Bemus Pierce facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1875 Cattaraugus Reservation, Erie County, New York |
| Died | February 15, 1957 (aged 81) Loma Linda, California |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1894–1898 | Carlisle |
| 1899–1901 | Homestead Library & Athletic Club |
| 1902–1903 | Sherman Institute |
| Dec 1902–Jan 1903 | All-Syracuse |
| 1904 (November 26) | Carlisle |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1899 | Buffalo |
| 1902–1903 | Sherman Institute |
| 1906 | Carlisle |
| 1907 | Haskell |
| 1908–1910 | Kenyon |
| 1911 | Lafayette HS (NY) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 31–20–3 (college football) |
Bemus Pierce (born February 27, 1875 – died February 15, 1957) was an important figure in early American football. He was a talented player and coach. Pierce played as a guard (a position on the offensive and defensive line) in the 1890s and early 1900s. He played college football for the famous Carlisle Indian School and later played professional football for championship teams. He also coached football at several colleges and high schools.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Bemus Pierce was a member of the Seneca Nation. He was born on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York. In April 1899, he married Annie Gesis, who was also a student at Carlisle and from Cattaraugus. They had three children together.
College Football Days
Bemus Pierce went to the Carlisle Indian School. He played on their first really great football teams from 1894 to 1898. Pierce was a very large player for his time, standing over six feet tall and weighing 225 pounds.
He was chosen as the captain of the Carlisle football teams in 1895, 1896, and 1897. In 1896, he became Carlisle's first player to be named an All-American (meaning he was one of the best players in the country). During a game against Illinois in 1896, Pierce showed off his skills by returning three kick-offs for touchdowns!
Bemus played alongside his brother, Hawley Pierce, at Carlisle. Both brothers were over 200 pounds and were considered top players. In 1906, The Washington Post newspaper called them the greatest pair of linemen brothers in football history. They were known for their strong play, often leading the team's offense. Bemus was also excellent at kicking off the ball.
Even many years after he played, sports writers praised Bemus Pierce. In 1919, one writer called him "perhaps the greatest lineman of all time." In 1923, another writer, Lawrence Perry, said that Bemus Pierce was the greatest of all American Indian football stars.
Playing Professional Football
After college, Pierce continued to play professional football. This was in the early days of the sport. He played for the Homestead team in 1899. Then, Bemus and Hawley Pierce played together on the famous Homestead Library & Athletic Club teams in 1900 and 1901. The 1901 team even won the professional football championship!
In late 1902 and early 1903, the Pierce brothers helped the All-Syracuse football team win the World Series of Football. On December 29, 1902, they played in what was called the first professional football game in New York City. This game was played indoors at Madison Square Garden. The wooden floor was removed, and a dirt field was set up for the game. Newspapers said the Pierce brothers played very hard and helped their team win.
During the championship game, Bemus Pierce got a badly broken nose. But his brother Hawley scored a touchdown for the All-Syracuse team, helping them win the championship.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career, Bemus Pierce became a football coach. In 1899, he coached the University of Buffalo football team. He helped them have one of their best seasons ever. This likely made him the first Native American head coach in college football.
From 1902 to 1903, Pierce worked at the Sherman Institute in Riverside, California. He helped introduce football to the Sherman Institute, as the sport was new in the West. He coached the Sherman Institute Braves team and even played on the team himself in 1902 and 1903. Photos and records of this team are kept at the Sherman Indian Museum today.
In 1904, Pierce became an assistant football coach at Carlisle under head coach Eddie Rogers. This was a special year because it was the first time Carlisle had an all-Native American coaching staff. Rodgers, Pierce, and Frank Hudson took over from the famous coach Pop Warner. Pierce also served as Carlisle's interim (temporary) head coach in 1906.
Pierce also coached football at the Haskell Indian School in 1906 and at Kenyon College from 1908 to 1910. In 1911, he coached football at Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York.
Later Life and Recognition
Bemus Pierce passed away on February 15, 1957, in Loma Linda, California.
He has been honored for his achievements in sports. He was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame at Haskell in Kansas.
Images for kids
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Bemus Pierce, a famous football player and coach.
