Bump Elliott facts for kids
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Elliott from the 1962 Michiganensian
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1925 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 7, 2019 (aged 94) Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1943–1944 | Purdue |
| 1946–1947 | Michigan |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1948 | Michigan (backfield) |
| 1949–1951 | Oregon State (assistant) |
| 1952–1956 | Iowa |
| 1957–1958 | Michigan (backfield) |
| 1959–1968 | Michigan |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1969–1970 | Michigan (associate AD) |
| 1970–1991 | Iowa |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 51–42–2 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Big Ten (1964) | |
| Awards | |
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| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1989 (profile) |
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Chalmers William "Bump" Elliott (born January 30, 1925 – died December 7, 2019) was a famous American football player, coach, and college sports leader. He played as a halfback for Purdue University and the University of Michigan.
After his playing days, Elliott became an assistant football coach. He later became the head coach for the Michigan football team from 1959 to 1968. During his time as head coach, he led Michigan to a Big Ten championship and a win in the Rose Bowl in 1964.
From 1970 to 1991, he served as the athletic director at the University of Iowa. As athletic director, he helped the Iowa Hawkeyes win many championships. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Contents
Early Life and Nickname
Chalmers William Elliott was born in Detroit, but he grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. His father, J. Norman Elliott, was a doctor who also coached football.
Elliott was known by his nickname "Bump" from when he was just six months old. No one, not even his mother, remembered how he got the nickname!
Bump and his younger brother, Pete Elliott, both played football together. They were stars at Bloomington High School. Bump was an All-State player in 1942.
During World War II, both brothers joined the United States Marine Corps. They were part of a special program called the V-12 Navy College Training Program. This program allowed them to go to college while training to become officers. Bump went to Purdue University.
College Days and Military Service
Elliott attended Purdue from 1943 to 1944. He was an amazing athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball in his first year.
In football, he was a strong player for the undefeated 1943 Purdue team. He scored a touchdown in his first game and made a key interception in another.
He was also a consistent guard in basketball. In baseball, he played shortstop and center field. He was known for his strong arm and steady fielding. In one game, he had five hits and five stolen bases!
In October 1944, Elliott was called to active duty with the Marine Corps. He played his last game for Purdue against the Michigan Wolverines. He was sent to China and became a Marine lieutenant by the end of the war.
Playing for the Michigan Wolverines
After leaving the military, Bump Elliott joined his brother Pete at the University of Michigan in 1946. They were teammates at Michigan, just like they were in high school. Pete played quarterback, and Bump was the right halfback.
The brothers were very close. They looked, acted, and even thought alike. They were known as the "inseparable Elliott Brothers."
1946 Season Highlights
Elliott quickly became a star at Michigan. In a game against Northwestern, he scored all 14 of Michigan's points. He scored a touchdown on a 37-yard pass. He also ran back an interception 60 yards for another touchdown.
He scored two more touchdowns in a win against Minnesota. He also helped Michigan win against Wisconsin with a great pass.
Big Nine MVP in 1947
In 1947, Elliott played for the amazing Wolverines team known as the "Mad Magicians." They went undefeated and won the 1948 Rose Bowl game 49-0 against the Southern Cal Trojans. Many people consider this team to be the greatest Michigan team ever.
Elliott was one of the most important players on this team. He led the Big Nine in scoring. He was chosen as an All-American and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Nine Conference.
He was a four-way threat, meaning he was great at running, catching, punt returns, and defense. He scored 12 touchdowns in 1947. Michigan's head coach, Fritz Crisler, called Elliott the greatest right halfback he had ever seen.
One of his most memorable plays was a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown against Illinois. He also made a key interception on defense in that game.
1948 Rose Bowl
As Big Nine champions, the 1947 Wolverines played in the 1948 Rose Bowl game. Michigan won easily, 49-0. Elliott scored a touchdown on an 11-yard pass.
Coaching Career
After graduating from Michigan, Bump Elliott decided to become a coach instead of playing professional football. He started as an assistant coach at Michigan in 1948.
He then coached at Oregon State from 1949 to 1951. He later became an assistant coach at the University of Iowa from 1952 to 1957. While at Iowa, he was part of the team that won the Big Ten championship in 1956 and the 1957 Rose Bowl.
In 1957, he returned to Michigan as a backfield coach. In 1959, Elliott was chosen to be the head football coach at Michigan. He coached for ten years, from 1959 to 1968. His overall record was 51 wins, 42 losses, and 2 ties.
His biggest achievement as head coach was in 1964. He led the Wolverines to a 9-1 record, a Big Ten title, and a victory in the Rose Bowl against Oregon State.
After the 1968 season, Elliott decided to step down as head coach. He then became the associate director of athletics at Michigan from 1969 to 1970.
Athletic Director at Iowa
In 1970, Bump Elliott became the men's athletic director at the University of Iowa. He stayed in this important role for 21 years, until 1991.
During his time as athletic director, Iowa's sports teams became much more successful. They won 34 Big Ten championships and 11 national titles from the NCAA. The university also built new sports facilities, like the Carver-Hawkeye Arena for basketball.
Elliott was known for hiring great coaches, such as Lute Olson, Dan Gable, Hayden Fry, and Dr. Tom Davis. These coaches helped Iowa win many championships in sports like football, wrestling, and basketball.
He was known as "a coach's AD" because he trusted his coaches and gave them the support they needed. Wrestling coach Dan Gable said Elliott's advice was to "Strive to get there, sure, but do it wisely through continuing to build upon what you already have."
Elliott is the only person to have been involved with Rose Bowl teams in five different ways: as a player, assistant coach, head coach, assistant athletic director, and athletic director.
Family
Bump Elliott and his wife, Barbara, met while he was in the Marine Corps at Purdue. They got married in 1949 and had three children: Bill, Bob, and Betsy. His son, Bob Elliott, also became a football coach.
Bump Elliott passed away on December 7, 2019, at the age of 94.
Honors and Accolades
Elliott received many awards and honors throughout his life:
- He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Nine Conference in 1947.
- He was selected as an All-American in 1947.
- He was inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 1986.
- He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
- He was inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1997.
- He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
- A street in Iowa City, called Elliott Drive, is named in his honor. It's where the Carver-Hawkeye Arena is located.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
