Archie Weston
Encyclopedia
Archie Bruce "Beak" Weston (June 9, 1895 – April 1981) was an American football
player who was a quarterback
for the University of Michigan
in 1917 and a halfback
in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by Chicago Tribune
sports editor Walter Eckersall
.
to Frank and Jane Weston . He was raised in Sault Ste. Marie
, and was a star player on Sault Ste. Marie High School's 1913 state championship football team. The Sault Ste. Marie “Blue Devils” were a football powerhouse with Weston. In a 1972 interview with his home town newspaper, Weston recalled the 1913 championship team: “We were an awful bunch of roughnecks – there was no football team in the state tougher than we were that year. We blasted all of them and loved doing it.” Weston was asked about a 1913 newspaper report that he had been tackled by an irate woman during a 24-7 win over Alpena
. He recalled the incident:
. Weston seized the opportunity and put on an offensive display that attracted national attention. On the second play of the game, Weston "straight-armed and dodged the entire Mount Union team, running sixty-five yards for a touchdown." Weston scored a total of five touchdowns in the first two quarters and led the Wolverines to a 69-0 win over Mount Union. Following the game, one newspaper called him a "sensation" under the headline: "Yost Discovers Star Performer."
An Iowa newspaper also took note of Weston's debut:
Weston won the starting quarterback position and led the Wolverines in the next six games, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 234 to 3. After his first three starts, Weston faced a major test against a strong Nebraska
team. In a profile of the Wolverines published the week before the game, The Lincoln Daily Star focused on Weston: "Weston is continuing to improve at the quarterback. Work seems to agree with him; he has put on three pounds of weight since he became famous two weeks ago, being no longer the lightest man on the squad." Leading the Wolverines to a 20-0 win over Nebraska, his reputation continued to grow.
The Wolverines followed the shutout of Nebraska with a 69-0 win over Kalamazoo and a 42-0 win over eastern power Cornell
. Weston gained over 300 yards on the ground against Kalamazoo and Cornell, making him a favorite for All-American honors. In the game against Cornell, Weston also intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 80 yards for the first of his three touchdowns. The Syracuse Herald described Weston's interception return: "After Cornell's backs were held they tried a forward pass, Pendleton chucking the leather into Weston's hands. The little 'Eel' grabbed the spheroid
and dashed down the field with it seventy-five yards for a touchdown." His performance against Cornell also included runs of 45, 35, and 25 yards, leading sportswriters to note his "remarkable skill as an open field runner." The Associated Press
reported on Weston's performance against Cornell as follows:
After conquering Cornell at Ferry Field
in Ann Arbor
, the undefeated Michigan team traveled east to Philadelphia to play Penn. News of Weston’s skills had spread to the East Coast. However, it was reported after the game that "the football fans of the East who gathered at Philadelphia for the Penn-Michigan game to get a glimpse of Weston, the Michigan quarterback, who is touted as a greater player than the famous Willie Heston
, were treated to a disappointment." During the first half of play, Weston got into a fistfight with Penn halfback Strauss, and both players were ejected from the game. The Associated Press
reported that the ejection of Weston was a serious loss and that the Michigan team "did not play with sustained power" after Weston’s departure. His replacement at quarterback, Genebach, fumbled a punt, allowing Penn to recover the ball at the ten-yard-line in the third quarter. Penn won the game 16-0, and one eastern sports editor noted, “Weston, it appears, would make a better battler than a football star.”
Weston’s difficulties continued when it was announced two days before the season’s final game that he would be barred from participation for his poor academic performance.
After starting the season with eight wins and no losses, the Wolverines finished the years with losses in the final two games, both without Weston. This led sports columnist Grantland Rice
to compare Weston to Ty Cobb
:
Weston’s loss of academic eligibility caused most All-American and All-Western selectors to overlook him. One newspaper wrote, “It is certain that Weston of Michigan, had he not been declared ineligible, would have been the easy pick for the honor.” The one major All-American selector who chose Weston as his first-team All-American quarterback was Walter Eckersall
of the Chicago Tribune
. Eckersall was the referee for the Michigan-Cornell game, where he had been an up-close witness to Weston’s performance. Another reporter credited Weston with being the “backbone” of Michigan’s offense.
before the 1917 college football season began. Weston enlisted in the U.S. Army, and during the 1917 season had already been commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. He was granted leave to play by the Army during autumn 1917, but in December 1917 he announced he hoped to be called to active duty. By April 1918, newspapers reported a majority of members of Michigan’s 1917 football team, including Weston, were on active duty in the military. Weston was assigned to Chanute Aviation Field
in Rantoul, Illinois
, where he was quarterback and captain of the Chanute Field football team. However, Weston and two others were dismissed from the Army in October 1918 “following an incident in Decatur
, in which the automobile in which he was riding was painted yellow because of alleged violation of the gasless Sunday order
.”
