Gideon Edward Smith (July 13, 1889 – May 6, 1968), sometimes referred to as G. E. Smith, was an
American football player and coach.
Smith played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC), now known as
Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
, from 1913 to 1915. He was the first African-American varsity athlete in any sport at MAC.
Smith also played one game of professional football while still attending MAC. He appeared as a
tackle
Tackle may refer to:
* In football:
** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football
** Tackle (gridiron football position), a position in American football and Canadian football
** Dump tackle, a forceful move in rugby of picking ...
in one game for the
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football Leag ...
of the
Ohio League, becoming one of the first African-Americans to play professional football. He played for the Bulldogs as a late fourth-quarter substitute on November 28, 1916 against their rivals, the
Massillon Tigers. During that game he made a game-saving
fumble
A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful ...
recovery that preserved a 6–0 Canton victory over the Tigers for the "state championship." Smith was the last African-American to play professional football exclusively prior to the formation of the
National Football League.
After graduating from MAC in 1916, Smith became a teacher at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, now known as
West Virginia State University. He also served in 1920 as a teacher at the Virginia State College for Negroes—now known as
Virginia State University—in
Matoaca, Virginia.
In 1921, Smith became the head football coach at Hampton Institute, now known as
Hampton University
Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association af ...
, in
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton () is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 137,148. It is the List ...
. He remained the head football coach at Hampton until 1940, compiling a 97–46–12 record, including six one-loss seasons and two undefeated seasons in 1926 and 1931. His 1931 team outscored opponents 187 to 6. His 97 wins were the most in school history at that time, and currently rank second only behind
Joe Taylor, who concluded his 16th season at Hampton in 2007 with 136 victories. Smith's teams are featured 10 times out of the top 12 on the list for fewest points allowed in a season. His 20 years leading Hampton still stand as the longest coaching tenure in program history.
Smith died on May 6, 1968, at Veterans Administration Hospital in
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combin ...
, following a long illness. He was inducted into the Hampton Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Head coaching record
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Gideon
1889 births
1961 deaths
American football tackles
Canton Bulldogs (Ohio League) players
Hampton Pirates football coaches
Michigan State Spartans football players
Virginia State Trojans football coaches
Players of American football from Virginia
African-American coaches of American football
African-American players of American football
20th-century African-American people