Marshall Newell
Encyclopedia
Marshall "Ma" Newell was an American football
player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1957.
, in the Berkshire Hills.
in 1887 and graduated in 1890. He attended Harvard University
where he became an All-American football player. Nicknamed "Ma" Newell, he played right tackle for the Harvard football team from 1890-1893. Newell stood 5 feet, 10 inches, weighed approximately 170 pounds, and played every minute of every game for Harvard from 1890 to 1893. During his four years on the team, Harvard had a record of 46–3 (including 38 shutouts) and outscored opponents 1,926 to 95. The New York World wrote the following about Newell in 1892:
Newell was selected as an All-American in all four years at Harvard—one of only three players in the history of college football to be named as an All-American in all four years of collegiate play.
Newell was known as "a deeply sensitive man, a compassionate fellow of heart and understanding in complete contrast to the ferocity with which he played the game of football." On the field, Newell was known for "his tremendous leg-drive and steel-trap grip in tackling enemy runners." Newell was also known for his love of the outdoors and became an amateur naturalist.
He also competed on Harvard's varsity crew (rowing
team) from 1891–1893. An 1893 newspaper article described Newell's contribution to the crew as follows:
While at Harvard, Newell was also a member of the Institute of 1770, Dickey
, Hasty Pudding Club
and Signet.
in 1894 and 1895. The captain of the 1894 team was Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner
. Newell's coaching record at Cornell was 9–8–2. When he left after a 22–0 victory over Michigan in his first year coaching at Cornell, the Syracuse Standard wrote:
. He was killed on Christmas Eve 1897 when an engine backed over him on the tracks at Springfield, Massachusetts
. He was buried in the Newell family plot in Walnut Hill.
for use by the crew and named the Newell Boat House. The tribute was completed in 1916. In addition, Gate No. 1 at Harvard's Soldier Field
was renamed the Newell Gate. In 1928, syndicated sports writer Peg Murray recalled Newell as a "Pillar of Strength" and perhaps the greatest tackle in the history of the game:
John Heisman
, the namesake of the Heisman Trophy
, selected Newell as his pick for the greatest football player of all time. Newell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1957. In 1967, he was one of the first group inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame.
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. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1957.
Early years
Newell was the son of Samuel Newell, a prominent lawyer, and grew up on a farm near Great Barrington, MassachusettsGreat Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
, in the Berkshire Hills.
Athlete at Harvard
He enrolled at Phillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
in 1887 and graduated in 1890. He attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he became an All-American football player. Nicknamed "Ma" Newell, he played right tackle for the Harvard football team from 1890-1893. Newell stood 5 feet, 10 inches, weighed approximately 170 pounds, and played every minute of every game for Harvard from 1890 to 1893. During his four years on the team, Harvard had a record of 46–3 (including 38 shutouts) and outscored opponents 1,926 to 95. The New York World wrote the following about Newell in 1892:
"Marshall Newell is one of Harvard's stone wall stand-bys at right tackle, where he has played for three years. He is a man of most remarkable muscular development, a phenomenally hard worker, and a man of whom Harvard men may well be proud. In breaking through the line and nipping plays in the bud he is as good as ... Winter, with whom he will lock horns. In blocking the Harvard man is the better, but in running with the ball Winter is superior."
Newell was selected as an All-American in all four years at Harvard—one of only three players in the history of college football to be named as an All-American in all four years of collegiate play.
Newell was known as "a deeply sensitive man, a compassionate fellow of heart and understanding in complete contrast to the ferocity with which he played the game of football." On the field, Newell was known for "his tremendous leg-drive and steel-trap grip in tackling enemy runners." Newell was also known for his love of the outdoors and became an amateur naturalist.
He also competed on Harvard's varsity crew (rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
team) from 1891–1893. An 1893 newspaper article described Newell's contribution to the crew as follows:
"He is a wonderfully able athlete, having played a cyclonic tackle on three Harvard elevens and rowed bow on two university crews, '91 and '92. His muscle is fairly a burden to him, and with his great strength he is rather a stiff and awkward oarsman. His bladework is apt to be ragged."
While at Harvard, Newell was also a member of the Institute of 1770, Dickey
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
, Hasty Pudding Club
Hasty Pudding Club
The Hasty Pudding Club is a social club for Harvard students. It was founded by Nymphus Hatch, a junior at Harvard College, in 1770. The club is named for the traditional American dish that the founding members ate at their first meeting...
and Signet.
Coach at Cornell
After graduating from Harvard in the spring of 1894, Newell became the head football coach at Cornell UniversityCornell 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...
in 1894 and 1895. The captain of the 1894 team was Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...
. Newell's coaching record at Cornell was 9–8–2. When he left after a 22–0 victory over Michigan in his first year coaching at Cornell, the Syracuse Standard wrote:
"Marshall Newell, the Harvard man to whose coaching Cornell owes much of her success this year, left to-night for Harvard. He will probably not return this year to Ithaca again this year. He was given a rousing send off by the students, nearly 1,000 surrounding him as he made his way to the station. Newell made a short speech to the students after the game, in which he ... predicted that if the present enthusiasm in football was continued Cornell would soon be ranked with Harvard, Yale and Princeton."
Railroad career and death
In December 1896, Newell became an assistant division superintendent of the Boston and Albany RailroadBoston and Albany Railroad
The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight...
. He was killed on Christmas Eve 1897 when an engine backed over him on the tracks at Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. He was buried in the Newell family plot in Walnut Hill.
Memorials and honors
After Newell's death, Harvard alumni donated $2,000 to construct a new boathouse on the Charles RiverCharles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
for use by the crew and named the Newell Boat House. The tribute was completed in 1916. In addition, Gate No. 1 at Harvard's Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
was renamed the Newell Gate. In 1928, syndicated sports writer Peg Murray recalled Newell as a "Pillar of Strength" and perhaps the greatest tackle in the history of the game:
"Among the great tackles of history, the name of Marshall Newell, of Harvard, stands out, not only for his fine playing, but also because of his wonderful character and the influence he exerted over those with whom he came in contact with as a player and a coach. He was a whirlwind in action, a player of phenomenal strength, and made Walter CampWalter CampWalter 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...
's All-American team for four years, from 1890 to '93 inclusive. Newell, nicknamed 'Ma' back in his Phillips Exeter days, could use his hands as cleverly as Jim DriscollJim DriscollJames "Jim" Driscoll commonly known as Peerless Jim was a Welsh boxer who learned his trade in the boxing ring and used it to fight his way out of poverty....
, and was a master of position play. ... Newell was beloved by all those that knew him, respected by his opponents as a true sportsman, and his tragic death in 1897 was mourned by thousands of friends. No more high-principled player ever lived ..."
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...
, the namesake of the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, selected Newell as his pick for the greatest football player of all time. Newell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1957. In 1967, he was one of the first group inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame.