1920 Akron Pros season
Encyclopedia
The Akron Pros
were an American football
team that played in the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team originally formed as the Akron Indians in 1908 in the Ohio League
. In their twelfth year in 1920, they became a charter member of the AFPA, which subsequently changed its name to the National Football League
(NFL) in 1922. In their inaugural AFPA season, they posted an undefeated, 8-0-3 season. Their record would be considered the first perfect season in the NFL until a 1972 rule change. The Pros only allowed seven points all season, which was the lowest points allowed in the history of the AFPA/NFL (the NFL does not recognize stats prior to 1932 as a record) and did not allow a score until the eighth week of the season.
The Pros entered the season coming off a 5–5 record in 1919
. Their first regular season game was on October 3, with a win over the Wheeling Stogies. Rip King
and quarterback
-coach
, future Hall of Famer Fritz Pollard
were named 1st Team and Alf Cobb
was name 2nd Team all AFPA by the Rock Island Argus. The Pros finished first place in the APFA, and were awarded League Champions. The championship came with controversy as the Decatur Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans produced more wins and tied the Pros, so each team demanded a share of the title.
at 10-0-2, the 1923 Canton Bulldogs
at 11-0-1, the 1929 Green Bay Packers
at 12-0-1, and the 1972 Miami Dolphins
at 17-0. Prior to 1972, the NFL did not count ties into winning percentage; however, in that year the NFL retrospectively altered its standings to treat tied games as being worth half of a win. With that being said, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to have a modern perfect season.
Three other teams accumulated a perfect regular season record, but lost in the post-season. The 1934 Chicago Bears
posted a 13–0 record but lost in the 1934 NFL Championship Game to the New York Giants
. The 1942 Chicago Bears
posted an 11–0 record but lost in the 1942 NFL Championship Game to the Washington Redskins
. Lastly, the 2007 New England Patriots
posted a 16–0 record but lost in Super Bowl XLII
to the New York Giants.
in 1919. On August 20, 1920, as well as on September 17, 1920, a meeting was held by four teams of the Ohio League came together to formalize a national league. In summary, the following was achieved during the September 17 meeting: the name of "American Professional Football Association" was chosen; officers of the league were elected; a membership fee of $100 was set; a committee to draft a constitution was named; the secretary of the league was to receive a list of all players used during the season by January 1, 1921; clubs had to advertise their affiliation on their stationery; and the trophy that would be awarded to the league champions.
The Pros' Art Ranney
wrote all the information from these meetings on stationary and thus was promoted to secretary of the league. The APFA consisted of teams mainly from the Ohio league, but New York Pro Football League
and independent teams were asked to join. Most of the Akron Pros' players, including Fritz Pollard
, decided to stay on the team for next season.
was sold to the Buffalo All-Americans for $300 and 5% of the Akron-Buffalo gate, making the first deal in APFA-NFL history.
, Akron, Ohio
The Pros made their AFPA debut against the Wheeling Stogies. Playing in front of 4,000 fans, defensive end
Al Nesser
of the famous Nesser Brothers scored three touchdowns (two fumble recoveries and 1 blocked field goal). Tailback Fritz Pollard
also scored two rushing touchdowns to help lead Akron to a 43-0 victory over the Stogies. The Pros defense got a safety in the first quarter after the extra point was missed. Blocking back Harry Harris
also contributed by adding one rushing towndown in the fourth quarter. According to Coach Tobin, Fritz Pollard was sick during the game.
, Akron, Ohio
In week three, the Pros played against the Columbus Panhandles. Running back
Frank McCormick
rushed for two touchdowns to give Akron a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. Defensive end
Bob Nash
later recovered a fumble in the end zone (the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game of two league teams). Blocking back Harry Harris
and fullback
Fred Sweetland
also contributed, scoring one rushing touchdown each. Sweetland was hired by coach Elgie Tobin
to be a line substitute, but the coach decided to play Sweetland this game. The defense added another safety in the fourth quarter to give the Akron Pros a 37-0 victory over the Columbus Panhandles.
