Louis J. Salmon
Louis J. "Red" Salmon (June 10, 1880 – September 27, 1965) is considered to be the first outstanding fullback for the University of Notre Dame football team. He was the first "Fighting Irish" player to win an All-American mention,[1] and some sports historians argue that he served as the team's de facto coach during the 1902–1903 season.[2] This honor, however, is often accorded to teammate James Farragher.[1] Both men are widely credited as acting head coaches in official histories of the "Fighting Irish" football team, and Salmon is recognized as head coach during the 1903–1904 season.[1]
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 10, 1880 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 27, 1965 (aged 85) Liberty, New York, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1900–1903 | Notre Dame |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1904 | Notre Dame |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 5–3 |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1971 (profile) | |
Playing career
Born in Syracuse, New York, Salmon made his mark in collegiate football in 1903, when (as a senior) he scored 105 points. His career record of 36 touchdowns remained a school standard until 1985. At six feet and three inches, and 230 pounds, Salmon was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.[3] As one writer observed: "The alabaster-skinned Salmon has been described as both a slasher and a smasher, a colorful way of saying he would run right over you if he could not run around you".[1] Moreover, in an era when a wet pigskin might weigh as much as 14 pounds, Salmon averaged 30 yards with his punts.[1] In 1903, Salmon was named to Walter Camp's third All-America team.[3]
Coaching career and legacy
During the 1903–1904 season, Salmon served officially as head coach of the "Fighting Irish". He presided over a lackluster season of 5–4, and as one writer has commented, "The team needed Salmon on the field, not on the sidelines".[1] After graduating with a degree in engineering, the former sports hero rarely returned to campus and underplayed his outstanding athletic career.[1] Nevertheless, he would be remembered as one of collegiate football's "greats". Louis "Red Salmon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.[3]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame (Independent) (1904) | |||||||||
| 1904 | Notre Dame | 5–3 | |||||||
| Notre Dame: | 5–3 | ||||||||
| Total: | 5–3 | ||||||||
References
- "Irish Legends". Irishlegends.com. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- Sperber (1993), p. 29.
- Louis J. Salmon at the College Football Hall of Fame
Sources
- Sperber, Murray (1993). Shake Down the Thunder: The Creation of Notre Dame Football. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0-253-21568-0.