1930 Portsmouth Spartans season

The 1930 Portsmouth Spartans season was the inaugural season for the Portsmouth Spartans in the National Football League (NFL), joining on July 12, 1930.[1] Despite holding a 4–1–1 record going into Week 6, tied for 2nd in the league, the Spartans managed only 1 more win as they finished 5–6–3, seventh in the NFL.

1930 Portsmouth Spartans season
Head coachHal Griffen
Home fieldUniversal Stadium
Results
Record5–6–3
League place7th NFL

The Spartans scored 176 points which ranked third in the NFL, while the defense allowed 161 points which was eighth in the league..[2] The last remaining active member of the 1930 Portsmouth Spartans was running back Father Lumpkin, who retired after the 1937 season.

Roster
1930 Portsmouth Spartans roster
Backs Linemen

rookies in italics

Schedule

Regular season
Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 14 Newark Tornadoes W 13–6 1–0 Universal Stadium Recap
2 September 24 Brooklyn Dodgers W 12–0 2–0 Universal Stadium Recap
3 October 5 Chicago Cardinals T 0–0 2–0–1 Universal Stadium Recap
4 October 8 Frankford Yellow Jackets W 39–7 3–0–1 Universal Stadium Recap
5 October 12 at Minneapolis Red Jackets L 0–13 3–1–1 Nicollet Park Recap
6 October 22 Chicago Bears W 7–6 4–1–1 Universal Stadium Recap
7 October 26 at Chicago Cardinals L 13–23 4–2–1 Comiskey Park Recap
8 November 2 at Green Bay Packers L 13–47 4–3–1 City Stadium Recap
9 November 5 New York Giants L 6–19 4–4–1 Universal Stadium Recap
10 November 9 at Staten Island Stapletons T 13–13 4–4–2 Thompson Stadium Recap
11 November 15 at Frankford Yellow Jackets L 6–7 4–5–2 Frankford Stadium Recap
12 November 30 at Chicago Bears L 6–14 4–6–2 Wrigley Field Recap
13 December 7 Minneapolis Red Jackets W 42–0 5–6–2 Universal Stadium Recap
14 December 14 Green Bay Packers T 6–6 5–6–3 Universal Stadium Recap

Week 1: vs. Newark Tornadoes
Week 1: Newark Tornadoes at Portsmouth Spartans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Tornadoes 0 0 066
Spartans 0 0 7613

at Spartan Municipal Stadium

  • Date: September 14, 1930
  • Game attendance: 4,000
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

In Week 1 of their inaugural season, the Spartans hosted the Newark Tornadoes. No scoring was seen in the first half, but the Tornadoes threatened to score in the second quarter, getting down to the Spartans 3-yard line. A fumble recovery and a six-yard loss had the Tornadoes try for a 5-yard field goal attempt, but the drop kick missed wide. In the second half, Bill Glassgow returned a punt from their own 45 to the Tornadoes 20-yard line. But the drive ended on a fumble recovered by the Tornadoes. On the Spartans ensuing drive, two gains of 15 yards and 10 yards set up the 11-yard touchdown pass from Glassgow to Chuck Bennett to put the Spartans up 7–0. Moving into the fourth quarter, Ray Novotny threw a pass to Byron Eby that went for 55 yards and the touchdown, bringing the Portsmouth lead to 13–0 after a blocked extra point. With three minutes left in the game, Newark's Ted Mitchell intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards before being tackled. The Tornadoes scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown to bring the score to 13–6, which was the final.[3]

Week 2: vs. Brooklyn Dodgers
Week 2: Brooklyn Dodgers at Portsmouth Spartans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dodgers 0 0 000
Spartans 6 0 0612

at Spartan Municipal Stadium

  • Date: September 24, 1930
  • Game attendance: 6,000
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • PRT – Chuck Bennett 41-yard interception return (Kick missed). Portsmouth 6–0

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • PRT – Bill Glassgow 29-yard rush (Kick missed). Portsmouth 12–0.

In Week 2, the Spartans hosted the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Spartans got the ball to start the game, but turned it over on downs. On Brooklyn's ensuing drive, Chuck Bennett intercepted a pass, returning it for a touchdown to put the Spartans up 6–0. The second half resulted in no scoring with a good amount of fumbling. Late in the third quarter, Father Lumpkin intercepted a pass, bringing it to Brooklyn's 47-yard line. A Bennett rush to the 29-yard line ended the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Bill Glassgow ran into the endzone for the score to bring the Portsmouth lead to 12–0, which was the final.[4]

Standings
NFL standings
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Green Bay Packers 10 3 1 .769 234 111 T1
New York Giants 13 4 0 .765 308 98 L1
Chicago Bears 9 4 1 .692 169 71 W5
Brooklyn Dodgers 7 4 1 .636 154 59 L1
Providence Steam Roller 6 4 1 .600 90 125 L1
Staten Island Stapletons 5 5 2 .500 95 112 L1
Chicago Cardinals 5 6 2 .455 128 132 L1
Portsmouth Spartans 5 6 3 .455 176 161 T1
Frankford Yellow Jackets 4 13 1 .235 113 321 T1
Minneapolis Red Jackets 1 7 1 .125 27 165 L6
Newark Tornadoes 1 10 1 .091 51 190 L6

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. "Portsmouth Spartans - Ohio History Central".
  2. "1930 Portsmouth Spartans Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. "SPARTANS WIN GAME". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 15, 1930.
  4. "Spartans Win Over Brooklyn, Score 12 to 0". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
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