, Akron, Ohio
In week four, the Pros played against the Cincinnati Celts
. The Celts were not directly affiliated with the APFA and would not join the league until the following year. Fullback
Rip King
and Running back Fritz Pollard
each scored a touchdown
in leading Akron to a 13-0 victory. The Pro's kicker for that game, Charlie Copley
, made one extra point and missed the other. The Pros' defense was so dominant that the Celts did not get a single first down all game long.
, Akron, Ohio
In week five, the Pros played against the Cleveland Tigers. Prior to this game, the Tigers were considered the best team in Ohio
. The only score came from a punt block by Bob Nash
in the first quarter. Nash apparently grabbed the ball from the Tigers' punter, Stan Cofall on the 8-yard line and ran in for the score. With an extra point from Charlie Copley
, the Pros defeated the Tigers 7-0 to keep their undefeated streak alive.
With four games under their belt, the Pros were starting to gain attention around the league. In week six, the Pros played against the Canton Bulldogs
. Playing under a crowd of 10,000; the Pros defeated the Bulldogs 10-0. In the first quarter, Charlie Copley
kicked a 38-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Pike Johnson
recorded a 55-yard interception which was originally tipped by Copley for a touchdown
. Many Bulldogs' fans were highly upset with their team for not scoring a point
, Cleveland, Ohio
In week eight, the Pros played against the Cleveland Tigers. Playing in front of 8,000 fans, the Pros allowed their first and only points of the year from a 50-yard touchdown
pass from Mark Devlin
to Tuffy Conn
and an extra point
by Al Pierotti
in the third quarter. Fritz Pollard
had a 20-yard rushing touchdown
in the second quarter and Charlie Copley
made an extra point to tie the game at 7-7, making the first tie for the Pros of the season.
, Akron, Ohio
In week nine, the Pros played against the Dayton Triangles
. The Triangles came into this game as one of the few teams left undefeated. The game started out with three scoreless quarters until Rip King
threw a 15-yard passing touchdown
in the fourth quarter to Frank McCormick
. Fritz Pollard
also rushed for a 17-yard touchdown and Charlie Copley
made one extra point
and missed another one to beat the Triangles 13-0. This brought one of only two loses the Triangles had this season.
, Akron, Ohio
In their first game of week ten, the Pros played against the Canton Bulldogs
for the second time this season, and were still upset from their "fluke" loss earlier in the season. A muffed punt
by the Bulldogs game the Pros the ball at the 32-yard line. On their next drive, the Pros' passing game gave them the lone score, a passing touchdown
from Rip King
to Bob Nash
in the first quarter. Once again, the Pros' defense was nearly unstoppable and gave the Bulldogs another shutout, winning 7-0.
, Dayton, Ohio
The Pros were now recognized as the top team in the league and in their second game of week ten, the Pros played against the Dayton Triangles
. This game could have been classified as a "U.S. Championship", but the APFA had widened its battlefield with the Buffalo All-Americans and the Decatur Staleys still with high winning percentage. Fritz Pollard
returned punt for a touchdown early in the first quarter. He also had one receiving touchdown
in the third quarter from Rip King
. The mud made hindered the playing skills of both teams, and both teams could not do much offensively.
, Buffalo, New York
In week eleven, the Pros played against the Buffalo All-Americans. The All-Americans were tired from playing a game against the Canton Bulldogs
the day before. Playing in front of 3,000 people, the game resulted in a 0-0 tie. The rain caused sloppy game play as well as a small crowd. Earlier in the season, Bob Nash
of the Pros was traded to the All-Americans for $300, but Nash did not appear in this game for either team.
