Eddie Gillette
Encyclopedia
Edmund "Eddie" Gillette (born c. 1892) was an American football
player and coach. He played halfback
and quarterback
for the University of Wisconsin
and was selected as an All-American at the quarterback position in 1912.
, Gillette attended the University of Wisconsin where he played halfback and quarterback for the Badgers football
team. While at Wisconsin, Gillette also played varsity baseball and "was a ten and two-fifths man" on the track team. In all, Gillette received seven "W"
's while attending the University of Wisconsin.
, Gillette starred for Wisconsin in a 10-0 win. In the fourth quarter of a close game, newspaper accounts report that "Gillette, in two magnificent runs, took the ball over for the second touchdown for Wisconsin." One newspaper wrote that Gillette's "run of 70 yards through a broken field [in the 1910 Chicago game] was one of the best ever seen on Camp Randall
."
of the University of Minnesota. Minnesota charged that several Wisconsin players, including Gillette, had played professional baseball during the summer. The charge involving Gillette was that he had played first base on one of the commercial league teams at Madison where admission was charged at the gate. After an investigation, it was determined that Gillette's eligibility to play in 1912 was intact.
championship. As the season progressed, newspapers touted Gillette as one of the best football players in the country. Gillette scored touchdowns on long runs of 90 yards against Northwestern
and 60 and 55 yards against Purdue
. In the final game of the 1912 season, Wisconsin defeated Iowa
by a score of 28-10 in Iowa City
. Gillette scored the first touchdown of the game circling around the Iowa end for a gain of 50 yards. Gillette threw for another touchdown in the third quarter, passing the ball into the endzone from the eight-yard line.
The 1912 Badgers outscored their opponents 246 to 29 and finished the year with a perfect 7-0 record as follows:
One syndicated article on Gillette reported:
At the end of the 1912 season, Gillette was selected as a first-team All-American quarterback by syndicated sports writer Tommy Clark and Alfred S. Harvey of the Milwaukee Free Press. He was also unanimously selected as the first-team quarterback by the various experts picking All-Western teams, including Walter Eckersall
, the Chicago Record-Herald, the Milwaukee Free Press, and the Milwaukee Sentinel.
When Gillette was completely omitted from the All-American teams selected by Eastern football expert Walter Camp
(whose omission of Western players was an ongoing subject of controversy), Wisconsin supporters "sneered at the idea that Camp had found three better quarterbacks than Wisconsin's brilliant Eddie Gillette." One writer described Gillette's contributions in 1912 as follows:
. As of January 1915, Gillette was assistant engineer of the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago railroad. At that time, he was reported to be in negotiations with Joe Tinker
to play as a pitcher for Tinker's Chicago Whales
baseball team in the Federal League
. After graduating from Wisconsin in 1913, Gillette pitched many games for Illinois teams and "beat some of the best pitchers in the 'Three-Eye League'."
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 and coach. He played 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...
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...
for the University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin 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...
and was selected as an All-American at the quarterback position in 1912.
Biography
A native of Aurora, IllinoisAurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, Gillette attended the University of Wisconsin where he played halfback and quarterback for the Badgers football
Wisconsin 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...
team. While at Wisconsin, Gillette also played varsity baseball and "was a ten and two-fifths man" on the track team. In all, Gillette received seven "W"
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
's while attending the University of Wisconsin.
1910 season
As a sophomore in 1910, Gillette played principally at halfback for the Badgers. As the season progressed, Gillette gained attention for his "speed and dodging ability." It was reported that he "displayed so much promise" that special plays were built for him. In a late November 1910 rivalry game against 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...
, Gillette starred for Wisconsin in a 10-0 win. In the fourth quarter of a close game, newspaper accounts report that "Gillette, in two magnificent runs, took the ball over for the second touchdown for Wisconsin." One newspaper wrote that Gillette's "run of 70 yards through a broken field [in the 1910 Chicago game] was one of the best ever seen on Camp Randall
Camp Randall Stadium
Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a complete stadium since 1917. It is located on the center-southern region of the University of Wisconsin campus. The stadium seats...
."
