1921 Big Ten Conference football season explained

1921 Big Ten Conference football season
Sport:American football
No Of Teams:10
Season Champ Name:Champion
Second Place:Chicago, Ohio State
Seasonslistnames:Football
Prevseason Year:1920
Nextseason Year:1922

The 1921 Big Ten Conference football season was the 26th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1921 college football season.

The 1921 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, under head coach Howard Jones, compiled a 7–0 record and won the Big Ten championship. Quarterback Aubrey Devine and tackle Duke Slater received first-team All-American honors. Devine, Slater, fullback Gordon Locke, and end Lester Belding received first-team All-Big Ten honors. The team was retroactively selected as the 1921 national champion by the Billingsley Report and as a co-national champion by Parke H. Davis.[1]

The 1921 Chicago Maroons football team, under head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, compiled a 6–1 record, finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten, and led the conference in scoring defense (1.9 points allowed per game). Notable players included end Fritz Crisler, quarterback Milton Romney, fullback John Webster Thomas, guard Charles Redmon, and tackle Charles McGuire.

The 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team, under head coach Fielding H. Yost compiled a 5–1–1 record, shut out five of seven opponents, and led the Big Ten in scoring offense (26.7 points per game). Center Ernie Vick was selected as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, and end Paul G. Goebel was selected as a first-team All-American by sports writer Lawrence Perry. Guard Robert J. Dunne served as the team's captain and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player. Harry Kipke and Doug Roby were the team's leading scorers.

Season overview

Results and team statistics

Conf. RankTeamHead coachOverall recordConf. recordPPGPAG
1IowaHoward Jones7–05–026.45.1
2 (tie)ChicagoAmos Alonzo Stagg6–14–115.91.9
2 (tie)Ohio StateJohn Wilce5–24–115.72.0
4WisconsinJohn R. Richards5–1–13–1–120.11.9
5MichiganFielding H. Yost5–1–12–1–126.73.0
6IndianaEwald O. Stiehm3–41–212.313.4
7MinnesotaHenry L. Williams3–42–48.620.1
8 (tie)IllinoisRobert Zuppke3–41–412.67.3
8 (tie)PurdueWilliam Henry Dietz1–61–41.313.6
10NorthwesternElmer McDevitt1–60–54.917.1
Key
PPG = Average of points scored per game; team with highest average in bold
PAG = Average of points allowed per game; team with lowest average in bold[2]

Regular season

September 24

On September 24, 1921, two of the Big Ten teams opened their seasons with non-conference games, resulting in one victory and one defeat.

October 1

On October 1, 1921, the Big Ten teams participated in one conference game and seven non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in six wins and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 7–2 non-conference record to that point in the season. Illinois had a bye week and did not open its season until the following week.

October 8

On October 8, 1921, the Big Ten teams participated in two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in four wins and two losses, giving the Big Ten an 11–4 non-conference record to that point in the season.

October 15

On October 15, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 12–5 non-conference record to that point in the season. Chicago and Indiana had bye weeks.

October 22

On October 22, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and one non-conference game. The non-conference game resulted in a win, giving the Big Ten a 13–5 non-conference record to that point in the season. Iowa, Purdue, and Northwestern had bye weeks.

October 29

On October 29, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and three non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 15–6 non-conference record to that point in the season. Ohio State had a bye week.

November 5

On November 5, 1921, the Big Ten football teams participated in three conference games and one non-conference game. The non-conference game resulted in a win, giving the Big Ten a 16–6 non-conference record during the 1921 season. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana had bye weeks.

November 12

On November 12, 1921, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games. Minnesota and Northwestern had bye weeks.

November 19

On November 19, 1921, the Big Ten football teams concluded their seasons with five conference games.

Bowl games

No Big Ten teams participated in any bowl games during the 1921 season.