The Pros ended their season in week twelve against the Decatur Staleys. Playing in front of 12,000 fans, the largest recorded crowd of that season, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. This was the second game in a row where the score ended in 0-0. Prior to the game, the Staleys' coach hired Paddy Driscoll
to play on his team in order to help defeat the Pros. The Pros almost scored, but failed because of ineligible receiver penalties. The Staleys missed a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter. The game was good for the Pros because the tie did not hurt their winning percentage
and made the Pros NFL Champions.
until 1932, a meeting was held to determine the 1920 NFL Champions. Each team that showed up had a vote to determine the champions. Since the Akron Pros had a 1.000 winning percentage, the Pros were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup
on April 30, 1921. The Decatur Staleys and the Buffalo All-Americans stated that they should win the award because they had more wins, and were not beaten by the Akron Pros. The trophy that the Pros received was a "silver-loving cup", donated by "Mr. Marshall". Each player from the Pros was also awarded with a golden fob. It was of a football and "1920", "WORLD CHAMPIONS", and each players' first initial and last name was inscribed on the fob.
Even though the Pros were given the trophy in 1920, the league lost track of the event and for a long time published in its own record books that the 1920 championship was undecided. It took until the 1970s for the NFL to remember its early vote on awarding the Akron Pros the 1920 championship.
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
were an American football
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...
team that played in the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team originally formed as the Akron Indians in 1908 in 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...
. In their twelfth year in 1920, they became a charter member of the AFPA, which subsequently changed its name to 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...
(NFL) in 1922. In their inaugural AFPA season, they posted an undefeated, 8-0-3 season. Their record would be considered the first perfect season in the NFL until a 1972 rule change. The Pros only allowed seven points all season, which was the lowest points allowed in the history of the AFPA/NFL (the NFL does not recognize stats prior to 1932 as a record) and did not allow a score until the eighth week of the season.
The Pros entered the season coming off a 5–5 record in 1919
1919 Akron Indians season
The 1919 Akron Indians season was their twelfth season in existence. The team played in the Ohio League and would go on to post a 5-5 record. The team would go on to become a charter member of the National Football League the very next season.-Schedule:...
. Their first regular season game was on October 3, with a win over the Wheeling Stogies. Rip King
Rip King
Andrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
and 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...
-coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, future Hall of Famer Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
were named 1st Team and Alf Cobb
Alf Cobb
Alfred Russell Cobb was a professional American football player, who played in the early National Football League for the Akron Pros and the Cleveland Bulldogs. As a member of the 1920 Akron Pros, Cobb won the very first NFL Championship with the team. Prior to his professional career, he played at...
was name 2nd Team all AFPA by the Rock Island Argus. The Pros finished first place in the APFA, and were awarded League Champions. The championship came with controversy as the Decatur Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans produced more wins and tied the Pros, so each team demanded a share of the title.
Other undefeated teams
The Akron Pros were the first team in the NFL to complete a non-modern "perfect season". Only four other teams has accomplished this feat: the 1922 Canton Bulldogs1922 Canton Bulldogs season
- Week 1 : Louisville Brecks :at Lakeside Park, Canton, Ohio* Game time:* Game weather:* Game attendance: 4,500* Referee:Scoring Drives:* Canton - Miller 10 run...
at 10-0-2, the 1923 Canton Bulldogs
1923 Canton Bulldogs season
The 1923 Canton Bulldogs season was their fourth in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 10-0-2, winning eleven games. With the best record in the league, they were crowned the NFL Champions.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
at 11-0-1, the 1929 Green Bay Packers
1929 Green Bay Packers season
The 1929 Green Bay Packers season was their ninth season in the National Football League. The club posted an undefeated 12-0-1 record under player/coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish and the Packers' first National Football League Championship...
at 12-0-1, and the 1972 Miami Dolphins
1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
at 17-0. Prior to 1972, the NFL did not count ties into winning percentage; however, in that year the NFL retrospectively altered its standings to treat tied games as being worth half of a win. With that being said, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to have a modern perfect season.