.
.
Archie Weston died in Waterbury on April , 1981, at the age of 85. He was survived by his wife, Lena.
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 who was a 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 1917 and a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in 1919. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1917 by 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...
sports editor Walter Eckersall
Walter Eckersall
Walter "Eckie" Eckersall was an American football player, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.-Early life:...
.
Youth in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Weston was born in Alpena, MichiganAlpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
to Frank and Jane Weston . He was raised in Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
, and was a star player on Sault Ste. Marie High School's 1913 state championship football team. The Sault Ste. Marie “Blue Devils” were a football powerhouse with Weston. In a 1972 interview with his home town newspaper, Weston recalled the 1913 championship team: “We were an awful bunch of roughnecks – there was no football team in the state tougher than we were that year. We blasted all of them and loved doing it.” Weston was asked about a 1913 newspaper report that he had been tackled by an irate woman during a 24-7 win over Alpena
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
. He recalled the incident:
”The game was played there, and the fans hated us. We were too rough to suit them. I was running around the left end toward the Alpena side of the field. There was nobody near me as I ran the end, and all of a sudden, this woman dives from the sideline and drops me for no gain. Well, I was so surprised I couldn’t get up at first.”
All-American in 1917
Weston began the 1917 college football season as a second substitute quarterback for Fielding H. Yost's University of Michigan football team. Cliff Sparks started the first two games as Michigan's quarterback, with Lowell Genebach as his substitute. Sparks was injured in the second game of the season, and Yost gave Weston the start against Mount Union CollegeMount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
. Weston seized the opportunity and put on an offensive display that attracted national attention. On the second play of the game, Weston "straight-armed and dodged the entire Mount Union team, running sixty-five yards for a touchdown." Weston scored a total of five touchdowns in the first two quarters and led the Wolverines to a 69-0 win over Mount Union. Following the game, one newspaper called him a "sensation" under the headline: "Yost Discovers Star Performer."
"Weston celebrated his first day of play on a Michigan varsity team by tearing up the enemy so fast that had to quit giving himself the ball -- he made so many gains that he was wearing out his team making them keep up with him."
An Iowa newspaper also took note of Weston's debut:
"Weston brought his rating up from that of a second substitute quarterback to that of the star of Yost's men. He played an unrivaled game despite his handicap of weighing only 143 pounds. He is the lightest and fastest man on the team."
Weston won the starting quarterback position and led the Wolverines in the next six games, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 234 to 3. After his first three starts, Weston faced a major test against a strong Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
team. In a profile of the Wolverines published the week before the game, The Lincoln Daily Star focused on Weston: "Weston is continuing to improve at the quarterback. Work seems to agree with him; he has put on three pounds of weight since he became famous two weeks ago, being no longer the lightest man on the squad." Leading the Wolverines to a 20-0 win over Nebraska, his reputation continued to grow.
The Wolverines followed the shutout of Nebraska with a 69-0 win over Kalamazoo and a 42-0 win over eastern power Cornell
Cornell Big Red football
The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation...
. Weston gained over 300 yards on the ground against Kalamazoo and Cornell, making him a favorite for All-American honors. In the game against Cornell, Weston also intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 80 yards for the first of his three touchdowns. The Syracuse Herald described Weston's interception return: "After Cornell's backs were held they tried a forward pass, Pendleton chucking the leather into Weston's hands. The little 'Eel' grabbed the spheroid
Spheroid
A spheroid, or ellipsoid of revolution is a quadric surface obtained by rotating an ellipse about one of its principal axes; in other words, an ellipsoid with two equal semi-diameters....
and dashed down the field with it seventy-five yards for a touchdown." His performance against Cornell also included runs of 45, 35, and 25 yards, leading sportswriters to note his "remarkable skill as an open field runner." The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported on Weston's performance against Cornell as follows:
"Weston, Michigan's little quarterback, made most of Michigan's gains and his wonderful open field running kept the crowd on edge. ... Quarterback Weston, the smallest field general Michigan has ever had, played a game that will live long in Michigan history. ... Every touchdown that Michigan made was directly or indirectly the result of Weston's magnificent gains."
