Joe Cusack
Encyclopedia
Joseph E. Cusack was an American football
player, and an officer in the United States Army
.
Cusack was born into a military family of Irish immigrants in New York City
, but as an infant was moved to Fort Stockton, Texas
and later to Fort Niobrara, Nebraska
. In 1885, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame
and participated in their military cadet training program, achieving the rank of Captain in Colonel William Hoynes' Light Guard, Company A.
Cusack played as a halfback
in the first-ever football
game to be played at the university—an 0-8 loss to Michigan
on November 23, 1887. The following spring, Cusack would move to the quarterback
position and play two additional games against Michigan
on consecutive days in April. The first was a 6-26 loss at South Bend
's Green Stocking Ball Park in front of 400 spectators; the second was a 4-10 loss at Notre Dame.
After becoming a member of the first graduating class out of Sorin Hall
in 1889, Cusack enlisted in the Army
and eventually achieved the rank of colonel
. He died in San Antonio, Texas
and is buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
.
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 an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Cusack was born into a military family of Irish immigrants in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but as an infant was moved to Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
and later to Fort Niobrara, Nebraska
Fort Niobrara Wilderness
The Fort Niobrara Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Nebraska, near Valentine. Created by an act of Congress in 1976, the wilderness is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and covers an area of 4,635 acres within Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge...
. In 1885, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and participated in their military cadet training program, achieving the rank of Captain in Colonel William Hoynes' Light Guard, Company A.
Cusack played as a halfback
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...
in the first-ever 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...
game to be played at the university—an 0-8 loss to Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
on November 23, 1887. The following spring, Cusack would move to the 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...
position and play two additional games against Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
on consecutive days in April. The first was a 6-26 loss at South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
's Green Stocking Ball Park in front of 400 spectators; the second was a 4-10 loss at Notre Dame.
After becoming a member of the first graduating class out of Sorin Hall
Sorin Hall (University of Notre Dame)
Sorin Hall is one of the 29 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 15 male dorms. Sorin is located directly north of Walsh Hall and is directly south of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Sorin houses 151 undergraduate students. Its distinctive turret rooms on...
in 1889, Cusack enlisted in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and eventually achieved the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. He died in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and is buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.- History :...
.