John H. Outland

John H. Outland (March 7, 1871 – March 24, 1947) was an American football player and coach. He played football at Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the University of Kansas, and the University of Pennsylvania. He was twice named an All-American while playing for the Penn Quakers, in 1897 as a tackle and in 1898 as a halfback. After playing, Outland coached at Franklin & Marshall College in 1900, the University of Kansas in 1901, and Washburn University from 1904 to 1905, compiling a career college football record of 21–15–2. He is the namesake of the Outland Trophy, an annual award established in 1946 and given to best interior lineman in college football. Outland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2001.

Early life and playing career

Outland was born in Hesper, Kansas. He was a member of the first football team at Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1891.^[1] Outland captained the team in 1892, scoring 32 of the team's 36 points. After starring in football and baseball at the University of Kansas in 1895 and 1896, Outland went to Philadelphia to complete his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania. There he became one of the few men ever to win All-American football honors as both lineman and the backfield player. He was picked by Walter Camp as a tackle as a first-team All-American in 1897. In 1898, he was selected again, this time as a halfback. He was captain of the 1898 Pennsylvania team and was voted "Most Popular Man" at the University of Pennsylvania.

Outland worked his way through college and spent his last two summers as a companion to rich young men who were alcoholics. To keep the away from alcohol, Outland took them on camping trips in the Wyoming mountains.^[2]

Coaching career

Franklin and Marshall

In 1900, Outland coached the football team for the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for one season. His team produced a mixed season of 4 wins and 5 losses.^[3] He was the 11th coach of the program that began in 1887.^[4]

Kansas

Outland was the eighth head football coach for the University of Kansas Jayhawks located in Lawrence, Kansas and he held that position for the 1901 season. His overall coaching record at Kansas was 3 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. This ranks him 32nd at Kansas in terms of total wins and 29th at Kansas in terms of winning percentage.^[5]

Washburn

Outland also coached at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. He was the ninth head football coach for Washburn and he held that position for two seasons, from 1904 until 1905. His overall coaching record at Washburn was 14 wins, 5 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him tenth at Washburn in terms of total wins and eighth at Washburn in terms of winning percentage.^[6]

Outland's 1905 season ended with an experimental game with Fairmount University where a new rule forcing the offense to earn a first down in three plays instead of four was in effect. The experiment was considered a failure.^[7]

Later life

After receiving his medical degree, Outland served as a major in the United States Army Medical Corps during World War I.

Kansas Relays

Outland was the founder of the Kansas Relays, having obtained the inspiration for that event at Penn, when as a student, he saw the Penn Relays just getting under way. For many years he held the post of honorary referee of the Kansas events.

Outland Trophy

Outland conceived the idea of the Outland Trophy because of his belief that interior lineman were not given enough recognition in college football. The trophy is the third oldest college football trophy. Selection of the winner is made by the Football Writers Association of America.

Death

Outland suffered a stroke in March 1947 and died at his home in Laguna Beach, California two weeks later.^[8]

Head coaching record

References

External links

• John H. Outland at the College Football Hall of Fame
• John H. Outland at the College Football Data Warehouse