Thomas Shevlin

Thomas Leonard Shevlin (March 1, 1883 – December 29, 1915) was an American college football player and coach at Yale University and a businessman. He was a consensus All-American for three of his four years, selected a first-team All-American by some selector in all. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Early years

Shevlin was born in Muskegon, Michigan, the son of Thomas Henry and Alice Ann (Hall) Shevlin. His family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota when he was a young boy, and his father became successful in the lumber business and active in Republican Party politics. Shevlin attended The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and then enrolled at Yale University.

Athlete at Yale

Shevlin attended Yale from 1902 to 1906. He became best known as a football player, but also competed in track and field, baseball, boxing, and hockey. (Shevlin "is not only a gridiron star, but is a baseball player, hockey player, automobilist, skater and weight thrower and stands well in his studies") By 1905, Shevlin had a national reputation as Yale's premier athlete and "unquestionably one of the most remarkable all round athletes in America." He was six feet tall and weighed "190 pounds when in training and 212 pounds out of training. One newspaper account described his athletic prowess as follows:

The famous athlete has won a "Y" in three branches of sport and might win two or three more if he had time to devote to that many games. As left fielder on the baseball team, as hammer thrower on the track team and a football player Shevlin has been found worthy of the coveted letter. He also is a good sprinter, basketball player, tennis expert and boxer. ... He can run 100 yards in less than 11 seconds and could easily make the varsity tennis and basket ball teams if he wished. He is not on the golf team simply because he has not the time to devote to the game.

Football

Shevlin played for Yale's varsity football team from 1902 to 1905. He was selected as an All-American at the end position each year, making him one of a handful of four-time All-American in the history of college football. During his time at Yale, the football team defeated Princeton three times and Harvard four times. As a senior in 1905, Shevlin was captain of the Yale football team that has been called "the best aggregation that ever represented the school." It was said that in his years at Yale, "not an opposing rushing attack has gained a first down around his end." The 1905 Yale team went 10–0, outscored its opponents 227–4, and was picked as co-national champions with the University of Chicago. For his accomplishments in leading the football team, Shevlin became known as the "miracle man of football".

In 1905, college football came under fire by university presidents and others who felt that its violent nature was a negative influence on institutions of higher learning. Shevlin spoke in defense of the sport. He noted that, though he loved all forms of sport, football was a particular favorite: "There's something primitive about football that I like. You get down to the fundamentals, as it were. Football is a war game. You have to plan it like a battle. It requires more brains to play it and develop it than any other game ..."

''The Atlanta Constitution'' wrote of Shevlin: "Probably no more sensational athlete ever played on Yale teams than Shevlin. He was an all-round star, being identified with virtually every branch of sport." At the close of his football career with Yale, ''The Washington Post'' wrote:

Whether Capt. Tom Shevlin can be induced to come back to act as head coach is not sure. He has planned to go into the lumber business in the West, but strong pressure will be brought to bear to induce him to return to Yale as coach. His year as captain closes with him one of the most popular leaders who ever headed a Yale team.

Track and field

While best known for football, Shevlin also received varsity letters at Yale as a hammer thrower for the track and field team. He won the 1903 collegiate hammer throw competition with a throw of 156 feet, 3 inches, and set the world's record in the 12-pound hammer throw. In 1904, he travelled to England, Scotland and Ireland to compete in international track and field competition. In 1905, Shevlin hired world's champion John Flanagan to come to New Haven as his personal trainer, helping Shevlin reach a personal record with a 160-foot throw of the hammer.

Boxing

Shevlin also developed an interest in boxing. In 1904, heavyweight boxing champion "Gentlemen Jim" Corbett agreed to a three-round bout with Shevlin at the Yale gymnasium. Corbett won the match, but praised Shevlin afterward: "He hits the hardest blow and is the best man at foot work I ever met with the exception of ames J.Jeffries." Some in the press expressed concern that Shevlin had taken up a sport that was uncommon in the Ivy League and wondered whether "society will drop" Shevlin "because he has been taking to the gloves."

Automobile racing

While at Yale, Shevlin also developed a passion for the new sport of automobile racing. In early 1905, he purchased a $15,000 French automobile and spent considerable time racing it throughout New England. He twice left New Haven racing to beat the express train to Meriden, Connecticut

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