Bob Nash (American football)
Encyclopedia
Robert Arthur "Nasty" Nash (December 16, 1892 – January 31, 1977) was a professional football
player who played in the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League
in 1922) for the Akron Pros
, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons
and the New York Giants
. Prior to joining the AFPA, Nash played professionally in the "Ohio League
" for the Massillon Tigers
. He was considered one of the greatest tackles of his era.
On Sunday, October 10, 1920, Nash is credited with the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game featuring two league teams.
On Sunday, October 24, 1920, Nash picked up a blocked punt
in the first quarter and ran 8 yards for the only score of the day as the Pros defeated the Cleveland Tigers, 7–0.
On Sunday, October 31, 1920, According to Ike Roy Martin; on a punt return Jim Thorpe had instructed Martin to let Nash get by him. Thorpe had wanted to run into Nash which he did. The collision resulted in them both being knocked out and they were carried off the field.
Nash was also a part of the first APFA player deal, in 1920
, when Akron sold Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate receipts during a game between the two clubs. However, since Nash was a part of the Akron Pros during their championship season, he is credited as belonging on their championship team. Nash was also the very first captain of the New York Giants.
Prior to playing professional football, Nash played college football
at Cornell University
and at Rutgers
, where he received All-American honors in 1914. He was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 1988.
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 played in the American Professional Football Association (renamed 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...
in 1922) for the Akron Pros
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...
, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons
Rochester Jeffersons
The Rochester Jeffersons from Rochester, New York played in the National Football League from 1920 to 1925.Formed as an amateur outfit by a rag-tag group of Rochester-area teenagers after the turn of the century , the team became known as the Jeffersons in reference to the locale of their playing...
and 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...
. Prior to joining the AFPA, Nash played professionally 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...
" for the Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tigers
The Massillon Tigers were an early professional football team from Massillon, Ohio. Playing in the "Ohio League", the team was a rival to the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs. The Tigers won Ohio League championships in 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906, then merged to become...
. He was considered one of the greatest tackles of his era.
On Sunday, October 10, 1920, Nash is credited with the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game featuring two league teams.
On Sunday, October 24, 1920, Nash picked up a blocked punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
in the first quarter and ran 8 yards for the only score of the day as the Pros defeated the Cleveland Tigers, 7–0.
On Sunday, October 31, 1920, According to Ike Roy Martin; on a punt return Jim Thorpe had instructed Martin to let Nash get by him. Thorpe had wanted to run into Nash which he did. The collision resulted in them both being knocked out and they were carried off the field.
Nash was also a part of the first APFA player deal, in 1920
1920 NFL season
The 1920 APFA season was the inaugural regular season of the National Football League which was called the American Professional Football Association in 1920 and 1921...
, when Akron sold Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate receipts during a game between the two clubs. However, since Nash was a part of the Akron Pros during their championship season, he is credited as belonging on their championship team. Nash was also the very first captain of the New York Giants.
Prior to playing professional football, Nash played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and at Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, where he received All-American honors in 1914. He was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 1988.