Andrew L. Smith
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Andrew Latham "Andy" Smith (September 10, 1883 - January 8, 1926) was an NCAA football coach during the early part of the 20th century who coached at the University of Pennsylvania, Purdue University and the University of California. Smith is most famous for coaching the powerhouse Golden Bears teams of the 1920s, known colloquially as the "Wonder Teams".
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[edit] Playing Days
Smith was an All-America fullback at the University of Pennsylvania.
[edit] Coaching Career
Andy Smith's philosophy of clean living and good sportsmanship carried him through some of the great early college football programs, from Penn (1909-1912) to Purdue (1913-1915) and finally to the University of California (1916-1925). During an incredible five-season span from 1920 to 1924, the Golden Bears went undefeated, running up a record of 44-0-2. Although during this period there were no college football polls, during the Roaring Twenties, Smith's Wonder Teams were considered to rival Knute Rockne and Notre Dame in terms of success, though these two top teams never met on the field.
The 1920 Cal team might have been one of the best college football teams ever. They went unbeaten and untied for the season with 9 victories, outscored their opponents by 510 points to 14, and capped off the season by defeating Ohio State in the Rose Bowl 28-0. In a retroactive research poll, the Helms Athletic Foundation concluded this team to be unofficial national champions that year.
Andy Smith's all-time college coaching record was 116 victories, including 74 wins at Cal, and 32 defeats for a .761 winning percentage.
Tragically, Smith died of pneumonia soon after the completion of the 1925 season. His memorial service was held at the gates of California Memorial Stadium and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered over the field. In 1927, the Andy Smith bench in Memorial Stadium was dedicated in his honor. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
[edit] Quotes
"We do not want men who will lie down bravely to die, but men who will fight valiantly to live."
"Winning is not everything; it is far better to play the game squarely and lose than to win at the sacrifice of an ideal."
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| California Golden Bears Head Football Coaches |
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| O.S. Howard • McClung • W.W. Heffelfinger • Gill • Butterworth • Nott • Cochran • Kelly • Simpson • Whipple • Hopper • J.W. Knibbs • Smith • Price • Ingram • Allison • Shaw • Wickhorst • Waldorf • Elliott • Levy • Willsey • White • Theder • Kapp • Snyder • Gilbertson • Mariucci • Holmoe • Tedford |
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