Three other teams accumulated a perfect regular season record, but lost in the post-season. The 1934 Chicago Bears
1934 Chicago Bears season
The 1934 Chicago Bears season was their 15th regular season and 3rd postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted an unprecedented 13-0 record in the second year of George Halas's second tenure...
posted a 13–0 record but lost in the 1934 NFL Championship Game to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The 1942 Chicago Bears
1942 Chicago Bears season
The 1942 Chicago Bears season was their 23rd regular season and 7th postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 11-0 record under head coach George Halas and temporary co-coaches Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos...
posted an 11–0 record but lost in the 1942 NFL Championship Game to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. Lastly, the 2007 New England Patriots
2007 New England Patriots season
The 2007 New England Patriots season was the 38th season for the team in the National Football League and 48th season overall. They finished with a perfect 16–0 regular season record but lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII....
posted a 16–0 record but lost in Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
to the New York Giants.
Offseason
The Akron Pros, who were named the Akron Indians, finished 5-5 in the Ohio LeagueOhio 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...
in 1919. On August 20, 1920, as well as on September 17, 1920, a meeting was held by four teams of the Ohio League came together to formalize a national league. In summary, the following was achieved during the September 17 meeting: the name of "American Professional Football Association" was chosen; officers of the league were elected; a membership fee of $100 was set; a committee to draft a constitution was named; the secretary of the league was to receive a list of all players used during the season by January 1, 1921; clubs had to advertise their affiliation on their stationery; and the trophy that would be awarded to the league champions.
The Pros' Art Ranney
Art Ranney
Arthur F. Ranney was a co-founder of the American Professional Football Association , as an owner of the Akron Pros, one of the league's chater teams...
wrote all the information from these meetings on stationary and thus was promoted to secretary of the league. The APFA consisted of teams mainly from the Ohio league, but New York Pro Football League
New York Pro Football League
The New York Pro Football League was a professional American football league active in the 1910s and based in upstate New York, primarily Western New York. Between 1920 and 1921, the league's best teams were absorbed into the National Football League, though none survive in that league today...
and independent teams were asked to join. Most of the Akron Pros' players, including Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
, decided to stay on the team for next season.
Regular season
The Pros remained undefeated through eleven regular-season games. They scored a total of 151 points and allowed just 7; this was the best defensive record and the sixth-best offensive record in 1920. The team was 8-0 at home and 3-0-3 on the road. On December 5, Bob NashBob Nash (American football)
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants...
was sold to the Buffalo All-Americans for $300 and 5% of the Akron-Buffalo gate, making the first deal in APFA-NFL history.
Schedule
| Regular season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance | Record | |||||
| 1 | Bye week Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
||||||||||
| 2 | October 3 | Wheeling Stogies | W 43–0 | League Park League Park (Akron) League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in... |
4,000 | 1–0 | |||||
| 3 | October 10 | Columbus Panhandles | W 37–0 | League Park | ? | 2–0 | |||||
| 4 | October 17 | Cincinnati Celts Cincinnati Celts The Cincinnati Celts was the first professional football team to play in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team played in the unofficial "Ohio League" and the American Professional Football Association . The Celts were a traveling team, playing all of their APFA games in other cities' stadia... |
W 13–0 | League Park | ? | 3–0 | |||||
| 5 | October 24 | at Cleveland Tigers | W 7–0 | League Park | ? | 4–0 | |||||
| 6 | October 31 | at 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... |
W 10–0 | Lakeside Park | 10,000 | 5–0 | |||||
| 7 | November 7 | Detroit Heralds | Canceled | 5–0 | |||||||
| 8 | November 14 | Cleveland Tigers | T 7-7 | Dunn Field League Park League Park was a baseball park located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was situated at the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue and E. 66th Street in the Hough neighborhood. It was home to the National League Cleveland Spiders, the American League Cleveland Indians, and the Cleveland... |