After conquering Cornell at Ferry Field
Ferry Field
Ferry Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It opened in 1906 and was home to the Michigan Wolverines football team prior to the Michigan Stadium opening in 1927. It had a capacity of 46,000....
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...
, the undefeated Michigan team traveled east to Philadelphia to play Penn. News of Weston’s skills had spread to the East Coast. However, it was reported after the game that "the football fans of the East who gathered at Philadelphia for the Penn-Michigan game to get a glimpse of Weston, the Michigan quarterback, who is touted as a greater player than the famous Willie Heston
Willie Heston
William Martin "Willie" Heston was an American football player and coach. He played halfback at San Jose State University and the University of Michigan. Heston was the head football coach for Drake University in 1905 and North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now North...
, were treated to a disappointment." During the first half of play, Weston got into a fistfight with Penn halfback Strauss, and both players were ejected from the game. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that the ejection of Weston was a serious loss and that the Michigan team "did not play with sustained power" after Weston’s departure. His replacement at quarterback, Genebach, fumbled a punt, allowing Penn to recover the ball at the ten-yard-line in the third quarter. Penn won the game 16-0, and one eastern sports editor noted, “Weston, it appears, would make a better battler than a football star.”
Weston’s difficulties continued when it was announced two days before the season’s final game that he would be barred from participation for his poor academic performance.
After starting the season with eight wins and no losses, the Wolverines finished the years with losses in the final two games, both without Weston. This led sports columnist Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
to compare Weston to Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
:
" Detroit’s TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
can get along without Ty Cobb as easily as Michigan can get along without Weston. Michigan with Weston could beat Nebraska 20 to 0. Michigan, minus Weston, was soft and woolly picking. A good quarterback is more to be chosen than great riches, or than tackleTackle (American football)Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
s, halfbacks or ends. "
Weston’s loss of academic eligibility caused most All-American and All-Western selectors to overlook him. One newspaper wrote, “It is certain that Weston of Michigan, had he not been declared ineligible, would have been the easy pick for the honor.” The one major All-American selector who chose Weston as his first-team All-American quarterback was Walter Eckersall
Walter Eckersall
Walter "Eckie" Eckersall was an American football player, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.-Early life:...
of 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...
. Eckersall was the referee for the Michigan-Cornell game, where he had been an up-close witness to Weston’s performance. Another reporter credited Weston with being the “backbone” of Michigan’s offense.
”Weston was one of the sensations of the west this year. Flashing to recognition from the scrub eleven, he proved the backbone of Michigan’s offense and is expected to be the Wolverines’ field general next year.”
Military service in 1918
The United States entered World War IWorld 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...
before the 1917 college football season began. Weston enlisted in the U.S. Army, and during the 1917 season had already been commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. He was granted leave to play by the Army during autumn 1917, but in December 1917 he announced he hoped to be called to active duty. By April 1918, newspapers reported a majority of members of Michigan’s 1917 football team, including Weston, were on active duty in the military. Weston was assigned to Chanute Aviation Field
Chanute Air Force Base
Chanute Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located south of and adjacent to Rantoul, Illinois, about south of Chicago. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training....
in Rantoul, Illinois
Rantoul, Illinois
Rantoul is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,674 at the 2010 census. The present mayor is Neal Williams, who was re-elected in 2009...
, where he was quarterback and captain of the Chanute Field football team. However, Weston and two others were dismissed from the Army in October 1918 “following an incident in Decatur
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, in which the automobile in which he was riding was painted yellow because of alleged violation of the gasless Sunday order
Food and Fuel Control Act
The Food and Fuel Control Act, , also called the Lever Act or the Lever Food Act was a World War I era US law that among other things created the United States Food Administration and the Federal Fuel Administration.-Legislative history:...
.”
Switch to halfback in 1919
After the war, Weston returned to the Michigan football team. He started all seven of Michigan’s games in 1917 as a halfback (five as left halfback and two as right halfback), and Cliff Sparks took over as quarterback. The 1919 Michigan team finished with a disappointing 3-4 record and a 7th place finish in the 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...
.
Later years
Following his university days, Weston moved to Connecticut, where he married and raised a family. He remained active, speaking to the Sault Ste. Marie football team, attending Michigan football games, and traveling between Michigan and his home in Waterbury, ConnecticutWaterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
.
Archie Weston died in Waterbury on April , 1981, at the age of 85. He was survived by his wife, Lena.