1911 season
At the end of the 1911 football season, Gillette became embroiled in an eligibility dispute involving charges by Coach Henry L. WilliamsHenry L. Williams
Dr. Henry Lane Williams was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy in 1891 and the University of Minnesota from 1900 to 1921, compiling a career college football record of 141–34–12...
of the University of Minnesota. Minnesota charged that several Wisconsin players, including Gillette, had played professional baseball during the summer. The charge involving Gillette was that he had played first base on one of the commercial league teams at Madison where admission was charged at the gate. After an investigation, it was determined that Gillette's eligibility to play in 1912 was intact.
1912 season
As quarterback of the 1912 team, Gillette led the school to a 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...
championship. As the season progressed, newspapers touted Gillette as one of the best football players in the country. Gillette scored touchdowns on long runs of 90 yards against Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
and 60 and 55 yards against Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
. In the final game of the 1912 season, Wisconsin defeated Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
by a score of 28-10 in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
. Gillette scored the first touchdown of the game circling around the Iowa end for a gain of 50 yards. Gillette threw for another touchdown in the third quarter, passing the ball into the endzone from the eight-yard line.
The 1912 Badgers outscored their opponents 246 to 29 and finished the year with a perfect 7-0 record as follows:
- 10-05-1912: 13-0 win over Lawrence (WI)
- 10-12-1912: 56-0 win over Northwestern
- 10-19-1912: 41-0 win over Purdue
- 11-02-1912: 30-12 win over Chicago
- 11-09-1912: 64-7 win over Arkansas
- 11-16-1912: 14-0 win over Minnesota
- 11-23-1912: 28-10 win over Iowa
One syndicated article on Gillette reported:
"Western football critics are of the opinion that if Eddie Gillette, the Badgers' star quarterback keeps up his brilliant work he will surely be the selection for the position on the mythical All-American eleven. No quarterback in the East or West has performed as well as Wisconsin's signal giver. In the game with Northwestern which the Badgers won by the score of 56 to 0, Gillette was the bright star. His ninety yard run in the last period of the game through the entire purple team was the most brilliant play of the game. Near the close of the first quarter Gillette broke away for a fifty yard run, carrying the ball to Northwestern's twenty yard line. ... In the game with Purdue, Gillette was the individual star. His most brilliant accomplishment was a sixty five yard run for a touchdown at the opening of the second quarter."
At the end of the 1912 season, Gillette was selected as a first-team All-American quarterback by syndicated sports writer Tommy Clark and Alfred S. Harvey of the Milwaukee Free Press. He was also unanimously selected as the first-team quarterback by the various experts picking All-Western teams, including 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:...
, the Chicago Record-Herald, the Milwaukee Free Press, and the Milwaukee Sentinel.
When Gillette was completely omitted from the All-American teams selected by Eastern football expert 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...
(whose omission of Western players was an ongoing subject of controversy), Wisconsin supporters "sneered at the idea that Camp had found three better quarterbacks than Wisconsin's brilliant Eddie Gillette." One writer described Gillette's contributions in 1912 as follows:
"Eddie Gillette, Wisconsin's great quarterback, is rated as one of the best who has ever been seen in the west and he has been on every All-Conference and All-Western team which has been picked. The Badger star played his first year at quarter this fall having previously been a halfback and he more than made good, proving to be a great ___ a good field general and a reliable and brilliant man to carry the ball. Gillette's playing should entitle him to a place on the All-American as he seems to be better than any quarterback on any of the eastern elevens."
Later years
In 1913, after graduating from Wisconsin, he was hired as a coach at Louisville Manual Training School. In 1914, he was hired as the coach at Batavia High School in Batavia, IllinoisBatavia, Illinois
Batavia was founded in 1833, and is the oldest city in Kane County, Illinois, with a small portion in DuPage County. During the Industrial Revolution, Batavia became known as ‘The Windmill City’ for being the largest windmill producer of the time...
. As of January 1915, Gillette was assistant engineer of the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago railroad. At that time, he was reported to be in negotiations with Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
to play as a pitcher for Tinker's Chicago Whales
Chicago Whales
The Chicago Whales were a professional baseball team based in Chicago. They played in the Federal League, a short-lived "third Major League", in 1914 and 1915. They originally lacked a formal nickname, and were known simply as the "Chicago Federals" to distinguish them from the Chicago Cubs and...
baseball team in the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
. After graduating from Wisconsin in 1913, Gillette pitched many games for Illinois teams and "beat some of the best pitchers in the 'Three-Eye League'."