John G. Griffith

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John G. "Red" Griffith (born c.1878 in Iowa City, Iowa; date of death unknown) was a college football coach, primarily for the University of Idaho. He played college football at the University of Iowa and served as Iowa's ninth football coach.

[edit] Background

John Griffith was a four time college football letter winner for the University of Iowa from 1897 to 1900. Griffith, a fullback, played for some of the greatest teams in Iowa football history.

Against Illinois in 1899, Griffith returned a punt 85 yards as Iowa won, 58-0, to cap an undefeated season. After the game, referee R.T. Hoagland of Princeton said, "The dodging run of Griffith down the field for a touchdown was the best piece of individual playing that I ever saw. The men (of the 1899 Hawkeyes) are all stars; they make the best team I ever saw." ^[1]

In Iowa's first year in the Western Conference (now known as the Big Ten) in 1900, Griffith was named Iowa's team captain. The team won the Western Conference title in Iowa's first year in the league. Iowa had to settle for a controversial 5-5 tie against Northwestern in Griffith's final game at Iowa. The entire team except Griffith ate a bad batch of creamed potatoes and got food poisoning the day before the game. ^[2]

Still, John Griffith did not suffer a defeat in his final twenty games as a player at Iowa, going 17-0-3. His last collegiate loss was late in his sophomore season.

[edit] Coaching Career

Griffith graduated in 1901. In 1902, he was hired as head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho. When Iowa football coach Alden Knipe retired after the 1902 season, school officials considered hiring Griffith but went with John Chalmers instead. Griffith continued as Idaho's football coach until 1906.

When Chalmers was succeeded by Mark Catlin as Iowa's head coach, Griffith left Idaho to serve as Catlin's assistant coach at Iowa. Griffith was Iowa's assistant football coach in 1907 and 1908. He also served as Iowa's head basketball coach during the 1906-1907 season. After a one year break, Griffith resumed Iowa's head basketball coaching duties for the 1908-1909 season, Iowa's first basketball season in the Big Ten. He also coached the Iowa baseball team for one season in 1906.

Mark Catlin left Iowa prior to the 1909 football season, and the Hawkeyes hired John Griffith as their ninth head football coach. He was the first Iowa graduate to lead the football team. He coached Iowa to a 2-4-1 record in 1909. His star player that season was Walter "Stub" Stewart.

Griffith finished out the 1909-1910 basketball season, his third as a head basketball coach. His team went 11-3 that year, bringing Griffith's three year basketball coaching record to 29-14. After the basketball season, Griffith announced he was leaving Iowa. Stewart replaced him as the basketball coach.

John Griffith left the head football coaching position at Iowa after just one year. He returned to Idaho to become the head of their Entomology Department. ^[3] He also served as their head football coach again from 1910 to 1914. His ten year record at Idaho was 28-22-2.

Griffith also coached football at Oklahoma State in 1915 and 1916, compiling an 8-9-1 record. In 1917, he led New Mexico State's football team to a 4-2 record. ^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ 75 Years With The Fighting Hawkeyes, by Bert McCrane & Dick Lamb, Page 18 (ASIN: B0007E01F8)
2. ^ 75 Years With The Fighting Hawkeyes, by Bert McCrane & Dick Lamb, Pages 22-23 (ASIN: B0007E01F8)
3. ^ Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore, by Mike Finn & Chad Leistikow, Page 13 (ISBN 1-57167-178-1)
4. ^ Career Coaching Record

Preceded by Mark Catlin	University of Iowa Head Football Coaches 1909	Succeeded by Jesse Hawley
Preceded by Paul J. Davis	Oklahoma State Head Football Coach 1915–1916	Succeeded by E. A. Pritchard