Mark Catlin
for a two-point safety. Under the rules of the time, forward progress was not credited, and a ball carrier could be carried backwards or forwards until he was down. The rest of third and fourth quarters continued as a defensive stalemate. Chicago's 2–0 victory snapped Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and gave Chicago the national championship for 1905.
As a tragic note to this game, Clark received the blame for the Michigan loss, and in 1932 he shot himself through the heart. In a suicide note to his wife he reportedly expressed the hope that his "final play" would be of some benefit in atoning for his error at Marshall Field.
in 1906. The tied was a 6–6 stalemate with Illinois in 1904.
Following his career, Eckersall's was selected to Walter Camp
's "All-Time All-America Team" honoring the greatest college football players during the sport's formative years. Eckersall was selected to Camp's All-American Team for 1904
, 1905
, and 1906
.
, and as a referee. As an official, Eckersall was considered one of the best and officiated at many high profile games. Highly regarded as an authority on football, he selected the Chicago Tribunes all star team. His "All Western Eleven" carried prestige. Eckersall is also a footnote in the story of Knute Rockne
, and the well-documented history of Notre Dame, because of his presence at many of their games. Eckersall was an idol of Rockne, who grew up in Chicago and watched Eckersall play in high school and in college.
on March 24, 1930 at the age of 43.
constructed a sporting facility at 2423 East 82nd Street in 1949, named "Walter Eckersall Stadium".
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, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. 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 1951.
Early life
Eckersall grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago just south of the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. His talent emerged at Hyde Park High School
Hyde Park Career Academy
Hyde Park Career Academy is a public 4-year high school located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299.-Notable alumni:...
, where he dashed 100 yards in 10.0 seconds, an Illinois record for 25 years, and excelled on the football field. In 1903, he quarterbacked Hyde Park to an undefeated season and then led the Hyde Park squad to a 105 to 0 trouncing of Brooklyn Polytechnic at Marshall Field on December 5, 1903 to claim the national championship.
Eckersall was highly recruited out of high school and both Fielding H. Yost of the Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
and Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
of the Chicago Maroons
Chicago Maroons football
The Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power...
. Stagg resorted to chicanery, snatching Eckersall off a train platform to keep him from attending a recruitment rendezvous arranged by Michigan coaches in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1904.
National championship game of 1905
In 1905, the sophomore quarterback led the Maroons to the national championship. In the final game of the season on November 30, Chicago and Michigan met in a battle of undefeated Western ConferenceBig 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...
powerhouses met at Chicago's Marshall Field
Stagg Field
Amos Alonzo Stagg Field is the name of two different football fields for the University of Chicago. The earliest Stagg Field is probably best remembered for its role in a landmark scientific achievement by Enrico Fermi during the Manhattan Project. The site of the first nuclear reaction received...
in front of 27,000 spectators, at that time the largest crowd to view a football game. Michigan was 12–0 and had a 56-game undefeated streak on the line, while Chicago was 10–0.
The game was a punting duel between Eckersall and Michigan's John Garrels
John Garrels
John Garrels was an American athlete who excelled in the 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, shot put, and as a fullback and end in American football....
and was scoreless until early in the third quarter when a Michigan punt and Chicago penalty pinned Chicago inside their own ten-yard line. On third down, as Eckersall attempted to punt, he encountered a fearsome rush, but evaded the Michigan tacklers and was able to scramble to the 22-yard line and a first down. After three more first downs, the drive stalled and Chicago was forced to punt again. Eckersall's booming punt carried into the end zone where it was caught by Michigan's William Dennison Clark
William Dennison Clark
William Dennison "Denny" Clark was an American football player. He played for the University of Michigan from 1903 to 1905. He was blamed for Michigan's 1905 loss to the University of Chicago, which ended the Wolverines' 56-game unbeaten streak...
who attempted to run the ball out. He advanced the ball forward to the one-yard line, but was hit hard by Art Badenoch and then was brought back inside his own end zone by Mark Catlin
Mark Catlin
Mark S. Catlin, Sr. was an American football player, track athlete, coach, lawyer, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Iowa from 1906 to 1908, and at Lawrence University from 1909 to 1918 and again from 1924 to 1927, compiling a career college football record...
for a two-point safety. Under the rules of the time, forward progress was not credited, and a ball carrier could be carried backwards or forwards until he was down. The rest of third and fourth quarters continued as a defensive stalemate. Chicago's 2–0 victory snapped Michigan's 56-game unbeaten streak and gave Chicago the national championship for 1905.
As a tragic note to this game, Clark received the blame for the Michigan loss, and in 1932 he shot himself through the heart. In a suicide note to his wife he reportedly expressed the hope that his "final play" would be of some benefit in atoning for his error at Marshall Field.
Legacy
In Eckersall, Stagg saw the promise of "a selfless performer, marked by complete dedication" to victory. During his career, Eckersall led Chicago to a 25–2–1 record (.911 winning percentage), with Chicago outscoring their opponents 856–66. The two losses were to Michigan in 1904 and to WisconsinWisconsin 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...
in 1906. The tied was a 6–6 stalemate with Illinois in 1904.
Following his career, Eckersall's was selected to 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...
's "All-Time All-America Team" honoring the greatest college football players during the sport's formative years. Eckersall was selected to Camp's All-American Team for 1904
1904 College Football All-America Team
The 1904 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that chose College Football All-America Teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams included Collier's Weekly selected by Walter Camp.-Key:...
, 1905
1905 College Football All-America Team
The 1905 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1905 college football season...
, and 1906
1906 College Football All-America Team
The 1906 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1906 college football season...
.
Later life
After his playing days, Eckersall remained a prominent figure in football. He had a successful dual career as a sportswriter for the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, and as a referee. As an official, Eckersall was considered one of the best and officiated at many high profile games. Highly regarded as an authority on football, he selected the Chicago Tribunes all star team. His "All Western Eleven" carried prestige. Eckersall is also a footnote in the story of Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
, and the well-documented history of Notre Dame, because of his presence at many of their games. Eckersall was an idol of Rockne, who grew up in Chicago and watched Eckersall play in high school and in college.
Death
Eckersall's boozing and carousing often contradicted Stagg's prescription of football as a surefire builder of moral character. Stagg gradually distanced himself from his greatest player, especially when Eckersall reneged on a $20 debt and was later featured in a national ad campaign for cigarettes—a habit Stagg regarded as sinful. In March 1930, Eckersall was hospitalized for illnesses associated with his hard living, Stagg came to his bedside with the firm advice to "turn over a new leaf." "Eckie" promised his old coach that he would. Eckersall died of cirrhosis of the liver and pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on March 24, 1930 at the age of 43.
Memorials
The Chicago Public SchoolsChicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
constructed a sporting facility at 2423 East 82nd Street in 1949, named "Walter Eckersall Stadium".
External links
- University of Chicago Magazine, October 1995, Legends of the Fall 3 at magazine.uchicago.edu
- Walter Eckersall, pregame notes, 1905 at www.lib.uchicago.edu
- Eckersall's Last Game at leatherhelmetillus.com