W. S. Whitney
Encyclopedia
W. S. "Bull" Whitney was an American football
coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia
during the 1906 and 1907 seasons. Whitney coached at Georgia when the forward pass
became legal in 1906 and was the first coach there to implement passing plays. During his two-season stint as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs
, he compiled a 6–7–2 record, including the last three games of the 1907 season which were actually coached by Branch Bocock
.
Whitney graduated from Syracuse University
. In 1907, he was caught in the "ringer" controversy. At that time, there were no football scholarships, but enthusiastic alumni often raised money to pay professional players who were referred to as "ringers." After the 1907 game with Georgia Tech
, it was revealed that there were at least four ringers on the Georgia and Georgia Tech teams. Thereafter, Georgia removed known ringers from its team and Whitney was forced to resign, handing the coaching duties over to Branch Bocock.
. Although NC State was coached by a man named Whitney in 1905, the team was not undefeated, but rather 4–1–1, and was coached by George Whitney
. In addition, George Whitney was not a graduate of Syracuse, but was a graduate of Cornell University
in 1901. Thus, the official Georgia records seem to be in error.
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...
coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
during the 1906 and 1907 seasons. Whitney coached at Georgia when the forward pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
became legal in 1906 and was the first coach there to implement passing plays. During his two-season stint as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
, he compiled a 6–7–2 record, including the last three games of the 1907 season which were actually coached by Branch Bocock
Branch Bocock
Branch Bocock was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Georgia , Virginia Tech , the University of North Carolina , Louisiana State University , the University of South Carolina , and The College of...
.
Whitney graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. In 1907, he was caught in the "ringer" controversy. At that time, there were no football scholarships, but enthusiastic alumni often raised money to pay professional players who were referred to as "ringers." After the 1907 game with Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, it was revealed that there were at least four ringers on the Georgia and Georgia Tech teams. Thereafter, Georgia removed known ringers from its team and Whitney was forced to resign, handing the coaching duties over to Branch Bocock.
Head coaching record
Note
The documentation on Whitney maintained by the Georgia Bulldogs states that he "came to the University in 1906 from North Carolina A&M, where he had gone undefeated the previous season." Today, North Carolina A&M is known as North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. Although NC State was coached by a man named Whitney in 1905, the team was not undefeated, but rather 4–1–1, and was coached by George Whitney
George Whitney
-External links:...
. In addition, George Whitney was not a graduate of Syracuse, but was a graduate of Cornell University
Cornell 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 1901. Thus, the official Georgia records seem to be in error.
Sources
- Reed, Thomas Walter (1949). Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. History of the University of Georgia; Chapter XVII: Athletics at the University from the Beginning Through 1947 imprint pages 3485-3491