8,000 | 5-0-1 | |||||
| 9 | November 21 | Dayton Triangles Dayton Triangles The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north... |
W 13-0 | League Park | ? | 6-0-1 | |||||
| 10 | November 25 | 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... |
W 7-0 | League Park | ? | 7-0-1 | |||||
| November 28 | at Dayton Triangles Dayton Triangles The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north... |
W 14-0 | Triangle Park Triangle Park Triangle Park is a 250-hectare mixed-use central business district development intended to serve as the gravity of all commercial activities in Metro Manila in the coming years. It is located in Quezon City, Philippines. It is organized around five districts, each with mix-use character but with... |
? | 8-0-1 | ||||||
| 11 | December 5 | at Buffalo All-Americans | T 0-0 | Buffalo Baseball Park Buffalo Baseball Park Buffalo Baseball Park was a stadium in Buffalo, New York. It was primarily used for baseball and was the home of Buffalo Bisons of the International League. The ballpark opened in 1889... |
3,000 | 8-0-2 | |||||
| 12 | December 12 | at Decatur Staleys | T 0-0 | Cubs Park | 12,000 | 8-0-3 | |||||
| "?" denotes unknown due to lack of sources | |||||||||||
Week 2: vs Wheeling Stogies
October 3, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
The Pros made their AFPA debut against the Wheeling Stogies. Playing in front of 4,000 fans, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Al Nesser
Al Nesser
Alfred "Al" Louis Nesser was a professional American football offensive lineman. He played for 7 teams in the National Football League and the Cleveland Panthers in the first American Football League...
of the famous Nesser Brothers scored three touchdowns (two fumble recoveries and 1 blocked field goal). Tailback Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
also scored two rushing touchdowns to help lead Akron to a 43-0 victory over the Stogies. The Pros defense got a safety in the first quarter after the extra point was missed. Blocking back Harry Harris
Harry Harris (American football)
Harry Frank Harris was an American football blocking back and quarterback who played for the Akron Pros during the 1920 season, where the Pros won the first NFL Championship. He went to West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia University for his college career.-References:...
also contributed by adding one rushing towndown in the fourth quarter. According to Coach Tobin, Fritz Pollard was sick during the game.
Week 3: vs Columbus Panhandles
October 10, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
In week three, the Pros played against the Columbus Panhandles. Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Frank McCormick
Frank McCormick
Frank Andrew McCormick was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves . McCormick batted and threw right-handed...
rushed for two touchdowns to give Akron a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. Defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Bob Nash
Bob Nash (American football)
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants...
later recovered a fumble in the end zone (the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game of two league teams). Blocking back Harry Harris
Harry Harris (American football)
Harry Frank Harris was an American football blocking back and quarterback who played for the Akron Pros during the 1920 season, where the Pros won the first NFL Championship. He went to West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia University for his college career.-References:...
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Fred Sweetland
Fred Sweetland
Frederick Greenhalge Sweetland was a professional football player. He played in the American Professional Football League with the Akron Pros and the New York Brickley Giants...
also contributed, scoring one rushing touchdown each. Sweetland was hired by coach Elgie Tobin
Elgie Tobin
Elza Williams Tobin was a professional football player with the independent Youngstown Patricians and a player-coach with the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association where he wore number 8. Tobin played with Patricians from 1915 until 1919. When the team folded, Tobin joined...
to be a line substitute, but the coach decided to play Sweetland this game. The defense added another safety in the fourth quarter to give the Akron Pros a 37-0 victory over the Columbus Panhandles.
Week 4: vs Cincinnati Celts
October 17, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
In week four, the Pros played against the Cincinnati Celts
Cincinnati Celts
The Cincinnati Celts was the first professional football team to play in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team played in the unofficial "Ohio League" and the American Professional Football Association . The Celts were a traveling team, playing all of their APFA games in other cities' stadia...
