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Tom Edwards (American football)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leighton "Tom" Edwards (December 12, 1899 – January 28, 1980) was an American football player. He was an All-American tackle for the University of Michigan
and played professional football for the New York Yankees and Detroit Panthers in 1926.
, Edwards was 5 feet, 11 inches tall. He grew up working on the farm of his father, Randolph Thomas Edwards, in Central Lake, Michigan
.
where he earned his first letter as a football player in 1924. In 1925, he played guard and tackle for the Michigan Wolverines squad that legendary coach Fielding H. Yost called "the best team I ever coached." Edwards suffered a torn ligament injury in October 1925, and started only five of Michigan's eight games in 1925.
In 1925, Billy Evans wrote: "The consensus is that Edwards of Michigan is the best tackle in the Big Ten. However, the fact that he has been out of the game so much because of injuries caused the experts to relegate him to the second team. At getting down the field, Edwards is a wonder and when he tackles an opponent he stays tackled. But due to the limited amount he has played it would be almost unfair to rate him ahead of men who have been in every game." Evans' omission of Edwards from his All-Western team drew criticism from another writer who opined: "Most sports writers will agree that Edwards is one of the greatest tackles ever to be produced at any school and is justly deserving of All-American selection, let alone All-Conference."
Edwards was named as a first-team All-American at right tackle by Walter Eckersall
of the Chicago Tribune
. Eckersall said: "Edwards made his presence felt in every Michigan game." Edwards was also selected as a second-team All-American by Grantland Rice
for Collier's Weekly
and Norman E. Brown. He was also selected to play in the inaugural East-West Shrine Game
on December 26, 1925, in San Francisco. The 1925 Michigan team had six All-Americans, including Edwards, Bennie Oosterbaan
, Benny Friedman
Robert J. Brown
, Bo Molenda
and Harry Hawkins
.
, Angus Goetz
, and Paul G. Goebel
. He also played in 12 games for the Panthers in 1926.
. He also appraised real estate and lived in Dearborn, Michigan
for many years. In the 1960s, he purchased his family's farm and lived there until his death. He wrote a column for the local paper called "The Old Crab."
Edwards died in Clearwater, Florida
at age 80 in 1980. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Torch Lake, Michigan.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and played professional football for the New York Yankees and Detroit Panthers in 1926.
Youth
A native of Traverse CityTraverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
, Edwards was 5 feet, 11 inches tall. He grew up working on the farm of his father, Randolph Thomas Edwards, in Central Lake, Michigan
Central Lake, Michigan
Central Lake is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Central Lake Township.-Geography:...
.
University of Michigan
Edwads attended the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he earned his first letter as a football player in 1924. In 1925, he played guard and tackle for the Michigan Wolverines squad that legendary coach Fielding H. Yost called "the best team I ever coached." Edwards suffered a torn ligament injury in October 1925, and started only five of Michigan's eight games in 1925.
In 1925, Billy Evans wrote: "The consensus is that Edwards of Michigan is the best tackle in the Big Ten. However, the fact that he has been out of the game so much because of injuries caused the experts to relegate him to the second team. At getting down the field, Edwards is a wonder and when he tackles an opponent he stays tackled. But due to the limited amount he has played it would be almost unfair to rate him ahead of men who have been in every game." Evans' omission of Edwards from his All-Western team drew criticism from another writer who opined: "Most sports writers will agree that Edwards is one of the greatest tackles ever to be produced at any school and is justly deserving of All-American selection, let alone All-Conference."
Edwards was named as a first-team All-American at right tackle by 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:...
of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. Eckersall said: "Edwards made his presence felt in every Michigan game." Edwards was also selected as a second-team All-American by Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
for Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
and Norman E. Brown. He was also selected to play in the inaugural East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
on December 26, 1925, in San Francisco. The 1925 Michigan team had six All-Americans, including Edwards, Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
, Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan , Cleveland Bulldogs , Detroit Wolverines , New York Giants , and Brooklyn Dodgers .He is generally considered the first great passer in professional football...
Robert J. Brown
Robert J. Brown
Robert J. Brown was an American football center and university regent. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1923 to 1925. He later served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan from 1967 to 1974...
, Bo Molenda
Bo Molenda
John Joseph "Bo" Molenda was an American football player, primarily a fullback, who played for the University of Michigan and nine seasons in the NFL...
and Harry Hawkins
Harry Hawkins
Harry Hawkins was an American athlete and engineer. He was a lineman for the University of Michigan football team from 1923-1925 where he was selected as a first-team All-Western player and a third-team All-American in 1925. Fielding H. Yost called him the "greatest lineman of the year." He was...
.
Professional football
In 1926, Edwards played on the American League New York Yankees football team with Red GrangeRed Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
, Angus Goetz
Angus Goetz
Angus Gerald "Gus" Goetz was an American football player who played four years with the Michigan Wolverines from 1917 to 1920. He also played professional football for the Buffalo All-Americans and the Columbus Tigers .-University of Michigan:A native of Sault Ste...
, and Paul G. Goebel
Paul G. Goebel
Paul Gordon Goebel was an American football end who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1920 to 1922. He was an All-American in 1921 and was the team's captain in 1922. He played professional football from 1923 to 1926 with the Columbus Tigers, Chicago Bears, and New York Yankees...
. He also played in 12 games for the Panthers in 1926.
Later years
After his career as a football player ended, Edwards became the athletic director for the Detroit Police DepartmentDetroit Police Department
The Detroit Police Department , established in 1865, is responsible for the city of Detroit, Michigan.-History:The Detroit Police Department was established in 1865 to serve the city's growing population and covers the city with 5 districts and two precincts. The Detroit Police Department was also...
. He also appraised real estate and lived in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
for many years. In the 1960s, he purchased his family's farm and lived there until his death. He wrote a column for the local paper called "The Old Crab."
Edwards died in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
at age 80 in 1980. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Torch Lake, Michigan.
See also
- Michigan Wolverines Football All-AmericansMichigan Wolverines Football All-AmericansMichigan Wolverines football All-Americans are American football players who have been named as All-Americans while playing for the University of Michigan football team.-Overview:...
- 1925 College Football All-America Team1925 College Football All-America TeamThe 1925 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1925...