Awards and honors

All-Big Ten players

The following players were selected as first-team players on the 1921 All-Big Ten Conference football team by Billy Evans (BE), Walter Eckersall (WE), or Luther A. Huston of the International News Service (LH).[20] [21] [22] [23] It also includes players listed as members of the 1921 "All-Conference Team" as published in the "ESPN Big Ten Football Encyclopedia" (BTFE).[24]

PositionNameTeamSelectors
QuarterbackAubrey DevineIowaBTFE, BE, WE, LH
HalfbackAlvah ElliottWisconsinBTFE, BE, WE, LH
HalfbackRoland WilliamsWisconsinBE
HalfbackDon PedenIllinoisBTFE, WE
HalfbackLaurie WalquistIllinoisLH
FullbackGordon LockeIowaBTFE, BE, WE, LH
EndFritz CrislerChicagoBTFE, BE, WE, LH
EndStevens GouldWisconsinWE, LH
EndTruck MyersOhio StateBTFE, WE, LH
EndLester BeldingIowaBE
TackleCharles McGuireChicagoBTFE, BE, WE, LH
TackleDuke SlaterIowaBTFE, BE, WE, LH
GuardRobert J. DunneMichiganBTFE, WE, LH
GuardLloyd PixleyOhio StateBE, LH
GuardDean W. TrottOhio StateBTFE, BE, WE
CenterErnie VickMichiganBTFE, WE
CenterGeorge C. BungeWisconsinBE, LH

All-Americans

Two Big Ten players were selected as consensus first-team players on the 1921 College Football All-America Team. They were:

PositionNameTeamSelectors
QuarterbackAubrey DevineIowaWC, BE, FW, JV, LP, MM, WE
TackleIolas HuffmanOhio StateFW, LP
[25]

Other Big Ten players received first-team honors from at least one selector. They were:

PositionNameTeamSelectors
TackleDuke SlaterIowaBE, WE, JV
TackleCharles McGuireChicagoWC, MM
GuardDean TrottOhio StateLP, JV
GuardRobert J. DunneMichiganNB
GuardLloyd PixleyOhio StateNB
CenterErnie VickMichiganWC
EndFritz CrislerChicagoWE
EndPaul G. GoebelMichiganLP