. The Celts were not directly affiliated with the APFA and would not join the league until the following year. Fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Rip King
Rip King
Andrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
and Running back Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
each scored a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in leading Akron to a 13-0 victory. The Pro's kicker for that game, Charlie Copley
Charlie Copley
Charles Francis Copley was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League. Copely won a NFL championship in 1920 with Akron. He was also a former teammate of Fritz Pollard during his time with the Pros and the Badgers. In 1923...
, made one extra point and missed the other. The Pros' defense was so dominant that the Celts did not get a single first down all game long.
Week 5: vs Cleveland Tigers
October 24, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
In week five, the Pros played against the Cleveland Tigers. Prior to this game, the Tigers were considered the best team in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The only score came from a punt block by Bob Nash
Bob Nash (American football)
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants...
in the first quarter. Nash apparently grabbed the ball from the Tigers' punter, Stan Cofall on the 8-yard line and ran in for the score. With an extra point from Charlie Copley
Charlie Copley
Charles Francis Copley was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League. Copely won a NFL championship in 1920 with Akron. He was also a former teammate of Fritz Pollard during his time with the Pros and the Badgers. In 1923...
, the Pros defeated the Tigers 7-0 to keep their undefeated streak alive.
Week 6: at Canton Bulldogs
October 31, 1920 at Lakeside Park, Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
With four games under their belt, the Pros were starting to gain attention around the league. In week six, the Pros played against 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...
. Playing under a crowd of 10,000; the Pros defeated the Bulldogs 10-0. In the first quarter, Charlie Copley
Charlie Copley
Charles Francis Copley was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League. Copely won a NFL championship in 1920 with Akron. He was also a former teammate of Fritz Pollard during his time with the Pros and the Badgers. In 1923...
kicked a 38-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Pike Johnson
Pike Johnson
Karl Hilmer "Pike" Johnson was a professional football player in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros. In 1920 he and the Pros were awarded the very first NFL Championship...
recorded a 55-yard interception which was originally tipped by Copley for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. Many Bulldogs' fans were highly upset with their team for not scoring a point
Week 8: at Cleveland Tigers
November 14, 1920 at Dunn ParkLeague Park
League Park was a baseball park located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was situated at the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue and E. 66th Street in the Hough neighborhood. It was home to the National League Cleveland Spiders, the American League Cleveland Indians, and the Cleveland...
, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
In week eight, the Pros played against the Cleveland Tigers. Playing in front of 8,000 fans, the Pros allowed their first and only points of the year from a 50-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass from Mark Devlin
Mark Devlin (American football)
Mark Henry Devlin Jr. was a professional football player. He played in the American Professional Football League with the Rock Island Independents, Cleveland Tigers and the New York Brickley Giants...
to Tuffy Conn
Tuffy Conn
George Washington "Tuffy" Conn was a professional American football player who played in 1920 for the Cleveland Tigers and the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association...
and an extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
by Al Pierotti
Al Pierotti
Pierotti began his professional baseball career with the minor league Providence Grays of the Eastern League. The following season, he joined the Boston Braves in August, appearing in six games. He pitched in two games the following year before returning to the Eastern League with the Pittsfield...
in the third quarter. Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
had a 20-yard rushing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in the second quarter and Charlie Copley
Charlie Copley
Charles Francis Copley was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League. Copely won a NFL championship in 1920 with Akron. He was also a former teammate of Fritz Pollard during his time with the Pros and the Badgers. In 1923...
made an extra point to tie the game at 7-7, making the first tie for the Pros of the season.
Week 9: vs Dayton Triangles
November 21, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
In week nine, the Pros played against the Dayton Triangles
Dayton Triangles
The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north...
. The Triangles came into this game as one of the few teams left undefeated. The game started out with three scoreless quarters until Rip King
Rip King
Andrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
threw a 15-yard passing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in the fourth quarter to Frank McCormick
Frank McCormick
Frank Andrew McCormick was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves . McCormick batted and threw right-handed...
. Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
also rushed for a 17-yard touchdown and Charlie Copley
Charlie Copley
Charles Francis Copley was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros and the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League. Copely won a NFL championship in 1920 with Akron. He was also a former teammate of Fritz Pollard during his time with the Pros and the Badgers. In 1923...
made one extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
and missed another one to beat the Triangles 13-0. This brought one of only two loses the Triangles had this season.
Week 10: vs Canton Bulldogs
November 25, 1920 at Akron League ParkLeague Park (Akron)
League Park is a former American football and baseball stadium located in Akron, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Akron Pros of the National Football League from 1916 to 1926. It also hosted the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League, as well as various other minor league baseball team in...
, Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
In their first game of week ten, the Pros played against 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...
for the second time this season, and were still upset from their "fluke" loss earlier in the season. A muffed punt
Muffed punt
In American football, a muffed punt is defined as "touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball."A muffed punt occurs when there is an "uncontrolled touch" of the football by a player on the returning team after it is punted...
by the Bulldogs game the Pros the ball at the 32-yard line. On their next drive, the Pros' passing game gave them the lone score, a passing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
from Rip King
Rip King
Andrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
to Bob Nash
Bob Nash (American football)
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants...
in the first quarter. Once again, the Pros' defense was nearly unstoppable and gave the Bulldogs another shutout, winning 7-0.
Week 10: at Dayton Triangles
November 28, 1920 at Triangle ParkTriangle Park (Dayton)
Triangle Park is a former American football stadium located in Dayton, Ohio. The stadium was home to the Dayton Triangles of the National Football League from 1920 to 1929. It had a capacity of 5,000 spectators. It was located at the confluence of the Great Miami River and Stillwater River. On...
, Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
The Pros were now recognized as the top team in the league and in their second game of week ten, the Pros played against the Dayton Triangles
Dayton Triangles
The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north...
. This game could have been classified as a "U.S. Championship", but the APFA had widened its battlefield with the Buffalo All-Americans and the Decatur Staleys still with high winning percentage. Fritz Pollard
Fritz Pollard
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
returned punt for a touchdown early in the first quarter. He also had one receiving touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in the third quarter from Rip King
Rip King
Andrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
. The mud made hindered the playing skills of both teams, and both teams could not do much offensively.
Week 11: at Buffalo All-Americans
December 5, 1920 at Buffalo Baseball ParkBuffalo Baseball Park
Buffalo Baseball Park was a stadium in Buffalo, New York. It was primarily used for baseball and was the home of Buffalo Bisons of the International League. The ballpark opened in 1889...
, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
In week eleven, the Pros played against the Buffalo All-Americans. The All-Americans were tired from playing a game against 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...
the day before. Playing in front of 3,000 people, the game resulted in a 0-0 tie. The rain caused sloppy game play as well as a small crowd. Earlier in the season, Bob Nash
Bob Nash (American football)
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants...
of the Pros was traded to the All-Americans for $300, but Nash did not appear in this game for either team.
Week 12: at Decatur Staleys
December 12, 1920 at Cubs Park, Chicago, IllinoisThe Pros ended their season in week twelve against the Decatur Staleys. Playing in front of 12,000 fans, the largest recorded crowd of that season, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. This was the second game in a row where the score ended in 0-0. Prior to the game, the Staleys' coach hired Paddy Driscoll
Paddy Driscoll
John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll was a professional American football quarterback. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team...
to play on his team in order to help defeat the Pros. The Pros almost scored, but failed because of ineligible receiver penalties. The Staleys missed a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter. The game was good for the Pros because the tie did not hurt their winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
and made the Pros NFL Champions.
