Gideon Smith facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1889 Virginia |
| Died | May 6, 1968 (aged 78) Salem, Virginia |
| Playing career | |
| 1915 | Michigan Agricultural |
| 1916 | Canton Bulldogs |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1919 | Virginia State |
| 1921–1940 | Hampton |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 102–47–13 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 5 CIAA (1922, 1925–1926, 1928, 1931) | |
Gideon Edward Smith (born July 13, 1889 – died May 6, 1968) was an important American football player and coach. People sometimes called him G. E. Smith. He made history as one of the first African-American players in professional football. Later, he became a very successful college coach.
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Early Life and College Football Years
Gideon Smith was born in Virginia on July 13, 1889. He went to college at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC). Today, this school is known as Michigan State University. Smith played college football there from 1913 to 1915. He was a talented player who played as a tackle.
A really cool fact about Gideon Smith is that he was the first African-American athlete to play on a varsity team in any sport at MAC. This was a big step forward for sports and for equality.
Playing Professional Football
While he was still in college, Gideon Smith also played one professional football game. He joined the Canton Bulldogs in the Ohio League in 1916. This made him one of the very first African-Americans to play professional football.
In that game, on November 28, 1916, he played against the Massillon Tigers. It was a big game for the "state championship." Smith came into the game late in the fourth quarter. He made a game-saving play by recovering a fumble. This helped the Canton Bulldogs win 6–0. Gideon Smith was the last African-American player to play professional football before the National Football League (NFL) was officially formed.
Becoming a Teacher and Coach
After finishing college in 1916, Smith became a teacher. He taught at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, which is now West Virginia State University. In 1920, he also taught at the Virginia State College for Negroes. This school is now known as Virginia State University in Matoaca, Virginia.
In 1921, Gideon Smith started his long and successful coaching career. He became the head football coach at Hampton Institute. Today, this school is called Hampton University and is located in Hampton, Virginia.
Coaching Success at Hampton
Gideon Smith coached the Hampton football team for 20 years, until 1940. This is still the longest time anyone has coached the football program there! During his time, his teams had an amazing record of 97 wins, 46 losses, and 12 ties.
He led Hampton to five championships in the CIAA (1922, 1925–1926, 1928, 1931). His teams had six seasons where they only lost one game. Even more impressive, they had two perfect, undefeated seasons in 1926 and 1931! In 1931, his team was incredibly strong, scoring 187 points while only letting opponents score 6 points all season.
His 97 wins were the most in Hampton's history for a long time. Now, only Coach Joe Taylor has more wins. Coach Smith's teams were also known for their strong defense. They appear 10 times on the list for the fewest points allowed in a season.
Later Life and Legacy
Gideon Smith passed away on May 6, 1968, in Salem, Virginia, after being sick for a while. His impact on football and his community was remembered. In 2009, he was honored by being inducted into the Hampton Athletics Hall of Fame. He is remembered as a pioneer and a highly successful coach.