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Poll Rankings . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) . 2015. NCAA Division I Football Records . NCAA . 108 . February 11, 2017.
  2. Web site: 1921 Big Ten Conference Year Summary. Sports Reference LLC. SR/College Football. February 11, 2017.
  3. News: Iowa Beats Notre Dame: Hawkeyes in Exciting Win; Score, 10 to 7. The Des Moines Register. October 9, 1921. 17.
  4. News: Setback Handed Ohio State: Oberlin Eleven Victors Over Buckeyes, 7-6. The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 9, 1921. 8.
  5. News: Yostmen and U. of D. Pile Up Big Scores: Michigan Drive Brushes Case Eleven Aside; Wolverines Register 9 Touchdowns While Amassing Their 64–0 Victory. Detroit Free Press. October 9, 1921. 23. May 6, 2022. March 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306203612/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/566757532.htmlFMT%3DABS%26FMTS%3DABS%3AAI%26type%3Dhistoric%26date%3DOct+9%2C+1921%26author%3DSpecial+to+The+Free+Press%26pub%3DDetroit+Free+Press+%281858-1922%29%26edition%3D%26startpage%3D%26desc%3DYOSTMEN+AND+U.+OF+D.+PILE+UP+BIG+SCORES. live.
  6. News: Michigan Beats Aggies in Annual Contest, 30 to 0, By Making Strong Finish: Farmers Crumple After Great Fight; East Lansing Aggregation Holds Wolverines to 7 to 0 Score in First Half, But Weakens Later; Kipke and Goebel Are Stars in Game That Sees Failure of Yostmen's Aerial Attack. Detroit Free Press. Richard Heath. October 16, 1921. 23. July 5, 2017. March 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001428/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/566768544.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+16,+1921&author=Heath,+Richard&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&edition=&startpage=&desc=Michigan+Beats+Aggies+in+Annual+Contest,+30+to+0,+By+Making+Strong+Finish. live.
  7. News: Attendance at the Football Games. The Michigan Alumnus. December 8, 1921. 276.
  8. News: Sidelights of Ohio Victory. Detroit Free Press. October 23, 1921. 21.
  9. News: Wolverines Stumble and Ohio State Captures Game, 14–0, Before Huge Crowd: Buckeyes Profit By U. of M. Slips; Yostmen's Failure to Gather in Ohio Kick Helps Winners to First Touchdown, After Steketee's Weak Kick Starts Trouble; While Aggregation's Edge in Aerial Attack Also Factor. Detroit Free Press. October 23, 1921. 21.
  10. News: Chicago Downs Princeton: Maroons Score Real Triumph; Beat Princeton, 9-0; First Western Team to Win Over 'Big Three'. Tulsa Daily World. October 23, 1921. 13.
  11. News: Steketee's Place Kick Gives Michigan Triumph Over Illini; Score 3 to 0; Yost Booter Counts From 15-Yard Mark; Registers Only Marker of Great Game in Second Quarter; Roby and Cappon, by Fierce Line Plunging, Carry Ball to Illinois Six-Yard; Michigan Near Touchdown When Battle Ends. Detroit Free Press. Harry Bullion. October 30, 1921. 23. July 5, 2017. November 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120000527/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/566764681.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+30%2C+1921&author=Bullion%2C+Harry&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+%281858-1922%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Steketee%27s+Place+Kick+Gives+Michigan+Triumph+Over+Illini%3B+Score+3+to+0. live.
  12. News: The Illinois Game. The Michigan Alumnus. November 3, 1921. 115–117.
  13. News: Wisconsin 7; Michigan 7; Score at End of Crucial Game. The Capital Times. November 12, 1921. 1.
  14. News: Michigan and Wisconsin Battle to 7–7 Tie in Mud—Yale Downs Princeton: Yostmen Score on Spectacular Pass: Wisconsin Profits From Bad Kick for Its Touchdown, but Michigan Ties Matters Soon Afterwards, When Roby Crosses the Goal Line After Triple Forward Nets Over 40 Yards—Badgers Outgain Opponents. Detroit Free Press. Harry Bullion. November 13, 1921. 21.
  15. Book: Michiganensian. 1922. 213.
  16. Book: The Wisconsin Game. The Michigan Alumnus. November 17, 1921. 179–180.
  17. News: U. of M. Romps Over Gophers, 38–0—Iowa Captures Conference Title: Brilliant Sprints, Hurls Aid Yostmen; Norsemen Bewildered and Swept Aside by Driving Michigan Attack; Dean's Place Kick Features With Long Runs by Cappon, Et Al; Yostmen Score on Trick Pass Near Windup. Detroit Free Press. Harry Bullion. November 21, 1921. 23. July 5, 2017. July 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722021940/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/566783755.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+20%2C+1921&author=Bullion%2C+Harry&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+%281858-1922%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=U.+of+M.+Romps+Over+Gophers%2C+38-0--Iowa+Captures+Conference+Title. live.
  18. News: In Honor of Michigan's "M" Men Who Died During the War. The Michigan Alumnus. November 24, 1921. 200.
  19. News: Sidelights of the Game. The Michigan Alumnus. November 24, 1921. 210.
  20. News: Billy Evans Picks All-Western Conference Eleven for 1921. Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 26, 1921. 5.
  21. News: Hawk Stars Get Places on Elevens. Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 28, 1921. 4. (Chicago American)
  22. News: Some All Conference Selections. The Michigan Alumnus. December 1, 1921. 243. (Walter Eckersall)
  23. News: Luther A. Huston. Galaxy of Star Players Wore Moleskin In Big Ten During 1921 Season. Tulsa Daily World. December 11, 1921.
  24. Book: ESPN Big Ten Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. 2007. 978-1-933060-49-1. 193.
  25. Web site: 2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. February 11, 2017. 5. November 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181126094941/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/awards.pdf. dead.