Post season
Since there were no playoff system in the American Professional Football Association/National Football LeagueNational 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...
until 1932, a meeting was held to determine the 1920 NFL Champions. Each team that showed up had a vote to determine the champions. Since the Akron Pros had a 1.000 winning percentage, the Pros were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup
Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup
Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup was a silver trophy donated to the American Professional Football Association by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Tire Division....
on April 30, 1921. The Decatur Staleys and the Buffalo All-Americans stated that they should win the award because they had more wins, and were not beaten by the Akron Pros. The trophy that the Pros received was a "silver-loving cup", donated by "Mr. Marshall". Each player from the Pros was also awarded with a golden fob. It was of a football and "1920", "WORLD CHAMPIONS", and each players' first initial and last name was inscribed on the fob.
Even though the Pros were given the trophy in 1920, the league lost track of the event and for a long time published in its own record books that the 1920 championship was undecided. It took until the 1970s for the NFL to remember its early vote on awarding the Akron Pros the 1920 championship.
Roster
| Akron Pros 1920 roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blocking Backs
Running backs
|
Linemen
Russ Bailey Russel Brooks "Russ" Bailey was a professional American football center in the National Football League. He played two seasons for the Akron Pros .-External links:*... * C Scotty Bierce Bruce Wallace Bierce was a professional football player who played for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Bulldogs of the National Football League. Bierce won a league title in 1920 with the Pros and he won a second title in 1924 with the Bulldogs... * E Alf Cobb Alfred Russell Cobb was a professional American football player, who played in the early National Football League for the Akron Pros and the Cleveland Bulldogs. As a member of the 1920 Akron Pros, Cobb won the very first NFL Championship with the team. Prior to his professional career, he played at... * G Budge Garrett Alfred Tennyson Garrett was a professional football player with the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association . During his one year with the Pros he won the first AFPA/NFL Championship... G/T/E Pike Johnson Karl Hilmer "Pike" Johnson was a professional football player in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros. In 1920 he and the Pros were awarded the very first NFL Championship... * T Frank McCormick Frank Andrew McCormick was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves . McCormick batted and threw right-handed... * E Frank Moran Charles Francis "Frank" Moran was an American boxer and film actor who fought twice for the Heavyweight Championship of the World, and appeared in over 135 movies in a 25 year film career.-Sports career:... T Bob Nash (American football) Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash was a professional football player who played in the American Professional Football Association for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants... * E/T Al Nesser Alfred "Al" Louis Nesser was a professional American football offensive lineman. He played for 7 teams in the National Football League and the Cleveland Panthers in the first American Football League... * E Al Pierotti Pierotti began his professional baseball career with the minor league Providence Grays of the Eastern League. The following season, he joined the Boston Braves in August, appearing in six games. He pitched in two games the following year before returning to the Eastern League with the Pittsfield... C Tommy Tomlin John Thomas "Tommy" Tomlin was a professional football guard and tackle who played for the Akron Pros, Hammond Pros, Milwaukee Badgers and New York Giants of the National Football League. Tommy won an NFL title in 1920 with Akron.... * G |
Special Teams
Coaching Staff
* = starter |
||||||
Scores by quarter
Awards and records
- 7 points allowed is the least points allowed in the history of the APFA/NFL
- Rip KingRip KingAndrew "Rip" King was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Akron Pros, Chicago Cardinals, and Hammond Pros....
, Rock Island ArgusThe Dispatch / The Rock Island ArgusThe Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus are daily morning newspapers based in Moline, Illinois, and circulated throughout the Quad City metropolitan area of Moline, East Moline, Rock Island and Rock Island County in Illinois; and Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County in Iowa.The newspapers are owned...
1st Team All-APFA - Fritz PollardFritz PollardFrederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the first African American head coach in the National Football League . Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920...
, Rock Island Argus 1st Team All-APFA - Alf CobbAlf CobbAlfred Russell Cobb was a professional American football player, who played in the early National Football League for the Akron Pros and the Cleveland Bulldogs. As a member of the 1920 Akron Pros, Cobb won the very first NFL Championship with the team. Prior to his professional career, he played at...
, Rock Island Argus 2nd Team All-APFA
External links
- 1920 Akron Pros at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Akron Pros 1920 Stats, History, Awards and More at databaseFootball.com