Jack Forsythe
Encyclopedia
Jack A. "Pee Wee" Forsythe, Jr. (c. 1881 – April 3, 1957) was an American college football
player and coach
. Forsythe has an important place in the history of college athletics
in the U.S. state of Florida
as the first head coach
of the team now known as the University of Florida
Gators
. He had previously been the second football coach at Florida State College
, now Florida State University
, before it was reorganized as a school for white women.
for Clemson Agricultural College (now Clemson University
) in Clemson, South Carolina
, playing for three years under coach John Heisman
, from 1901 to 1903. Heisman's Clemson tigers football
teams finished 3–1–1, 6–1 and 4–1–1 during those seasons, and Forsythe started
in each of those games. Moreover, he played every minute of those eighteen games, providing a remarkable example of athletic stamina and resilience. As was typical in the early 1900s, Forsythe played both offense and defense.
(now Florida State University
) in 1903. Florida State College's head coach, W. W. Hughes
, planned to use Forsythe as a fullback in a game against the University of Florida in Lake City (one of the predecessor institutions of the modern University of Florida
, previously known as Florida Agricultural College), creating a controversy between the teams. For the 1904 season, the third and last for FSC's football team, Hughes transferred all coaching duties to Forsythe. The reason for this is unknown, but Hughes, who was also a Latin
professor, may have taken on increased academic duties. Forsythe played on top of his coaching duties, and was probably paid. Under Forsythe, the FSC football team defeated the University of Florida at Lake City, and after defeating Stetson College (now Stetson University), FSC was declared "champion of Florida" by the Florida Times-Union newspaper of Jacksonville.
In 1905 the Florida Legislature
passed the Buckman Act, which reorganized higher education in Florida. The University of Florida in Lake City was merged with three other institutions to form the new "University of the State of Florida
", a school for white men. Florida State College became the Florida Female College, a school for white women, and a number of its former male students transferred to the new university. After the demise of the FSC football team, Forsythe coached the university school prep team in Stone Mountain, Georgia
for a year. In May 1906, he was hired by the new University of the State of Florida to be its first director of athletics
and to coach its first official football team in the coming fall season.
Forsythe coached at Florida for three seasons from 1906
to 1908, and he compiled a 14–6–2 overall win-loss record. As measured by his winning percentage (.682), he is currently the eighth winningest football coach in school history. In addition to his coaching duties for which he was paid $500, Forsythe also played on the team as a fullback
and was purportedly paid an additional $500. In 1907, the Florida football team posted a 4–1–1 record, due in large part to the play of William Shands, who later was elected as a state senator and helped found the University of Florida College of Medicine
.
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...
player and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. Forsythe has an important place in the history of college athletics
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
in the U.S. state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
as the first head 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...
of the team now known as the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
. He had previously been the second football coach at Florida State College
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, now Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, before it was reorganized as a school for white women.
College playing career
Forysthe was a standout football player at right guardGuard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for Clemson Agricultural College (now Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
) in Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
, playing for three years under coach John Heisman
John Heisman
John William Heisman was an American player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Oberlin College , Buchtel College, now known as the University of Akron , Auburn University , Clemson University , Georgia Tech , the...
, from 1901 to 1903. Heisman's Clemson tigers football
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
teams finished 3–1–1, 6–1 and 4–1–1 during those seasons, and Forsythe started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
in each of those games. Moreover, he played every minute of those eighteen games, providing a remarkable example of athletic stamina and resilience. As was typical in the early 1900s, Forsythe played both offense and defense.
Coaching career
Forsythe became an assistant coach for the fledgling football team of Florida State CollegeFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
(now Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
) in 1903. Florida State College's head coach, W. W. Hughes
W. W. Hughes
W. W. Hughes is a former head coach of the Florida State college football program from 1902–03. He was the first person to coach a collegiate football at Florida State University, then known as Florida State College. Over two years, Hughes compiled a record of 5–3–1.Hughes was a former player...
, planned to use Forsythe as a fullback in a game against the University of Florida in Lake City (one of the predecessor institutions of the modern University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, previously known as Florida Agricultural College), creating a controversy between the teams. For the 1904 season, the third and last for FSC's football team, Hughes transferred all coaching duties to Forsythe. The reason for this is unknown, but Hughes, who was also a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
professor, may have taken on increased academic duties. Forsythe played on top of his coaching duties, and was probably paid. Under Forsythe, the FSC football team defeated the University of Florida at Lake City, and after defeating Stetson College (now Stetson University), FSC was declared "champion of Florida" by the Florida Times-Union newspaper of Jacksonville.
In 1905 the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
passed the Buckman Act, which reorganized higher education in Florida. The University of Florida in Lake City was merged with three other institutions to form the new "University of the State of Florida
History of the University of Florida
The history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
", a school for white men. Florida State College became the Florida Female College, a school for white women, and a number of its former male students transferred to the new university. After the demise of the FSC football team, Forsythe coached the university school prep team in Stone Mountain, Georgia
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Stone Mountain is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,802 at the 2010 census. It is an outer suburb of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.-Geography:...
for a year. In May 1906, he was hired by the new University of the State of Florida to be its first director of athletics
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
and to coach its first official football team in the coming fall season.
Forsythe coached at Florida for three seasons from 1906
1906 Florida Gators football team
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The University of Florida fielded its first official varsity football team in the fall of 1906, and has fielded a team every season since then, with the exception of 1943...
to 1908, and he compiled a 14–6–2 overall win-loss record. As measured by his winning percentage (.682), he is currently the eighth winningest football coach in school history. In addition to his coaching duties for which he was paid $500, Forsythe also played on the team as a 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...
and was purportedly paid an additional $500. In 1907, the Florida football team posted a 4–1–1 record, due in large part to the play of William Shands, who later was elected as a state senator and helped found the University of Florida College of Medicine
University of Florida College of Medicine
The University of Florida College of Medicine is the medical school of the University of Florida. It is part of the J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center, with facilities in Gainesville and Jacksonville...
.
Head coaching record
See also
- Clemson TigersClemson TigersThe Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
- Florida–Florida State football rivalry
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1906–1909
- Florida State SeminolesFlorida State SeminolesThe Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- List of alumni of Clemson University
- List of Florida Gators head football coaches
- University Athletic AssociationUniversity of Florida Athletic AssociationThe University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...