Isaac Seneca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Seneca
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Isaac Seneca
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| Born | October 7, 1874 |
| Died | 1945 (aged 70–71) |
| Resting place | United Missions Cemetery, Erie County, New York |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Carlisle Indian Industrial School |
| Known for | First Native American to be named a College Football All-American, 1899 |
| Spouse(s) | Rose Frass (m. 1904) |
Isaac Seneca, Jr. (born October 7, 1874 – died 1945) was a famous football player. He played for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Isaac was chosen as an All-American halfback in 1899. This was a huge honor! He was the first player from Carlisle and the first American Indian to ever be named an All-American. Isaac was born in 1874 on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York.
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Isaac Seneca: Football Star
Isaac Seneca was a member of the Seneca tribe. He grew up on the Cattaraugus Reservation in western New York State. Isaac played football for Carlisle from 1896 to 1899, and again in 1901.
The first Carlisle football team started in 1895. Isaac Seneca became the school's first All-American. This happened almost ten years before the famous Jim Thorpe played for the school.
Playing Against Top Teams
In 1896, Carlisle played against the "Big Four" college football teams. These were Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Penn. Carlisle almost beat Yale in a very exciting game.
The New York Times newspaper wrote about a play by Seneca. He made a long run that nearly won the game against Yale. The newspaper said he "squirmed and shook off the Yale men." He dodged players and made a "splendid run." Everyone thought it was a touchdown.
However, the referee said it was not a touchdown. He ruled that Isaac was "down" when Yale players were holding onto him. The newspaper later wrote that the referee made the wrong call. They said Carlisle was "robbed" of a touchdown. Yale won the game 12-6.
A Sad Loss
Isaac Seneca had a brother named Victor Seneca. Victor also played football for Carlisle. In 1897, something very sad happened. Victor was on a train coming back from a game. He put his head out the window and was hit by a telegraph pole. Victor was killed in the accident.
The 1899 Season
In 1899, Glenn "Pop" Warner became the head football coach at Carlisle. Coach Warner's first season was tough. The team played many strong opponents. They traveled to games in New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
The 1899 Carlisle team had a great record of 8 wins and 2 losses. They were ranked fourth in the entire nation! Carlisle beat Columbia 42-0 on Thanksgiving Day 1899. This game was played in New York City. About 10,000 fans watched the game.
Isaac Seneca was the star of that game. He had two runs of 30 yards and another run of 40 yards. A newspaper said the Carlisle players were in "prime physical condition." They could run through the Columbia team easily. Most of the long runs were made by Seneca and another player named Miller.
At the end of the 1899 season, Isaac was chosen as the captain for the 1900 team. But he decided to play professional football instead.
California Trip and All-American Honor
After the regular season, the Carlisle team went to California. They played the University of California, San Francisco on Christmas Day. Carlisle won the game 2-0.
The Carlisle school newspaper wrote about Isaac Seneca after he came back from California. Isaac felt honored to be chosen as captain. He said he never thought he would see the Pacific Ocean. He learned more about geography on that trip than from books.
After the 1899 season, Isaac Seneca received a big honor. He was named a first-team All-American. He was the first Carlisle player and the first American Indian to get this award. Later, he was even named to the All-Time American Indian College Football Team.
Sports Illustrated magazine wrote about the Carlisle Indians in 1960. They said that Isaac Seneca and Jim Thorpe created an "ageless myth." The magazine noted that the Carlisle Indians had a strong reason to succeed. They wanted to help their people. Isaac Seneca's tribe had only 2,700 people left. The Carlisle Indians' efforts were a "last great effort" to achieve something amazing.
Professional Football Career
After leaving Carlisle, Isaac Seneca played professional football for a short time. He played for the Greensburg Athletic Association in Pennsylvania.
In October 1900, he played against Altoona. Isaac made several big plays. He had a 25-yard run and a 50-yard touchdown run. In another game against Latrobe in 1900, a fight broke out. It was between Isaac Seneca and Latrobe's quarterback. About 2,000 fans joined in the fight!
Later Life
We don't know a lot about Isaac Seneca's later years. In 1917, a report said that an Isaac Seneca was in charge of the blacksmithing department. This was at the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma. A 1928 article said he was "in the government service."
In 1930, the United States Census listed Isaac Seneca as a blacksmith. He was working in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Isaac moved back to New York sometime between 1937 and 1940. In 1940, he was living at the Cattaraugus Reservation, Erie County, New York. He was listed as a widower and still working as a blacksmith.
Isaac Seneca is buried at United Missions Cemetery. This cemetery is on the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York.
